Mel,
I just wrote a long post answering your questions but it's stuck in moderation.

Yeah, alot of us have been in the same boat.

When did you travel?

Still waiting for that post from Maribel!

Might her post be #21 above?

My post is here, Mel, #21

Porto to Guimarăes by public transportation
https://porto-north-portugal.com/gui...aes-train.html

Schedule
https://www.cp.pt/StaticFiles/timeta...ban-trains.pdf.

Porto to Braga by public transportation
https://porto-north-portugal.com/bra...aga-train.html.

Schedule
https://www.cp.pt/StaticFiles/timeta...ban-trains.pdf.

Hiking--I know you 2 are highly, highly experienced hikers and don't need a guided hike, but these are some hikes to take in the Douro
https://www.portugalgreenwalks.com/a...-walking-tour/
https://www.portugalgreenwalks.com/a...-walking-tour/
https://www.portugalgreenwalks.com/a...-walking-tour/.

Forgot--There is one car rental agency in the Douro—the Europcar office in (Peso da) Régua. Not open on Sundays, closes at 12:30 on Saturdays and closes for lunch break from 1-2:30 (as do several). There are several gas stations in Régua and one in Pinhăo.

Thank you Maribel, you've been wonderful!

Today we booked seven nights in Porto - we'd prefer an apartment, but have booked a hotel for the moment based on a recommendation from a resident of Portugal. That gives us two full days to explore Porto and four days for day trips, two of which will be Guimarăes and Braga.

We also booked three nights at the Vintage House in Pinhăo despite the concerns of others being too long a stay. We can always change our minds as we finesse the details, but we need to get something booked pronto.

We're now trying to choose between three night stays in Tomar, Evora, Coimbra and Sintra. I realize Sintra can be done as a day trip from Lisbon, but it looks like a fascinating place, and with the shorter days of winter, one day there might not cut it.

I like the car idea, but spouse isn't sold, so we might just have to do what we can with public transport this time.

Now off to digest this new information, thank you!

In Sintra I stayed at Casa da Pendoa, in a Mountain View room. It is fairly close to the center of town. Can be reached by taxi if needed. I took the train (from the airport) after spending my arrival night at the Star Inn Lisbon. Cars are generally not a great idea in Sintra. (or Lisbon).

It seems to be listed on Priceline, as well as booking.com . The rooms vary quite a bit, I believe all beds would be considered double or queen?

I don't recommend either of the two Lisbon hotels, but I liked the locations. One (Silk) was on R Tomas Ribeiro, near the Real Palacio, which gets a lot of recommendations. I wasn't fond of the walk up to the lodgings.

The other was near the Gulbenkian and Corte Ingles but I don't know that they are still in business.

I would probably choose Evora, Coimbra and Sintra for your 3-night stays (uber works in Sintra & Cascais)----Evora and Coimbra will afford you more options and nice dining in winter. Evora also has a well-regarded winery, walk-able from the Albergaria de Calvario, the Adega Cartuxa, and the winery has a great in-town Enoteca, a wine bar serving its own wines and traditional dishes.

We caught the train from Lisbon to Sintra for a day trip. The train was easy, not a long journey from memory. A bit of fairly easy walking at the other end. We had dreadful weather, all the views were closed in by cloud

If you enjoy museums don't miss the Gulbenkian in Lisbon.

The decision has been made, Coimbra, Evora and Sintra it is. Thank you for your suggestions during our scramble.

Thoughts on these locations for an apartment in Lisbon?

We're looking for central, but quiet

Santa Justa, near Santa Justa Elavador - it's on the top floor, but there's a small slow elevator in the building

Rua de Santa Justa, 24, Lisbon, 1100-415, Portugal

• In Lisbon Old Town
• Santa Justa Elevator - 2 min walk
• Rossio Square - 3 min walk
• Carmo Convent - 4 min walk
• Figueira Square - 1 min walk
• Dom Pedro IV Statue - 4 min walk

Or: Rua dos Sapateiros, 135, Lisbon, 1100-577, Portugal

• In Lisbon Old Town
• Santa Justa Elevator - 2 min walk
• Rossio Square - 2 min walk
• Lisbon Cathedral - 8 min walk
• Castle of Sao Jorge - 12 min walk
• Gulbenkian Museum - 43 min walk

Or: Rua Áurea 72, 1-2-3 e 4 andar, Lisbon, 1100-060, Portugal

• n Lisbon Old Town
• Commerce Square - 2 min walk
• Santa Justa Elevator - 4 min walk
• Carmo Convent - 5 min walk
• Rossio Square - 5 min walk
• Lisbon Cathedral - 6 min walk

