Trip Planning To Portugal (28 days)

I am not an expert on Portugal, but I think the order in which you've listed your destinations is pretty good. The more knowledgeable folks here may be able to suggest some tweaks.

From Porto to Braga and Guimaraes, a bus is faster than a train, so take a look at both schedules and choose whichever is most convenient.

Belmonte has no train station, so it must be either rental car or bus. Rede Expressos and Citi Express both have buses to Viseu; they are quite frequent, then you must change to another Citi Express bus. The buses from Viseu to Belmonte seem less frequent. Check carefully to be sure you're looking at the right day, and don't ignore the footnotes. My Portuguese is weak, but I think:

2a Feira a 5a Feira = Monday - Thursday
6a Feira = Friday
Sabado = Saturday
Domingo = Sunday

If you're thinking, "A car would be easier," you are right. However, both Viseu and Guarda (which the bus passes between Viseu and Belmonte) are nice towns.

It is usually possible to pick up a car in one city and drop it in another within the same country at little additional expense. You might consider driving on from Belmonte to Evora. That will take much less time than traveling by bus or train. If you want to switch back to train as soon as possible, the nearest station is in Covilha, where you can pick up a train to Lisbon and then connect to Evora. However, I do not know that there is a car-rental agency in Covilha where you could drop the car.

The only public-transportation route between Evora and Lagos that doesn't involve a detour to Lisbon is by Rede Expressos bus with a change in Beja, but the schedule is infrequent and may not meet your needs.

As for the Algarve, there's rail service to a small town quite near Albufeira called "Tunes", then on to Lagos. No trains to Sagres. Bus service can be pretty decent down there but probably varies by season. Although you shouldn't trust frequencies, travel times or fares, Rome2Rio.com is useful in providing links to the appropriate bus companies. If there is train service to or near your destination, it will indicate that as well.

To plan any driving you might do, use ViaMichelin.com. Although it's thought to be a bit optimistic, it will probably be workable for you if you keep in mind that it does not allow time for any stops, getting lost, looking for parking, etc.

I can't give you specific help for your itinerary, but I have a general suggestion. The train network in Portugal is not as extensive as some other European countries, and buses fill in the gaps. Even when there is a train connection, the bus can be faster, more frequent, or go closer to the center.

To find route options, a great trick I learned on this Forum is to start with Rome2Rio. https://www.rome2rio.com/. Then, when you see then names of the bus companies, go directly to their websites to find accurate schedules and prices. You may need Google Translate for some companies, if their information is not available in English.

For more on Portuguese trains, look at the Portugal page from rail guru The Man In Seat 61: https://www.seat61.com/Portugal.htm

EDIT: cross posting with acraven, who gave me the Rome2Rio to bus company website trick (it worked very well for Spain).

I'll just pile on and say that the buses are really great, as good as the train.

Ditto about the bus service in Portugal. My experience was very good from Southern Spain to Lagos in the Algarve.

Thanks for sll the help. Have any of you used AirBnB in Portugal> Averio and Porto?? I am trying a place in Lisbon.. How many days would you spend in Aviero and how many in Porto. Reading mixed reviews about Coimbra. Any place not on my list that is a MUST? Thanks for all of your help. I am looking into bus schedules. Although train to Averio and Porto looks fast and easy and cheap.

I have fond memories of Coimbra*, but from a long time ago. While strolling one evening, we followed our ears and found fado being sung in a basement bar.

Later in the trip we were in Lisboa for the midsummer feast of St John the Baptist, and in every little squre reached by steep steps up the hillside, people were eating sardinas assadas at long tables and eagerly invited us to join them.

• but my memories are hazy: it could have been Obidos.

P. S. There is a separate Portugal forum: try there.

Well,as of now I have booked 3 AirBNB's(Lisbon, Aviero, Porto) and my only concern now,,(with absolutely no Portugese language) is how to navigate the bus/train schedules. I see that if you book 30 days in advance you can get discounts. But can you do that from the USA and how can you be sure it is done correctly to the right stations? For example, we have decide to go from Lisbon to Aveiro and then take a side trip to Coimbra for the day. Any suggestions? I have been to Coimbra in the past and I want my husband to see the University. While I wanted to go to Belmonte it seems to be a real challenge. Mixed reviews also. I will be in Porto at least 4 days, Is it best to take day trips to Guimares from Porto? If I want to go on to Amarante/Pinhao is it best to go from Porto? Or should you stay in Guimares and go from there? And I want to go to Tomar and Pinahao. Then to Evora and Lagos. We want to rent a car for a few days in the Algarve. Any suggestions? And then we will travel back to Lisbon for the last day and fly back to the states. Am I missing anything on the way? Is there a train pass that you can purchase that covers all the trains, And do you purchase bus tickets ahead of time?? Thank you