November trip: Lisbon or Barcelona?
 

Hi Everyone,

My husband and I have gotten into taking short (7-10 days) trips, concentrating on one city. This year we are thinking of either Lisbon or Barcelona. We'd probably travel in mid-November. Our goal is to not be very cold - but a bit chilly is fine.

I've looked at weather history for both cities, and temps seem to be about the same, But temp doesn't always tell the whole story - how about wind and rain?

We like museums, strolling around historic areas, historic buildings - and enjoying a glass or two of wine in a nice environment.

Any information or recommendations would be welcome.

Thanks!

If you've never been to Lisbon, you should give it a try. You'll like it!

Robert speaks the truth!!!

Of the two cities I prefer Barcelona. If you're criterion is weather, rather than sights, Lisbon is probably warmer in November.

Lisbon would be my choice. Lovely city.

I love both and in both you have enough to see and to do for a week. However, because of weather, I suggest Lisbon.
We were there at end of one December and the weather was beautiful, sunny and not too cold.

Two wonderful and very different cities, modernistic Barcelona (but with the medieval Gothic quarter) and Old world and imperial Lisboa.

I would perhaps go to Barcelona for the cutting edge theaters, concerts, architecture, museums etc, but not much beats the strange, easy-going Lisboa vibe, and of course the Fado.

These sites give good and updated info:
Barcelona: http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/
Lisboa: http://www.visitlisboa.com/Home_UK.aspx?lang=en-GB

One of Barcelonas greatest daughters, the flamenco dancer Carmen Amaya (1913-1963) is celebrated in the majestic Catalan National Theater until Nov. 10. Fantastic Rocío Molina dances: http://www.tnc.cat/en/la-capitana-ho...men-amaya-info

Perhaps fado vadio (street fado) in tiny A Baiuca in Lisboa?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkfozXTUwU0
http://www.portugaldailyview.com/wha...-small-taverns

Weather statistics for mid November in Barcelona and Lisboa based on past 17 years:

Barcelona: Average highs at 64F night lows at 50F, four hours sun pr day and rainfall 2 out of ten days.

Lisboa: Daily highs at 64F and night lows at 52F, 6 hours sun pr day and rainfall 3 out of ten days. (wetteronline.de)

Lisbon has some fantastic museums and historic sites, the Gulbenkian Museum puts many world class museums to shame it's a definite don't miss. Portuguese wine (excluding port) that I buy in USA is so-so; Portuguese wine consumed in Portugal is not only delicious, it's quite affordable. Prices for everything seem very reasonable. We're going again in October.

Thanks to everyone for your replies. I think it will be Lisbon in November this year. We will see Barcelona on another trip.

Any recommendations for hotel (not over 200 euros/night)and restaurants? We're not real "foodies" but do enjoy a nice meal of local food.

And a final question about the Metro. I have a lot of trouble with escalators, which means I usually cannot ride metros. Does anyone know if there are elevators in the Lisbon metro stations?

Obrigada.

We're going to Lisbon for the first time in October. We're renting an apartment for much less than 200 euro. I'll be interested to see what restaurant recommendations you get.

€200/night should cover you at a number of excellent hotels in the city, including the 5-star Hotel Altis in Lisbon’s historic center, not far from the Bairro Alto. The 4-star boutique hotels Figueira and do Chiado both have views of São Jorge Castle. The popular 5-star Avenida Palace is located at the end of Avenida da Liberdade. My personal favorite, the 5-star Olissippo Lapa Palace is slightly over your budget, but not by much. It's one of the best luxury properties in Europe and a steal when you can get it for under €250/night.

For restaurants, you might be interested in Restaurante Largo for lunch or dinner. Lisboa à Noite, in the Bairro Alto, is worth considering. Restaurant Eleven is on the high end, but worth a look. And Olivier Avenida Restaurant, just off Avenida da Liberdade in the Hotel Tivoli, is very popular.

There are a number of excellent restaurants in the city, so you shouldn't have any problems finding what you're looking for.

Yes, there are escalators and elevators (www.golisbon.com/transport/transport.html).

Robert2533, thanks very much. I'll check out your suggestions.

--Kathy

There seem to be some good deals now at Lapa..LHW, Orient Loyality/clubs and several others.. check them out. As Robert2433 if you can get in there for around 250E gfrab it!!!

