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15-16 nights in Portugal

We have come up with this basic itinerary of 15-16 nights in Portugal.
-Arrive in Faro (coming from Seville, Spain by bus or train). Stay 4-5 nights in Lagos and Tavira (beaching, kayaking, relaxing)
-Bus or Train to Lisbon and stay 4-5 nights doing day trips to Sintra, Cascais,(experience music, food, scenery, architecture)
-Bus or Train to Porto/Duoro area for 5-6 nights spending 2-3 nights in Porto, 2 nights in Pinhão area, 1-2 nights in Guimares or Braga. (wine, port, scenery, culture, people, music)
-Fly back to Canada.
1. Does the amount of time in each of the 3 areas seems reasonable to see a few sights and enjoy a leisurely pace just enjoying the culture, people, food, music?
2. Do we need a car anywhere? We are thinking of car only in Algarve area.
3. Day trips from Lisbon or overnight trips?
4. Day trips from Porto or overnight in Guimares/Bragga?
5. Are there any must do cities or towns in the areas i have listed?
6. We can spend an additional few nights in Portugal if needed.
Thank you for your input. much appreciated.

Posted by
6113 posts

There are no trains between Seville and Portugal. The bus stops at Tavira, so no need to go to Faro.

Your trip is a bit rushed, as you haven’t allowed time to get from one destination to the next. Four nights is three days.

I would opt for either Tavira or Lagos, otherwise you will lose half a day door to door getting from one to the other. Tavira is by far the most Portuguese of the two, having been less spoilt by development, but the beach is out on the barrier island, easily reachable by a 5 minute water taxi/small ferry.

Sea kayaking here isn’t for the inexperienced - I have seen 2 fit looking men in their early 30s having to be rescued from the sea when they got into difficulties trying to fight the strong tides. It was scary watching it as they had no energy left to pull themselves into shore.

If you opted just for Tavira, I would take a night from the Algarve and add it to Lisbon, which you are short- changing with your 2 day trips from here.

Take the train from the Algarve to Lisbon and the same to Porto. If you could manage some extra nights, I would hire a car between Lisbon and Porto so that you could see Evora, Tomar, Obidos, Alcobaca and Aveiro.

Posted by
208 posts

I wouldn't be afraid of renting a car in Portugal. They have excellent highways, that aren't too crowded. It would allow for stops in some of the secondary cities--Evora, Coimbra, etc.

We spent a night or two in completely untouristed Northeast Portugal, seeing some neolithic rock drawings in their natural setting, and visiting the ruins of Castle Melhor, and I found that quite relaxing.

Posted by
372 posts

We had 16 nights on the ground this past summer and did the following, but you could change the routing. We picked up a car on our way out of Lisbon and dropped it in Porto on arrival there. We felt we saw a lot more of the country with a car. The roads were excellent and well signed. Easy to get around. The people are amazingly warm and friendly, and twice when lost we had people take us by the arm and lead us to where we were going. Good value food and wine. Enjoy Portugal!

Lisbon-3 nts Day tripped to Sintra, picked up car on our way out. Drove the coastal route to
Lagos-4 nts Day tripped to Salema, Silves and Sagres. Stopped in Beja enroute to
Evora-2 nts Stopped in Tomar on enroute to:
Nazare-4 nts Day tripped to Obidos, Alcobaca and Conimbriga for the Roman Ruins. There is tons to see in this part of Portugal!
Porto-3 nts Dropped car on way into town.

We found the roads to be excellent and well signed. Easy to get around. The people are amazingly warm and friendly, (almost like Canadians!) and twice when lost we had people take us by the arm and lead us to where we were going. Good value food and wine. Enjoy Portugal! Happy to give more info if you PM me. Where are you in Canada? I'm in Victoria.

Posted by
5187 posts

dmalanch,

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Have a wonderful trip!