Lisbon in January? Or any other suggestions?
 

I am looking for a place to go for about six nights in early January, to which we would add two nights at the end in Paris, and would appreciate any input. We are a couple in our early 70s, and our adult son will again accompany us on the trip. We all walk a LOT, and particularly enjoy art, museums, gardens, architecture, and good food. We’re from the LA area; while not used to very cold weather, we did fine last January in London for a week. Snow, I think, would not be as easy - so I’ve left off Munich, Berlin, Vienna.

We have been to Nice in December (which we loved - so many museums! and good weather), and have recently been to Paris, Rome, Florence, Madrid, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Prague, Bruges, so those are not on the list now. Plans are to see Copenhagen and Stockholm in the spring. We would like to focus on western Europe (not Greece or Turkey), and I’m thinking that with Brexit in flux, going back to the UK is not a good idea (not to mention the weather).

Looking at a map of the Mediterranean, I am thinking of Lisbon, and would appreciate any comments on that timing. We plan on taking one day to see Sintra. When I look at Google maps, I do see an awful lot of graffiti in some areas - is that something that is pervasive, or unusual, and did it color your impressions of the city? I’m differentiating graffiti from street art (I see there are art walks for that). I do love sunny days, and it seems like Lisbon would have that, as well as a number of museums. The only other place I am attracted to is Bordeaux.

Thank you for any advice you can give! I appreciate your insights.

We love Bordeaux and spend a lot of time there since we have a family home not too far at the seaside. That said, I wouldn't really recommend it in January-just a bit too cool and not enough sun there for my taste for that time of year. But definitely put it on your list for a future spring or fall trip.

I think Lisbon could be a great choice. But I would also consider Seville that time of year and if you want seaside Malaga isn't far away and it is also a wonderful city. The whole of Andalusia is nice in the winter-so much too see and not nearly as many tourists. You don't say if you are planning on having a car-that might also change some of my thoughts on where to go.

Thank you, jpie. I did consider Seville, which we briefly saw maybe ten years ago (along with Ronda and Granada - we had a car that time). We loved the whole area - especially the Alhambra! This time, we will not have a car, so I think you’re right, it would be more difficult to do then.

Another factor for me is the ease of flying LAX to whichever city we choose. When I plug in any connecting flight to Seville (Air France, Iberia), I get a five hour layover and that’s too long for us. :( Even though a flight to Malaga would be faster, I don’t think Malaga would be as interesting as Seville or Granada; we would have to spend one night there, then move on, and with such a short time frame, we would prefer to make the first destination the one we’d like to spend time in.

But it’s a good suggestion to look into! Thank you. And I already have a file for a French Pyrenees + Bordeaux trip!

You might also look at Norwegian Air from LAX. Even though we always keep our fingers crossed that they will still be in business when we book, we love their Premium class that goes non-stop to London Gatwick and then on to Malaga. British Airways and Easyjet and Iberia also connect to Malaga from Gatwick.

I do agree that Malaga isn't as lovely a city as Seville to me, however, I think it could make a good winter destination trip. British air and easyjet also fly from Gatwick to Seville as an alternative if you decide to think about Spain some more.

We will be going to Portugal next spring but have been a bit hesitant to go in the winter although I think most of the time the weather should be fairly good that time of year

I've traveled to Lisbon twice recently in the winter (November) and once spent a wonderful Xmas-NYE holiday there with my parents, then on to Madeira.

On our recent November trips the Lisbon weather was mostly beautiful/warm during the day with no need for a coat until the late evening. The Christmas lights and the Christmas tree in the Praça do Comércio should still be up in Lisbon until January 6, Epifany, if you can be there by then--it's a festive, very pretty time. *We've stayed both in Chiado and off the Avenida da Liberdade, both pleasant, attractive surroundings.

And museums & beautiful churches abound: the exquisite Gulbenkian, the Tile Museum, the vast Naval Museum, Jerónimos Monastery & attached Archaeological Museum, National Coach Museum, Museu Nacional de Arte Antigua (its National Gallery), Foundation Medeiros e Almeida for decorative arts (another private collection) and the contemporary Berardo Collection, just to name a few! There would be plenty to keep you busy for 5 days with a day to visit Sintra for its monuments & gardens.

We've also used Málaga and Sevilla as late February destinations and found it warm and sunny. Málaga boasts 320 days of sun a year and their Christmas light display is quite impressive, plus it's now become a city of museums (37 of them).

We also fly from the west coast and to see all the various flight connections, use matrix.itasoftware.com to find the quickest possible routing, as flying from the west coast to Europe can make for a grueling, extremely tiring day/night. We now choose a non-stop directly to a European gateway (London or Paris) and connect from there. Delta flies LAX to LIS connecting through CDG (Delta to CDG, Air France to LIS), but you may have probably already checked that.

Thank you both for the Malaga suggestion - I’ll do some further research on that. I didn’t realize there were so many museums there, and the flights are pretty good.

