We are a family of three (two adults, son age 9) flying Vancouver to Lisbon, and return from Porto, August 13 to 26. First time in Portugal. Flights and most hotels are booked, so I am mainly looking for feedback on pacing, day trips, and anything we have obviously gotten wrong, especially around the August 15 holiday weekend and the heat.
The plan:
Aug 13 to 18, Lisbon, 5 nights (Hotel Britânia, Avenida da Liberdade area).
14th: Belém one morning,
15th: Alfama and the castle
16th: flexible day (maybe Cascais for the beach).
17th: Pena Essential Visit tickets already booked for the 10:00 slot, then Quinta da Regaleira in the afternoon.
Aug 18, pick up rental car; Óbidos stop, then 2 nights in Nazaré (Hotel Praia).
19th: Day trips from Nazare to Alcobaça, Batalha, maybe Tomar.
Aug 20, drive to Coimbra, 1 night (Hotel Oslo). University and Biblioteca Joanina in the afternoon.
Aug 21, drive to the Douro via Régua and the N222, 2 nights in in Pinhão.
Aug 22th: Rabelo boat from Pinhão .
Aug 23, drive to Porto , drop the car , then 3 nights in Porto (ICON Duplo Ribeira, in Ribeira).
24th and 25th: São Bento, Lello at the 9:00 opening, Gaia cellars, maybe the 6 bridges cruise.
Aug 26, fly home from Porto.
Other than your feedback on itinerary, a couple specific questions:
Is 5 nights in Lisbon too many with a kid, knowing Aug 15 (Assumption) falls on the Saturday? Would you trade one Lisbon night for a second Sintra day?
Nazaré as a 2-night base versus 1 night Óbidos plus 1 night Nazaré: which one would you do ? And Batalha versus Tomar if we only pick one?
Is 1 night in Coimbra enough to see the university?
Anything in Porto you would prioritize with a 9-year-old beyond the obvious? Is the Lello 9:00 slot worth it or should we skip it entirely?
Thanks in advance. Happy to report back after the trip.