13 days / 13 nights itinerary help please. October 29th - November 11th

Congrats on going forward with your trip! We did a similar trip to yours except in reverse in August of this year.

If you want to read that trip report- it might give you some ideas of things to do: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/august-2021-portugal-trip

That post also has links to tours you might be interested in booking if they look appealing to you.

I think you have a great base trip here now just need to fill in the details. I also blogged about it if you want to look at more detail to figure out if you would want some of the day trips. https://www.geekswander.com

We did not have a rental car for this trip. We took the CP train from Lisbon to Porto (stops in Coimbra). That might work. Depending upon what day trips you pick, you do not necessarily need (or want) a car.

While Coimbra is quite nice, I’m not certain what kind of day trips you could do from there without a car. You could easily spend two nights there and might possibly take the train back up to Aveiro but IMO there are more interesting things in the center of the country.

If you are willing to rent a car for that portion of your trip, you could visit Alcobaca, Batalha and maybe Tomar. Or, with only three days, you could potentially just take an Uber from Coimbra out to Conimbriga - the ruins of a Roman settlement with some still intact mosaic floors.

There are many things to see in the central area, do a bit more reading/research to see what appeals to you most. You might try googling ‘ silver coast Portugal’. FYI -driving in that area is very easy if you decide to go that route.

I like Kathryn's suggestion, provided you have a car. Maybe pick it up in Porto, stop for the day in Coimbra and then 2-3 nights in Tomar. I found it to be a good base, easy to drive in and out of, good parking, good restaurants (and coin-op laundry too). You can easily day trip to Alcobaca and Batalya in a single day, and visit Obidos and a coastal town (but not Nazare) on the way to Lisbon.

If you need an automatic car, you may be better off renting at the Porto airport where there's a much bigger selection (and possible long lines). If you're going to be arriving in Lisbon in rush hour (or even if not) it may be easier to drop the car at the airport and taxi/uber into town. Driving in Lisbon is pretty awful - lots of traffic and one-way streets. Be sure to get a toll reader with the car.

Thanks everybody for your suggestions. It looks like we should cut down Lisbon to 4 or 5 night and add 1-2 nights for central Portugal and rent a car for that segment of trip.

4 Nights- Porto
2 Nights- Central Portugal Base A
2 Nights- Central Portugal Base B
5 Nights- Lisbon

Any advice where we should base these two.. two nights' stays in Central Portugal. Thanks.

maheshwarimt:

Just sent a reply via PM... Had forgotten you are starting in Porto.. SO look at the "option" paragraph about Porto, Coimbra, Evora, Lisbon.....

Since distances are relatively short there - a car as leave Porto and return as arrive Lisbon might make sense time wise. And will give a bit of flexibility for day visits.

Relax & Enjoy

Coimbra for one of your two might bases might be good since you could then visit Conimbriga.

For your second base, Tomar, or São Martinho do Porto would be my choices. São Martinho is on the coast and is quite lovely. Tomar is also very nice inland. From both you could visit Alcobaca and Batalha. There is Almoural castle outside of Tomar that is pretty spectacular approached by boat. It’s just a ruin but pretty fascinating.

Bear in mind that two nights really gives you a day and a half maximum. But you will spend less time driving by splitting up your bases.

Do add Braga (where Bom Jesus is located) to your list of day trips from Porto.

Include Evora as one of your overnights. The Pousada there is wonderful.

I would also look at Kathryn’s suggestions. Coimbra was one of our favorite stays on the RS Heart of Portugal Tour. We especially have fond memories of our tour of the University and an evening Fado performance in town. We didn’t have the opportunity to stop in Tomar, but have heard positive reports! We very much enjoyed our one night in Evora. Well worth an overnight stay. We spent 4 nights in Lisbon and dedicated a day trip to Sintra & Cascais. We took a small guided tour with Lisbon Riders. One of our favorite highlights of Portugal. lisbonriders.com
https://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions-/coimbra-p-coim-coim.htm

I like Kathryn's suggestion of making a coastal town one of your 2 stops. You could visti Braga and Guimaraes and get to Coimbra late in the day. Then you'll have a full day to enjoy Coimbra. See Batalha and Alcobaca on your way to São Martinho.

Edit - or spend a day in the Douro valley, maybe as far as Regua, before going south to Coimbra.