THINGS TO DO IN AND AROUND LISBON PART III (Inc Portugal)
Feb 5th, 2007, 07:42 AM
#481
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Hi Susan,
I know that there are buses that will take you from Lisbon to Evora, but I'm not familiar with public transportation between the towns in the Alentejo. I'm curious to hear Lobo's opinion...
I know that there are buses that will take you from Lisbon to Evora, but I'm not familiar with public transportation between the towns in the Alentejo. I'm curious to hear Lobo's opinion...
Feb 16th, 2007, 05:49 AM
#483
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artnuvo, Thank you for the information. I have been trying to find out what makes sense, bus or train and I also would like to know the times for each and I can't seem to find websites in English that are helpful. I have what I hope is a final itinerary for our trip:
Thursday Morning arrive Lisbon and sleep in Lisbon
Friday - day trip to Sintra, sleep in Lisbon
Saturday - tour lisbon/Belem and sleep in Lisbon
Sunday - bus or train to Evora and sleep in Evora.
Monday - bus or train to Obidos (yes, from Evora which will mean going back through Lisbon!) and sleep Obidos
Tuesday - back to Lisbon and sleep Lisbon
Wednesday - morning flight home.
As you can see I need to figure out bus/train schedules to get from Lisbon to Evora and then the best, way - least time, to get from Evora to Obidos. I am looking for assistance on this. And would I need to purchase tickets in advance? Thanks, Susan
Thursday Morning arrive Lisbon and sleep in Lisbon
Friday - day trip to Sintra, sleep in Lisbon
Saturday - tour lisbon/Belem and sleep in Lisbon
Sunday - bus or train to Evora and sleep in Evora.
Monday - bus or train to Obidos (yes, from Evora which will mean going back through Lisbon!) and sleep Obidos
Tuesday - back to Lisbon and sleep Lisbon
Wednesday - morning flight home.
As you can see I need to figure out bus/train schedules to get from Lisbon to Evora and then the best, way - least time, to get from Evora to Obidos. I am looking for assistance on this. And would I need to purchase tickets in advance? Thanks, Susan
Feb 16th, 2007, 10:38 AM
#484
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As a general rule, the train stations in Alentejo may be quite far from the towns with the same name. In some cases, quite far means 10 miles or so, requiring a taxi to complete the journey. As a bottom line I can say that in Lisbon to Porto or Lisbon to Faro routes, the train in a good option while, on the other hand, in most Alentejan towns the bus is the best option since it delivers you right to the center of action.
Feb 16th, 2007, 11:38 AM
#485
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Lobo_mau,
Yes, from what I have been reading, buses are my best bet. But I would like to know that my planned itinerary works and to do that I have been trying get bus schedules from Lisbon to Evora and Evora to Obidios (via Lisbon I assume). I need to see the schedules to see if this itinerary makes sense or if I will be wasting too much time traveling from place to place. Do you know where I can find that information? The only websites I could find that looked helpful were not in English.
Do you have other suggestions for my itinerary? We are set on visiting Lisbon but also would like to spend time in both Obidos and Evora because they just look so wonderful!
Thanks, Susan
Yes, from what I have been reading, buses are my best bet. But I would like to know that my planned itinerary works and to do that I have been trying get bus schedules from Lisbon to Evora and Evora to Obidios (via Lisbon I assume). I need to see the schedules to see if this itinerary makes sense or if I will be wasting too much time traveling from place to place. Do you know where I can find that information? The only websites I could find that looked helpful were not in English.
Do you have other suggestions for my itinerary? We are set on visiting Lisbon but also would like to spend time in both Obidos and Evora because they just look so wonderful!
Thanks, Susan
Feb 16th, 2007, 02:46 PM
#486
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This site in Portuguese but easily understood by English readers:
http://www.rede-expressos.pt/0010.asp
partida=departure point
destino=arrival point
Feb 17th, 2007, 11:39 AM
#487
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Thank you, I can navigate the site and I easily have found the route from Lisbon to Evora, but I don't see an Obidos bus station listed? Am I missing it? Or does this bus company not have that route? Also, I have a couple of questions:
1. Do I need to purchase Lisbon to Evora tickets in advance? We would want to travel on a Sunday morning - around 8:30 or 9.
2. I am concerned about getting from Evora to Obidos - I don't want to spend a lot of time traveling by bus. So, would it be possible to hire someone to drive us? Does this make sense? If so, any ideas on how to arrange it?
Susan
1. Do I need to purchase Lisbon to Evora tickets in advance? We would want to travel on a Sunday morning - around 8:30 or 9.
