Help me make the most of 4 days in Portugal
Jul 30th, 2009, 07:41 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Help me make the most of 4 days in Portugal
What would you do?
I have four days to spend in Portugal in early September. I will be flying in from Paris (there 4 days for work) and wanted to take the opportunity to visit my aunt in Portugal while I am in Europe. I will fly out of Lisbon to go back to the United States. My aunt lives in the northern part of Portugal, in a little town near the Serra D'Estrela. I have visited her there twice before (once 10 years ago and once 19 years ago) and it is charming. She is two hours from Porto and even closer to Coimbra.
My question to you is, should I fly from Paris to Lisbon and hang out there for all four days? In that scenario, I could rent us both a hotel room from which to base ourselves, and visit Sintra and Caiscais, as well as see Lisbon, which is a town I have never spent much time in (I was 11 the last time I was there for the day).
OR:
Should I fly from Paris to Porto and spend time in the north, visiting Porto, Coimbra, and the mountains of Serra D'Estrela, staying at my aunt's house? In that scenario, I would only spend one day and one night in Lisbon on my way out of the country.
I need to book my Paris to Portugal flight soon, and would LOVE your opinions. Thank you!!
I have four days to spend in Portugal in early September. I will be flying in from Paris (there 4 days for work) and wanted to take the opportunity to visit my aunt in Portugal while I am in Europe. I will fly out of Lisbon to go back to the United States. My aunt lives in the northern part of Portugal, in a little town near the Serra D'Estrela. I have visited her there twice before (once 10 years ago and once 19 years ago) and it is charming. She is two hours from Porto and even closer to Coimbra.
My question to you is, should I fly from Paris to Lisbon and hang out there for all four days? In that scenario, I could rent us both a hotel room from which to base ourselves, and visit Sintra and Caiscais, as well as see Lisbon, which is a town I have never spent much time in (I was 11 the last time I was there for the day).
OR:
Should I fly from Paris to Porto and spend time in the north, visiting Porto, Coimbra, and the mountains of Serra D'Estrela, staying at my aunt's house? In that scenario, I would only spend one day and one night in Lisbon on my way out of the country.
I need to book my Paris to Portugal flight soon, and would LOVE your opinions. Thank you!!
Jul 30th, 2009, 07:58 AM
#2
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,567
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What is your Aunt's preference? What's the main criteria? Cost?, sightseeing? Time with Aunt? Countryside? seaside? city? Set YOUR criteria, rank both options accordingly and decide. Both options sound lovely, you decide.
If it was me, I would invite Aunt to Lisbon. That way, she is enjoying a vacation as well rather than playing host.....
If it was me, I would invite Aunt to Lisbon. That way, she is enjoying a vacation as well rather than playing host.....
Aug 2nd, 2009, 01:45 PM
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I am leaning towards all four days based from Lisbon, but could be convinced to stay north if there was a strong enough case for it. I think staying in Lisbon might make better sense because I won't waste precious time traveling from the north to Lisbon for my flight out. I am also interested in visiting museums, the Belem monastery, and perhaps a day in Caiscais or Sintra and going to the beach. I don't think I'll have time for all of those things if I start off near Porto.
On the other hand, staying at my aunt's is special too. it would be free and she would cook me all my favorite dishes!
Wish I had more time...
On the other hand, staying at my aunt's is special too. it would be free and she would cook me all my favorite dishes!
Wish I had more time...
Aug 4th, 2009, 01:36 AM
#4
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I agree with Viajero2 - you will have to set your criteria...
"Aunt or visiting Portugal" and his idea to invite the aunt to Lisbon is also excellent.
Lisbon is a fantastic central point and from there you can not only visit Sintra and Cascais, but also the beautiful Obidos, the Lagoon of Obidos, Nazare, Alcobaca and so many other places which are in maximum 1 hour driving distance.
Have a nice trip!
Antonio
Villas Luz
http://www.silver-coast-properties.net/
"Aunt or visiting Portugal" and his idea to invite the aunt to Lisbon is also excellent.
Lisbon is a fantastic central point and from there you can not only visit Sintra and Cascais, but also the beautiful Obidos, the Lagoon of Obidos, Nazare, Alcobaca and so many other places which are in maximum 1 hour driving distance.
Have a nice trip!
Antonio
Villas Luz
http://www.silver-coast-properties.net/
Jun 2nd, 2010, 12:37 PM
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Better late than never...
This trip was from August 30- September 4, 2009, so it was some time ago, but I thought I'd recap what I decided to do.
