Porto to Lisbon
Feb 27th, 2019 | 11:02 AM
#1
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Joined: Jun 2016
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Porto to Lisbon
We have hired a driver to take us from Porto to Lisbon in early June. We can stop in 2 towns along the way.
Option 1- Porto/Aveiro/Coimbra/Lisboa-
Option 2- Porto/Coimbra/Obidos/Lisboa-
Option 3- Porto/Aveiro/Obidos/Lisboa-.
Other than Sintra and Cascais (which are already planned) is there an easy day trip, by train, fro Lisbon?
Any thoughts? I know this only gives us time for a quick overview of the intermediate towns . Aveiro is interesting to me as I don't want to only see medieval towns. Thanks!
Option 1- Porto/Aveiro/Coimbra/Lisboa-
Option 2- Porto/Coimbra/Obidos/Lisboa-
Option 3- Porto/Aveiro/Obidos/Lisboa-.
Other than Sintra and Cascais (which are already planned) is there an easy day trip, by train, fro Lisbon?
Any thoughts? I know this only gives us time for a quick overview of the intermediate towns . Aveiro is interesting to me as I don't want to only see medieval towns. Thanks!
Feb 27th, 2019 | 01:23 PM
#2
Joined: Mar 2003
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It all depends on what you want to see. In Coimbra, I would say that the old university tour is a priority. I am not familiar with the others, although Obidos has the reputation of being intact within surrounding medieval walls. I am looking into visiting the Aveiro this summer, and from the descriptions I would say that it would be third on the list of drive by stops.
Feb 27th, 2019 | 02:00 PM
#3
Joined: Feb 2006
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I am a fan of Coimbra, not just the university library, but also the Roman ruins at Conimbriga.
Obidos is worth a look, but likely to be overrun with tourists.
Have not been to Aveiro.
I suppose you could do Evora as a day trip, but take the bus, not the train.
Obidos is worth a look, but likely to be overrun with tourists.
Have not been to Aveiro.
I suppose you could do Evora as a day trip, but take the bus, not the train.
Feb 27th, 2019 | 02:28 PM
#4
Joined: Jan 2007
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Obidos could be a day trip from Lisbon too - Coimbra is not just an old medieval town but has a modern part of town too. I was super impressed with Obidos but only stopped there a few hours - a visual sight to behold and stroll around the walls, etc.
Feb 27th, 2019 | 03:34 PM
#5
Joined: Dec 2018
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I would go with option 2. Aveiro is a charming town with gondolas and canals and it was our very good base for two days, but it is very low on sights. We stopped there because it was easy to take a train to Porto and we did not want to drive in Porto itself. We loved fish restaurants in Aveiro!
Coimbra University is an absolute must in my opinion, but I was not impressed by Coimbra itself: very rundown and dilapidated town.
Obidos is really crowded and full of tacky souvenir shops, but we still liked the walled town and the wall walk.
And Evora is so lovely! Perfect for a day trip from Lisbon: not too popular with tourists - quite a contrast in comparison with overcrowded Sintra.
Coimbra University is an absolute must in my opinion, but I was not impressed by Coimbra itself: very rundown and dilapidated town.
Obidos is really crowded and full of tacky souvenir shops, but we still liked the walled town and the wall walk.
And Evora is so lovely! Perfect for a day trip from Lisbon: not too popular with tourists - quite a contrast in comparison with overcrowded Sintra.
Feb 27th, 2019 | 04:07 PM
#6
Joined: Mar 2003
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Evora is out of the way when going from Porto to Lisbon.
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Feb 28th, 2019 | 10:26 AM
#8
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Joined: Jun 2016
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Thanks, everyone. I am leaning toward Aveiro and Coimbra because they seem different, and not just another "medieval walled city", especially if we end up going to Evora.
Remember, we are just doing a stop in the 2 towns with a little sightseeing. Our main focus is Porto and Lisbon. We will then spend the last 2 nights in Cascais (Hotel Albatroz)/ .
I welcome any and all suggestions! Thanks!!
Remember, we are just doing a stop in the 2 towns with a little sightseeing. Our main focus is Porto and Lisbon. We will then spend the last 2 nights in Cascais (Hotel Albatroz)/ .
I welcome any and all suggestions! Thanks!!
Feb 28th, 2019 | 10:48 AM
#9
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 292
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If you change your mind and go to Obidos, try their delicious cherry liqueur, Ginha or Ginjinha, served in chocolate cups. It is so delicious!
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginjinha
And Aveiro is lovely and pretty upscale - a huge contrast with Coimbra.
One more advice: keep all your valuables out of sight and hide them in the trunk of your car. Car break-ins are very common in Obidos, so maybe it is another reason for you not to go there. Nothing happened to us personally though in Obidos, as well as in Alcobaça and Batalha on our way from Aveiro to Cascais.
If you want to dine in a wonderful Michelin Star restaurant, then drive from your beautiful hotel to “Fortaleza do Guincho” (only 8 miles drive). Reservations are required. We stayed at the Fortaleza do Guincho and enjoyed their restaurant very much. Their octopus is out of this world.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginjinha
And Aveiro is lovely and pretty upscale - a huge contrast with Coimbra.
One more advice: keep all your valuables out of sight and hide them in the trunk of your car. Car break-ins are very common in Obidos, so maybe it is another reason for you not to go there. Nothing happened to us personally though in Obidos, as well as in Alcobaça and Batalha on our way from Aveiro to Cascais.
If you want to dine in a wonderful Michelin Star restaurant, then drive from your beautiful hotel to “Fortaleza do Guincho” (only 8 miles drive). Reservations are required. We stayed at the Fortaleza do Guincho and enjoyed their restaurant very much. Their octopus is out of this world.
Last edited by vinonobile987; Feb 28th, 2019 at 10:55 AM.