I stayed at the Hotel Lisboa Plaza this past May. They are part of a small local chain of boutique hotels. Here is the website, in case you want to check it out: http://www.heritage.pt/heritage-lisbon-hotels

We stayed at the Avenida Palace last year because of its central location, right next to the Rossio Train station and a metro station around the corner.

We were very impressed. It's a gorgeous, well maintained old building with exceptional staff. I cannot recommend them highly enough. We are looking forward to returning there in a couple of weeks.

http://www.hotelavenidapalace.pt/en/...Fc01QgodVEYA0Q

Taxis are plentiful and inexpensive in Lisbon if you have trouble with the metro.

PA-Kathy...

Nikki is right, we found the taxis in Lisbon to be inexpensive too. I travel with my mom, who also has trouble with escalators (especially in the down direction), we are big users of public transport (buses and metros/subways) when we travel. We did use the metro in Lisbon and found we could use a combination of elevators and escalators, but many times we also used taxis, which we don't typically do when we visit Rome, Paris, NYC, San Francisco or Seattle.

Also in certain neighborhoods in Lisbon the streets are very steep, if that is a concern for you. Prior to our May trip I kept reminding my mom of the steepness of Lisbon in general (I had been there before) and until we got there, I think mom didn't realize how steep some areas really would be. Just a heads-up for you. This didn't stop us from doing everything we wanted to do, it just took a little longer. If you would like to read my Portugal trip report here is a link:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...y-portugal.cfm

Thanks so much for hotel suggestions - I have been checking them all out. As it's our first trip to Lisbon, location is the major factor for us. Olissippo Lapa Palace looks fabulous, but a bit out of the center of things - or am I misreading my map? Avenida Palace looks to have a prime location.

LowCountryIslander, thanks for letting me know about your experience with an escalator-challenged companion. It seems guidebooks never consider things like this.

Avenida Palace has a better location, easy to go everywhere from it's central location.

The trams work fine in Lisbon, and taxis are available, so getting around is fairly easy. The Avenida Palace is fine, but the area can be very busy at times.

enjoy Lisboa PA Kathy... Europe's sunniest capital! rough around the edges yet beautiful. fantastic transportation that's efficient and inexpensive. (same goes for the food too) Absolutely try the couvert at some of the restaurants but if you don't want them don't touch them. the waiter will take it away. DO take a daytrip to explore Sintra. DO try the pastries at Belem. have a great time

I know you've decided on Lisbon but both Lisbon and Barcelona are very easy to get around, not all that large and if you really take the 10 days, I'd love to see you do both. Now certainly if by picking one city you would take a 2-4 day trips, then I'd settle for the one city.

We spent a week in Lisbon and loved it and after 40 years of avoiding Barcelona, it was our cruise departure point and now keep taking cruises and keep ending up in Barcelona and love it. Actually we were there the first week of December and it was magical with the Xmas markets and lights. I like high 50s and 60s to travel and explore.

Either way have a great time.

jan47ete, I think Barcelona will be our next "city break" vacation. We'll do some day trips out of Lisbon - plus we tend to spend a lot of time in museums and such. So I think we can fill our 10 days happily in Lisbon.

Thanks to all for the insider info.

We had a wonderful apt, 5 nice large rooms, all done with portugese tiles, on a tram line and 2 blocks from a grocery store. If you are interested can send you owners email. j

I am sure you will enjoy Lisbon!

Beside all main sightseeing in Lisbon and around, I strongly recommed:

If you can, don't miss Tile museum www.http://mnazulejo.imc-ip.pt
which is beautiful and I do not think that there are many like it in the world.

We liked also FRONTIERA Palace and its magnificent gardens
http://www.fronteira-alorna.pt
Guided visits on Mon-Sat at 11 am and 12 pm

On our way back from Sintra, we stop at Queluz Palace, it worth at leats 3 hours visit; the interior and gradens with a lot of statues and fountains is splendid.

The day trips to Sintra, Queluz, Cascais there are very easy by train (and cheap).