Or: Praça da Figueira, 5, Lisbon, 1100-240, Portugal

• In Lisbon Old Town
• Rossio Square - 1 min walk
• Santa Justa Elevator - 4 min walk
• Carmo Convent - 5 min walk
• Commerce Square - 9 min walk
• Lisbon Cathedral - 10 min walk

Or: Rua de Săo Mamede, 27 - 2º, Lisbon, 1100-533, Lisboa, Portugal

• In Alfama
• Lisbon Cathedral - 4 min walk
• Commerce Square - 6 min walk
• Santa Justa Elevator - 6 min walk
• Rossio Square - 7 min walk
• Carmo Convent - 7 min walk

Mel,
Old Town Lisbon usually refers to the Baixa zone and Alfama

Baixa
Rua Áurea 72, 1-2-3 e 4 andar, Lisbon, 1100-060, Portugal
The former “street of the goldsmiths” in Baixa, the flat, commercial center, One of the 3 main commercial streets of the “downtown Baixa” that start at Rossio square (with metro & train station for Sintra) and lead to and end at Lisbon’s gateway at the river, the huge Praça de Comércio (Terreiro de Paço). It’s flat, very central and it gets very busy (as in super busy) when the cruise ship passengers arrive in high season, but it’s also very handy. There are a couple of hotels on this street, a My Story being one.

Baixa
Rua dos Sapateiros, 135, Lisbon, 1100-577, Portugal
The former “street of the shoemakers” in Baixa, the flat, commercial center.
Since this is the parallel street that sits next to Rua Aurea, above, and runs from Rossio square to the Praça de Comércio, the above description applies here as well. Same basic situation as Rua Area. It sits 2 1/2 block south of the Santa Justa Elevator, so not directly next to the long lines of passengers waiting for an elevator ride in high season (but these lines may not exist now—I don’t know but will soon find out!)

Baixa
Rua de Santa Justa, 24, Lisbon, 1100-415, Portugal
4 blocks east of the Santa Justa Elevator, again, in the flat Baixa area and busy but handy as it’s closer to Rossio station, which is super central. I like the Hotel Santa Justa there, but I assume this is an apartment.

Baixa
Praça da Figueira, 5, Lisbon, 1100-240, Portugal
Praça Figuera is a very busy, large square next to another busy square, the Rossio, the transition point between the Avenida da Liberdade and the flat Baixa. It’s a bustling area, not as attractive to my eyes at Rossio square, so you would want good double glazing in the apartment (if this is an apartment) if directly on this busy square.

Lower Alfama
Rua de Săo Mamede, 27 - 2º, Lisbon, 1100-533, Lisboa, Portugal
This street runs next to Rua Madalena, which starts out flat at the bottom and then climbs and number 27 it appears is at the bottom of the former ancient Arab quarter (and hilly Moorish maze) of Alfama. It’s closer to the cathedral but not as central as the locations above.

My choice for location alone, not knowing the quality or position of the apartments or if the buildings have elevators:
Rua de Santa Justa

Runners up; Area or Sapateiros, because Christmas is not cruise season.

Maribel -

Thank you again for your helpful response. We've booked Rua dos Sapateiros - due in part to it having an elevator, soundproofed rooms and excellent reviews. Our second choice was Rua de Santa Justa, which was a huge apartment, but on the fifth floor that only ran between floors 2-5 so some stairs to deal with.

I think it'll be okay, given the season, unless I'm woefully underestimating how busy Lisbon is at Christmas.

Mel,
The sound proofing and excellent reviews are also very important considerations when booking a Lisbon (or Porto) apartment. An elevator is now very important to us, as we no longer want to do the 3 floor walk ups! I think you'll b ok and enjoy your Christmas in Lisbon!

I'm glad Maribel weighed in. I would also have thought that the area you are looking in might be too busy and noisy (although possibly there are not any really quiet neighborhoods) but I didn't stay there. Found it easy to get around on the subway although buying the fare card was tricky. Uber works really well, too.

Be careful when those cute sidewalks are wet. They are very slick. I was greeted by a "zombie hurricane" during my arrival. This was in October and it was still very busy (but pre COVID). The receptionist said the November starts the quieter and rainier season in Sintra.

We also had a hard time figuring out how to buy the subway train cards from the kiosk and finally found an employee to help.

And yes, the gorgeous mosaic sidewalks are very slick when wet!

A couple of years ago we stayed at the Avenida Palace, I highly recommend it, very nice breakfast, music at the lounge in late afternoon / early evening, good service.