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Itinerary advise? 2 weeks in Portugal with a car

Posted by on

Below is our itinerary as of now, with question marks by those areas we're seeking advise on. Is there a better plan for those 3 nights on our way north to Porto?
We have a car once we leave Lisbon.
We've traveled in Europe before, enjoy good food (especially seafood), beautiful scenery, and getting away from tourist traps.

  1. Lisbon 2 nights - then pick up car
  2. Nazare 1 night ???
  3. Coimbra 2 nights ???
  4. Porto 2 nights
  5. Douro 2 nights
  6. Marvao 1 night (to split up the long drive to the south) ???
  7. Salema 3 nights
  8. Lisbon 1 night (before we fly home)
Posted by
1826 posts

As had been stated many times on this forum - you are trying to do way too much for just two weeks. Skip the Algarve on such a short trip. And, remember a two night stay means you have one day in the location. You are moving around way too much and will miss out on the slow pace that is quintessential Portugal.

Coimbra is a much better stop on the way north. You could potentially drive through Nazaré and have lunch but it’s not worth a night IMO. You might want to research Alcobaça, Batalha, Tomar and Conimbriga. All of these are much more interesting than Nazaré.

Porto deserves at least three nights.

The RS itineraries are way too fast for the individual traveler IMO, and more suited to a tour when everything is taken care of regarding transportation, lodging, etc.

Posted by
6113 posts

As usual, Kathryn and I agree on all points. You don’t really have time to see all that the area between Lisbon and Porto has to offer in your timescale, so drop the Algarve.

You have picked places that are popular and therefore touristy which you say you want to avoid!

I stayed in Caldas da Rainha as a base for Tomar, Alcobaca etc, which I enjoyed - lots of old tiled buildings and a good market.

Nazare wasn’t my favourite part of the coast - popular with surfers. Likewise, the character of Salema has been destroyed by over development.

Posted by
568 posts

Hi Laura,
You have very little time for Lisbon, which to me has the most to do, and not what I would deem tourist traps. While there are busy places, it is a wonderful small city to walk around and enjoy. I notice you have not planned for Sintra? Is that again the concern with crowds? Another town, that is not very touristy is Evora, which is one of my favourites, and is worth one night at least.
I agree with both prior posters that you have a lot of driving booked into 2 weeks, and would probably drop the Algarve, or drop Porto and the Douro.

To try to answer your question marks. If you plan on the entire itinerary including the Algarve would you consider this?
Lisbon 3 nights
train to Porto 2 nights pick up car- you really don't need in Porto
Douro 2 nights
Coimbra 2 nights to break up your trip you can daytrip to several sites nearby,

Salema 3 nights OR consider Lagos which has more to do and see
Lisbon or Sintra 2 nights drop car

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