2. I am concerned about getting from Evora to Obidos - I don't want to spend a lot of time traveling by bus. So, would it be possible to hire someone to drive us? Does this make sense? If so, any ideas on how to arrange it?
Susan
Feb 19th, 2007, 02:48 AM
#488
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I don't think you need to purchase in advance. I guess that there will be a peak of attendance Friday afternoon and Saturday morning (students going home for week end) but it should be very quiet Sunday morning. Go there 30 minutes before the hour you plan to travel.
I don't think it's a good idea to hire a private driver. It's not usual and wood be very expensive anyway. If you feel familiar with bus travel and you don't have huge amounts of luggage, I think the bus is again the best option. The city of some importance near to Obidos is Caldas da Rainha. It's about 3 miles from Obidos. From there to Obidos, you may easily take a taxi, which is unexpensive and drives you to the right place in Obidos. If you feel more confortable, do not hesitate to ask in advance the taxi driver, about the cost of the drive. I guess it should be no more than 20 euros. Most taxi driver are honest, but there are always a few trying to take advantage of tourists.
The bus ride Evora to Caldas da Rainha is not direct, it goes through Lisbon.
It's possible to do Lisbon/Obidos by train or vice versa. But it's the slow "far" west single line regional train. If you are in the mood, it might be un interesting experience, stopping in every single station and do people watching. It's up to you. I advise it in the return route (Obidos to Lisbon) because we may ask the hotel staff to organize a transport to the train station. Obidos station is not far from Obidos itself, but you will prefer to be driven instead of walking.
Unless you have a fetiche about sleeping in a castle, avoid Obidos Pousada. You may always go there to have a coffee or a meal and enjoy the views and the architecture, even if you are not staying there.
For a reference of a places to stay in Evora and Obidos (with pictures) look for Baileys "portugal trip report"
I don't think it's a good idea to hire a private driver. It's not usual and wood be very expensive anyway. If you feel familiar with bus travel and you don't have huge amounts of luggage, I think the bus is again the best option. The city of some importance near to Obidos is Caldas da Rainha. It's about 3 miles from Obidos. From there to Obidos, you may easily take a taxi, which is unexpensive and drives you to the right place in Obidos. If you feel more confortable, do not hesitate to ask in advance the taxi driver, about the cost of the drive. I guess it should be no more than 20 euros. Most taxi driver are honest, but there are always a few trying to take advantage of tourists.
The bus ride Evora to Caldas da Rainha is not direct, it goes through Lisbon.
It's possible to do Lisbon/Obidos by train or vice versa. But it's the slow "far" west single line regional train. If you are in the mood, it might be un interesting experience, stopping in every single station and do people watching. It's up to you. I advise it in the return route (Obidos to Lisbon) because we may ask the hotel staff to organize a transport to the train station. Obidos station is not far from Obidos itself, but you will prefer to be driven instead of walking.
Unless you have a fetiche about sleeping in a castle, avoid Obidos Pousada. You may always go there to have a coffee or a meal and enjoy the views and the architecture, even if you are not staying there.
For a reference of a places to stay in Evora and Obidos (with pictures) look for Baileys "portugal trip report"
Feb 19th, 2007, 07:48 AM
#489
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Thank you Lobo for the information. I guess I am wondering if my itinerary makes sense or if I am going to be spending too much time getting from Evora to Obidos. I found what I think are nice places to stay in each city and they both looked interesting to me. Do you think that my plan is silly? 3 nights Lisbon, 1 night Evora, 1 night Obidos, then back to Lisbon for the evening before our flight home? I like the ideas of Obidos and Evora along with Lisbon. I didn't want to stay a city the whole trip and as we won't have a car, I thought both Evora and Obidos and were easy to see on foot. We were planning on staying at Casa das Senhoras Rainhas in Obidos and at Hotel de Cartuxa in Evora.
My original plan was to spend two nights in Obidos and from there day trip via bus to Nazare and Albaca (?) but now I have no idea what to do? I am looking for advice here - thanks! Susan
My original plan was to spend two nights in Obidos and from there day trip via bus to Nazare and Albaca (?) but now I have no idea what to do? I am looking for advice here - thanks! Susan
Feb 22nd, 2007, 03:49 PM
#490
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Matt & Lobo
My grandparents on both sides are from the Azores. My mom has always wanted to visit Portugal but kept putting it off. Now my dad is gone, and I would like to take her. I'm looking for a 10 to 14 day itinerary that would leave her with a better feel of the country, culture, foods, etc of her/our ancestors. I'd like to include a few days in the Azores. She is OK to walk, but not too extensively. I am OK with driving and/or relying on easy public transportation. You've provided tons of information on these various boards...enough to make my head spin. So anything you can do to narrow down suggestions for the type of "experience" we are hoping for...and given that my mother is just one generation away from growing up in Portugal. Thank you!
