Hello fellow Forum members. I’m planning an extended trip to Europe and UK beginning the end of June to first week of August and predominantly using public transportation with Uber/Bolt or taxi interspersed where necessary. Most of my plans for the beginning and end of trip are made but please give me your thoughts on this evolving mid-trip Portugal plan. FYI I have made two trips to Portugal (2015 & 2023) basically focused on Lisbon, Algarve, Porto and Douro. My granddaughter and I have 1 1/2 days in Lisbon after we visit Venice/Verona. She has never been to Lisbon but I have explored Lisbon quite extensively. GD will spend the rest of her vacation on Madeira with her mom (graduation trip)and I will then continue my Portugal/UK travel.
For this trip, I wanted to focus on Évora, towns near Porto and some of the coastal towns.
Should i stay in Porto with day trips or book separate overnights in Guimaraes and Braga?
Should I stay in Nazare with day trips or book separate overnights in Batalha and Alcobaca?
It seems like bus service is good for the coastal towns, except maybe on Sunday.
What do you think of my overall idea of getting around by train/bus/Bolt? I don’t like the idea of car rental while traveling solo.
Here is my evolving plan:
7/4-7 (3) - Evora
7/7-9 (2) - Porto w day trips Guimaraes and Braga
7/9-11 (2) - Braga and train to Aveiro
7/11-13 (2) - Aveiro and train to Coimbra then bus to Figueroa da Foz
7/13-14 (1) - Foz, beach time
7/14-17 (3) - Nazare w day trips to Batalha and Alcobaca
7/17-18 (1) - Lisbon, Setubal
7/18 - Flight late afternoon to Edinburgh