hm

We are going to Portugal for 7.5 days. We will spend at least 2 days in Lisbon and were planning to head north in a rental car to Porto (my husband loves port), stopping along the way in Sintra, Obidos, and Coimbra. Are we trying to do too much in too little time? Is Porto worth visiting (we've read mixed reviews)? Any other suggestions for a northern itinerary?

GeoffHamer

Porto is a fascinating city, but doesn't have a lot of tourist sights. It's certainly worth seeing, and it's worth touring one of the port houses on the other side of the river in Vila Nova - the firms offer a guided tour and samples. It's easy to do a day trip by train - the main line from Lisboa goes via Coimbra - but the city centre has lots of steep, narrow cobbled streets, so walking is tiring and I'd imagine driving would be a nightmare.

davidx

The main and branch rail lines up the Douro from Porto are terrific and it is possible to do day trips to the Green Coast, the beautiful river scenery of the Lima or to Guimaraes.<BR>E-mail me if you want my notes - mention Lisbon and Porto.<BR> [email protected]

NEDSIRELAND

&quot;Any other suggestions for a northern itinerary?&quot; <BR>Sintra is nice but I think Estoril is nicer.<BR>Porto: I believe there's a winery down on the riverfront; and, if you like bridges, Porto is the place for you!<BR><BR>On the road between Coimbra and Porto you pass a region called Mealhada (mi al ya da): The leitao (lay tone - roast suckling pig) you find in many of the roadside restaurants is the best in the world - bar none!<BR><BR>North from Porto: visit Guimaraes and Braga to see some of Portugal's Celtic heritage. <BR>

JmVikmanis

We found Porto to be a very interesting city--our stop there necessitated by it being our departure point from the country. The waterfront is wonderful and if you like port, you should enjoy the places near the waterfront. If you are on your way to Porto from Coimbra consider staying in the Place Hotel do Bucaco, the most beautiful hotel I've ever stayed in. It's about 31 km from Coimbra and 108 from Porto. It was a hunting lodge of the Kings of Portugal and when they were deposed it was turned over to the chef to be made into a hotel. Whole walls of blue tiles, great manueline architecture, its only chapel, a fabulous outdoor porch restaurant and wonderful gardens. All this and you reach it through a forest protected by papal edict. As I recall rates were about $200 per night when we were there in 1997 and so worth it. If you're interested in more info do a search on JmVikmanis and Palace hotel. Should pull up other postings I've done where I waxed rhapsodic about this place. Enjoy.

JmVikmanis

oops. If you want more info on the Palace hotel outside of Coimbra, search on JmVikmanis and Bucaco instead of what I said before. Checked it out and it works.

Carolred

I found Porto to be a disappointment compared to most other parts of Europe. There is not much outstanding to see there, but if you like port, it is very much the place to go.<BR><BR>If you only have 7.5 days I would seriously consider basing everything from Cascais or Lisbon. Cascais does not have much going for it sites wise, but it is pretty and quiet, compared to filthy noisy Lisbon, and the train gets you to Lisbon (still lots worth seeing even if you don't stay there) or Belem (the best part of Lisbon)in 1/2 hour for a couple of dollars. I think that Lisbon and Belem are worth a good 3 days. Sintra and the Estoril coast can be done by car a day for each. A day trip to Obidos and a bad weather day and that is your week!

KarenM

I agree with JmVikmanis about the Palace Hotel do Bucaco. It was absolutely breathtaking. I will never forget that place. We also found Sintra fascinating with all the mansions. The Douro is very nice with rolling hills of vinyards, especially during harvest the end of Sept.

Paulopimenta

If your husband really like Port, a suggestion is to take a cruise up the Douro River and stay in one of hotels they have in the benches of the Douro River. Its really an amazing visit and is really worthwhile, you will definetely fall in love with the valley.
Also worth to be seen is Guimar&atilde;es a little town northen from Porto, if you can Stay in the Pousada de Santa Marinha (an old monastery) great view and the city like Porto, the Douro valley is also a World Heritage site.

Bussaco is worthwhile, not everyone can stay in one of the old Portuguese Royal palaces.

kind regards

Carolred

IN 7.5 days??? Excuse me, but did you consider that these people may have to handle jet lag, getting lost, getting sick, and enjoying their trip rather than just driving from place to place!

It is a full day's drive to Porto and back, if you do not stop and see Coimbra and the other more worthy sites along the way than Porto. Thhe environs of Lisbon are worth 4-5 days of the trip, and they only have 7.5 days, therefore those who are suggesting all kinds of nice stuff to see around Porto are missing the important info in the original post!

We drove the Douro and it is beautiful but tiring: what looks like it will take an hour on the map will take at least three, between the donkey-carts and high mountainous terrain. The best part of our visit to Porto was the day trip we took to Barcelos for the market and local sights.

Porto has way too little to see and way too much filth and crime to make it worthwhile for a short 7.5 day trip..unless you are a port drinker.

cmt

Did any of you travel around by public transportation rather than by rented car?