My grandparents on both sides are from the Azores. My mom has always wanted to visit Portugal but kept putting it off. Now my dad is gone, and I would like to take her. I'm looking for a 10 to 14 day itinerary that would leave her with a better feel of the country, culture, foods, etc of her/our ancestors. I'd like to include a few days in the Azores. She is OK to walk, but not too extensively. I am OK with driving and/or relying on easy public transportation. You've provided tons of information on these various boards...enough to make my head spin. So anything you can do to narrow down suggestions for the type of "experience" we are hoping for...and given that my mother is just one generation away from growing up in Portugal. Thank you!
Feb 27th, 2007, 06:43 AM
#491
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Dear All, I'm planning a trip to Portugal to celebrate my 30th birthday, and I have learned more from all of you than from the best guidebooks combined! THANK YOU! I've read all the posts, oohed and aahed at the pictures, crossed my fingers for Matt when he was not well, longed for the food at Agada das Gravatas. I'm so excited about my trip.
I will be traveling from March 11-22. I haven't come up with an exact itinerary yet, but I plan to see Lisboa, make the day trips that Matt suggests, go to Evora where a friend's friend lives and see Maravao, Castelo de Vide, and Monsaraz with him, maybe make a short trip to Lagos.
Lobo has already been kind enough to invite me to the March 17 LDC dinner. I will try to make it, although I may have to spend that weekend in Evora since that is the only time my friend can show me around.
I think I remember reading that Lobo is having a birthday today. Happy Birthday!
My questions: I feel bad for skipping Porto on this trip. I do plan to return, but I've heard such lovely things about this city. Anyone have any strong feelings for it?
I want to see the Aqueduct at the Museum of Water but recall having read somewhere online that the Aqueduct is closed until the end of Spring. Is that so?
I will post my intinerary soon. Thanks, and I have been living in Manhattan for 7 years now, so I would love to help plan the NY LDC dinner.
Best,
Saira
I will be traveling from March 11-22. I haven't come up with an exact itinerary yet, but I plan to see Lisboa, make the day trips that Matt suggests, go to Evora where a friend's friend lives and see Maravao, Castelo de Vide, and Monsaraz with him, maybe make a short trip to Lagos.
Lobo has already been kind enough to invite me to the March 17 LDC dinner. I will try to make it, although I may have to spend that weekend in Evora since that is the only time my friend can show me around.
I think I remember reading that Lobo is having a birthday today. Happy Birthday!
My questions: I feel bad for skipping Porto on this trip. I do plan to return, but I've heard such lovely things about this city. Anyone have any strong feelings for it?
I want to see the Aqueduct at the Museum of Water but recall having read somewhere online that the Aqueduct is closed until the end of Spring. Is that so?
I will post my intinerary soon. Thanks, and I have been living in Manhattan for 7 years now, so I would love to help plan the NY LDC dinner.
Best,
Saira
Feb 27th, 2007, 07:13 AM
#492
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Hi Saira
Evora is about one hour driving from Lisbon. Why don't you bring your friend and return. Just don't drink alcohol (of course this is against LDC's mission statement, but we may open an exception for you).
The NYC LDC is progressing. Your offer to help is very much appreciated, together with other Fodorites who gave already unvaluable informations. If I need anything more, I'll let you know.
Evora is about one hour driving from Lisbon. Why don't you bring your friend and return. Just don't drink alcohol (of course this is against LDC's mission statement, but we may open an exception for you).
The NYC LDC is progressing. Your offer to help is very much appreciated, together with other Fodorites who gave already unvaluable informations. If I need anything more, I'll let you know.
Feb 27th, 2007, 02:50 PM
#497
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Thank you all 
This is suposed to be classified info, but I should have disclosed it somewhere.
I was born in 1962, and very happy with my 22.5 years old and expecting a few more to come.
That's perfect Kenderina
This is suposed to be classified info, but I should have disclosed it somewhere.I was born in 1962, and very happy with my 22.5 years old and expecting a few more to come.
That's perfect Kenderina
Feb 27th, 2007, 08:41 PM
#498
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Loved Lisbon!!!!! more info at http://www.bombasticlife.com/pe_portugal
