Adoc86

My boyfriend and I are planning a trip to Spain and Portugal for August 2011. We have about 16 days to work with, maybe a couple more if we really need it. We know that we for sure want to go to Barcelona and Seville, and we'd also like to have a couple days in Madrid with room for some day trips as well. We also plan to go to Lisbon for a couple of days and allow for some day trips from there as well. I'm looking for some suggestions for itineraries concerning how long to visit each city and what order to visit them in. I realize that this is a lot of cities to cover in 16 days, so we're willing to cut something out if it helps with the efficiency of the trip - but Barcelona, Seville and Lisbon are definites. Also looking for suggestions on possible day trips the cities I listed.

One important thing to let you know is that I am disabled and in a manual wheelchair. I've been to Europe several times (France, Italy, England, Germany, Belgium), so I typically know what to expect in terms of European accessibility. However, please take this into consideration when making suggestions for day trips, as these trips would probably be to small towns which are likely to be difficult to visit in a wheelchair - so if a small town is on top of a mountain and the only way to get to it is to trek up the slope, please don't suggest it

We're both 24 years old and love seeing architecture, history museums, beaches, trying new food, and typical tourist-y things.


Lastly, what is the best way to travel from city to city? We're mainly thinking about trains, as we don't really want to rent a car. Thanks!

adrienne

I would highly recommend Sintra as a day trip from Lisbon. You can get there by train. I drove but I'm sure there are taxis at the train station in Sintra and your hotel can call you a taxi to get to the sights. But I think all the sights in Sintra have steps; I don't know if there is a wheel chair ramp (can't remember). And there are steps within the Palaces there. Can you manage any steps?

I think all the places I went to in Lisbon had at least a few steps. The monastery had a ramp but there is a second floor that is accessible by steps (spiral staircase). I'm pretty sure the Gulbenkian Museum had a ramp.

Lisbon is a bunch of hills but the taxis are plentiful.

iris1745

Hi; This site will give you good downloads of information for Spain. Richard www.maribelsguides.com

bilboburgler

The main cities of Spain have improved their accessability but the peninsula is average of 800m above sea level so hills are every where. Luckily Spain has good reasons to be disabled friendly, the lottery is run for and by the blind for example.

Barcelona is all up hill from the beach, lots of buses (and they kneel), trains are reasonable too.

Madrid (despite being an invented city) has a small centre with old buildings, large cobblestones might be a worry but the museums are great and relatively close.

August is going to be very hot and whil Madrid has loads of fountains you are going to be very warm.

Lisbon, reasonably flat (for instance I would not look at Porto as its very steep). Seville, Cordoba and Malaga all relatively flat with some fine visits.

Toledo is on the side of hill and while generally interesting I'd avoid. However the old royal palace to the North of madrid will be a dream visit (cool inside, flat stone and limited gravel)

Cowboy1968

Barcelona
You may find this info on accessibility of metro and buses helpful when you plan your sightseeing trips:
http://www.tmb.cat/en_US/barcelona/b...tpertothom.jsp

Nikki

Lisbon has one flat section surrounded by steep hilly sections. I would recommend staying in the Baixa neighborhood, near Rossio, a large central plaza. The Chiado, Bairro Alto and Alfama neighborhoods are extremely steep and hilly, with uneven cobblestone sidewalks, and the Alfama in particular has stairs instead of streets in some places.

It is true that Barcelona slopes upward from the beach toward the hills that rise behind it, but it is for the most part a gradual slope. The Eixample is a good, mostly flat neighborhood with wider sidewalks than the old parts of the city such as the Gothic Quarter and El Born.

For inexpensive flights between cities in Spain and Portugal, try the budget airline Vueling at www.vueling.com.

Adoc86

Thanks for all the suggestions! I dealt with a lot of cobblestones and uneven terrain when I was in Rome and other parts of Italy, and I am actually able to manage okay on most of it. Stairs are the main problem, but I typically do tons of research on sites and attractions before I book to a trip in order to ensure that I will be able to access a good portion of places. My main question is whether anyone has any suggestions for itineraries. I'm unsure how much time to allot to each city and what the best order is to visit them in?

