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2 Weeks in Spain & Portugal (Itinerary Check)

Hello Travel Gurus!

Just trying to get a feel if my itinerary is realistic, and if I'm allocating enough days at each place. It'll be our (my fiance and I) first time in Spain/Portugal; we plan to travel in May. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

4 Full Days: Barcelona (then fly to Seville)... (5 nights, 4.5 days)
2 Full Days: Sevilla (then take bus to Faro/Lagos)... (3 nights 2.5 days)
3 Full Days: Lagos/Algarve (drive around in rental car)... (4 nights 3.5 days)
4 Full Days: Lisbon (drop off rental car)... (5 nights 4.5 days)

I'm considering cutting down a day in Lisbon and spend an extra day in Lagos/Algarve instead. Will 3 full days in Lisbon be enough?

Thanks!

Posted by
1829 posts

I really cannot be of much assistance on your plan, hoping to see the Algarve Area and Lisbon this summer for the first time.

I would add that it would be better if you stated Nights instead of Full days or days at all ; just list how many nights at each place.
Does 3 Full Days mean you are staying there 4 nights? Nights is always clear to understand for readers. Days is always open to interpretation.

Posted by
1829 posts

Unless you really want time to chill on a beach I think 4 nights is plenty to see Algarve.
heck I am only staying 2 nights in Lagoa (planning on staying a little late on the day of checkout). For us it is out of the way to drive there and back from Lisbon but just want to check it out and not planning any relaxing lay out on the beach days.

5 nights in Lisbon I think is good as it gives you enough time to get out to Sintra and it's sites as well during your time.
Gives you enough time for another daytrip somewhere if you choose from Lisbon.

If you felt like giving another day to Seville I think 4 nights in Lisbon is also enough time if you confine yourself to the one Sintra daytrip ; so you have enough overall days/nights for your plan to work well in my opinion ; having never been there I know not worth that much.

Posted by
27104 posts

I'd want less time on the Algarve and more in Seville, possibly for a day-trip to Cordoba. But I am not remotely a beach person, all the more when so many of the beach towns are full of English pubs.

Posted by
9 posts

Are the beaches rowdy with young college kids? My fiancé and I were in Positano last summer, and we loved laying out by the beach and being lazy, so I figured it'd be nice to have that break in between the cities. But if it's just full of English pubs with drunken kids, we might limit our time there.

Posted by
1669 posts

While I agree that adding another night to Sevilla would be good, May is a little early for the onslaught of young people in the Algarve.
And, 5 nights is not too long in Lisbon. As it will be the end of your trip, taking your time, having long lunches on one of the miradouros and enjoying the feel is Lisbon will work great IMO. And, I would chose the extra time in Lisbon rather than the Algarve.

Posted by
80 posts

Hello 1m.lee0916,

If you like just being lazy, staying in Lagos is one of the best choices. However, you could explore a bit more of the Algarve since it won't be as touristy as it is between June - August... Even though it isn't the most authentic region in Portugal it still has some POIs worth visiting; you can also choose one of the many beautiful hiking trails and see the beaches, cliffs, fauna and flora in a different perspective.

Don't take time from Lisbon since you'll need at least one day to visit the amazing Sintra (I'd recommend 2 days actually but I know it's too much).

Enjoy Portugal ;)

Posted by
7661 posts

I love Barcelona, but would spend a day less time there. Seville is great, you can probably do it in 2 full days. I would skip the Algarve and go directly to Lisbon, then spend some time going north to Porto, visiting key places on the way.