Coimbra, Evora or Neither?

7 nights = 5 days, or so they say. You really don't have too much time. I would return to Lisbon and neither stop in Coimbra nor day trip to Evora - as much as I loved visiting those two cities. Spend your time in Lisbon make your "day trip" the tram to Belem. There is so much to see in Lisbon that it would a shame if you didn't really explore it.

Kelly, I'll be there about the same time as you, doing about the same thing. It will be my first trip. My friend is in Coimbra right now, posting pictures on Facebook, and loving it there.

I have nine nights, and I am planning to stop in Coimbra for sure, probably for a night. (I am flying into Lisbon out of Porto.) If I had only seven nights, I'd likely consider the day stop idea. Note that there are two train stations in Coimbra; the Coimbra-B station is where the high speed trains stop. You have to get off at Coimbra-B and take a local train to the "Coimbra-A" station (to the town) and back. So for a day stop, that will add extra time. Factor that into your plans.

Philip- I plan on going to Belem on my first day. Then two nights in Porto, then back to Lisbon. I'm also planning on a day trip to Sintra and possibly a day trip to Cascais or another nearby beach. There's so much in Portugal 7 days isn't nearly enough!

Andrew- I did see that about the train. It would be a day trip as a stop between Porto and Lisbon if I did go to Coimbra.

Hi all, I too am planning a trip to Europe with my 5 yr old daughter leaving 7/3 sfo to London 7/4/18..two days in London, train to Paris for the day, hop on off tour, see Eiffel Tower & Arc de Triomphe, then late afternoon flight to Porto or Faro, still deciding which to start my adventure in? We’ll be in Portugal for 10-12 days. I’ll be renting a car and was thinking staying a night in Porto, then a night in Averio, known as “the Venice of Portugal.”, then staying a night in Coimbra. (Spending a day exploring each of these places. Then stopping in Sintra for the day. Then driving down to Faro for 2 days then back up to Lisbon and fly home. I previously visited Lisbon and Cascais in January of 2017 by myself.

Just got back from a 4 week trip (2 in Portugal). We spent 4 nights in Lisbon, and visited Belem, Sintra (and coast) and did a day long food tour. Still did not see as much of Lisbon as we would have liked, so must return. (Heed the warnings on packed TRAMS and Subways about pickpockets, we had a costly lesson.)
We also drove to the Algarve and stayed for 2 nights
Drove back up to Evora (2nights) then over to Obidos (2 nights) heading up to Coimbra (2 nights) and then to the Douro Valley (2 nights) and finally in Guimaraes ( night)
Opinion on Evora vs Coimbra. Coimbra is on way from Porto to Lisbon. It is a beautiful university city. We were lazy here as it was midway during our first 2 weeks. I think one night is plenty. Evora is in the center of Portugal and has interesting history. (At the TI at 10 each morning a guide will give a walking tour of the city for 10-15 Euro). We liked Evora a lot and also took a tour of the monoliths and cork farm. You will see a different landscape of Portugal than the coastline or the north that has more hills/mountains.
While in Obidos, we mostly did day trips to old cities with monastaries/cathedrals ... Batalha, Alcobaca, Tomar, O Sitio (view of Nazare). We did not visit Nazare, but ran into other travelers that loved it.