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Portugal/ Spain travel (Lisbon, Porto, Madrid)

Posted by on

Hello,
My family (my husband and our three daughters ages 13, 10 and 7) are traveling to Portugal in early June. We originally were just doing Portugal for 9 nights but found a tremendous travel deal from DC to Lisbon and out of Madrid for $515/person. So we are adding Madrid to our itinerary. My husband and I loved Madrid when we went without kids and think our kids would like it (they have been to large European cities before) but my focus for this trip is Portugal. We love large cities and strolling neighborhoods and also love seeing small towns, beautiful vistas, castles, palaces, etc. I (for better or worse) like to see and try as much as I can when I go somewhere.... I wanted to not change hotels a ton but my kids are good with the changing as we have done it several times before.
So far I have
Lisbon -arrive 6/4 @ 12pm- stay 4 nights
?????( Sintra/Coimbra/ Obidos/ Navare)??? arrive 6/8- stay 1 night
Porto -arrive 6/9- stay 2 nights (fly to Madrid early midday)
Madrid- arrive mid day and stay 3 nights- leave 3pm on 6/14

My questions are
1) Should we do a day trip to Sintra from Lisbon or will it be so touristy in early June that it won't be worth the crowds?
2) Should we instead do a day trip to Cascais?
3) We can rent a car or take the train but where should our 1 night stopover be between Lisbon and Porto?? Do I have the timing right? Should we do only 3 nights Lisbon and more nights elsewhere?
4) Is it feasible to see any wineries or areas in the Duoro while in Porto or do we need to have the time to stay a night in the Duoro? Are kids welcome in Portugese vineyards/wineries at all?
5) To do Madrid justice, do we need 3 nights there or could we do just 2 and add one back to Portugal? I haven't bought our Porto- Madrid flight yet so I have flexibility there.

Thank you in advance for your help!!!
Dabney

Posted by
15794 posts

I wouldn't skip Sintra, its sights are well worth seeing and it's about the prettiest town I saw in Portugal. Plan to spend 2N. You can go straight to Sintra from the airport by Uber - not expensive, about 30-40 minute drive. Then you will be able to avoid the crowds of day-trippers. There are wineries (w/o vineyards) in Porto that you can tour.
You could take the train from Lisbon, overnight in Coimbra, then train to Porto. Or go straight to Porto.

Since you've been to Madrid and know your kids well, it's best if you decide how long to be in Madrid. If you're asking to compare Madrid with Portugal, I'd say fly to Madrid the day before your flight home and maximize your time in Portugal.

Posted by
119 posts

I was in Portugal last May for the first time, my 2 friends had both been in Lisbon before so we spent 5 nights in Sintra and day tripped to Lisbon from there. Its very easy to get to from the airport too. We had an amazing Air bnb which would be suitable for your family. Sintra is beautiful and especially lovely after the daytrippers leave. We ubered to Cascais and had a great beach day. We decided not to rent a car, no regrets and then took the train to Porto for 4 nights. Not sure about children in the port lodges. The beach in Matoshinos would also be enjoyable while you are in Porto.

Posted by
6113 posts

You are trying to fit a lot into your timeframe, particularly as Portugal and Spain are not well connected and with young children. You say 9 nights then detail 10.

I would cut a base, otherwise you are moving on too much. Take the train between Lisbon and Porto and drop the one night intermediate stop. Either stay in Lisbon and take a day trip to Cascais or Sintra or stay in either of these and take a day trip into Lisbon.

Posted by
22 posts

Thanks for the replies! So it is actually 10 nights on the ground. How does this new itinerary sound? Oh and with this plan, we wouldn't but would take a taxi from airport and then train everywhere else.

6/4- arrive LIS at 11:50- straight to Sintra
6/5- Sintra
6/6- head to Lisbon
6/7- Lisbon
6/8- Lisbon
6/9- Stay in Lisbon again? Or straight to Porto and stay an extra night there?
6/10- Porto
6/11- Porto
6/12-fly to Madrid midday
6/13-Madrid
6/14- Madrid- fly out 3pm

Obviously the big question would whether we stay a 4th night in Lisbon or do a 3rd night in Porto. Another question is if we would do some sort of half day trip into Cascais from Sintra or just stay in Sintra?

Thanks!!!

Posted by
8329 posts

Sintra is worth doing, whether on your way to Porto or on a day trip. I don't remember seeing a lot of parking in Sintra, so perhaps doing it on a day trip is wise.

I enjoyed visiting places between Lisbon and Porto. You don't need to spend the night to visit Cascais or Navare, as well as Obidos. Also Bathila Cathedral is nice.
To nights in Porto is OK, you can see the city in one full, busy day, but you will miss going up the wonderful Douro River Valley.

But, you really don't have time for that.

While in Madrid, be sure to do a day trip to Toledo.

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