Lisbon, Porto and Southern Galicia Costal region
 

Hello all:

I am in the very early stages of planning a trip to Lisbon/Porto/ Southern Galicia Coastal region for early September. I will have 9 days.

Initial plan is to:
- fly into Porto
- hire a car and head north to Pontevedra, or the coastal area of South Galicia
- back to Porto and then take a train to Lisbon
- Fly out of Lisbon

I will have a car from the 29th August to 3rd September, so we would like to explore the Southern Coastal Galician region during that period.

From the 4th to the 7th, I will be relying on public transportation, so I thought I would take a train from Porto south to Lisbon, which I have always longed to visit, and then fly back from Lisbon to London.

So, some questions:

I would love to make the best of the car to explore the coastal areas in South Galicia. – from Baiona to areas west of Pontevedra. So where should be our base? Pontevedra (have been before and love the town), or on the coast? If on the coast, where would you suggest? How many days should we stay? What are the highlights?

Porto: How many days to spend in the town? It seems like just on whole day to me, maybe a day and a half. Are there side trips we should take from there?
Lisbon: I have always wanted to visit, and think I will love it. How many days should I commit? If less than three, what side trips would you suggest?

Just in case you think I am not doing my homework, I am reviewing my guidebooks for Northern Spain, Galicia, Portugal, Lisbon, and have all the maps. :)

Best regards Ger

This is such a special area to explore. Lisbon, four days, three for Porto.. Loved Baiona. We may return to Galicia and someday and stay in El Grove.

Hello Stranger, hope you are well.
I am sure you will love Porto and Lisbon. I'd think you could easily spend at least two days in Porto and surrounding area. Yes, three or four for Lisbon, I think you will easily find much to interest you.

Hello Kavey :)

can we meet up in London for dinner soon, I'd love to see you.

Hugs Ger

HappyTvlr - many thanks for the O/El Grove recommendation. I am definitely staying there.

Here is my first try at an itinerary:

Friday 29th August
Fly from London to Santiago de Compestela, arrive mid-day.
Activity: Explore Santiago
Hotel: The Parador or the San Francisco hotel

Saturday 30th August
Activity: Explore Santiago in the morning.
Travel: Pick up the car in the afternoon and drive to Pontevedra. Explore Pontevedra, have lunch, then drive to the hotel in O Grove.
Hotel: Hesperia Isla la Toja (would love to stay at the Gran Hotel de Toja, but it is running £250 per night!)
Activity: Wander down to the town and eat in one of the very fine restaurants.

Sunday 31st August
Activity: Drive the Rias Baixas, have a leisurely lunch. Back to O Grove, and another nice dinner.
Hotel: Hesperia Isla la Toja

Monday 1st September
Activity: Drive to Porto, explore the wine Minho wine region on the way. Leave the car back.
Hotel: Stay at the InterContinental (good prices on the discount websites!)

Tuesday 2nd September
Activity: Explore Porto.
Hotel: Stay at the InterContinental

Wednesday 3rd September
Activity: Explore Porto
Travel: Take a train to Lisbon in the early evening.
Hotel: Beautique Hotels Figueira is looking good!

Thursday 4th September -Sunday 7th September
Activity: Explore Lisbon, Sinstra and possibly another side trip
Travel: Fly back to London on the latest flight I can get


How does this look? Manic, I assume. 

Best regards Ger

For those who which to know it is O Grove, never El Grove.
OReilly Are you hiring a car in Galicia and dropping it off in Portugal? If so have you got over the reparation fees? And if you have please tell us how you have done it?
Yes, the schedule, for me, is manic.

O'Reilly
We were in Portugal first and dropped our Portugese rental car off in Porto.Then,after staying in Porto for three-four nights we took a taxi to Vigo where we picked up our Spanish rental car. This was much less expensive than the drop off fee from one country to another( we would be dropping our Spanish car off in Barcelona at the end of our trip.)
If there is a way for you to stop and see the Parador in Baiona for it's views, I highly recommend it.
Sorry for the typo with O Grove! Be sure to try some Albarino. Have a wonderful trip. HT

Bugger, I had completely forgotten about the repatriation fees :(. back to the drawing board.

Revised Plan, which I think is actually better.

Friday 29th August
Fly from London to Porto, arrive afternoon.
Activity: Drive to O Grove
Hotel: Hesperia

Saturday 30th August
Activity: Drive the Rias Baixas, have a leisurely lunch. Back to O Grove, and another nice dinner.
Hotel: Hesperia

Sunday 31st August
Activity: Explore Pontevedra and area. Drive to Mazedo in the Minho, explore the wine Minho wine region on the way.
Hotel: Solar de Serrade in the Minho

Monday 1st September
Activity: Explore the Minho. Drive to Porto. Return car.
Hotel: InterContinental

Tuesday 2nd September
Activity: Explore Porto.
Hotel: InterContinental

Wednesday 3rd September
Activity: Explore Porto
Travel: take a train to Lisbon in the early evening.
Hotel: Beautique Hotels Figueira

Thursday 4th September -Sunday 7th September
Activity: Explore Lisbon, Sinstra and possibly another side trip
Travel: Fly back to London on the latest flight I can get

BTW, thanks for the 'heads up' guys re the repatriation fees. I have totally forgotten as its been years since I did this (and I don't remember it ben that expensive). I prefer the new itinerary- not quite so frantic.

Would be my pleasure, but none of the email I have for you have got through lately. Mine are same so please just drop me an email, or contact me via FB. x