Hi guys:
Well, for me, Lisbon is 1000 times better than Barcelona. Lisbon has everything. It´s so powerful and magic and both mysterious and melancholic. Lisbon is so so beautiful. Weather is awesome, food is way much better. And, guys, to be honest, Barcelona is... just Barcelona. Lisbon has everything and in half an hour (20kms) you´re able to reach Sintra (by train - first station is Rossio). Sintra is one of those magical places in the world.
Please check out this places and images:
Sintra: https://www.google.pt/search?q=sintr...&tbm=isch&um=1

You will need a whole day to see Sintra (Palacio Pena, Castelo dos Mouros, Quinta Regaleira, Monserate). You can also take a bus to Cabo da Roca, which forms the westernmost extent of mainland in Portugal and continental Europe.
Wow, and you have always Belém.
https://www.google.pt/search?q=bel%C...&tbm=isch&um=1

Actually, I don´t like Barcelona that much. Gaudi is not my kind of thing, if you know what I mean. To be honest, Donostia (San Sebastian), in the basque country, is much more beautiful than Barcelona and Catalunya. Case you decide to go to Barcelona, please take a day to see Girona.

*magical

By the way, if you decide for Portugal, you should rent a car (it´s very easy and cheap) and travel south to Alentejo (100 to 200kms away from Lisbon)
https://www.google.pt/search?q=alent..._gMc-jhgf834AY
Alentejo is THE THING!
Portugal is a safe country (just avoid Martim Moniz in Lisbon at night and beware of pickpockets in Alfama. Wow, beware of werewolves in Sintra at night, if you decide to take a walk outside the village. ;) Hope this will be useful.

Beware of all of Portugal. You will fall under her spell!! Love the place. Check out the Pousadas if you travel around the countryside and need to stay over night. I think there is a special on right now for 75E/room with brkfst if that would work in your time frame. These hotels are awesome!!!

valtor, Your suggestions look wonderful, I'll have to do some more homework. We'll not rent a car, so hope we can do them by train, as you say.

salparadise, yes, we're looking forward to Sintra and those wonderful sites.

amer_can, from all comments received I feel sure we will return to Portugal with plans to see more of the country.

We're excited- even though we just found out we can't get our Global Entry interview until after the trip. We were hoping to breeze through customs on the way home. Oh well...

I desperately love Lisbon! So much to do and see and so affordable. We stayed in A gorgeous apartment in Chiado for 8 days, could have used another week for sure. Outstanding food and sweets, great sight seeing, shopping, the Fado music, museums, castles, just an amazing city. Having been to both I would say they are both great cities to visit but Lisbon is by far my favorite of the two. Have a wonderful trip!

Oh and we went in the fall and the weather was perfection, sunny and cool. Just a light sweater needed with a tshirt and jeans.

Regarding the Metro... A majority, but not yet 100%, of the stations are advertised as "step free." These are designated by a wheelchair icon on the system map.

Sometimes you need to do a little searching. For example, with the Rato station on the yellow line, the two main street level entrances have stairs leading down to a choice of stairs/elevators leading to the turnstile level. Once through the turnstiles, you have your choice of stairs or elevator leading to the platform. However, if you know to look for it, there is a street level free-standing elevator booth, completely separate from the two entrances, that also leads to the turnstile level.

Oops, typo, make that stairs/escalators down to the turnstile level. All other mentions of elevators are correct.

GiuliaPiraino, glad to hear there is so much to see and do in Lisbon.

BomDiaLisbon, thanks for the additional info about the Metro. It seems I'll be able to use at least some of the stations. With trams and taxis I think we'll get around just fine!

Thanks to everyone for your enthusiastic reviews of Lisbon!

PA_Kathy the food in Lisbon was TDF and I'm still dreaming of those amazing sweets made from what appeared to be spaghetti squash but were really egg yolk strands! The most unique desserts I've ever tasted. And the Pasteis de nata I could eat all day if I had access to them. A trip to Belem is a must, it's a stunning area, so many monuments to see and this pastry cafe is phenomenal! Of course I ate these all over Lisbon but this place has the magic :) http://www.thedailybeast.com/article...stry-shop.html

This site offers a valuable tool to Lisbon visitors in early stages of planning: http://2013.lisboaopenhouse.com
The monumental arch in Rua Augusta is now opened to the public offering great photo opportunities of Tagus River, Castle and Pombaline Lisbon (not suitable for persons with limited mobility since the visit requires climbing sone narrow and steep stairs)

I'm glad you've chosen Lisbon. I think it's one of the most under-rated European places to visit. We loved it. It is very easy to take the train to Sintra for the day, and to Cascais.

The Avenida Palace is awesome. Contact them directly for specials, and try to get breakfast included because it is an amazing buffet served in a gorgeous dining room.

The trip is booked - Lisbon for 9 nights at Altis Avenida Hotel. We definitely will include Sintra and Belem areas.

Thanks to all for your suggestions.