We have a week to spend in Europe after a bike and barge trip in the Netherlands and have narrowed down our choice between Portugal OR Spain, realizing that a week is never enough time. We have traveled in Europe extensively, but never to Portugal or Spain. We like back door travel - prefer towns for the intimacy over cities (knowing that many great things are in cities...we do include them :) How would you decide which country to devote your week to? (I asked this same question in the Spain forum)
Any feedback is helpful!!
Posted by
11127 posts
With only a week, visit little Portugal, Lisbon with day teips to Evora, Obidos, Sintra, Caiscais, etc. Or instead of day trips, add Porto.
Or if you decide on Spain, two cities with high speed train between them. Seville and Madrid or Barcelona and Madrid. Or Madrid with day trips to Toledo, Segovia by train.
Posted by
Tunbridge Wells
6113 posts
I would opt for Portugal, as it is a smaller more intimate country to visit in your timescale. You could either base yourselves in Lisbon and take day trips or if you want a faster pace, cover Porto and Lisbon plus day trips.
The Portuguese people eat at "normal" meal times and don't take siestas, whereas the Spanish eat lunch between 2 and 4 pm and dinner anytime from 9pm. I dislike eating out at 8pm and being the only diners in the place.
Posted by
Tigard, OR, USA
1068 posts
Both are great places and both (IMHO) have a combination of back-door towns. Personally, (and strictly my opinion) I prefer the food in Spain and it has more "wow" moments. However, the pace in Portugal was a little more languid and the people were exceptionally friendly. Tough call and one where you really can't go wrong. Enjoy.
Posted by
Salt Lake City, UT (Previous Seattle, WA)
315 posts
I am a fan of Spain! Three trips with bikes to off the beaten track and one quick trip from Portugal to Seville. The Alhambra in Granada is a must for a bucket list. We saw a lot of beautiful churches and beaches in Portugal. My favorite site is the Tomar Castle and the cute little black piglets! I enjoyed the peace of Sintra after the tour buses left. Now, (I know you really do not have to hear this) from the Netherlands to either country is a long way. AMS to Faro is a 3 hour flight. Burga (favorite beach) east of Selema is another 3-4 hours. La Antilla, Spain is a beautiful beach and just east of the Portugal/Spain border. I could go on and on...
Posted by
Washington DC
27053 posts
Would it be any easier if you thought of the decision as "one small area of Spain vs. one small area of Portugal"? With a week, you don't have time to think in terms of countries.
I'd look at transportation from Amsterdam and back home to see what the easy options are. No sense in wasting time and money trying to get to a hard-to-reach area. Then I'd consider whether there was an accessible area of either country where I'd feel satisfied with having just a week (or is it really goimg to be 5 days plus a few hours?).
I'd also consider weather. There are significant differences within the Iberian Peninsula, even just within the individual countries.
Posted by
7639 posts
Both countries are great places to visit.
I have been to Portugal twice and Spain four times.
Whatever your choice, you will enjoy your trip.
With only a week, I suggest doing either Portugal focusing on the Lisbon area or Madrid and the area. Porto and the Douro River valley in northern Portugal is wonderful, but you can't do Lisbon and that area as well as the north.
Also, Seville, Granada and the Spanish south (Andalusia) is great, but don't try to do it as well as Madrid at the same time. The same is true about Barcelona and Catalonia.
If you do Lisbon, also go to Evora, Cascas, Batlila, Obidos and Sintra.
If you do Madrid, also go to Segovia and Toledo. Also, for art, the Prado is wonderful.
Both the Spanish and Portuguese people are friendly, but I think the Portuguese are more friendly.