We will be flying into Porto in early May and flying out of Lisbon 7 days later after spending a week in Germany where we will likely have been spoiled by public transit.
Should we stick to public transit in Portugal or rent a car for the duration?
I'm embarassed to say that while I've got Germany planned out in detail, I haven't yet done the same for Portugal :-(
P.S.: We're OK to fly into and out of Lisbon if that is a superior choice
Our RS trip ends in Porto late May and we opted to rent a car in Porto, take a few days to enjoy the area and end up at the Lisbon airport for our return flight home. Car rental was reasonable and the drop fee was only $75.
What are you planning on doing in those 7 days? You could easily spend that in Porto and Lisbon (with a side trip or two) and take the train or bus between the two. Both modes are efficient.
If you were planning on a couple stops between the two cities, then yeah, a car would work...but you really do not have much time. Of course you do not want a car in Lisbon or Porto.
I suppose the question boils down to whether it is worth driving leisurely from Porto to Lisbon making short stops along the way or take the fast train down and be done with it.
Is visiting Douro Valley better with a car?
The Douro Valley would be best by car and since you’re flying into Porto it makes since to rent a car in Porto one day and visit the valley. I would make it a day trip though i.e., three nights in Porto then take a direct train from Porto to Lisboa (3h). Lisbon is one of the grandest cities in Europe and is where you want to spend most of your time, plus it’s cheap.
I thought we'd do Douro Valley on our last day using a rental car and take the last train to Lisbon but the car rental agencies at Porto Campanha close at 6:30pm.
How risky is it to return the car if the office is closed? I avoid doing key drops in the US.
How risky is it to return the car if the office is closed? I avoid doing key drops in the US.
I limit key drops to companies I use frequently and have status (from business travel days). But, I think I only did that once in Europe, and that was unplanned, as the Antwerp Airport Avis office was unmanned, unknown to me when the reservation was made.
Maybe do the day trip the day before? Would likely be a bit more relaxing without a "must-make" deadline, then spend your last day in Porto doing some low key things.
100% agree with Paul, it sounds best to have a FULL day to do your Douro day trip. If you use a key drop, take plenty of photos, or just pay for the rental company's zero-excess option: it is priced daily, so for one day it should not be excessive.
Add 1-2 days for Porto proper and 4-5 days for Lisbon and vicinity, and you have a whole trip planned, without a car except the Douro portion.
Thanks for the great advice, guys!
Hello from Wisconsin,
Well you definitely don't want to drive IN Lisbon. To the airport OK, from the airport to some place other than Lisbon/Sintra, OK But not in it. Or for that matter in Porto, not if you can avoid it.
There are two ways to drive from Porto to Lisbon. Four lane: use the A1 and it might take a bit more than 4 hours. Now Google says the A17/A8 with about the same time consumed and you might be thinking that might be along the coast. Neither are. To be along the coast would take days.
I would take that driving time, and the expense of a car/gas/insurance/stress, and put it into train tickets. And a bit better accommodations or meals.
wayne iNWI
@wayner
We're now going to stick to public transit
