We are spending 2 weeks in Portugal. Our base is Lisbon for 7 days taking side trips to Sintra, Nazare Fatima Alcobaca and 4 days in Salema, Lagos and Sagres. Can all these be done traveling by train? Should we plan a day trip to Porto or Evora? Are group tours a good way to take day trips? We are going in September. Have driven Ireland, Scotland and Spain would prefer a little more relaxing travel so will the train get us where we want or even a bus? Will rent a car if we need to. Thank you.
Posted by
8322 posts
Evora is easily a day trip on the train from Lisbon.
Porto is far more interesting than the Algarve. Consider going there.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15794 posts
For Nazare, Fatima and Alcobaca, you are better off with a car and staying somewhere in the area. I used Tomar as a base. It's a 2-hr train ride from Lisbon to Tomar. The alternative is to look for day tours from Lisbon. Sintra and Evora are possible day trips from Lisbon.
I skipped the Algarve. If you don't drop it, Nazare is probably redundant, not worth the time.
Posted by
Cascais, Portugal
1826 posts
Other than Lisbon and Sintra, the places you mention are much easier with a car. If you really must do the Algarve, a car is very much needed IMO.
With your limited time, concentrating on Lisbon, Porto and places between will give you a much better introduction to Portugal. The Algarve, admittedly, has some lovely beaches with spectacular rock formations, but is mainly Brits, high rises, etc. And, if you can’t come without seeing the Algarve, Salema is very much overrated by RS.
Posted by
stevens point, wi, usa
1194 posts
Hello from Wisconsin
We spent a week in Evora and loved it. It is a walled city containing an old university. There is good food and I especially recommend the Botequim da Mouraria. Rated #1 of 249 places to eat in Evora. It has one sitting per night that it is open. Get there early!! Half hour or more before it opens. The food is great. It is fun. And you won't forget the evening. Don't worry about money for one night. Make it your splurge ($80 or 100 with bottles of wine for two) And while you are there, would you please pick up my gloves and scarf for me? I left them there a two or three years ago? We had so much fun I forgot my clothes.
wayne iNWI