Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

Suggestions on 3 week Spain/Portugal itinerary

Suggestions on 3 week Spain/Portugal itinerary

Old Feb 21st, 2013, 08:09 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Suggestions on 3 week Spain/Portugal itinerary

Hello everyone,

I was hoping to ask for some feedback on our 3 week spain/portugal itinerary (predominantly spain, a bit of portugal). We are a group (four of us) of university students (20-25) travelling in May/June of this year. In terms of the type of trip, we would like a mix of architecture/history/food. We are really trying to add on a few days in portugal (Lisbon) after much deliberation - despite knowing it may take a large portion of one day to travel there. We prefer train as a means of transportation and not too keen on renting out a car.

Our itinerary so far:
1. Barcelona (5 days, possible day trip somewhere)
2. Madrid (4 days, with a day trip to either Toledo or Segovia)
3. Sevilla (5 days, with a day trip to Cordoba and a day trip to Ronda)
4. Grenada (2 days)
5. Travel day (Grenada -> Madrid -> Lisbon) (1 day)
6. Lisbon (4 days)

Any feedback is appreciated.
spea0688 is offline  
Old Feb 21st, 2013, 08:15 AM
  #2  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Oops, I obviously meant Granada not Grenada.
And any considerations of a day trip from Barcelona would be helpful

Thanks
spea0688 is offline  
Old Feb 21st, 2013, 08:42 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,041
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You're covering alot of ground in 3 weeks but the # of days are allocated well - it's a moderate on the side of fast pace.

The travel day from Granada to Lisbon will be grueling. A 5 hour train ride from Granada to Madrid and then an overnight train to Lisbon.

I'd consider a few alternatives:

*Visit Granada after Madrid, then Sevilla. Fly from Sevilla to Lisbon - this is my preference for time and comfort. When you consider your original plan with 2 trains and a lost day to travel this would be well worth it IMHO.

*Overnight bus from Granada to Lisbon. Leaves at 8:15 pm and arrives at 6 a.m. Alternatively this same bus leaves from Sevilla around 11:30 so you could visit Madrid, Granada, then Sevilla and take the overnight bus
CathyM is offline  
Old Feb 21st, 2013, 08:49 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 17,990
Received 22 Likes on 4 Posts
Day trip from Barcelona Girona,Figueres(Dali Museum) Costa Brava(Begur or other)
Madrid day trips both Segovia and Toledo are very interesting and different from each other. Can't you include both?
Fly to Lisbon if possible.
Well thought out plan.
HappyTrvlr is offline  
Old Feb 21st, 2013, 09:11 AM
  #5  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you so much for the wonderful suggestions, especially because I did not consider flying or an overnight bus to Lisbon. Definitely will modify the itinerary accordingly!
spea0688 is offline  
Old Feb 21st, 2013, 09:15 AM
  #6  
jgg
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,683
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I agree, looks like a good plan with a good amount of days in each location. I agree with CathyM about going from Madrid to Granada and then Seville, I think it will make it much easier to get to Lisbon. Look at low cost airlines like Ryanair and Easy Jet for flight Seville to Lisbon.

We were in Andalucia (Granada, Cordoba, Seville) last March with our 20 year old daughter. Particularly, in Granada and Seville, we noticed lots of University students around so it should be fun for you.

Here are links to my blog with my trip reports from our trip last March as well as our trip to Barcelona in 2007. They also incl pics.

http://www.fromhometoroam.com/catego...ope/andalucia/
http://www.fromhometoroam.com/catego...ope/barcelona/
jgg is offline  
Old Feb 26th, 2013, 05:34 PM
  #7  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I have updated my itinerary after all of your helpful advice and just rummaging through the forums a bit more. Does this look better? I am also trying to find the best way to incorporate Ronda to this trip... and any help would be appreciated.

So far it is:
1. Barcelona (5 days, day trip to Montserrat)
2. Madrid (4 days, with a day trip to either Toledo or Segovia)
3. Granada (2 days)
4. Take the early train from Granada to Ronda, spend night in Ronda (1 day)
5. Take the early train from Ronda to Cordoba, spend afternoon in Cordoba, take evening train to Sevilla (1 day)
6. Sevilla (3 days, with last day overnight bus from Sevilla to Lisbon)
7. Lisbon (5 days, with one day trip to Sintra and possibly one more day trip to Cascais)
spea0688 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Mero
Europe
4
Mar 19th, 2018 12:39 AM
krikopal
Europe
17
Jul 7th, 2016 03:50 AM
nygvic0326
Europe
12
Jun 29th, 2013 08:40 PM
jhm2jhm2
Europe
11
Apr 28th, 2007 10:45 AM
dexters
Europe
4
Jun 17th, 2004 08:57 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -