Fodor's Travel Talk Forums

Fodor's Travel Talk Forums (https://www.fodors.com/community/)
-   Europe (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/)
-   -   Spring break : Lisbon, Seville, Marrakesh -Itinerary help (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/spring-break-lisbon-seville-marrakesh-itinerary-help-1676045/)

malineni Jan 5th, 2020 03:55 AM
Spring break : Lisbon, Seville, Marrakesh -Itinerary help
 
We (2 of us + 2 daughters 25/21) are planning Spring break trip from SFO and already booked international flights as below.
Mar20 - PM Arrive Lisbon (via London) ;
Mar28 return - PM depart Marrakesh (via Paris)

We haven't booked flights in EU, but are thinking itinerary roughly as
21- Lisbon
22- Lisbon/Sintra
23- Lisbon ; Evening Fly to Seville
24 -Seville
25 -Seville
26- Seville ; Evening Fly to Marrakesh
27- Marakkesh
28- Marakkesh and night depart to US

This is short/hectic, but we want to see only few best spots, and not to do all touristy things. Did similar trips (Paris-Brugge-Brussels, Dublin-Edinburgh-London) and we all loved it.

Before we book flights in EU, we are debating on
1. if we need to spend more time in Seville than in Lisbon? or spend equally ?
2. whether to consider Granada (only for Alahambra), or Cordoba while in Seville as day trips to go in AM and be back by PM ?

Appreciate any input/suggestions.

StCirq Jan 5th, 2020 04:41 AM
You've already booked your flights, so it's a bit late to tell you what a crazy plan this is. So you essentially have one day plus a bit in Marrakech? Why bother? You're kidding yourself if you think there won't be anything touristy about it. You'll be completely lost the entire time like every other tourist, or getting royally ripped off in the jnem al fnaa. I really wouldn't bother spending the money for such a nothing experience, but you already have.

ekscrunchy Jan 5th, 2020 04:49 AM
Agree with St Cirq. At least, forget Granada and Cordoba, or you will be leaving for the airport before you unpack. I would change flights even if you lose a bit of cash. I spent 10 days in Sevilla last spring, third time in a few years.....that would suit me. Skip Marrakech........without an iota of doubt.

xyz99 Jan 5th, 2020 06:35 AM
I think StCirq and ekscrunchy misread your post, you haven't bought tickets yet - but I think this is too rushed. With only a week, keep 2 places only, maybe Lisbon and Seville if your heart is set on them. 3 full days (4 nights) in each might be a nice trip and save everything else for a next trip. Or do Seville with day trips to Granada and Cordoba.
You don't need to do all touristy things, but all 3 places are highly touristy. Make a list of the things you want to see/do in each city and see how they would fit in your schedule.
I don't know when your spring break is and when Easter is, but if they coincide that would add additional crowds in Seville. Just something else to consider, happy planning.

memejs Jan 5th, 2020 06:46 AM
I think what you have looks fine. I’ve been to both Seville and Lisbon in the last few years and loved both, so my vote would be equal time.

There are going to be people that tell you that you can’t go to Spain with a trip to Granada, Cordoba, Toledo, and while I agree that these are all wonderful places worth visiting, your time is so short that I wouldn’t recommend side trips. Lisbon and Seville have tons to do, plus the best thing in both of these cities is just wandering and really getting to know the place. So I wouldn’t try to fit in a lot of (or any) day trips.

isabel Jan 5th, 2020 08:51 AM
The way I read your post you already have flights into Lisbon and out of Marrakesh. If that's true then the only thing I could see doing is forget Seville. Too bad as that I think is the best of the three (I've been to Seville and Lisbon but not to Marrakesh). But to do all three means you won't really have any time in any of them. If you could change your return flight for a reasonable price I'd suggest forgetting Marrakesh which would give you a still tight, but 'reasonable' amount of time in Seville and Lisbon.

But if you really want all three I'd leave the split the way you have it. I don't think you have time for day trips.

malineni Jan 5th, 2020 02:16 PM
Originally Posted by StCirq (Post 17040355)
You've already booked your flights, so it's a bit late to tell you what a crazy plan this is. So you essentially have one day plus a bit in Marrakech? Why bother? You're kidding yourself if you think there won't be anything touristy about it. You'll be completely lost the entire time like every other tourist, or getting royally ripped off in the jnem al fnaa. I really wouldn't bother spending the money for such a nothing experience, but you already have.
IMHO travel to new place is not about all or nothing,. even if you spend a short time, there is lot to gain from visiting a place as long as you have right expectations.

BTW we didn't have Marrakesh on original plan, but did it because of great deal on flight tickets from there on return, so planning to make the best out of that. If we like it, may be will go back for a full trip later..

malineni Jan 5th, 2020 02:21 PM
Originally Posted by xyz99 (Post 17040414)
I think StCirq and ekscrunchy misread your post, you haven't bought tickets yet - but I think this is too rushed. With only a week, keep 2 places only, maybe Lisbon and Seville if your heart is set on them. 3 full days (4 nights) in each might be a nice trip and save everything else for a next trip. Or do Seville with day trips to Granada and Cordoba.
You don't need to do all touristy things, but all 3 places are highly touristy. Make a list of the things you want to see/do in each city and see how they would fit in your schedule.
I don't know when your spring break is and when Easter is, but if they coincide that would add additional crowds in Seville. Just something else to consider, happy planning.
Yes, agree that we do plan to make a full list to fit in to schedule. Also we mostly want to spend time in Lisbon & Seville. Our spring break is for a week Mar 21-29, do you see Seville as busy during that time ?

malineni Jan 5th, 2020 02:29 PM
Originally Posted by memejs (Post 17040417)
I think what you have looks fine. I’ve been to both Seville and Lisbon in the last few years and loved both, so my vote would be equal time.

