Lisbon to Porto via Fatima
 

We are arriving for our long-awaited trip to Portugal - 16 days to go!! Initially, we will be driving from Lisbon to Porto with an overnight somewhere in between. I know the trip isn't overly long and we could drive straight through, but we've decided to take a very leisurely drive on the first day.

We will make a stop in Fatima - so our mothers will be satisfied. After reading the forum, we understand that we will most likely be here for only an hour...but it is a must stop for us.

Question - where should we stay for that first evening? I've been thinking Coimbra - but I was looking for thoughts/previous experiences. This will be our first full day in Portugal and we will still be adjusting from our travels. Most likely, we will want a very relaxed evening with some good food and wine.

Also, I've read about a fabulous pottery shop on the road to Porto on the forum. Is this anywhere near the route we are taking?

The next morning we will make our way to Porto for 3 nights. Then onto Salema and finishing the trip in Lisbon.

As always, any help is appreciated.
Tracee

TraceeC, you will love Portugal. Believe me, an hour is plenty at Fatima. My dear mother would have wished me to stop there also. But the commercialism of the shops around the basilica is a bit off-putting. Portugal has so many other magnificent churches, monasteries, cathedrals etc.

We spent several nights in Batalha at Hotel Casa do Outiero (link: http://www.casadoouteiro.com/ ). Ask for a room facing the Santa Maria monastery - it's very pretty at night when it's all lit up. Very nice staff, good breakfast, and a decent and clean room. They also recommended several decent places for dinner, and there's a bakery within easy walking distance with great pastries.

A wonderful pottery shop on the way north is Olaria Vale Coelho www.ovc.com.pt I learned about it on Fodors in a trip report by peppermintpatti. It is located a local road between Alcobaca and Batalha, right side of road. Family owned and very welcoming. Filled to the brim with every shape and color of pottery imaginable. He exports to US stores.He didn't offer shipping or I would have bought even more from him. Don't miss Alcobaca's cathedral.(We skipped Fatima but later visited Lourdes.)
We spent a night or two at Quinta de Las Lagrimas, an historic property...google King Pedro and Ines, buried in Alcobaca) in Coimbra which has an outstanding restaurant.
If you think that is too far a drive, stop overnight in Obidos.The pousada there has a good restauran too.

Thank you all. I appreciate the suggestions.

How about Obidos? great Castle/Pousada, if you can get in, a short drive from Lisbon and a wonderful, quaint little town?