My husband and I will be in Portugal for 11 days, from 10/5-10/17, arriving in Lisbon, departing from Porto. We will have a car when we leave Lisbon. I would really like to include 1 or 2 items in our itinerary that are off-the-beaten path type of things -
maybe stay 1 or 2 nights someplace unusual, etc. Here are my questions:
1. Possible itinerary:
- Sleep 2 nites in Lisbon
- Stay 1 nite in Sintra
- Drive next day to Evora (see town, & megaliths)
Sleep 1 nite in Evora
- Drive back to coast - Nazare, maybe Alcobaca, or Olbido
Sleep 2 nites in this area, preferably on coast - on beach would be best
- Stay in area, see whatever is appropriate/of interest
Sleep in same place
- Drive to Coimbre
Sleep 1 nite here
- Drive to Castelo Rodrigo - take tour of paleolithic etchings
Sleep 1 nite here
- Drive to Douro Valley - take wine tour
Sleep 1 nite here
- Drive to Porto
Sleep 2 nites here
- Stay in Porto
Sleep here
Question: too much? Take off Castelo? Evora? The Megaliths?
2) I feel very drawn to Sagre & Costa Vincente. Will my time in the Nazare area be sufficient to quench this?
3) Any particular Pousada, Solar, or B&B that anyone especially loved that would fit w this itinerary?
4) Anyone strongly recommend the boat over to Berlenga? Or is there another Parque Natural that fits geographically, that has something that i should be fitting in, instead of something else on here?
All insights appreciated.
Posted by
Salt Lake City, UT (Previous Seattle, WA)
315 posts
2 full days in Lisbon is adequate to visit multiple churches and the castle, ride the tram and walk multiple areas. I would add another day if you plan on seeing Belem. We farm stayed outside Evora for 3 nights. Yes, we did megaliths, cave paintings, a few site within Evora and day tripped to Elvas. If your goal is megaliths in Evora, I would suggest a day tour group with transportation from Lisbon. This would limit your transportation east from Lisbon. Sintra is overloaded with tourist. We stayed 2 nights and with the help of a lovely TI attendant we saw it all. Early morning start is a must. My favorites are the castle and QR. We enjoyed the peace after the tour buses left. If you choose a central location stay between Nazare and Coimbre you would be able to drive to sites and not pack and drive.
I would not even consider going south on this visit. Sagre was on my list of must do, it now is on my list of I can not believe I had it on my list. There are many other beautiful beaches and towns on the Algarve.
Do a search of Praia das Macas, Praia Grande, White Village Azenhas do Mar which are a bit east of Sintra for off the beaten path. All can be reached by car or bus (I think it was 439 or 440).
Roca Cape on scotturb bus 403 is the western point. If you take 403 back toward Sintra you can see Sintra's sites on the hills. It is really pretty. Or, 403 can go to Cascais
Posted by
BLOOMING PRAIRIE
4 posts
We stayed in Evore, very nice! I did not like Nazare so much as parking was a hassle and we took day trips away from there. We Stayed in Sagre and really liked it as it was right on the water, went to "the end of the world" .
We went to Quinta de Marrocos for our Douro Valley days and loved it, what a great place!
Did not make number 4
Going back next March to try and see some things we missed, Lisbon is like Rome, you can return for ever and see something different.
Posted by
BLOOMING PRAIRIE
4 posts
Forgot to mention thar when we were in Evora we went to see the Megaliths by car and and happened upon a tour in a minivan, so we followed them to all the out of the way sights, worked out nice
Posted by
OP
13 posts
Thank you both very much! These answers were very helpful.
Posted by
8322 posts
We did a seven day cruise on the Douro River and it was amazing. Also, we stayed in Porto for two more days at the InPatio Guesthouse. It is absolutely the best B&B that we have ever experienced.