On his tours over the Alpine passes of Europe, Stefan Bogner usually takes his Porsche 911. However, for his most recent road trip to Portugal with his family, the Munich photographer switched to another resilient automobile icon — a Land Rover Defender from the Lisbon dream factory of Cool & Vintage. He’s shared his holiday album with us, and we must admit, we couldn’t imagine a better touring car for a family trip in southwestern Europe, with its wild coastal roads, pristine gravel tracks, and urban cobblestone boulevards!

Portugal is a manageable country to get from one end to the other, as the journey from Lisbon to Porto can be done in just three hours. But why step on the gas pedal, when you can take your time and explore the beautiful coastline, with its huge beaches and cool surfing spots, like Cascais, Ericeira, and Peniche? Those who like it even wilder, you can explore Portugal’s national parks along the Spanish border — there are few such untouched sites left in Europe. On the sometimes quite adventurous hillsides, it really pays off that the good old Defender is an all-terrain professional and not just a lifestyle SUV.

Of course, you can also have a good time in the cities — the cultural programme in Lisbon is world-class and the rough, nostalgic charm of Porto has made the country's second largest city one of the most popular destinations in Europe. If you haven’t got any plans for the summer of 2018, then a look at the Land Rover inventory at Cool & Vintage is highly recommended. Because what could be better than going on a Portuguese road trip with your own custom Landy? And when you pick up the Defender of your dreams, make sure you also pick the brain of company founder Ricardo Silva — there’s no better source for insider travel tips.

Photos: Stefan Bogner