My Daughter and I are planning a trip to Portugal end of September. Hoping it will be fine to visit by then. I have been doing a lot of research and there are so many wonderful sounding places to visit am concerned that I may be over-reaching on the itinerary. We visited Porto, Lisbon and Sintra in 2017 then flew to Sevilla and drove through the Pueblo Blanca’s in Andalusia, it was a great trip. We loved Portugal so much we decided to visit some of the interior. I would appreciate hearing opinions and or suggestions from the well-traveled people on this site.. I am having trouble getting things organized as far as visiting times and driving times. I know I might have to rethink my schedule and maybe cut out somethings.
We are leaving from Belgium on October 10th and we have a bit of flexibility as to when we leave Portugal for Belgium. (We will be staying at my daughters significant other’s condo in Sint Nicholas and that will be restful).
LATEST THOUGHTS:
• Sunday, Sept 19, Arrive in Lisbon Airport 6:00pm
o Night at Airport (my daughter and I are arriving at different time and decided to stay near airport for convenience in meeting)
• Monday, Sept 20 early train to Evora – Night Evora
• Tuesday, Sept 21 stay in Evora or Rent Car in Evora Drive to Tomar and stay there
• Wednesday, Sept 22, Drive to Monsanto, stay Monsanto
• Thursday, September 23, Drive to Castelo Branco
• Friday, September 24, Drive to Schist Villages
• Saturday, Sept 25, find place to stay near villages.
• Sunday, Sept 26, Coimbra- Night in Coimbra - maybe visit Alcobaca, or Batala Abby
• Monday, Sept 27 Coimbra Visit Conímbriga for roman ruins – Night in Coimbria–
• Tuesday, Sept 28, Stop in Tentugal on way north – Maybe drive to coast to stay at little village Praia de Mira, looks like a nice sea front town. Or stay in Aveiro
• Wednesday, Sept 29th Drive to Braga,or Guimaraes (north of Porto) Stay there
• Thursday, Sept 30 Drive to Pinho – east part of Douro Valley Stay in Douro Valley Stay there
• Friday, Oct. 1, Drive through Douro Valley Stay in Douro
• Sat, Oct 2 Drive through Douro Valley - Stay in Douro or Porto
• Sunday, Oct 3 Porto
• Monday, Oct 4 Porto
• Tuesday, Oct 5 – fly to Belgium
Couple of specific questions:
• Should we stay 2 nights in Evora – train arrives at 10:35am (or so)
• Or we could spend second night in Tomar, leaving Evora in afternoon.
• Is Monsanto worth going kind of out of our way – if we didn’t go to Monsanto we wouldn’t go to Castelo Branco.
• Any best places to go in Douro Valley
• My idea is to come down from Guimaraes and head to the east end (or middle) of the Douro and end up in Porto
• And hotel suggestions
Many thanks, Susan