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What to do with an extra day? Algarve, Porto, or another town up North?

Posted by (washington state) on

I’ll be taking my adult daughter to Portugal for 11-12 days in late August and first week of September. I have been there already and love it there. Wife and I spent two weeks years ago visiting the Algarve, Lisbon, and Porto. Daughter has never been there.

We arrive in Lisbon and we will have 8 full days (not travel days) to visit the country.

I’m thinking of doing 3 full days in Lisbon, and then 3 or 2 full days in the Algarve and/or Porto. However, I was thinking of perhaps doing a half day in either Coimbra, Braga, or Fatima, since I haven’t been to those places yet.

Is it worth it to spend just a night/half day in one of those cities, or should we use the extra day in the Algarve or Porto?

And yes, I asked her, and she said "either is fine" lol

Thanks!

Posted by
1322 posts

Nice that you will return to Portugal. I have been twice with one trip that combined Spain, the Algarve and Lisbon and another trip that focused on the cities and towns north of Lisbon starting from there. Are you flying in and out of Lisbon? Flights already booked? If it were me, I would do 4 days Lisbon, 2 days Coimbra, and 2 days Porto. Flying home from Porto. Booking flights into one city and out another is called “multi-city” on most airlines websites. I really enjoyed the university town of Coimbra and think you will too. The library at the university is not to be missed.

Happy travels.

Edited to add: not sure what your tolerance for heat is but most places in Portugal will be hot in August and September so I would focus on the North and not the Algarve. YMMV

Posted by
96 posts

We're flying into Lisbon and coming back from London about 2 weeks after that (multi-city ticket already bought, we'll spend some days in London before going back - we've been there several times as well). I just have to buy the flight to London from whatever city we'll be - either Porto or Faro.

Good suggestions! I'll think about them.

Posted by
6587 posts

I feel Coimbra merits more than a half day. Going on the University tour or just walking around town would take a half day. Together you’d need a full day. Fátima can be done in a half day or less depending on what you want to see and how you’re traveling. With a rental car, we visited Batalha monastery and Fátima on the same day as a day trip from Tomar.

Posted by
96 posts

Renting a car to drive up to Coimbra seems like a good idea. Is Nazaré a good place to stop a day or two in lieu of the Algarve?

Posted by
96 posts

Lisbon 2-3 days

Day visiting best of Sintra or Sintra+Cascais using Bolt

Lisbon to Coimbra using car rental (provided you are comfortable) or private car+driver with stops at Obidos, Nazare Sitio, Fatima.

At least an overnight in Coimbra

Remaining time in Porto.

It will be still quite hot fur that time frame. (March-April is becoming a favored time to beat out not only heat but exponentially in reading crowds)

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