Lisbon, Barcelona, and Paris in 2 weeks?

I think each of the places that you list needs at least four days for a good but somewhat cursory trip. The main thing that will make this trip, I think, is for you all to do this trip open jaw so you do not waste a day getting back to your arrival city to head home. I think that it will feel a bit rushed but not in a horrible "if this is Tuesday, it must be X" kind of pace. The first time I went to Lisbon, I spent four nights there and did a day trip to Sintra and Cascais and it was great. I did wish that I had more time there so I planned a second trip. That may happen to you as well but I think that four well-planned days should give you a good taste of each city.

jameskingston835

This is not much different from the other post that you deleted. It is a matter of personal choice whether you choose cities X, Y or Z.

5 nights in each city would make for a decent sampler vacation. You should just have enough time for the typical "must-see's" plus a day trip from each.

Try the different combinations of open jaw flights to find the best set (lowest price and fastest). Domestic flights between any of the three should be very affordable.

FWIW, I think your itinerary will already be very full with the major attractions in each city and you should forget about looking for "off the beaten path" or "amazing nature" on this trip. You are visiting the biggest major cities in three countries and only have 5 nights in each. You would need to spend too much time to get out of the city limits to try to get away from it all. Better to use your time to wander some side streets, get lost and discover some small bar, cafe or shop on your own.

Good luck.

Have you looked at a map of Europe? You picked three cites that are far apart from each other.

Consider touring places geographically closer to each other to minimize wasted travel time between place as well as cost. For example, why not do Barcelona, Madrid (day trips to Toledo and Segovia), Cordoba and Seville.

DO Portugal and Lisbon when you can also take in Porto and the amazing Douro River Valley.

Also, you only have two weeks, I say pick a country and enjoy it. You could spend two weeks in Spain and NOT see the key places.

Flights within Europe, check for cost of checking luggage.

You can do Versailles, Monserrat and Sintra easily from the larger cities.

James,
Just a reminder. The 2 hour trip between cities is more like 5-6 hours. Getting to airport (after checking out of lodgings) 2 hours ahead of time for security check, etc., getting to new lodgings, checking in, etc. A transfer between these cities will use up most of a day, leaving you with 13 days, and departure day (depending on when your flight is) will be used up in checking out and getting to airport 3 hours ahead (as is recommended). And arrival day will be lost for touring, so really 12 days to see your cities. That is 4 days each, and as another poster says, these cities are such that I would forgo days trips out of them. Keep this in mind as you polan. And yes to open jaw flights to save a day of travel to departure city.
Bonne chance and boin voyage!

I would agree with the prior poster that you lose much of the day each time you fly. You have to transport to and from the airport and then get through security etc. Europe has such great train systems it seems a shame not to use them, particularly when you have not been to Europe before. As well as you are looking at August, all 3 of those cities will be hot.
I would suggest either dropping Paris and fly into Barcelona, train to Madrid and then maybe one flight to Lisbon. ( Or just do Spain with trains the whole time).
Or if Paris is your priority, Paris, Brussels Amsterdam. It will be cooler and more relaxing to end in Amsterdam.

The company that we took the Douro River cruise with is out of business. Since then, we have become fond of Gate 1 Travel and would recommend them.