Thanks!

kimhe

Don’t hesitate to make your way into the often crowded tapas bars in Sevilla! One of the very best tapas scenes in all of Spain. I'm sure you'll find people very helpful as well as great food and a vibrant atmosphere. This site is excellent: azahar-sevilla.com/sevilletapas

Lots of great places, but you should definitely check out Eslava, El Rinconcillo and Cervecería Giralda.
http://azahar-sevilla.com/sevilletapas/category/eslava/
http://azahar-sevilla.com/sevilletap...l-rinconcillo/
http://azahar-sevilla.com/sevilletap...ceria-giralda/

Very informative site on Sevilla in general: http://www.exploreseville.com/

Aduchamp1

I would save Portugal for another trip. There is much to see in Spain where you can add a town or two.

Madrid has spectacular museums and is an excellent hub to visit a number of worthwhile nearby towns in including Toledo and Segovia.

And if you like architecture you will fascinated with Gaudi and Puig, the city has its own sense of style and design rarely seen elsewhere.

azahar

Hi Adoc86,

I live in Seville. You will find it quite flat and most of the pavements have sloped curbs at the corners. Lots of cobblestones in the centre though. Also, be prepared to be HOT in August. But there are lots of good tapas bars to cool off in (kimhe has already directed you to my tapas blog).

I agree that in Lisbon the Baixa neighbourhood would be the best to stay in. It is otherwise VERY hilly. The Alfama is worth a visit if you can get a taxi up and down. Some good restaurants and a fabulous view from the castle (though can't remember how accessible it is). And there is a lift in the Baixa neighbourhood, just off Rua Augusta, that takes you up to the Chiada/Barrio Alto neighbourhoods.

Or you might want to consider a Lisbon go-car tour?
http://www.lisboando.com/paseos/goca...sobre-3-ruedas

I would NOT recommend a day trip to Sintra. It's nothing but hills and stairs and impossible to get to without a car.

Agree with Nikki that Barcelona is more slopey than hilly. There's a funicula up to Montjuc, and a direct bus from the centre to Parc Güell (a must see).

Madrid is fairly flat and, as someone has already mentioned, most of the museums are very near each other. I also think the Parque del Buen Retiro is fairly wheelchair friendly. It's near the museums and is a lovely place with lots of trees and fountains.

You have reminded me that I want to do some research on wheelchair friendly tapas bars. The good thing is that so many bars here have terraces and so it's just a question of removing a chair to make space at a table. But I'm reckoning in August you'll be looking for air-conditioned comfort. Anyhow, will check back here when I have done that.

As for timing ... 4 cities in 16 days. Four days each? I would personally spend less time in Madrid but that's just me. Architecturally you will probably find Barcelona and Sevilla the most interesting.

Day trips from Seville. Both Cordoba and Cadiz are easy to get to by train, and both are relatively flat. If you want more info about those two places, or about Sevilla, just let me know.

CathyM

I agree that 4 cities in 16 days (all large cities) is a little ambitious. There's really no time to venture out for daytrips when you factor in the travel time between, the first jetlagged day and the return home day. I'd eliminate at least one to give yourself more time to enjoy.

Adoc86

Thanks for all the responses. I agree that we should probably cut down on the # of cities in order to ensure that we can really explore and enjoy all of the places we visit. After reading the responses and doing a little more research we've decided that we will probably save Portugal for another trip - since it sounds like it isn't very wheelchair friendly at this time.

Azahar - your response was especially helpful, thanks!

azahar

You're very welcome, Adoc86.

For more Madrid info you might want to check out Annie Bennett's blog (she writes about Spain in general but has lived in Madrid for ages and loves it there).
http://anniebennettspain.wordpress.com/

And she is now also Simonseeks Madrid Expert.
http://www.simonseeks.com/users/annie-bennett/302

I asked Flavio (the guy who runs the Lisbon website I linked to) if he knew about wheelchair accessibility in town and he said he could check it out and told me to give you his email (he also speaks English). [email protected]

I don't know him personally but have met him on Twitter and he seems like a nice guy. So even if you don't get to Portugal this time you can save that for your next trip. Lisbon is gorgeous though - one of my favourite cities.