I will be going on a package tour in Europe in May 2023 (sorry, Rick - with a competitor!). I have three full days in Portugal prior to the tour commencing. Plan to rent a car for that period, mostly over a weekend. Looking for suggestions as one or two sites to visit. Car rental will be from and back to the Lisbon airport.
By the way, the tour includes Lisbon and then areas to to east and south. Thus I am thinking of places north of Lisbon. I have never been to Portugal.
If you’re not visiting Porto that is a must see. Also consider historic Guimares and university town of Coimbra.
I second a visit to Porto if your not going there on your tour. We did the RS Portugal tour last March/April. If your tour is not visiting the Peña Palace in Sintra then that should be on your list. But the secret is to not go back down the road but to walk through the Gardens and visit the lakes on the way out. Was very quite and uncrowned. If you enjoy wine anyone of the Port lodges in Porto are worth a visit. But if you want to get off the grid, visit the Douro Valley and hit up a few of the vineyards. The hotel we stayed at ( The vintage house Hotel R. António Manuel Saraiva, 5085-034 Pinhão, Portugal )was fantastic, right on the Duro river.
Good luck with what ever you decide.
The north of Portugal is fantastic. Love Porto. You can take the high speed train there and back.
In the alternative, visit Sintra, Obidos (an ancient walled city) and Nazare.
Another vote for Sintra and Obidos, and adding Evora, all of which are closer to Lisbon than Porto. Unless Evora is included in your tour.
Thank you all for the great suggestions.
While Porto certainly sounds interesting, it seems a bit far for my limited time, and I would also rather visit smaller sites. Regarding Evora, that’s included in my package tour.
My thoughts now lean towards a route from the airport to Sintra, on to Obidos, and then to Fatima and back to the airport to drop the car. Thoughts on this? Probably an overnight in each spot - suggestions for lodging (preferably with convenient parking, of course)?
Still flexible, so other thoughts are most welcomed. Thanks!
