Hi,
I'm planning a trip with my wife and mother and would love some feedback:
Day 1: Arrive Lisbon 6AM. Coimbra w/ pit stop in Tomar.
Day 2: Porto
Day 3: Porto
Day 4: Viana de Castello & Ponte de Lima
Day 5: Braga, Guimares, & Amarante (drive to Duoro in the evening)
Day 6: Duoro
Day 7: 1/2 day in Lisbon w/ stop in Buçaco
Day 8: Lisbon
Day 9: Lisbon
Day 10: Sintra
Posted by
OP
6 posts
We're not sure if we're spending too much time in Minho instead of other parts of the country. Perhaps we should instead spend more time in Porto? or in Tomar... or Batalha etc...
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15794 posts
It sounds like you are picking up a car on arrival and returning the car in Lisbon. You won't need or want a car in Porto (or Lisbon for that matter), so it would be better to fly into Porto and out of Lisbon or take the train from Lisbon to Porto, then pick up the car when you leave and drop it when you get to Lisbon. Driving in both cities is very difficult because of heavy traffic, hills, and many one-way streets. Parking is hard to find and/or expensive.
The trains are not as nice as most trains in Europe but are quite comfortable. The AP trains are the newest and most comfortable, the IC trains are okay too - the trip is only about 3 hours. You can find schedules and prices at the official site. I'd recommend taking Uber or taxi from the airport to Lisboa-Santa Apolonia station to get the train there. Oriente is the main station in Lisbon but it is difficult to navigate: it's confusing, there's no signage, lots of stairs (tickets are on an upper level and train platforms on a still higher one) and only one small elevator that's hard to find. Take the train to Porto - Campanha and then taxi/uber to your hotel.
You could visit Coimbra and Tomar between Buçaco and Lisbon. The best way to visit Sintra is taxi/uber from Lisbon to the airport. I assume you are planning to fly out of Lisbon on Day 11?
It's hard to advise on whether your itinerary is best for you without knowing your interests. Note that google/gps driving times are estimates using optimal conditions. Most people find that actual driving times when not on the toll roads are about 50% more than those estimates. Be sure to get a toll reader with your car and you should also have some kind of GPS. I used a combination of Google and my Garmin and still had a little trouble. Most tourist offices have a good map of central Portugal - which I sadly only discovered near the end of my trip. It would have saved some "disputes" between google and garmin, both of which I cursed on multiple days. When planning your days, keep in mind that you won't be as efficient as on a tour. You'll have to find parking and then walk to sights - most of Portugal is hilly, some quite steep.
Posted by
stevens point, wi, usa
1194 posts
Hello from Wisconsin,
Chani has SOLID advise.
Don't attempt to drive in Lisbon. Out of the airport is fine but don't get into the city. It is an extremely challenging city to drive within, plus there is no parking.
wayne inWI
Posted by
OP
6 posts
Thank you, I'm not really worried about the transport. We have rented a car but will not use it in Porto or Lisbon. I'm more concerned if we're using our time effectively given the limited schedule.
Posted by
Paris
7312 posts
I would take the train to Porto on arrival, and only start renting the car when leaving Porto.
I would skip day 4 unless it coincides with Market day in Ponte de Lima, because I find that Viana do Castelo does not offer a lot and that Ponte de Lima, while cute, is also very tiny. I would much rather spend the night in Guimarães (doing Braga + Guimarães that day).
It is after the Douro, on the way to Lisbon, that I would spend a night in Coimbra.
You could then drop the car on arrival in Lisbon (taxis to your accomodation are cheap).
As a recap:
1. Lisbon - Porto
2. Porto
3. Porto - Braga - Guimarães
4. Guimarães - Douro
5. Douro
6. Douro - Bucaço - Coimbra
7. Coimbra - Lisbon
8. Lisbon
9. Lisbon
10. Lisbon - Sintra - Lisbon
11. Leaving