All of Portugal or Portugal and Spain

I am 78 and always travel solo. Since you have traveled a good deal, you will probably do fine but "old" people are sometimes the target of predators. Be a little more cautious than if you were with others.

I love my personal space and I love my solitude but I am also very friendly.

You will meet people at your hotel. There are day excursions wherever you go.

Are you doing a R S tour? Where are you going to be in South Portugal?

I spent four days in Lisbon last October and it was wonderful.

I took a shore excursion of Braga and it was also wonderful.

If you are interested in Lisbon, I am glad to share further information including a three star hotel that was very nice. Same with Braga although I only spent a few hours there.

Hi Toni,

Every time I try to plan an itinerary for both Spain and Portugal the logistics get more complicated than I want. It's doable but for this trip, I'd consider concentrating just on Portugal - you could easily spend the time in Lisbon with a couple of daytrips. Plan a future trip for Spain.

I had just about decided that for myself. Thanks

With only 4 spare days I’d stay in Portugal. If you were driving, Sevilla is about 4.5 hours away and the closest larger Spanish city, Badajoz, 2.5 hours from Lisbon. That time could be better spent staying in Portugal as it has plenty to offer.

To Bostonphil7

The tour is agriculture through the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture. We are going mainly south but finishing in Lisbon d Sintra.
This is a description of Lisbon. Other suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I would love to get up the coast.
Following breakfast, take a guided walking city and culinary tour throughout several neighborhoods in Lisbon. Visit Castle Hill, Mouraria neighborhood (birthplace of Fado music), and taste local food and beverages as you visit shops and restaurants along the way. In the afternoon, visit the botanical garden of Lisbon, which was laid out between 1858 and 1873. The garden has over 18,000 species and is one of the largest collections of subtropical vegetation. Later, visit the Belem Tower and try some traditional baked goods. Farewell dinner and dance show this evening. Thanks

You mention that the tour finishes in Lisbon, is that where you are flying into as well? Or have you not made plans.

If it is Lisbon, then just plan things in Portugal. Transport from Lisbon to Spain is problematic, no quick, easy option, with flying being about the best. If you think you need more time in Lisbon, that would do, just recovering from jetlag and exploring. Otherwise, I would consider taking the train up to Porto, wonderful city, try some Port. The train also stops in Coimbra, that is well worth a night and a smaller, historic town.

If you have options with your flight, and meeting someplace in the Algarve to start the tour, you could fly into Madrid, head to Seville, then bus to Faro. My fear with that is you will get only a small taste of Spain, and even Madrid and Seville are worth twice the time.

Toni

I loved Lisbon. I stayed four nights and it was not enough.

yes visit Belem and Sintra. Try for a full day of each.

I stayed at Be Poet Baixa Hotel. It is a 3 star hotel that is rated 9.0 on booking and I ditto the 9.0

There are four hop on hop off routes. Each one costs 22 euros. I did not do any

Lisbon has great transportation but I ended up only exploring the neighborhood that I stayed in, Baixa.

Great museums and I never made it to any.

I never even heard of the botanical gardens.

Plenty to do in Lisbon. We did the walking tour in the RS guide. There is an elevator up to the castle. After the castle, you can walk down thru Alfama. We were in Lisbon May of 2023. It was quite busy. Make restaurant reservations. We didn't bother with public transportation except to go to Belem and Cascais, because it was so busy.

I am planning to go to Madeira in May. Any suggestions on where to stay?