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First trip to Portugal - itinerary check?

Posted by (Milwaukee) on

Hi all - I'm in the beginning stages of planning a trip Portugal for 5 people (myself, my husband, my 11-year-old, my mom and my dad). Our first time to Portugal but we've traveled as a family to Europe many times. We are traveling over my son's spring break in late March (arrive Saturday, March 20 and leave Sunday, March 28) so have a limited amount of time. Here's what I'm thinking.

Open to feedback, please and thank you!

  • Arrive Lisbon from Chicago, stay 3 nights (maybe day trip to Sintra? I don't want to pack in too much ...)
  • Pick up rental car and drive to Douro Valley, stay 2 nights (TBD town) - my parents very much like to experience small towns
  • Rental car to Porto (drop off car), stay 3 nights
  • Leave Porto for Chicago
Posted by
16073 posts

The Douro Valley is more about the scenic vineyards lining both banks of the river and the wineries (with guest houses). And I wonder how scenic the vines will be that early. I was in Tuscany and Umbria in late March and the vines were all just black stumps. For a small town experience, choose one of the towns near Porto, or Coimbra on the train line between Lisbon and Porto.

Posted by
10288 posts

The smaller cities on the Douro (upriver) are Regua and Pinhao.

You don't need a rental car, you can take the high speed train from Lisbon to Porto, then take the train up the river to Regua and/or Pinhao. The train tracks run along the north side of the river.

A car would provide you with flexibility.

A great B&B in Porto is The InPatio Guesthouse. It is fabulous, but book early.

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