15 days in Portugal

When are you traveling?

Personally, I would stay in Lagos rather than Salema (see recent post on this forum re Salema).

I wouldn't stay in Tavira just for one night. Nazare and Coimbra are just over an hour apart so could be combined. They are both very different - a large coastal town or an inland historical city - which depends on your interests and the time of year.

Douro takes time as the roads are windy and personally, I would allow more time than you have for this. Porto is certainly worth time too.

Your whole schedule involves a lot of driving and I wouldn't attempt all this in your timescale, as it's more like a 3 week trip squashed into 2.

Car hire doesn't normally come with sat nav. I use the co pilot app on my mobile phone or tablet, which has live traffic delays, so is much better than most sat nav.

If you are doing motorway driving, you will need a transponder tonpay for motorway tolls. This will be provided by the hire car company.

If you drive into Spain, you will oay a one way drop fee on car hire.

I totally agree that you have way too much planned for only 15 days! You could easily drop the Algarve entirely and spend more time in Lisbon and Porto (and points between) and have a lovely trip. If you are wanting beaches, the Silver Coast area (Nazare and points south) have lovely beaches. I just spent two weeks in the Algarve and really enjoyed it, but driving all the way south for three nights will really increase your driving and decrease (IMO) your enjoyment of the trip. My first trip to Portugal was 17 nights from Porto to Lisbon and between - and I could have spent more time in both Porto and Lisbon..

A great car rental company is Auto Europe. I've used them for years and always been happy with the service. You could pick up the car in Sintra and drop off in Porto with no extra charge - but not in Spain. Auto Europe does have GPS and occasionally has deals where you get them for only the shipping charges. The one I had last spring did have tourist sites programmed into it, but we didn't discover it until late in the rental period.

If you do go to the Algarve, I would suggest staying in Lagos - not Salema. It's a very small town with little to it. I'm mystified that RS sings its praises. Lagos is a lovely town with some amazing beaches.

Personally, I would stay in Coimbra over Nazare. There are other beach towns I liked better than Nazare. I stayed a week in Sao Martinho do Porto last spring and made day trips to Obidos, Batalha, Alcobaca,

You can make trips into the Douro valley from Porto very easily. Porto is worth a few days, especially if you day trip to the Douro.
In planning your trip, remember that every time you change locations, you add to your fatigue and take away a day (usually) from actually 'being' in a location. I understand the temptation to see as much as you can, but really advocate slowing down and enjoying the country.

First, I would like to say, thank you....I truly value your feedback. Our plans are to arrive in Lisbon on April 23 and Depart on May 8th.

Based on your suggestions and further research:
- I will be staying in Lagos vs. Salema
- I've combined Coimbra and Nazare stops to 1 stop, staying in Coimbra
- Added an extra day for Porto.

QUESTION: Been searching for a good hotel in Porto, lots are already booked. Any suggestions?

After further research, it appears the largest driving distance ranges between 2.5 / 3.0 hrs when I leave Sintra for Lagos. We'll consider early morning departures to make the best of our time.

Again, many thanks ....

http://www.oportoapartments.com/casas-do-porto-ribeira-apartment-23-superior-apartment-240
We stayed in this apartment in Porto last spring and it was great. They also have one bedroom apartments and will rent for as little as three nights.

Hi Bonnie,

I have comments about a couple of things you have written:

We did 15 days in Portugal without the Algarve (with a car, more or less following the Rick Steves Itinerary) this summer (2015), and we felt like we didn't spend enough time in places! Any subset of your proposed itinerary would allow you to explore more deeply, but 'touching 'em all' would give you a taste for what you want to do when you come back.

We did Porto for 3 days, then drove through the Douro Valley on the way back to Lisbon to go home. Porto was amazing- we actually liked it the best of everywhere. It was difficult to choose a 'best' though, so many places were amazing.

Coimbra was amazing- hilly, beautiful. The university atmosphere was refreshing. We stayed 2 nights, and we got a really good flavor. We also went to Nazare, but didn't stay overnight- in my opinion we made the correct choice.

We brought a GPS with downloaded Portugal maps- but it didn't work correctly. We did fine getting around- it was only when we had to go to specific address that we had a bit of trouble, but everyone was very helpful and English is widespread.

Good luck, Robert in Montreal

Hi,
We are in the last days of 36 days in Portugal. If you have 15 days, pick three locations, 5 days each, and be happier doing day trips rather than packing and unpacking every day. Plus you will find 'your' coffee shop in the place where you are spending 5 days. Or your restaurant.

Consider this. 2 days in Lisbon to introduce yourself to the city. 5 days to the north, the farther you travel the more time on the road and not experiencing the country. The four lane roads are the only way to do long distance driving, and the tolls add up too. 5 days in Coimbra or Porto, then swing south to Evora or the Algarve for 5 days, before returning to Lisbon for three last 3 days. A city you already know.

We have traveled for years and find a return to a city is really worth it. A few days after landing and then a few days before departure, The city shrinks in size on the second visit.

wayne iNLIsboa

Hello Bonnie,

That's too much! Specially if you are always sleeping in different places so I suggest:

1-Lisbon
2-Lisbon
3- Visit Sintra but sleep in Lisbon
4- Rent a car for just 1 day if possible- Óbidos, Nazaré, Alcobaça, Batalha and Fátima - all small villages, you can see it in a day or just skip some - ( Fátima only has the Cathedral and Nazaré is a beach), Alcobaça Monastery and Batalha Convent are very interesting, Óbidos is beautiful) and sleep in Coimbra
5-Coimbra
6- Coimbra- Porto by train
7-Porto -
8- Douro Valley
9 -Douro Valley -Porto
9- Train or plane to Algarve (there are good low cost flights) - in Algarve rent a car
10 - Algarve
11- Algarve
12 - Évora
13 -Évora and sleep in Lisbon
14 -Lisbon

And it's going to be exhausting

I hope I've helped you

Mafalda