Yes, actually the direct flight from Luton (near where will be) to Porto actually has the best time, so I'm leaning towards that.

Porto-Lisbon trains take 2:35 on fastest trains which go frequently and are the only real higher-speed modern rail lines in Portugal. So a return flight to Porto if cheapest would be easy and trains are cheap even at full-price though again you can score discounts by booking early enough but those are usually train-specific and can't be changed.

and again too Coimbra is right on main rail line Porto-Lisbon and makes a class few-hour stop or potential overnight before return flight from Porto if late enough in day.

We spent 4 days in Lisbon which included a day trip to Sintra. Here's a trip report with our itinerary, photos, recs, and cost breakdown:
http://fanofblank.blogspot.com/2017/...nd-sintra.html

If calamares excite your Portugal is your place!

https://www.google.com/search?q=port...w=1536&bih=759

indy girl - thank you for the link to your blog. That was extremely helpful!! If we do 3 nights in Porto we will have about 1/2 a day less than you did in Lisbon, so your blog gave me a good idea of what we can accomplish and what we might need to cut out.

PalenQ - calamari (especially grilled, as opposed to fried) REALLY excites me!! Best ever so far has been in a little out of the way restaurant in Verona, I will gladly work hard to try and see if that can be beat in Portugal!

Do train tickets from Porto to Lisbon need to be bought in advance to get best price? Thanks~

We loved Lisbon. The Hotel Avenida Palace is outstanding.
http://www.hotelavenidapalace.pt/en/hotel-overviewhtml

Do train tickets from Porto to Lisbon need to be bought in advance to get best price? Thanks~>

Yes but full price in Portugal is cheaper than most of Europe.

I haven't been to Portugal, but have been all around Europe since the 70s. Personally, I'd pick Argentina. I absolutely loved it although I stayed the whole time in Buenos Aires. I'd go back to Argentina in a heartbeat.

Happy Travels!

You're welcome, jgg! Glad my blog was helpful. :) Hope you're able to put together a good itinerary for Porto, Lisbon, and Sintra. Happy travels!

Lisboa is flat except for the parts that aren't.

Portuguese food is under appreciated, especially the bread.

But as a country, it is much less diverse than Spain, and the people are very different. The Portuguese are kind but morose.

We have visited numerous times, including a week in Madeira, and would recommend it more someone who has seen a bit of Europe. Some of my favorite Portuguese towns include Evora, Braga, Sintra, Amarante, and Cascais.

Morose? Really? Don't interact much with the locals now, do we?

Many Catholics go to Portugal to visit Fatima for the apparition of the Virgin Mary in 1917. It could be interesting to stop there for an hour or two. Fatima is just off the route from Lisbon to Porto.

I notice you haven't visited the Basque Country in Spain yet, which also might be intriguing? I have read more about the people and their language than I have about the sights though.

Morose? Really? Don't interact much with the locals now, do we?
_______________
Yes. My favorite stories are about Brazilians who visit Portugal with the expectations of greater communication because of the common language and basis in culture, only to find out how different they are.

I once did a personal video about the festival in Amarante where young men and women give each breads in the shape of phalluses to show their interests. It is during the Festa de São Gonçalo. (Google it yourself.)The tradition is hundreds of years old. And vendors are selling these phalluses all over town, some are huge, and they are hanging everywhere. And the townspeople are acting like best friend just died. Pretty funny.

It is in June

I did not find the people in Lisbon, Cascais or Sintra to be "morose". They were warm and welcoming to us.

RE: walking in Lisbon-- the granite sidewalks can be extremely slippery. Watch your step. I was walking in Birkenstocks, which have a decently grippy sole, but I fell down twice when the walks had just been washed off.

Lisboa is flat except for the parts that aren't.>

like saying it is hilly except the parts that aren't. Both statements IMO are true. If that sounds morose so be it!

Plaen

In your case it is verbose, not morose.

Mine is an ironic syllogism.

You have an excellent choice called Andaluzia. Portugal is not what you whant, as it may seem a litlle booring. Just go somewhere else. Please.

You live in Porto and you are encouraging people not to visit? Seems odd.

Seems odd.>

very very odd.

morosely verbose?