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Portugal/Spain for 3 weeks in April

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This is the rough itinerary we have come up with after several weeks of researching. Your thoughts are most welcome. I will start by saying that we want to see these particular areas, but realize that we will not have an in-depth visit in any of them. We are not slow-paced travellers, but we like to take our time and enjoy little cafes or evening times listening to music, we like to bicycle, gentle hiking, see the views, see and learn some history and enjoy cultural activities to the area. Staying and being in areas with local people is of interest to us as well. Here goes:

4 nights in Seville with a day trip to Rondo and Cordoba, see Alcazr and Cathedral, flamenco dancing, tapas bars.
Bus to Lagos and spend 4 nights in Lagos or Salema?(Kayaking, biking, beach walks, views, food, music)
5 nights in Lisbon with day trips to Sintra, Obidos, Nazare
Train to Porto with for 3-4 nights with day trips (or overnight) to Guimares and Viana do Castelo and a river ride to Pinhão with 2 nights stay in a vineyard there, train back to Porto
Fly home out of Porto
* A variation might be to fly into Madrid instead of Seville and stay in the village of Cuenca before making our way down to Seville. The idea is to see a small part of Southern Spain while on this trip to Portugal.

Posted by
6113 posts

There is plenty to keep you occupied in Seville for your 3 days there without taking a day trip.

You need a car for Salema, as it has limited public transport. It’s also been ruined by over development. Lagos is a much better option. Tavira would be another possibility and it’s a much shorter bus ride than Lagos. Tavira has more character. There is no live music in Salema nor have I seen any bike hire there.

I have seen sea kayakers who looked pretty fit young men get into difficulties and had to be rescued near Lagos. The currents are strong and the area is very windy.

There are good cliff top walks around Lagos.

It will take half a day minimum each time you change location. There is plenty in Lisbon to keep you occupied. Personally, I would drop the over-hyped Nazare as it’s half way to Porto and too far for a day trip.

Posted by
1663 posts

Cordoba is closer to Sevilla and the Mesquita is one of my favorite sites in Spain. Be aware that Ronda will be a long day trip.
Don’t stay in Salema. Lagos or Tavira are much better. Be aware it’s difficult to get around the Algarve without a car. I would suggest renting one for that leg of your trip.
With only five nights in Lisbon, I would skip Nazare.. Unless the waves are up in Nazare (and you will be here too late in the spring for the monster waves), it’s just a beach town. Getting there and back on a bus would take most of a day and there is so much more to see of interest in Lisbon. If you want to see a more authentic small beach town, Ericeira is closer and much less over run by tourists.

Also be aware that Obidos is very touristy and it isn’t easy to access without a car. Evora would be a much better choice for a day trip than Obidos. And it’s very easy on the train.
Guimarães is worth an overnight instead of a day trip.
I know you wrote you want to see all the places you mention. But, if you are relying only on RS, you are getting HIS favorites. And, since they are his favorites, they have become very crowded - sometimes to the point of not being as enjoyable as they once were.

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