I am traveling in Mid October. Porto (2N) -> Coimbra(2N) -> Lagos(3N) -> Lisbon(2N). I am thinking of taking CP everywhere and skip on rental this time. I am also inclined towards having Coimbra (1N) and add Evora (1N) in the journey. Does this sound reasonable?
Posted by
Tunbridge Wells
6113 posts
Sorry, but you will be spending longer in transit than actually seeing places, as you are trying to cover far too much ground. Mid October weather can be mild, but I have also had torrential rain near Lagos too. I would drop the Algarve and focus on the area between Porto and Lisbon. Add one of the Lagos nights to Porto, particularly if you are likely to be arriving with jet lag and add the other 2 nights to Lisbon.
Evora can be covered from Lisbon as a day trip.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
I did read somewhere that I should skip Algarve. But I am a beach bum and would really love visiting that area and explore caves on kayak, however I am not sure how forgiving the weather would be to do that in October.
Posted by
199 posts
As to whether your plan "sounds reasonable": I hate to be blunt, but I'm afraid it doesn't! Two nights in Lisbon and Porto (and I do commend you for having timed your plan by nights, rather than by days -- it makes it much easier to evaluate) are way too skimpy for these great cities, for two nights mean only one full (non-travel) day.
I'm a bigger fan of Coimbra than most people, and gladly spent four nights there myself, but I realize that most tourists won't favor such an extended stay, and one night may give you time at least to see the old University, the city's main tourist site.
I didn't visit the Algarve on my one trip (so far) to Portugal, so I can't recommend anything in particular, but given your preference for beaches, you could probably spend your entire nine-night trip exploring that one region, plus Lisbon.
(I'm not hip to the current craze for acronym-speak, and so have no idea what "CP" is, or how it might affect your itinerary, though I would guess that the P stands for "Português.")
Posted by
Tunbridge Wells
6113 posts
If you want beach time, look at the Silver Coast.
October isn’t the time to be visiting the caves in a canoe. The currents are very strong and I saw what was nearly a fatal incident one year in June when 2 fit looking 20 something old men had to be rescued as they were exhausted. The sea is cold as it’s the Atlantic not the Med.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thank you everybody. I was trying to follow this itinerary -> https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/portugal/itinerary. I will work with my partner and revisit our plan.