Spain/Portugal itinerary advice
 

Finishing up my itinerary for next month in Spain and Portugal and have a 3 day window to add to Portugal. I'll be traveling solo and using public transportation. I enjoy smaller cities and like to linger and enjoy my time (no rushing around!). This is my first venture into Portugal but I usually visit Spain 2x every year so I'm not in a hurry to cram alot into a little bit of time. Not much into visiting the Algarve either as I live at a beach and enjoy historical and cultural cities.

So far here's what I've planned:

Cacares - 2 nights
Trujillo - 2 nights
Merida - 1 night
Elvas - 2 nights (during San Mateus festival)
Evora - 3 nights (day trip to Estremoz for Saturday market)
???? - 3 nights
Lisbon - 3 nights (day trips to Sintra/Quelez)

So, I have 3 nights between Evora and Lisbon. I would like to see Obidos (1 night) but the public transportation may be tricky. My other thoughts were Coimbra or Leira (as a base for Fatima, Batalha, Alcobaca).

Would appreciate any advice. (Know this is a spanish forum but it is much more active than Portugal and often includes posts on both Spain and Portugal).

Coimbra is a beautiful old University town - a nice place to visit and it's a stop for Alfas on the rail line between Porto & Lisbon. I like it!
BTW
The song we know as April in Portugal was originally entitled Coimbra

Well, I think I've narrowed it down to 2 options:

Coimbra for 3 nights with possible daytrips to Conimbriga, Viseu and/or Aveiro.

OR

Coimbra for 2 nights, then on to Obidos for 1 night. My main concern with Obidos is using public transportation.


Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

I can only offer you my opinions on the towns/sites as we did not use public transporatation.

Very much enjoyed the Roman ruins at Conimbriga.

We used Obidos as a base for Tomar, Alcobaca, Fatima and Batalha. Tomar and Batalha get our highest marks. Alcobaca is also worthy but is less "impressive" after seeing Batalha. I would not suggest the Pousada in Obidos. Other historical Pousadas cost less and had more appeal.

If at all possible, get to Marvao. It was a highlight of our trip.

I did not like Evora as much as I expected to. I assume you are using it as a base. What other destinations do you plan to see?

This trip sounds great. I have been to Cacares, Merida, Elvas, Evora and Lisbon on a similar itinerary. I liked Evora very much - I was there for two days. I would spend more time in Lisbon since you will be going to Sintra and Queluz and that is a full day trip. Cascais and Estoril (on same train line) are interesting and could be another day trip. Don't miss the Gubelkian Museum, the Alfama area and all the tiled buildings in Lisbon. I've heard good things about Coimbra but haven't experienced it. I have also been to Oporto and Viana do Castello in the north and can recommend them as well.

If you have time, definitely make it out to Obidos - it's magnificent.

Wow. Thanks for the great replies.

I've decided from Evora to head by bus to Lisbon (2 hrs) then on to Obidos (less than 90 minutes). This shouldn't be too difficult. Once in Obidos I'll check with the tourist info office to see about a bus the next day to Nazare. Would like to daytrip to Nazare the next day and head to Coimbra from there (bus is approx 2 hours) for 2 nights.

Yes, I'm using Evora as a base to explore Estremoz and take a tour of the monoliths/other cities (Beja/Serpa, etc...). A little worried that 3 nights is too much but it is a world heritage site and worst case I'll just leave a day early and head somewhere else!

I only have 3 nights in Lisbon, but have already decided that Portugal will be my annual spring week trip and can see more at that time of Lisbon. Will probably visit Tomar, Alcobaca, Leira, Fatima and Batalha on that trip. I'm also interested in the far north of Portugal and will probably combine this with a trip to Galicia/Asturias in my planning book!

Again, thanks for all of the help. If anyone has any restaurant/sightseeing finds I'm all ears too!

Hi,

I think you chose great. Obidos is a very nice little historical town, a little too touristic though. At Obidos there's a restaurant called Alcaide which serves excelent fish dishes (Rua Direita, Óbidos, T. 262-959220). For example, you may want to try their ensopado de cação ("EN-SSOO-PAH-DOO DAH CUH-SSAUM") which is one of the best I've tried.

After a meal, try one or two "ginginhas" (JIN-JIM-NHAS) and get some rest under a tree :-).

Regarding Nazaré, I wouldn''t stay there. My nearby alternative would be São Pedro de Moel, just north of Nazaré (being without a car, I agree that reaching there could be difficult, although i think there are some bus from either Nazaré or Marinha Grande).

At Nazaré there's a little restaurante called "A Celeste" which I conider to be great. It's in the southern area of Av. da Republica. Excellent "espetadas mistas de lulas e camarao com arroz de passas".

If you want some more advice on Portugal, please check my personnal website at:
http://pwp.netcabo.pt/ricardo-duarte/Pages/main.htm

Check the sections "portugal reloaded" and "porto, portugal".

If you want some more specific information, feel free to ask! :-)

Best regards and um abraço,

Ricardo Correia Duarte
Porto, Portugal
http://pwp.netcabo.pt/ricardo-duarte

For me, the most magical place in Portugal was the Bucaco Palace Hotel. We did not stay there but had an incredible lunch. The grounds are magnificent. Sintra captured my heart also. We had a car, though, but if by any chance you have the opportunity to visit Bucaco, please do so. You won't be disappointed.

Treesa - I agree with you, but Buçaco may be a little far north for someone being around Lisboa / Alentejo.

But Buçaco indeed is wonderful, and the Palace Hotel do Buçaco has one of the best wine cellars in Portugal.

Regards,

Ricardo Correia Duarte
Porto, Portugal
http://pwp.netcabo.pt/ricardo-duarte