Looking for ideas as to how to get the most out of a 2 week trip through Portugal/Spain. Haven't been to either place and none of the 4 of us speak Portuguese or Spanish. We are in our 50's very active and enjoy hiking and seeing historic sites, such as Sagrada Familia. For example, in the past we have done a week in Florence, Italy with day trips to Pisa, Sienna and Volterra.
Do we start and Lisbon and work our way up or start in Porta and work our way down? Ideas and thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Posted by
SC and CA
200 posts
Start in Lisbon and then take the train to Porto. We do Spain/Portugal every year and we typically start in Madrid because we can get a non stop from our city. Last year, we started in Barcelona and then took the train down to Taragona and Valencia. We then took a train to Madrid and flew to Lisbon. Hope that helps
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
6621 posts
We started and ended in Madrid because rental cars were cheaper from it than from Lisbon or Porto. We had three weeks and spent two of the in Portugal. With only two weeks I’d stay in just one country. If you only intend to visit Lisbon and Porto then you could go to Spain, but you’d be missing most of Portugal.
Posted by
Brooklyn, NY
3907 posts
I agree with staying in one country. When we visited Spain we were going to go to both countries. After starting my research I realized we would be rushing too much and missing more. We had 3 weeks.
We flew to Barcelona, trained to Madrid, trained to Granada, trained to Seville, train again to Cordoba, then driver to Toledo.
For 2 weeks your could do Toledo as a day trip from Madrid and Cordoba could be a day trip from Seville. Skipping Toledo is okay even though people say it is a don’t miss. I could argue that every place in Spain is a don’t miss but you have to make choices.
If the Alhambra is your Granada sight, 2 nights would be fine. Get an early ticket then spend the late afternoon just strolling around the city.
Below is my trip report if it interests you - we were also 4 adults.
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/3-weeks-in-spain-ole
PS. We are finally going to Portugal this September for 2 weeks.
Posted by
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
4157 posts
I haven't been but we are planning 2 weeks in Portugal next Fall. We're starting in Lisbon due to convenience of flights from home and will end in Porto where we can catch a flight to Bordeaux, France for the next leg of our trip. I have a coworker who grew up in Portugal and she says go to Lisbon and north for the cultural experiences that you won't get in the Algarve region. She particularly suggested the region between the two including Fatima, Alcobaca, and Batalha. She says a car is best for those areas. If you're really adventurous she suggests heading north of Porto to the Spanish border. When I asked about the Algarve region she said it's beautiful but her family who still lives in Portugal says it's more English than Portuguese and you don't get the same cultural immersion.
Posted by
Cleveland
196 posts
My wife and I took a 13 night Tauck tour that started in Lisbon and finished in Madrid. Their current route is Porto, Lisbon, Sintra, Seville,Gibraltar & Marbella, Ronda & Granada,Cordoba, Madrid (day trip to Toledo).
Not at all rushed for us but of course pacing is personal choice. Indeed this tour had a day off in Marbella that my wife and I used to walk and bike for miles along the coast.
Since you want to catch Barcelona, you'd want to go there after Madrid-- or reverse the whole order. You can't go wrong devoting the whole trip to Spain too. Either way, you'll have a lovely time!
Happy travels.
Posted by
1 posts
Here's an option for you - we are on an extended trip this Spring, and this is our swing through Portugal.
We will get a car in Sevilla, drive through Portugal, and drop it back in Spain.
Start: Sevilla - pick up car
May 06 – May 08: Salema 2N (Mon – Wed). Get car. Sagres, Salema and Lagos. Hike Seven Hanging Gardens Trail.
May 08 – May 09: Evora 1N (Wed – Thu). Bone chapel, aqueduct, city walk, cathedral, university.
May 09 – May 13: Lisbon 4N (Thu – Mon). Bairro Alto, Alfama, Baixa, Belem. Food! Fado music.
May 13 – May 14: Sintra 1N (Mon – Tue). Pena early, hike down to Sassetti, via Mouros or Edla, Regaleira.
May 14 – May 16: Coimbra 2N (Tue – Thu). University; enroute Obidos, Miradouro do Suberco, Bathalda, Fatima.
May 16 – May 20: Porto 4N (Thu – Mon). Port wine, Fado music, day trip to to Minho or hike Passadiços do Paiva.
May 20 – May 21: Pinhão 1N (Mon – Tue). Explore the Douro quintas (wineries) and relax over the river.
May 21 – May 24: Salamanca 3N (Tue – Fri). Architecture, old square, relax. Enroute Pre-historic Penacosa
End: Drop car Madrid
If you want more detail, send me a PM and I'm happy to share our more detailed itinerary.
Mark