Guimaries or Evora and Help with our 9 day Itinerary

A few things to think about with your trip. Regarding Porto, I feel you can definitely enjoy 2 full days there. We were there recently and found the Ribeira unfortunately very busy and touristy, but as soon as you got away from there it was charming. If you do decide to do Douro I would plan ahead regarding it. We were planning to take a boat up, train back, but found that some of these trips were booked, and it would be a very long day, leaving on boat at 8 am, and many hours on boat to get there, back at 9 pm. We decided to leave for another trip, and plan an overnight in Douro so to have more time to enjoy.

I personally think Evora is a great town and while it can be a daytrip from Lisbon, I think you could also enjoy it for a couple of days.

Possible itineraries:
Porto 3 nights
Douro 1 night
Coimbra 1 night
Lisbon 4 nights - daytrips to Sintra and Obidos or Cascais

Or
Porto 3 nights -daytrip to Guimares
skip Coimbra - 2 nights Evora ( this will be a long travel day though)
Lisbon 4 nights

Thanks so much for your reply. It is very helpful.

One additional question regarding Douro. We planned on not taking an organized
tour due to cost - but to do it ourselves by train as far as Pincinho, taking a boat back to
Ragua and then train back to Porto.

You suggested staying overnight in Douro. I certainly understand staying overnight from
the point of view that it otherwise would be an extremely long day --- this certainly makes sense.

However, I am wondering if there is something really " special" or "magical" about staying overnight in Douro.
Part of me thinks it would just very quiet without much to see or do. Of course, this can a wonderful
change from cities/towns and we might love it! But we are just used to going out and walking a town or city at night.
Perhaps my concern about this is unjustified.

Again, thanks for your thoughts. One way or the other, we will definitely include Evora in
our itinerary. All the best...

Cliff

On our recent trip to Portugal we skipped Coimbra. A RS posting suggested we review what our goals of the trip were. For peace from mass tourism we stayed about 75 km north of Lisbon in Torres Novas for 2 nights. We had a rental car at this location, it gave us many options for sites seen and unseen. We drove a lovely country road to Tomar and viewed the castle. The castle is large and could be enjoyed over more than one visit. Scoped out a back street for a local eating establishment. Great meal with wine for 22E. I did not know that boiled potatoes peeled across the way could taste so good. There are black pigs in this area to be seen.

In Evora, we farm stayed for 3 nights. Highlights were the ancient presumed funeral site (deep holes in the short dirt road to this location) and Escoural cave paintings. The Duke of Cadaval Palace Church (St John the Evangelist) plus family museum and Evora Cathedral were located within the walls of Evora. The sites near and far to Evora were of great interest to us but without time to see all. Blocks and blocks of marble. Three forts to be explored in Elvas.

We did a day drive to Serrad da Arribida, it was too far for a day trip to fully enjoy.

Since returning from a 18 day 16 night trip which we were trying to see more than the older eye can, I am planning to return to an area more frequent. It is the country side and culture that we like to view.

I love Guimaraes. Coimbra was a bit too gritty for me and Evora a bit too sleepy. The squares in Guimaraes are hopping with activity - the town has a great vibe.