myraoncomputer

Looking at planning a vacation for the summer of 2016. I can't decide between two destinations Amalfi Coast, where because of flights I would arrive in Rome spend a couple of nights there and have 8 nights to go to Amalfi Coast area. I have been to Rome before so I don't need to spend that much time there. The alternative trip would be Lisbon for 4-5 nights and then Algarve for 5 nights.
We like sightseeing, walking, history, some musuems good food, some night life, mainly sitting at a bar and people watching.
From looking at pictures Amalfi scenary looks more spectatulor which is a pro Amalfi but it is alot more expensive and I have been to Rome before and have never been to Portugal.
Any help would be appreciated.

sandralist

If cost is a factor, Portugal is delightfully cheap. It also has a much livielier nightlife than the Amalfi. I adore the food and wine in Portugal (I think the wine is better than anything in the vicinity of the Amalfi), but classic Portuguese dishes are more exotic and unfamiliar to many palates than southern Italian fare.

Culturally, Portugal and Italy are just very, very different places, although the fact that they both ruled geographically vast empires for a very long time that ultimately came to ruin makes for a lot of interesting sightseing. Although Lisbon gets plenty of tourists, it is much easier to get off the beaten track and make your own discoveries in the beguiling city.

Having not been to the Algarve, can't make a direct comparison to the Amalfi regarding scenery or ambience, but in summertime I would expect maximum tourist impact in both places. The Algarve may get more package tourism than the Amalfi does, and if you want to avoid that atmosphere, you might need to look harder for where to stay.

Also, if you think you want Italy but are having trouble with the costs, consider the Cilento area south of the Amalfi, or Sardinia.

sandralist

Info on the Cilento

http://www.romeing.it/cilento/

http://www.theguardian.com/travel/20...bate-acciaroli

http://www.cntraveller.com/guides/eu.../where-to-stay

(and on second thought, if you are traveling in summer, Sardinia's prices shoot up)