isabel

I'm planning a trip this coming July and want to spend about 10-14 days in Portugal. I'll be alone and won't want to rent a car. I was originally thinking just Lisbon with a few day trips for 6-7 days but I'm now thinking I want to spend longer and see some other areas. So I'd like suggestions for what you'd do in the summer in Portugal with that amount of time. I'd like to do as much as possible from Lisbon as a base but I'm willing to do a couple of nights elsewhere, just don't want to move every night. Suggestions?

By the way, in case it makes any difference in your advice, after leaving Portugal I'll be flying to Copenhagen for another week or so there.

Piesdeplomo

Daytrips from Lisbon:
+Obidos (about 80-100 kms. north) +Setubal (about 50 kms. south, to eat fresh seafood) and Peninsula de Troia (you take a ferry from Setubal and will be able to enjoy an almost 30 kms. long beach... almost desert).
+Sintra (a MUST), about 30 kms. from Lisbon and Cabo da Rocha. If you there is time left, you could visit the same day Cascais (Boca do informe and fishing village) and Estoril (Casino).
*If you are thinking of heading south, to Algarve, I have heard really good things from Portuguese people about Vila Nova de Milfontes, but I haven't tried yet.
*I would recommend a visit to Porto area. Although I am not very fond of Porto itself, perhaps you would like to do the bodegas tour. The river area is also attractive although a bit neglected. But what I wouldn`t miss at this area is Guimaraes, about 60 kms. north from Porto: a really beautiful town. Perhaps you would like to lodge at Quintas at this area (they are Rural Palace-kind lodgings with relatively reasonable prices and the best ambience). Braga is also worth a visit near there.
*Alentejo is a experience: Evora, Marvao, Castelo de Vide and Monsanto are worth of a visit individually. If you are able to visit the four of them in couple of days... well, I don`t think you will feel disappointed.
I can`t think about other suggestions now.
Cheers.

xxxx

I think you've received some excellent suggestions in the above post.

Marvao and then Alentejo were highlights of our trip.

We also enjoyed the Templar ruins at Tomar.

Piesdeplomo

This foro is great! I haven't visited Tomar, so I have an additional idea about future trips to Portugal (I travel there quite frequently).
Another suggestion I had forgotten is Coimbra: old universitary city with roman remains nearby (Coninbriga).

PrincessOfPenguins

Do not miss Sintra! And eat lots of bacalhau (yum!)

isabel

Thanks for the replys. Obidos is definity someplace that I want to go to. I realize it's fairly close to Lisbon but how easy is it to get there? Do you think it can be done in a day trip, or would an over night be required. Bus, train? Same question for Evora and Setubal. I'm finding information about those places but not how to get to them from Lisbon. I'm definitly planning on Sintra and Cascais but those I have information on and they seem very easy to do as day trips by train. Thanks for your help.

michi

Obidos (inside the walls) is small and easy walking. Our first trip to Obidos more than 30 years ago, we stayed at the pousada with two meals per day (several courses) cost less than $20CD a couple. I've been there several times since and nothing has changed except the hordes of toursts in the summer. Still worth seeing.

Bus (public transportation) may be an option since you can relax, people watch and enjoy the passing scene and villages on your way. But make sure you understand the schedule because it can be complicated. We took a bus from Leiria to Fatima once - for a short distance a hair-raising ride down "too narrow" streets. On the way back nobody told us that being Sunday, the bus did not run. I won't bother you with the details that followed but luckily it turned out to be an interesting and hilarious situation with an excellent ending.

Consider a one-day excursion which would probably cover Nazare as well. It's high season and the area will be busy with people, cars and buses. You don't have to stay overnight but it will be a full day.

Matt_from_England

I've been around the Africa section and have only now ventured out into this forum. So, living just south of Lisbon I'll give you a list of things to do whilst in the city:

1 - Tourist tram around the old quarter. From Praça do Commercio. 15 euros or so pp. great views of the narrow cobbled streets no wider than the antique tram, past the castle and looking out over terraces and terra cotta tiled roofs. Makes 1 stop for 10 minutes or so at Basilica de Estrela. Huge Cathedral - free to enter, but don't catch the tram at lunch or it'll be closed.

2: Catch the ferry from Cais do Sodre to Cacilhas. 65 cents each way. Great views to Lisbon itself from the southern bank. Take a cab to Christo Rei. Climb up to Christ's feet and admire the 360º view. Fantastic photography of the Ponte 25 de Abril.

3: Saturdays - catch a cab to Feira de Ladra - a huge open air flea market in the old quarter. Watch out for pick pockets but brilliant photo ops.

4: Go to Castelo S. Jorge for a calm afternoon in the shade. Not sure if you pay to enter now. Good views across old quarter.

5. Take an elevator ride up Santa Justa downtown. A bit like the Eiffel tower, get off the lift climb the rickety spiral stairs to the bar on top. Very expensive to drink up there. Amazing if somewhat vertigo inducing views.

6. EXPO - go to the Oceanarium. Amazing to see the sharks.

7: Take a cab or tram to Belem. A MUST SEE is Mosteiro dos Geronimos. The resting place of Vasco da Gama. UNESCO world heritage site. Monument to the Discoveries across the park and Belem Tower. (Tor de Belem) Fill up with traditional pastries in "Pasteis de Belem." Just ask someone, everyone knows where it is.

8. Take the train from Cais do Sodre to Cascais - about 1/2 hr along the coast. Great views to the sea. Lots of wonderful restaraunts in Cascais - and once there take a cab to "Boca do Inferno." Don't stand to close to the edge of the cliffs though.

9. Bairro Alto. Daytime, nice old shopping area, steep hills cobbled roads charming shops and coffee shops. Lively at night - visit a Fado house for dinner wine and live fado music.

I've have a million other suggestions: feel free to email me... [email protected].

Take care, Matt

lobo_mau

perfect post.

michi

Matt_from_England and Piesdeplomo

Isabel was lucky to get your excellent lists of things to see and do in and around Lisbon, and daytrips from Lisbon.

Can you make a separate post on these two topics (one post) that will help all those looking for good advice.

Lisbon: things to see and do around Lisbon and interesting daytrips.

Thanks.

Matt_from_England

michi:

"Can you make a separate post on these two topics (one post) that will help all those looking for good advice."

How much space have you got? I've lived here for almost ten years, am married to a Portuguese girl and have made Lisbon my home. That short list was just off the top of my head: I'll get some more things together and post something in the next few days. Glad to be of service!

Take care,

Matt