RedStater

Planning a two week trip to Portugal in May with my bride. We are anticipating starting in Lisbon and training around...don't really want to mess with a car if it can be avoided.

A few days in Lisbon are of course a must, as are a couple in Porto (I lived there for several years as a schoolboy and want to revisit old haunts).

No more than four other cities/towns are possible, given the time constraints. Question for those familiar with Portugal: what would be your shortlist? History, architecture, charm, culture, cuisine, scenery, and accessibility by bus or rail are all considerations. A bit of diversity between the destinations would be nice, too.

What do you think?

clarasong

How about a cruise up to Pinhao, explore that wine region, then train back.

Lisbon

For two weeks, I would spend time primarily around Lisbon and Porto.

The cruise out of Porto on the Duoro is wonderful..we did it in July 2009, stayed 3 nights in Regua at the Moros Quinta/winery per Rick Steve's recommendation. I recommend it too. We took the train back to Porto from Regua, as one cruise was enough. We also took the cruise from Regua to the Spanish border, but could have done without that one! We also went to Via Real on that trip, about an hour bus ride from Regua. Took the train to other Port Wine towns and that was easy and interesting.

From Lisbon, a day in Sentra is a must, and you can do that by train from the main train station. One day.

We found most of the Algarve too commerical and much like a USA beach area except the S. Vincente area which was very interesting. If you go there, we recommend taking the train or bus and then renting a car once you are there. This would take 4 hours travel both ways and a day there.

We like the Alentejo area, which includes Evora, plus Morvao and Monsaraz on the border with Spain. Small whitewashed towns on the moutain range are beautiful, we rented a car and was easy drive, so not sure how to get to the border towns by train or bus. We stayed on local farms in the area.

I have taken the bus from Lisbon to Evora and that is an interesting city in the Alentejo, about 2 hours from Lisbon. Has Roman Ruins and nice Pousada and the famous "Bone Chapel". One day.

Have also taken the bus to Obidos, day trip. I would do either Evora or Obidos, not both given the time you will be in Portugal.

Great country..have a wonderful time!

boudecca

We recently returned from three weeks in Portugal. We opted to drive and could not have been more delighted with our decision. We picked up the car at SVQ and drove to the Algarve, basing ourselves in Almancil. Having a car made our trip most enjoyable, allowing us to discover hill and coast towns. Our favorite thing to do was explore new restaurants on the beach ... and there are many. The roads between the Algarve and Lisbon were fabulous and we found the driving in Lisbon to be pretty simple. All in all, we loved our time in Portugal. We are planning another trip next year. You've picked a great spot for your honeymoon.

bobthenavigator

I feel you need a car to see Portugal well. I suggest 3 days for Lisbon, 2 for Porto, and then driving the north regions and the Alentejo, to include Obidos, Nazare, Marvao, Evora, and the Minho area.

lreynold1

I just want to chime in and agree that your trip will be immeasurably enhanced by having a car to travel around. I would pick it up at the airport as you are leaving Lisbon and drop it off as you arrive for your flight home.

Trains are pretty good in Portugal, but they make traveling to the smaller cities more complicated, especially those that are off the main line from Faro-Lisbon-Porto.

There are tons of trip reports and commentaries on these pages, maybe they can give you some starting ideas about places you'd like to see. As Bob mentions, there are many places close to Lisbon (Alentejo, Marvao, Nazare, Evora -- see Adrienne's recent trip report for her experience in some of these places, and there are many others), and there are many great destinations near Porto and north as well (Guimaraes, Douro Valley, Braga, Barcelos, Viana do Castelo, Ponte de Lima). And lots of places in between (Coimbra, Aveiro, the rias).

I think the problem is not finding places to go, but narrowing down the list! Laurie

zootsi

We just came back from 12 days in Portugal. We visited Lisbon, Evora, and Sesimbra, and totally enjoyed them all. Plan on at least 4 days in Lisbon, as there is so much to see there. One of these days should be spent visiting Sintra - the Pena Palace is amazing.
We rented an apartment in the heart of Evora for 5 days, and loved it. There are so many hill towns and pre historic ruins in the area. You really need to rent a car to explore Portugal's countryside. Driving is quite easy.
For a beach town, consider Sesimbra, which is a small fishing village south of Lisbon. Check out my trip report.

Lisbon

We highly recommend satying in Regua to see the Duoro area We stayed on a family farm in what was a convent abujt 300 years ago but is now the operating vineyard. The name of the Qunina/ Farm/ Vineyard where we enjoyed our stay in Regua is:

Quinta de Marrocos
Estrada Nacional 222 - Valdigem
5100-840 Lamego
Portugal
Tel: +351 254313012
Mobile phone: +351 962782497

Ask for Rita

RedStater

"You've picked a great spot for your honeymoon."

<laughing> We're a decade or two beyond that, Boudecca. She's an old, used bride, but still charming and still my bride. We've been wed twenty-three years.

ciaobella1001

great plan! my two cents: went to porto and lisbon in jan'09 and loved both......and can't wait to be back. lisbon is probably one of the most charming and beautiful cities i have been to. specifically, it has a quaint and old feel feel yet with a modern tone to it all. there is a lot one can do in and around lisbon. i took subways, cabs, trains, trolleys and walked a lot. porto was amazing but a very low key city ...was able to explore it in a day! lastly, took the train from porto to lisbon.....really enjoyed the train ride. fyi: the train system is great....super effecient, clean,etc. have a fun time!

NEDSIRELAND

RedStater writes: "A few days in Lisbon are of course a must, as are a couple in Porto (I lived there for several years as a schoolboy and want to revisit old haunts)."

The Alfa Pendular will get you from Lisbon (Oriente) to Porto in a bit under 3-hours. It's a comfortable ride, BUT most stop at Coimbra and I love that old University town.

"... given the time constraints. Question for those familiar with Portugal: what would be your shortlist? ... "

I also would include the Guimaraes / Braga area (NE of Porto): I'm just assuming that there's Bus service to one or both those places from Porto.

And if it were my shortlist, it would include some Galicia (same language, called Galego-Portugues), maybe Vigo for the annual Bagpipe competitions, and Santiago de Compostela

Nikki

I agree that a car would make it easier to see the interesting hill towns in the Alentejo near the Spanish border, which are spectacular (especially Marvao). But Evora is accessible by public transportation and is very interesting.

Have a great trip with your "old, used bride" and just hope that she never ever reads that you called her that (even though I know it was an affectionate jest)!

BeniciaChris

I also agree that you should have a car once you leave Lisbon. We got Pousada passports that includes stays in Pousadas-and the car rental. Driving was very easy. I loved the Alentejo area. Last Sept was our second trip to Portugal.What a beautiful country-wonderful food & wine. I loved the Verde wine.Enjoy with your beat up bride!! What did you do to the poor woman!! Chris

Atravel

You might enjoy reading a new book just out, "The Moon, Come to Earth," by Philip Graham, for a moving account of Portugal.

Clousie

Lisbon: "We also took the cruise from Regua to the Spanish border, but could have done without that one!"

Could you please explain this comment? We hope to stay somewhere in the vicinity of Regua, and rather than cruise back towards Porto, had considered going towards Spain. We're just looking for a day cruise.

HappyTrvlr

We took a day cruise from Porto on the Douro Azul and were pleased with our choice. www.douroazul.com

louise9f

You should check out the following trip report - although a couple of years old, has a fabulous account of Lisbon.


A Very Berber Birthday! Trip report and travel tales, Spain, Morocco & Lisbon
Posted by: laartista on Feb 9, 07 at 3:43pm
Posted in: Europe
Tagged: Portugal , Spain