Well, we made the final decision today...Portugal in November!<BR><BR>Anyone have any advice or comments about cities to not miss or places to stay etc.<BR><BR>Thanks for the help!<BR><BR>US

Do a search first---there have been several good posts on good itineraries.

Hi there,<BR>Until you do that search...well...here are just some of the towns we really enjoyed. WE have been twice, once in December -Central Portugal (5 years ago) and to the Algarve (May 2002). In November, I would skip the Algarve and concentrate on Central. We liked the Algarve, but the really amazing thing for us were the beaches.<BR><BR>So, Lisbon, Sintra, Obidos, Evora and Marvao get my vote. I loved the Pousada in Obidos (you will get conflicting opinions here!).<BR><BR>Madeira is fabulous and I highly recommend it. It is a beautiful island, with great walking trails (the levadas), gracious people and good food. Do the Madeira Wine tour...it is very interesting with lots of worthwhile tastings.<BR><BR>Enjoy!<BR>Jan<BR><BR>

Sintra! It is magical! My favorite place in Portugal, but I enjoyed Lisbon, Evora (visit the chapel of bones) and I liked parts of the Algarve better than others. It's a wonderful country!

Thank you very much for your replies.<BR><BR>US

We stayed in Lisbon as well as Cascais, and then took a day trip to Sintra. Loved all 3 towns!

I'm a US citizen that lived and taught in Portugal for 9 years. Lived in the northwestern part of the country, followed by 2 years in Sintra and 6 years along the coast, outside of Lisbon.<BR>How much time to you have and what level of accommodations are you needing?

We drove all over the Algarve 2 years ago. Enjoyed the friendly people and scenery - especially the "not in the book" little towns.<BR><BR>The "end of the world" was truly spectacular. After seeing it one can understand why they believed the world was flat.<BR><BR>But, I must warn you. They cook everything in Olive Oil - and then, they pour olive oil all over it before it's served. I wondered why all the plates had curved edges like shallow bowls. It is to hold the Olive Oil in! I like to cook with olive oil just as much as the next person, but this was truly excessive. After a few days, all we wanted to eat was fresh vegetables from the stands in all of the little towns. The vegetables, fruit and nuts were WONDERFUL.<BR><BR>Also, a lot of people will try to convice you that grilled sardines are wonderful. We've traveled all over US and Europe and they are about the nastiest thing I've ever tried to eat.<BR><BR><BR>

Sintra, Sintra, Sintra! Very romantic and two wonderful castles to see. Also, see all the monasteries you can (until you get "cloisterphobia")because the manueline architecture is fabulous. Mafra, Batalha, Queluz and Coimbra were places I'd revisit.<BR>The seafood in Portugal was wonderful and their custard desserts were stellar. I've never had better creme brulee.<BR>If you can, try to stay at the posadas - most of the hotels were charmless.

I spent some time in Portugal and enjoyed it immensely. I was there during harvest in the region east of Porto. Beautiful hills filled with vineyards and Porto town has lodges to do some port wine tasting. <BR><BR>Also, the region just north of Lisbon is called Beiras. In the Coimbra region is a small town called Luso that is on the edge of the Bucaco woodlands. It's sort of a park where they charge a small admission. Within this Bucaco area is the Bucaco Palace that is one of the most magnificant sites I have ever seen. It was the hunting palace of the last Portugese kings. If you get a chance to go north, don't miss this. It's now a luxury hotel (Pousada) and restaurant. I've listed the URL below showing a picture of it: <BR><BR>http://www.vilamoura.de/palace.htm<BR><BR>Listed below are the Pousadas, which are government operated hotels which were coverted monastaries, palaces, etc. Most of them are in themselves a destination.<BR><BR>http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/stream/hotels/hotels_po_e.htm<BR><BR>There's a long essay from a couple that tells of their trip that might be of some help....a bit long but worth reading:<BR><BR>http://www.thetravelzine.com/portugal2.htm<BR><BR>Have a wonderful time. Would love to go back myself.<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>

Am not an expert on Portugal, but visited it a few years back and am chomping at the bit for more. Can heartily recommend Lisbon, all its fascinating sides, both old and new; then, weather permitting of course (since November may be somewhat cool), rent a car and saunter up the coast beyond Cascais for some terrific Atlantic coast scenery. And, head south of Lisbon on the coast as well, through small fishing villages like Setubal and on to broad, flat Atlantic beaches. <BR><BR>I hope to catch more of the interior of the country next time. You may find this more appropriate in November.<BR><BR>

Uncle Sam, everybody here gave you good tips on the best cities and places to stay in my country. Lisbon, Cascais, Obidos, Evora (my favorite), Sintra, are all beautiful places to visit.<BR><BR>I would also like to add some North cities, the most beautiful part of Portugal is the North: Viana do Castelo, Bragan&ccedil;a, Guimar&atilde;es, Caminha, Ponte de Lima. Also, the Park odf Peneda do Ger&ecirc;s is beautiful. <BR>I also suggest that you try to stay in Pousadas outside Lisbon. Some of them are historic but they all are very charming and usually with delicious typical food. I just remembered a center city , lovely, Tomar and of course, if you are catholic, go to Fatima, where the Virgin Mary appeared to the 3 litle shepperds.<BR>Feel free to email me if you have any questions, I am Portuguese.

Trust you like the ocean. If so, then travel just north and south of Lisbon, there is incredible scenery like cliffs, beaches, and the rough rolling Atlantic. All along are small fishing villages; an especially nice one is Sesimbra (or Setubal?) just south of Lisbon.

Teresa: I have seen many of your posts recently and am interested in what you would suggest for a trip focusing on Lisbon and the area north. We enjoy castles, churches and small towns. Thank you.

not an expert but will say that you should take the names that some have suggested than to go to Google.com and Yahoo.com and search for photos. I did this for sintra and this is what I found. <BR><BR>http://geo.ya.com/travelimages/portugal30.html

xxx,In Lisbon you have plenty to see, from churches, Mosteiro dos Jeronimos, Torre de Belem, museums. I also suggest that you hire a car and go to Sintra and spend a day there, you will have beautiful castles and palaces to see. Stop in Piriquita for a tea with "travesseiros" and "queijadas", delicious cookies. Drive also to Cascais and have a lunch or dinner in one ogf Guincho's (a beach) restaurants.<BR><BR>Going North you can stop in Obidos, lovely historic location, Alcoba&ccedil;a, with its monastery,Coimbra (I suggest you to stay in Quinta das Lagrimas)and Minho has also lovely small places. <BR>You should take the car with a map and go and discover Portugal. Portugal is full of castles and history. Guimar&atilde;es is the birth of our nation also, worth a visit, Viana do Castelo. In Beira I like very much Viseu.