pdqspa

Arriving in Porto, Portugal late April, departing from Barcelona late May. First time in this area of Europe. Willing to utilize all methods of transport and love to walk too. If experienced, what would be your dream itinerary? Thank you!

PalenQ

Trains and buses will take you anywhere and if a hiker the Trail of St James will take you across northern Spain (though you'd be going the opposite way of most pilgrims)-

You might consider:

Porto

Lisbon

Bus to Seville

Cordoba

Granada

Madrid

Barcelona

Take day trips from those bases

For info on Iberian trains check www.ricksteves.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com (be sure to look over the site's European Planning & Rail Guide for lots on places to go by rail in each country); www.seat61.com.

Investigate the Spanish Railpass if taking trains a lot.

Macross

The Algarve region is on our to do list. Freinds are there right now and the pictures are just beautiful. They are loving it. I just never thought about exploring that region.

kja

NONE of us can tell you what YOU want to see in these places, where you have such a wealth of options that you could spend months just skimming the highlights. Please do some research and come back to us with more specific questions.

Here's what I recommend: Get some good guidebooks (or spend some time with a few in your local library) and plot your wish list on a calendar. Each time you propose to change locations, pencil in your transportation, add some time on either side (for getting to/from your lodging, checking in/out, packing/unpacking, getting lost/oriented, etc.). Note that each change of location can be "costly" as it is time that you will not have to see or do anything. And note that many things in Spain and Portugal are closed on Monday, and often for all or part of Sundays too; and many things will also be closed daily for a very long mid-day break.

Also, please consult the MANY trip planning threads on this board. You are, of course, NOT the first person to ask this question, and you could benefit enormously from the wealth of information that has already been generously shared.

Good luck!

massimop

In addition to spending many days in LIsbon, I would rent a car and take the opportunity to see Alentejo and also Algarve before the tourist season sets in, Then I would ditch the car and cross into Spain and do some serious sightseeing before the heat sets into Andalucia, spending at least 2 nights in Grenada, maybe 3, but also giving days to Cordoba and some nearby places. Then after that, I'm not sure. I'm not a fan of Barcelona, so I wouldn't be in any hurry to get there but if you want to see the city well, you probably should plan on spending 5 or so nights there.

PalenQ

You can hit the Algarve en route to Seville - train to Faro and train to Tavira - need old town with super beach nearby - unlike many modern Algarve towns a real old town with character - then take train/bus to Seville.

Tommmo

We enjoyed using ALSA bus between Faro and Seville. Cheap and with WiFi

PalenQ

http://www.algarvebus.info/001.htm

Options for getting between Lisbon/Algarve and Spain/Seville.