Portugal and Spain itinerary help -- 11 days in the end of Nov. 2014
 

One member from my family and me are planning to make a trip for 11 (10.5) days to Portugal and Spain. We already have the tickets, with which we will be arriving to Lisbon on the 21st of November (3pm) and leave from Barcelona at 8am on the 2nd of December.

I guess at the moment, I have two itinerary options. Both of them include overnight train to save up a bit on traveling time (either from Coimbra to Madrid, or Lisbon to Madrid). One would focus more on Portugal, while other more on Spain, and probably involve a little less travel time. It might be possible that I will try to rent a car to see some of the day trips places.

1. Option one: Lisbon to Porto, then Madrid and Barcelona
Basic day break out...
Lisbon – 3.5 days
Explore the city on our arriving evening, and for the next two days. Use last day (and possibly part of 2nd) to travel by car to some of the smaller towns (Sintra, Mafra... etc. Not sure which ones to select yet).
Porto - 3 days
Arrive to Porto either on the first day in the morning or in the evening from the day before. Use last day to do some day trips, maybe like Vinho Verde region)
Coimbra - 1 day
Arrive to Coimbra in the morning. Try to see its highlights during the day. In the evening take overnight train to Madrid.
Madrid - 1 day
After arriving, try to see highlights of the city before taking evening train to Barcelona.
Barcelona - 2 days (try to see as much as we can in last 2 days before departing at 8am on the 2nd of December)

2. Option two: Lisbon, Madrid, Barcelona
Lisbon - 3.5 days (use 2nd day to do some day trips... Sintra, Mafra..etc...On 3rd day depart with overnight train to Madrid)
Madrid - 3 days (use one of the days to do day trips)
Barcelona 3 days (use one of those days to do day trips)
One extra day is left, I guess just add it either to Lisbon, Madrid or Barcelona, or for some day trip.

What do you think would be a better choice? Maybe give idea for some other possible itinerary (we are stuck with leave from Barcelona, however)? How could I break up stay in Portugal/Spain to maximize our time there? I am kind of want to see Porto, but I am not sure if it’s good time of the year to see it and wineries in the Vinho Verge region.

# 1 has you spending 7 nights (I think) in Portugal and then 1 on a train for a quick day trip of Madrid before a second over night train to Barcelona for only 2 nights. Finishing an 11 day trip with;

Porto - Coimbra for day, then Overnight Train to Madrid
Madrid for day, then Overnight Train to Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona

is a breathtaking journey covering 1300 kms in 48 hours with 2 consecutive nights sleeping on trains after 12-16 hours wandering around each day without a room to rest in (your luggage in lockers at the train stations).

I won't tell you your giving Madrid short shrift here - everything is compromise and we all have different must-sees and dos. but be sure you want to put yourself through those last 4 days and nights.

Oh yeah, I vote for #2.

With the extra day, I suggest Madrid, because you will be arriving on an overnight train (I'm pretty sure that is the choice you will make) and that will affect the quality of the day of arrival. You can get to Barcelona in less than 4 hours from Madrid - no overnight train required.

Madrid also has "better" (monumental and easier to reach than Barcelona's similar nearby places) day trip choices, like Toledo and Segovia.

You really have only 10 days, as I see it. Arriving at 3:00 PM, get luggage, get to hotel, etc, just a little time to settle in and have dinner, not really counted as sightseeing time. I have not been to Portugal, so do not know how much time you need to see things there.

Personally, I would not go through Madrid unless I had time for at least one day trip to Toledo or Segovia. Also, there is a fast train from Madrid to Barcelona, so I would for sure not do two back to back night trains.
If you want to see several places in Portugal, I would do that and fly straight to Barcelona, skipping Madrid this time.

You could do this:

Friday, Nov 21, arrive Lisbon
22, 23, 24, Lisbon, plus one day trip
25 fly to Madrid in very late afternoon, early evening or night train.
26 & 27 Madrid plus one day trip
28 early fast train to Barcelona
28, 29, 30, Dec 1 - Barcelona
Dec 2 - fly home

Gives you
Lisbon, 4 nts, 3&1/2 days
Madrid, 2 (or 3 nts), 2 full days
Barcelona 4 nts, 3&1/2 days

Wanted to add, some people are big Barcelona fans. I am not, so would probably take a day from Barcelona and add it to Portugal. I would not do less than two days in Madrid, so I could include Toledo.

Unfortunately, none of us can tell you what will work best for you. I recommend that you get some good guidebooks (or spend some time with a few in your local library), identify the things you most want to see in each location, note their opening/closing times, and mark them on a calendar. Then pencil in your transportation, add some time on either side (for getting to/from the train/bus station or whatever, checking in/out, packing/unpacking, getting oriented, etc.). Then see how things fit together.

If you conclude that you must shortchange something -- as I think you will -- you might consider trimming your time in one of the cities with an international airport, as those cities are easiest to revisit. So, for example, you might skip Madrid entirely this trip (and I say that as someone who loved Madrid!) since you are already committed to Lisbon and Barcelona and want to see some other places in Portugal.

Thank you for all your replies. Yes, I was actually having in mind the fast train from Madrid to Barcelona (which is about ~3hrs). I guess you are right that spending two days on the "go" would not be very convenient (in Coimbra and Madrid).

I guess, for updated first option I could skip Madrid all together, until the next trip (we were having idea to see Andalusia sometimes later in the summer). And I could fly from Porto to Barcelona to at least give Barcelona 2 or so days. From what I am seeing the flight is about 2 hours (e.g. 6:30 to ~9:30).

If we were to do this instead, where do you think it could be best to split those 8 days in Portugal? (if I will leave for Barcelona 2 days and 2 nights). Could Lisbon, Coimbra, and then Porto work?

--
If not, I guess we will do what Sassafrass suggested, thank you for your idea. We would enjoy doing day trips like Toledo and Segovia.

Definitely better to fly Portugal to Barcelona and skip Madrid (but then I didn't care too much for Madrid). I am a big fan of night trains, but NOT back-to-back!

I love Lisbon, but if you want to see more of Portugal I would take the train to Porto. I prefer Coimbra to Porto, but I don't think you have time for both. BTW, you don't need a car for Sintra, public transport works just fine.

For some things to do in and around Lisbon see: http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ing-lisbon.cfm

Do not forget day light hours are quite short. One night stands do not work.
2 nights equals one day.