mari5

3 days in Lisbon (staying in Cascais), one day into Lisbon central, another day to Sintra (bus)?...... best way to get to Algarve (Lagos)...bus perhaps?),,,, rent a car in Lagos for the three days there to drive up and down the coast.,,,,,,possibly drive over to southern Spain for a couple of days, need ideas of WHERE?... Then drive back to the Lisbon airport ......
11 day hurried trip,, recent college graduate and her mother (who lived in Lisbon for 2 years with her family..( as a child from ~~U.S.). Probably shouldn't try to squeeze in Spain, but want to meet up with a friend .,,,,Seville?....... Is Lagos the most central city in Algarve,, or too crowded? WAnt to fly back to Amsterdam 1 day early in order to get a short taste of Amsterdam. Yes, sounds like a mish mash of a trip, but these "girls" are energetic ,like to walk,, drive, and experience as much as possible. Thanks for any ideas. Perhaps drive to the Algarve from Cascais instead of bus or train???? or rent a car in Lagos.,,,which? Also best ideas for one day in Amsterdam....is the night time canal tour nice?,,,, Anne Frank house sold out for preticketing (any "inside " ideas?), best overall route to "walk"....

HappyTrvlr

Why stay in Caiscais instead of Lisbon? We went to Caiscais for the day. You travel from Lisbon to Sintra via train from Lisbon.
When is this trip? Are you sure you want the Algarve?

PalenQ

Lagos is about the only normal city on the Algarve - a really old city with whitewashed narrow lanes, etc. but it ain't right on the coast which is largely a series of blah hihg-rise apartment buildings catering to the northern invasion coming here for a proper beach holiday - unless you like swimming...or beaching it is not IMO nearly what most folks go to Portugal for.

Tavira down towards Spain I found a similarly nice old town with a beach that you take a boat to - on a barrier island or something.

drive across the bridge to Huelva and onto Seville, one of Europe's most lovely and historic cities but in the summer sweltering with highs in mid 90s! But just a wonderful old city - you may find renting a car in one country and return it in another to have a steep drop-off charge - trains and buses do all those places quite well and the drive along the Algarve is IMO nothing much.

For lots on Portugeuese and Spanish trains: www.ricksteves.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.seat61.com. tickets are so cheap on either train or bus just show up at the station.

Maybe since time is short in Amsterdam drop into a coffeeshop and get some cannabis that is sold over the counter to anyone to slow time down a bit and fit more in - if you get to the Anne Frank House early enough there are walk up tickets always but you may have to wait in line a while at times.

Best route to walk is along any of the ring of canals like the Singel on which the Anne Frank House is perched.

mari5

Thanks PalenQ.....always something to be absorbed by responses. WE lived out toward the Cascais / Estoril area back in the mid 70's, and they (daughter and college granddaughter)will take the train one of the days to Lisbon City center, walk around, and perhaps take a half day tour. Perhaps a taxi one way, diverting to see the house we lived in for 2 years. I probably wasn't clear,sorry.....they would rent the car in Cascais and turn it in at the Lisbon Airport 6 days later,,,,,yes I know turning car into a different country is Steeply priced, so they are avoiding this. Hopefully they can take a bus north of Cascais to Sintra,,, I remember , though a long time ago,, that it is a beautiful drive along the coast and into the hills. They won't rent the car till the day they leave Cascais to drive to Algarve,, or may take the train/bus and pick up the car in Lagos. ANd thanks for the encouragement of both Lagos & Seville....and the idea of the Singel ring road walk in Amsterdam.... Forget the cannabis! heheehe
Will welcome any and all ideas for this trip!!!Thanks. (they won't mind the temps in the 90's....they're from Texas

thursdaysd

I'm with Happy - stay in Lisbon. What makes sense for an expat is not the same as what makes sense for a tourist. In several trips to Portugal I have yet to make it to the Algarve - too many worthwhile sites elsewhere.

mari5

Yes, I understand,, but these girls(mother and college daughter) like being close to the water, and the views,,,, the reason for the Algarve. Granddaughter has several friends who have been there recently and sent gorgeous pictures. Many tourists , according to reviews, stay in the Cascais area and "work out" from there...........well, I'm just the "messenger"....but appreciate your input.
IN the two years we lived in the Lisbon area we only got to the Algarve ONE time,, and it was lovely,,,, but that was 40 years ago.....I know it has changed.. Yes,, one day in the city of Lisbon is not enough,, but they will see the highlights.
Input wanted on best way to get from Cascais/Lisbon to the Algarve...car, bus or train???

PalenQ

Hopefully they can take a bus north of Cascais to Sintra,,, I remember , though a long time ago,, that it is a beautiful drive along the coast and into the hills>

I did it in reverse and got off at the Capo de Rabo - the westernmost part of the European continent - a love stop - short walk from bus stop out to the point or cape:

https://www.google.com/search?q=Capo...=1600&bih=1075

luz_de_lisboa

I believe you mean Cabo da Roca

PalenQ

https://www.google.com/search?q=Capo...de+roca+images

Indeed I did mean Cabo da Roca - thanks!