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Summer itinerary help

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We’re traveling with our 2 daughters, ages 13 and 14. Our flights and time on Madeira are already set, so no possible adjustments there but we are flexible with everything else. I’m trying to figure out the best plan for our time on the mainland. Here’s what I have so far:

Day 1: Arrive Madeira mid-morning
Day 2: Madeira
Day 3: Madeira
Day 4: Madeira
Day 5: Madeira
Day 6: early AM flight to Lisbon / train to Porto
Day 7: Porto
Day 8: Porto
Day 9:
Day 10: Lisbon
Day 11:Lisbon
Day 12: Lisbon
Day 13: Lisbon
Day 14: flight home

Interests: We like a good balance between outdoor activities, city strolling, and historical stuff. No interest in alcohol-centered
activities, especially with the kids along.

Besides visiting Porto and Lisbon, the family requests are a visit to a beautiful sandy beach, to walk across the 516 Arouca suspension bridge, and to visit Sintra. We are happy to rent a car to help accomplish this and realize that we may need to cut our time short in one of the cities.

Would the beach trip be best accomplished with a stop in Cascais during a day trip with Sintra (during the Lisbon part)? Or is there another beach that would be more convenient to Porto?

Any ideas for the best way to incorporate 516 Arouca? I’m thinking of renting a car on day 9 to go there and then heading south towards Lisbon or staying the night somewhere more centrally located. I can’t decide which is the better option. (This side trip isn’t very convenient but I’ve already cut several other major family requests so trying hard to fit this one in.)

Thanks for your help!

Posted by
199 posts

We've taken an Uber to Cascais from Lisbon, very easy. Cascais will be busy during the summer but a nice diversion from the heat. I personally don't recommend Sintra, too much effort for a little payoff.

Posted by
2 posts

Hello Carrie!

First, I have not toured all of the locations you have listed. However, I have visited Lisbon and Sintra. We spent a day at Sintra and loved it. Since you are traveling in summer the key is to be there early in the morning as the crowds will overrun the Pena Palace later. The train is an easy way to travel between Lisbon and Sintra. Pay the money for a cab from the train station in Sintra to the Pena palace once you arrive. It was not unreasonable, and worth every dime and gets you there rapidly. We arrived about 45 minutes before the gates opened and I would recommend the same for you. We went through the palace with few other tourists, but as we were leaving it looked like ants descending on a gum drop that had fallen on the ground on a hot summer day. After that we took a tuk-tuk down the hill to Quinta da Regaleira. The kids would love the ride and the gardens. If you have time left over then try the national palace in the center of town.

As far as Lisbon, to me this was one of the least interesting cities that I had visited in my European travels. I would have a backup plan for another day trip so if you and the family are underwhelmed by Lisbon, as we were during our visit.

Good luck and safe travels!

Posted by
401 posts

Have you already booked your tickets from Madeira to the mainland? It would be more practical to fly from Madeira straight to Porto and cut out the train ride. I think the number of nights in Porto is good. If you need to see the bridge on the way south, I'd rent a car at the Porto airport, drive to the bridge and then spend the night in Coimbra. From Coimbra, I'd head to Sintra and spend at least one night there since it's way better than just doing a day trip from Lisbon. You could hit the beaches in Cascais in the morning before dropping off the car at the airport in Lisbon. It's pretty tight for a schedule but it allows you to see all the major things on your wishlist. If you don't want to do 1-night stays, then drive from bridge on day 9 all the way to the Lisbon airport and drop off the car, then do Sintra and Cascais as separate day trips from Lisbon. Both ways can work, it just depends on what your priorities are.

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