There are going to be people that tell you that you can’t go to Spain with a trip to Granada, Cordoba, Toledo, and while I agree that these are all wonderful places worth visiting, your time is so short that I wouldn’t recommend side trips. Lisbon and Seville have tons to do, plus the best thing in both of these cities is just wandering and really getting to know the place. So I wouldn’t try to fit in a lot of (or any) day trips.
thanks memejs, that's exactly what we do - just wander and not fit too much :). On Sidetrips from Seville - that's what I was thinking though Granada seems appealing, but might be too much. Do you see Sintra as doable from Lisbon in 3 days, or is that also a stretch?

malineni Jan 5th, 2020 02:32 PM
Originally Posted by isabel (Post 17040502)
The way I read your post you already have flights into Lisbon and out of Marrakesh. If that's true then the only thing I could see doing is forget Seville. Too bad as that I think is the best of the three (I've been to Seville and Lisbon but not to Marrakesh). But to do all three means you won't really have any time in any of them. If you could change your return flight for a reasonable price I'd suggest forgetting Marrakesh which would give you a still tight, but 'reasonable' amount of time in Seville and Lisbon.

But if you really want all three I'd leave the split the way you have it. I don't think you have time for day trips.
Yes, am with you jsabel. Unfortunately won't be able to change flights as it's quite expensive.. so we are thinking to keep Marrakesh just for a night as stop over, and may be add a day to Seville.

memejs Jan 5th, 2020 04:06 PM
Oops typo, I meant to write that there are people who will tell you that you can’t visit Spain *without* certain side trips. My advice was not to try and fit in these side trips with your short itinerary. I think you read my meaning even with my typo.

Sintra is very doable in that it’s just a short train ride away from Lisbon; however, to me it felt so different from Lisbon and the other parts of Portugal I visited. My first inclination is to tell you to use your time to really soak up Lisbon and get a good feel for Portugal. There are so many distinct neighborhoods there - Alfama, Baixa, Belem - that all deserve time. But if you don’t think you’ll ever be back to Portugal and if you really want to see the sites in Sintra (the castle and Quinta de la Regaleira would be my recommendations), you could easily make a day trip. And, just to further confuse things, I absolutely LOVED Cascais, also a short day trip from Lisbon. I’d recommend that as a day trip over Sintra. You can click on my username and read my trip report from a couple of years ago if you want more details on what I did in Portugal and my impressions of things.

xyz99 Jan 6th, 2020 05:05 AM
I was wrong, I was the one who misread your original post. You have the international flights already booked....

It's your trip and you know your travel style, but I think 3 destinations with 2 international flights in 7 days is too much. Put on paper a draft schedule for each day that includes time to travel to/from airports, time to check-in, time to actual visit some of the places you are visiting and if you're happy with it, then go for it. I would skip Seville as it deserves a lot more than 2 days...but again, your trip. With only 1-2 days in each place, make sure you check opening hours for the places you want to visit. Good luck!

KarenWoo Jan 6th, 2020 08:37 AM
Originally Posted by xyz99 (Post 17040971)
I was wrong, I was the one who misread your original post. You have the international flights already booked....

It's your trip and you know your travel style, but I think 3 destinations with 2 international flights in 7 days is too much. Put on paper a draft schedule for each day that includes time to travel to/from airports, time to check-in, time to actual visit some of the places you are visiting and if you're happy with it, then go for it. I would skip Seville as it deserves a lot more than 2 days...but again, your trip. With only 1-2 days in each place, make sure you check opening hours for the places you want to visit. Good luck!
xyz99 gives you good advice. Is it worth it to do all that traveling? You will be spending most of your time traveling and not at your destinations. Since you are locked into your international flights, I would spend my time in Lisbon and Marrakesh. Save Seville for another trip when you can see it properly.

Egbert Jan 7th, 2020 08:12 AM
I would split time between Lisbon/Sintra and Seville. Cordoba is an easy daytrip from Seville, Granada is not. I would have put Marrakesh first. Spain always seemed like heaven after returning from Morocco.

KarenWoo Jan 7th, 2020 10:15 AM
Originally Posted by Egbert (Post 17041627)
I would split time between Lisbon/Sintra and Seville. Cordoba is an easy daytrip from Seville, Granada is not. I would have put Marrakesh first. Spain always seemed like heaven after returning from Morocco.
Egbert, the OP has already made their flight reservations, flying into Lisbon and home from Marrakesh. To me, it certainly doesn't seem worth it to spend money on tickets from Seville to Marrakesh to spend one night in Marrakesh. That's why I think the most logical solution is to divide their time between Lisbon/Sintra and Marrakesh.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 09:49 AM.