We'll be in Portugal and Spain for the last 2 weeks of May and would like to spend a couple days in beach area. We fly into Lisbon and out of Barcelona and are planning to spend 3 days in each city. Otherwise our itinerary is still very flexible. Where would you recommend spending about 2 days and nights for some beach time? Also, are we fooling ourselves that it will be warm enough in late May to enjoy a couple days on the beach. I should also mention that this is our first trip to either country. Thanks for your help!
Posted by
Barcelona + Sweden
4185 posts
How are you planning to get from Portugal to Spain? Any stops along the way? With only two weeks It'll be difficult to combine the two countries imo. You may want to look to southern Spain in May for better swimming temps. There are hundreds of good beaches between Portugal and Spain, but needs to makes sense logistically to visit them.
Posted by
11614 posts
You can stay near the beach in Barcelona. Drive north to Costa Brava; we stayed by the beach in Begur.
Portugal- the Algarve.
Posted by
Australia
1072 posts
We are currently enjoying a couple of days at the beach in Tarragona near Barcelona. It's been a beautiful sunny day with lots happening as it's carnival time. A few brave people were swimming this afternoon. A bit too cold for us to test out the Mediterranean.
Posted by
8331 posts
The beaches in Iberia are generally not as nice as those in Florida or California. I was disappointed when I did the beach at Costa del Sol. Also, the water in the Atlantic is cold, even in early Summer. So the beach in Portugal in May will involve cold ocean water.
If you want to do beaches, do them in North America or the Caribbean.
Europe is for history, culture, art, which you miss going to the beach.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thanks for your responses. There's helpful information in each one.
Posted by
Calgary, AB, Canada
568 posts
With only 2 weeks in both countries, I'm not sure that I'd prioritize the beach. What is the rest of your itinerary and how high are your expectations of a beach? You can just beach by Lisbon in Cascais, or in Barcelona itself. Or there is the town of Sitges which I think is 30 minutes from Barcelona. Why not add a bit of time to both those cities and then head out to the beach on the best weather days?