Lisbon/Andalucia Itinerary coming together…
 

I am planning this trip for April 2023, but that is flexible. I am planning two parts and my adult daughter will join me for one week of this approx 3-week adventure. In Spain, I will be using Tour Andalucia for 10 days in Seville, Grenada, Cordoba, Malaga, and some of the Pueblos Blanco. Tour Andalucia appeals for several reasons: very small groups (minimum 2, maximum 7), hub tour allowing me to unpack once; lightly guided with the majority of my time on my own. I am also planning one week in Lisbon/Sintra. My questions:

• is April a good time to go?
• What do you recommend for transport from Lisbon to Malaga (where TA collects me)? I am a bit leery of driving alone.
• Thoughts on Lisbon before or after Andalucia? (I am flying from the east coast of the USA)
• The tour includes just one day in Sevilla and I think I want more, so maybe a stopover in Seville, enroute from Lisbon to Malaga?
• I want an apartment in Lisbon. At this time AirBnB has lots to offer. I want something nice - I think this is where my daughter will join me. And this a birthday celebration for me! I am too old for the noisy night life! I am reading about Baixa and Caido. I like being a residential area but within a few minutes walk to the sites - just like so many others! What neighborhoods do you recommend.
• the Lisboa Card sounds like a good idea. Agreed?

All ideas are welcome.

Regarding April...as we discovered this year, Good Friday through Easter (and the week previous) is damn busy in Lisbon and Sintra.

We really enjoyed our stay at the Visionaire Apartments in Baixa. Blissfully quiet, yet very central, with Rossio station mere steps away.

The Visionaire Apartments

Thank you, melnq8, I forgot about Easter. So late April - very late - in Lisbon makes more sense. And I will look into Visionaire Apartments.

We love Seville and it definitely deserves more than one day. We spent 4 nights/3 days in Seville and could have used another day. So, yes, spending more time in Seville is worthwhile and highly recommended.

Thanks Karen Woo for validating my guess. It is easy to refine my itinerary to include more time in Seville. Nothing is booked yet.

"the Lisboa Card sounds like a good idea. Agreed?"

According to the Portugal experts on the board, they say "no" to the Lisboa Card. We're going in a few weeks and decided against it mainly because we're old enough to get the senior discounts at many of the attractions we want to see. Hopefully someone will chime in on it.

Thanks. Very helpful. I have not found those cards to provide value in any place I have been. The transportation card is a different story.

Revised itinerary after more research, three weeks total:

• late April - one week in Lisbon and Sintra. Getting an apartment in Baixa or Ciado. Daughter may be with me on this leg.
• Early May - fly to Malaga alone where I am collected by Tour Andalusia. 9 nights in their B&B in Molina with day trips to Grenada, Cordoba, Ronda, Malaga, Seville, and a few of the Pueblos Blanco
• train to Seville (because the previous segment is only one day in Seville). Stay 4 nights, I think. Maybe a cooking class. Any suggestions?
• in Seville, I am looking for a smallish accommodation - maybe a B&B - a bit more upscale perhaps. Do you have any suggestions?

thank you for any help you can offer.

I am glad you are giving Sevilla more time. Granada could stand another day too.

I just finished reading the Lisbon trip report from melnq8. Egads. The crowds! Maybe I should simply expand my Andalucia itinerary and see more of Spain.

I always use Booking.com to find accommodations. Loads of filters to refine the search, reviews from guests. With further research you can make a direct reservation at the chosen establishments website if you so choose.
I choose to avoid cooking classes. Prefer to splash out on good food found at bars and restaurants.

MyBaggage, I posted a response on Mel’s trip report regarding spending more time in Andalusia and omitting Lisbon/Sintra.