DAY 1: My Aunt and Uncle picked me up at the airport in Lisbon and drove me back to their home in a small village near Gouveia in the north. The drive was long- we stopped in Alcobaca and Batalha to see the monasteries on the way. We also picnicked by the side of the road with my aunt's delicious cooking- bacalhau (fried codfish cakes), queijadas (custard tarts), bread, fruit, and cheese. Once we arrived in their village, we relaxed, had dinner, and then walked around their farmland so they could show me all that they grow. Even the wine we drank at dinner came from the grapes on their land. My uncle proudly showed me his wine cellar/ bar, decorated with soccer decor- he is a big Benefica fan.
DAY 2: We drove an hour and a half away to Aveiro to go to the beach at Costa Nova and visit a cousin in Sul Aveiro. On the way home, my uncle was proud to show me the luxury mall in Viseu.
DAY 3: My aunt and I boarded a bus in Gouveia to Lisbon. We arrived 5 hours later and checked into the Residencial Florescente. The prices were affordable and the hotel was centrally located on a vibrant pedestrian thoroughfare. Drawbacks were the noise level and the lack of a fridge- my aunt brought lots of fruit, pastries, and cheese with her from home and it would have been nice to keep them chilled. We spent the rest of the day touring the city on foot, climbing up the Alfama district and checking out Castelo Sao Jorge. At night, we bought tickets to a musical about Edith Piaf that was playing on the street near our hotel.
DAY 4: We took the train out to Sintra, visiting the magical Palacio da Pena and the moorish castle ruins. We returned to our hotel in Lisbon and had dinner at Casa Alentejo, which was a nice find. We capped our night with an evening stroll and shots of ginginha from a street vendor.
DAY 5: My aunt took the bus back to her town, while I boarded a tram for Belem. In the morning I visited the monastery of Jeronimos, the Monument of the Discoveries, and the Tower of Belem. From Belem, I took another train to Cascais, where I spent the afternoon on the beach. My favorite was the small beach- Praia Rainha. Just above it is a cafe where I enjoyed huge rings of fried calamari and a refreshing drink. I took a train back to Lisbon before it got dark.
In the morning on DAY 6, I flew out from Lisbon airport. I feel that I packed a lot into 5 days, perhaps a little more ambitious than most people, and hope that my next visit is a little more leisurely. But my time was limited, so I think I did a good job with what I had. Thanks for your help!
This trip was from August 30- September 4, 2009, so it was some time ago, but I thought I'd recap what I decided to do.
DAY 1: My Aunt and Uncle picked me up at the airport in Lisbon and drove me back to their home in a small village near Gouveia in the north. The drive was long- we stopped in Alcobaca and Batalha to see the monasteries on the way. We also picnicked by the side of the road with my aunt's delicious cooking- bacalhau (fried codfish cakes), queijadas (custard tarts), bread, fruit, and cheese. Once we arrived in their village, we relaxed, had dinner, and then walked around their farmland so they could show me all that they grow. Even the wine we drank at dinner came from the grapes on their land. My uncle proudly showed me his wine cellar/ bar, decorated with soccer decor- he is a big Benefica fan.
DAY 2: We drove an hour and a half away to Aveiro to go to the beach at Costa Nova and visit a cousin in Sul Aveiro. On the way home, my uncle was proud to show me the luxury mall in Viseu.
DAY 3: My aunt and I boarded a bus in Gouveia to Lisbon. We arrived 5 hours later and checked into the Residencial Florescente. The prices were affordable and the hotel was centrally located on a vibrant pedestrian thoroughfare. Drawbacks were the noise level and the lack of a fridge- my aunt brought lots of fruit, pastries, and cheese with her from home and it would have been nice to keep them chilled. We spent the rest of the day touring the city on foot, climbing up the Alfama district and checking out Castelo Sao Jorge. At night, we bought tickets to a musical about Edith Piaf that was playing on the street near our hotel.
DAY 4: We took the train out to Sintra, visiting the magical Palacio da Pena and the moorish castle ruins. We returned to our hotel in Lisbon and had dinner at Casa Alentejo, which was a nice find. We capped our night with an evening stroll and shots of ginginha from a street vendor.
DAY 5: My aunt took the bus back to her town, while I boarded a tram for Belem. In the morning I visited the monastery of Jeronimos, the Monument of the Discoveries, and the Tower of Belem. From Belem, I took another train to Cascais, where I spent the afternoon on the beach. My favorite was the small beach- Praia Rainha. Just above it is a cafe where I enjoyed huge rings of fried calamari and a refreshing drink. I took a train back to Lisbon before it got dark.
In the morning on DAY 6, I flew out from Lisbon airport. I feel that I packed a lot into 5 days, perhaps a little more ambitious than most people, and hope that my next visit is a little more leisurely. But my time was limited, so I think I did a good job with what I had. Thanks for your help!
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Ohdonnaoh
Europe
13
Sep 7th, 2010 05:56 AM
