glenmd

Hey folks,

I will have 10 days in Portugal in mid-November and am having some challenges on figuring out how to split up my time. How many days in Lisbon? One other destination or two?

1. I will not have access to a car.
2. Flying in and out of Lisbon
3. Interests- history, architecture, art, natural beauty; limited interest in food, none at all in wine or shopping.
4. The 10 days are full days, i.e. travel to and from Europe is not included.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

IMDonehere

You can take day trips to Sintra and Cascais by train. Sorry, after that I have never taken anything but a car to other towns.

Robert2533

If you weren't flying in and out of Lisbon, you could have split your time between Lisbon and Porto. But if you don't mind taking the train, you can start your time in Lisbon and head up to Porto for a few days before heading back to Lisbon to catch you flight home.

glenmd

Thanks for the feedback. Based on what I have found, I am leaning towards four days in Lisbon, 3 based out of Evora, and three in Porto. Sintra will definitely be a day trip out of Lisbon.

The southern coast in Algarve looks appealing, but I get the impression that the south coast of Portugal is largely beach country which mostly shuts down in the off-season.

PalenQ

Evora is nice but there are few public transit options to get out of town - I'd say Evora is a major detour and you could better use your time going between Lisbon and Porto - stopping in Obidos, a perfect walled medieval town and to places like Coimbra - and use Porto as a base - some great day trips by train - Braga, Guimares (part of the Portuguese national patrimony due to its royal links or whatever) - both sweet regional towns a short train ride from Porto.

I liked Evora but was expecting more - it will take half a day to get there and then you have to go back thru Lisbon to go north.

Trains are great between Lisbon and Porto (including Obidos) - I'd do like Robert says above - Evora is nice but those other places are also neat and you won't have to back track. For lots of great info on Portuguese trains check these IMO superb sites: www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com - check the latter's free online European Planning & Rail Guide's chapter on Portugal by train for rail itineraries.

Lisbon is nice but I enjoyed Porto even more - much older looking and IMO old-world romance - reminded me of the Europe I first saw decade ago. Fast trains make getting between Porto and Lisbon a snap in just a few hours.

glenmd

Thanks PalenQ.

Looking at the train schedules, Evora does seems to be a little out of way. I still may go there (will decide over the weekend), but I am leaning towards stopping somewhere between Lisbon and Porto for a couple of nights so the trip would be split 4-2-4 )Lisbon- ?? - Porto.

PalenQ

I stayed in Nazarre, a quaint fishing town and one with a nice beach but not one taken over by its resort status as you find on the Algarve.

Lots of whitewashed lanes where locals broil the day's catch over open fires and sell them to the public.

And a great base - I took day trips by bus to nearby Alcbaca (famous monastery) and toe Batalha - even more famous monastery and I think a UNESCO World Heritage site.


Coimbra would also be a short enough day trip - great upper town with university with monumental quadrangle.

Great place for a few days Nazarre - not a big city like Lisbon and Porto and easy to get to by train (though the train station is a few kms out of town - buses and taxis of course meet trains).

http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationP..._Portugal.html