Hi there, we just got back from spending 8 days in Barcelona and we loved just staying in one city, it really gave us a chance to "flip the lid" on the city and get into the groove of their daily life. We're going to Portugal in October of 2009 and I'd like to know if it's better to get a car and tour as much of the country as we can in 14 days, or stay in one city. Or go around by train? I know my preference is to stay in 1 city but I don't know if Lisbon can support an entire week? Are there day trips? We like to see the sights but we also like to just hang around in a new town.

Any thoughts? THANKS!

If you like this style of travel then one week in Lisbon will be great. No need whatsoever for a car in Lisbon due to excellent public transit (plus it's a hassle to park and traffic can be terrible) and there are excellent train connections to places for day trips (like Sintra). Plenty to keep you busy in Lisbon if you want to stay close to home as well.

I rented a lovely and central apartment there if you're interested.

We spent 9 days in Lisbon and took day trips to SIntra and Cascais.We never ran out fo things to do or see.
We spent another two wee ina eantl car touring more of Portugalks

Obidos, one of Europe's finest walled medieval-looking towns is also an easy day trip from Lisbon by train or bus.

Personally i'd say for me a week just in the city would be too much - i found the old-world romance i expected but only found pockets of in Lisbon in Porto.

But Lisbon does have many other facets Porto lacks.

So if you wanted to tour a bit of Portugal, say 5 days in Lisbon (I need 2 days to recover from jet lag), then various cities after that, would you recommend car or train?

In that short a time frame - car - and one place not far north of Lisbon that has several great sites in a compact area is around Batalha - the famous monastery and Alcbaca (sp/) and Nazarre (good seaside base) and Coimbra, a really neat city - the university area is fab. Those buses and trains serve the area in a short time frame you are better off with a car.

We were in Portugal for two weeks in October (I still haven't had time to post my trip report!) and spent a few days in Lisbon, then rented a car and drove a big circle in the northern part of the country (Batalha, Seia, Macedo do Cavaleiros, Barcelos). Even though we had been to Lisbon before, I could easily have spent a couple more days there, and just as easily could have spent a lot more time everywhere else.

If you have 14 days, then by all means spend a week (or so) in Lisbon with a day trip to Sintra and Cascais, and/or Evora - both of which we did on an earlier trip to Lisbon. This trip, we found that Batalha was a good base for us - from there we went to Nazare, Fatima, Ourem and Tomar. If we had more time there, we would have had no problem filling those days either.

As much as I like cities, I always find that I connect more with the country - one of the reasons why we spent more of our time this trip out of Lisbon than in it.

I regret not being able to spend more time in and around Barcelos and we didn't make it to Porto at all (I didn't want to short-change it and didn't have time to do it right), but I am going back someday...

Hi Therese

i am also making plans of staying in lisbon for at least 5 days next year. Can you please give me the information of the apartment you stayed at.

Thanks

THere is certainly plenty to do in Lisbon and surrounding towns: you will need at least a week. Reserve a Sunday morning to go the street market ("feira cigana&quot at Chelas.

I rented through this agency, tribi:

http://www.travelingtolisbon.com/

I rented Apt 33, which is particularly nice in that it's got two bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a beautifully equipped kitchen, and great views out of both sides of the apartment: one over Praca de Camoes and the other towards the river. Lots of other properties, many of them less expensive (and this one wasn't expensive in any case). I found the agency very helpful and responsive to my inquiries, and had no difficulties with the rental. Apparently the agency handles apartments that it owns as well as some that have other owners (as indicated on the web site). Lots of detailed photos on the site, but if you have additional questions you can contact the agency via email.

A couple of other Fodorites actually visited me at this apartment and can vouch for its overall fabulous-ness.

Thanks Therese, the apartment is beautiful, just want to know if it is safe to walk around there at night.

thanks

I just wanted to say that we rented apartment No.72 from the same company as Therese and I cannot say enough good things about the apartment or the experience.

Also. I would spend a week in Lisbon in a blink, even though we have been there twice before. But I understand your having a difficult time making a decision when the rest of Portugal beckons.