bostontraveler

Hi -- Looking for advice on an itinerary for northern Portugal. We'll be there for 15 days, the last week of June/first week of July, flying in and out of Lisbon. We will have a car.

I've spent time in Portugal before and don't want to return to the Algarve or Evora. We like to have a lot to do and we want to visit some vineyards. I found this itinerary on Fodors and like it:

Lisbon - days 1-3
Obidos - days 4-5
Coimbra - days 6-8
Porto - days 9-11

Since we have 4 more days than this itinerary accounts for, I plan to add a day in Lisbon but I'm not sure about the other days. I'm considering these options for the rest of the trip:

- More days in Obidos or Coimbra, but I'm concerned because they seem pretty small.
or
- Add days in the Douro Valley, but I know nothing about it.

Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

LowCountryIslander

Bostontraveler...

I'm unable to help with your itinerary, but I'm considering a trip to Northern Portugal for May 2012 and I'm interested to see what other Fodorites have to say on your proposed itinerary.

MFNYC

We did an 8 day trip covering the same area. 2 nights Porto, 1 night near Coimbra in Pousada de Condeixa-a-Nova, 1 night in Obidos, and 4 nights Lisbon, with various stops along the way. My report is here: http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...l-portugal.cfm.

We did do a day trip into the Douro Valley, which was just beautiful. If we had more time, we would have spent a couple of nights in the Douro Valley, and probably an extra night in Porto as well.

MFNYC

I just want to add, that we probably could have also used a couple of more days in Lisbon with possibly a day trip or 2. Then again, I could go on forever with a wish list of other stops, and places to stay.

ribeirasacra

if you are using a car be ware of the electronic payment for tool roads.
here are a few threads also do a search fro a few more bits of information.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...toll-booth.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...toll-roads.cfm
It seems that car hire companies are leaving their customers in the dark.
If you like wine then the Douro Valley is a great place to visit.
You may have left out some other places
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braga
http://www.cm-valenca.pt/portal/page...rtal_municipal
Here is a small trip report I have written for Slowtravel taken along the Border with Galicia, Spain.
http://www.slowtrav.com/portugal/rs_beaten_path.htm

CYESQ

Wow - I couldn't disagree more with your itinerary! For starters, Obidos will take you all of 2 hours. I can't think of why you would even want to stay there overnight although I know a lot of folks do. There's certainly nothing to keep you there more than a day. I have similar comments on Coimbra and Porto. You've alloted far too much time on these places and too little on Lisbon.

If I were doing the itinerary, I would plan your first 4 days in Lisbon, then 2 days in Sintra, go on to Obidos, check out Mafra, Coimbra, a couple of days in Porto and then spend the remainder of the time back in Lisbon. It's a lovely city with so much history to enjoy.

Jamikins has posted a fairly intensive trip report about Portugal, check it out and re-think your itinerary.

GoAway

For a change of pace from cities and towns, check out Serra da Estrela - this is wild beautiful countryside. We stayed in Seia but the place we stayed is currently closed for renovations.

http://www.rt-serradaestrela.pt/ENG/index.html

Aduchamp1

Take a look at Braga and Amarante

http://www.travel-in-portugal.com/Amarante/

In the above article you will read about the Fiesta of São Gonçalo where young men and women exchange breads in the shapes of penises, quite the spectacle.

caer

Agree with CYESQ, too many days for small towns. If you will have a car it might be better to travel north first and save Lisbon for the end. You won't need a car in Lisbon. We've been to Portugal many times and did a similar trip last September. You could check out Tomar,2 days, be sure to visit the Convento de Cristo; Coimbra,3 days. From there you can go to the Douro Valley on a leisurely drive visiting Penacova and Lamego before arriving in the Valley; try the little town of Pinhao for 3 days. From there you can visit some wineries and also visit the archaeological site of Foz Coa which has 15-30,000 year old rock carvings. From there you could visit Guimaraes for 2 days, the 'birthplace of Portugal' and it's also close to the remains of an Iron Age settlement called Citania dos Briteiros. If you have a couple of extra days, Braga is in this area. Then to Porto for a few days. Drive down the coast to Nazare for 2 days. Nazare is close to Obidos(which does only take a a few hours)and also Alcobaca. Then to Sintra for 3 days ending up in Lisbon. This creates a loop drive.

Check out these websites for info on Northern Portugal http://www.portugalvirtual.pt/_touri...rde/index.html
http://www.portugaltravelguide.com/en/amarante.htm

With a little research you can plan a unique trip!

Kaba

We're actually planning our vacation from Boston to Lisbon at roughly the same time as you, so interesting to look at your itinerary. Just one idea that I came across, the Festa dos Tabuleiros (Festival of the Trays) begins on July 2 in Tomar. This festival is only held once every four years. We're thinking of trying to visit Tomar once it begins, but am not sure it will fit in with our plans. Here is just one of many links: http://www.otemplario.pt/dossiers/do.../?d=31&id+6162

Hope you have a wonderful vacation--we can't wait!