xymox

Hi,

We'll be travling to Portugal in the last week of July '04 for 7 days. With only 7 days, besides Lisbon, can anyone recommend other interesting towns/cities that we must see? Also, is driving the best way to explore the country?

Thanks in advance.

xymox

Also, would you recommend visiting Spain (Seville) in such a short time?

Thanks again.

mgmargate

Sintra,Cascais,Estoril.Seville is well worth taking the time.

ricduarte

Driving is by far the best way to explore Portugal.

In seven days... let me see... mgmargate gave some nice places; Seville is too much out of the way; you may want to add Évora to your list (100 km from Lx); Nearby Sesimbra and Portinho da Arrábida make interesting day visits.

Regards from Portugal,

Ricardo
http://lostinportugal.org

carolj

Tough decisions! We're flying into Lisbon the end of Sept and revised our itinery to fly out of Malaga, Spain. We've decided on 3 nights in Lisbon which will allow time to see Lisbon and a day trip to Sintra, Cascias and Estoride. Then a night in Obidos at the Posada there. We got $99 fare from Lisbon to Malaga (europebyair.com) where we'll take a train to Cordoba, spend a night and day there, and then on to Seville. I understand the total train ride from Malaga to Seville is about 3-1/2 hours. I'll be interested to hear what you decide. Carol

xymox

Carolj,

Your itinerary looks very interesting.
We'll definitely visit those places you mentioned. Regarding Seville, I could not find a train which takes us from Lisbon directly Unless there'a another way, we may have to scratch it.

mgmargate

I think that by train you would have to go thru Madrid.

JP

Lisbon <--> Seville: 7 hours by direct bus.
http://www.eurolines.es/portugal.htm

POWERPUFF71

There are so many beautiful things to see in Portugal I would not try to cram Spain in only 7 days. Sintra, Evora (my favorite), Fatima, Cascais. Porto- the north is excellent wine country and Algarve-the south has great beaches and nite life. Buy a travel book, rent a car and have a great time!

mikemo

As first time visitors, we are arriving in Oporto and doing a lazy 9 day/8 night driving tour of the NW Pousadas and Paradors of neighboring Galecia, Esp. (Guimaraes, Viana do Castelo, Geres/Canicada, Baiona)
I can't wait to taste the local seafood, Albarinos/Alvarinhos and the great Douro red wines.
M

SydneySteve

Check out Tivoli Palacio de Seteais in Sintra not the Tivoli Sintra. Palacio de Seteais is in an old castle just outside of Sintra and looks out over the coast. I was reading one of the major US travel magazines the other day and saw it listed in the top ten European hotels this year in the "close to a beach" category. We are staying there in September - they have very good two night package deals for what is a five star property.

xymox

With only 7 days in Portugal, we have decided to spend 3 days in Sintra (3 nights at Quinta Verde Sintra). On day 4, we'll drive south to visit Evora and stay there for 1 night. We're wondering whether we should drive south to Algrave with only 3 days to go. If this is recommended where should we visit in the south?

Thanks again.

yackoth

We bicycled around Portugal last year. In addition to Lisbon and the coastal villages that you already mentioned, Evora, Beja and Serpa are very interesting cities and not too far from each other. These cities were the western outposts of the Roman Empire and many historical sites are in tact. The mountain village of Monserrat is an interesting stop on your loop back to Evora. Bon Dia!

xymox

We're wondering whether we should stay more days in Evora and then head north, or, stay in Evora for 1 day and head south to Algarve. We only have 4 days. Can someone help us? I heard great things about Porto, but how about Algarve?

Thanks in advance again.

Barblab

Yackoth - did you do your own bike tour or go with a company? If so what company? Also what was your route over how many days? Thanks

alohatoall

The first decision you have to make is what you want to do -- if you want to lie on the beach, go to the Algarve. There are lots of places you can see using Evora as a base if you're not interested in the beach -- Marvao and Estremoz to name a couple.

xymox

We havve our itineray pretty much set:

Day 1-3
Stay in Quinta Verde Sintra
Sintra
Lisbon
Cascais
Estoril

Day 4
Stay in Albergaria do Calvario in Evora
Setubal
Evora
Estramoz

Day 5
Stay in Pousada de Santa Maria in Marvao
Marvao
Castelo de Vide
Tomar

Day 6
Fatima
Batalha
Nazare

Day 7
Stay in Le Meridien Parker in Lisbon
Obidos

My question is, on Day 6, in which city we should stay? Which hotel do you recommend?

Thanks again.