Can anyone address this concern I posted above re: Lisbon? "When I look at Google maps, I do see an awful lot of graffiti in some areas - is that something that is pervasive, or unusual, and did it color your impressions of the city? I’m differentiating graffiti from street art (I see there are art walks for that)."

If you do decide on Lisbon I would love to hear any of your follow up comments about how you decide to route from LA, where you stay, etc. We are excited to visit Portugal next spring. We had all the planning to go last spring but my DH had some last minute health concerns crop up. We have two friends now who have decided to emigrate to Portugal in the past 2-3 years, one to Lisbon and the other to a small town outside of Porto.

You have been to some terrific destinations so far and it sounds like both Malaga and Bordeaux will be in the planning for the future.

We love the Chiado area around the Carmo Convent, and the Lisboa Carmo is a very nice hotel. I think it's a fine choice.

Thanks, Maribel, I know that you’re the Spain expert and presume you know Lisbon well, too. I like the idea that the hotel faces a leafy square (that’s one of the main reasons I chose it), and that some rooms have lovely panoramic views.

Sorry, jpie was the person asking about info. I couldn’t see the post on my iPhone. :)

Thanks for the info on how you route. We lived in LA for years so I definitely sympathize about the traffic-although having just returned from visiting friends in LA, SF and then returning to our base (now) of Seattle I can't believe that traffic was easier in LA out of all of those places-at least LA has lots of long straight roads compared to the Bay area and here in Seattle-never thought I would see the day when I was actually preferring LA traffic :)

We might consider the Air France flight out of LAX as we may leave from Palm Springs next year-our first destination will be Bordeaux which is why we tend to fly Norwegian to Gatwick, but the Paris flight could work as well.

Iwan2go,
Of all the spots in the Chiado, the leafy square around the Carmo Convent is actually my favorite. It's just a block or so off the increasingly tourist packed Rua Garret, yet quiet and pretty. The Chiado also is filled with great dining spots, both casual and gourmet, which are within a short walk from the Lisboa Carmo, although the bistrot of the hotel is quite well priced and offers something that would appeal to every palate. And it's especially nice in a Lisbon hotel to have the panoramic views of the Tagus.

To minimize the uphill climbs from the Baixa (flat area) to Chiado we've used the escalators in the Baixa-Chiado metro station that bring you up to the exit for Rua Garret, then turn right and walk the short uphill distance to the Largo do Carmo.
Or you can find the Baixa entrance to the Armazéns shopping center (where the Mango and FNAC stores are) and use the elevators or escalators inside this mall to the 5th floor get up to the Rua Garret, then walk up Rua Sacramento to the Largo do Carmo.

To handle the Lisbon/Sintra/Porto/Coimbra/Douro hills and the cities' slippery cobblestones I wear my trusted lightweight platform loafers with really thick, sturdy soles. Any brand will do, so long as the shoe has a heavy, gripping sole, as danon notes!

I don't mean to hijack your post Iwan2go but just a quick question to Maribel. We are planning on a trip next spring and I am concerned because I don't walk all that well. Would that area around Largo do Carmo given what you have said about using the escalators etc. be an okay choice for us. I don't use a cane or anything-just have old arthritic knees and hips and don't do well on too much incline....

Thanks danon-since we will also have a car we are considering staying outside the city in Cascais for much of the tripand then leaving our car there and just spending one or two nights in Lisbon while we see friends who live in the city and visit a bit. I have a feeling I am going to want to use cabs in the cit in addition to the escalators and elevators....

Hi jpie,
I think you might be ok but there will still be climbs, inclines. In Lisbon it's just darn hard to avoid them, as danon notes. But using the elevators/escalators from Baixa to Chiado, the Elevadores (but always packed with tourists) or by using taxis (cheap) or even the electric tuk tuks that have invaded Lisbon (I don't use them, but they do come in handy for the mobility impaired) you can minimize somewhat the climbs. From the top of the metro escalator at Rua do Carmo, you'll still have to walk up Rua Sacramento to reach the Largo de Carmo.
Like danon, we use the inexpensive taxis when tired.

A better place, and still an attractive place for those with arthritic knees, would be the bottom, southern stretch of the leafy, café-kiosk and international boutique lined Avenida da Liberdade, where danon stays... some lodging closer to the flat Praça Restauradores & Rossio station.
Hotels that come to mind: Avenida Palace right next to Rossio station (dead central!), Heritage Avenida da Liberdade, BessaLiberdade, Residencial Florescente, the new-ish O Artista suites, Lisbon Wine Hotel.

In the past I've stayed in Chiado, in Lapa (need taxis), at the top of the Avenida da Liberade across from Eduardo VII park (near metro but a real hike) and in the middle of the Avenida da Liberdade at my favorite hotel, the Britânia. But I don't yet (knock on wood) have arthritic knees/hips. We do enjoy the Avenida da Liberdade middle section, but we do get our cardiovascular exercise staying there!*

Again, I think danon's suggestion, the flat, lower, southern area of Liberdade, is a better one for you.
*