I'm planning a trip from Lisbon to Italy (Milan or Venice). My husband loves the idea of following the coast and staying in little towns.
I am struggling with the transportation aspect of the trip. Unlike other European countries, it seems the trains take longer than cars in many instances. Is this true, or am I just doing something wrong.
Would you drive a car in Southern Spain?
We drove a car in Southern Spain, but not in the big cities. To some extent, Spain's trains radiate out of Madrid. I also know that trains do not connect Portugal and Spain all that well. You could consider something like Lisbon to Madrid(possibly flying). Train to Barcelona and then trains thru France to Milan.
If you rent a car in Lisbon and return in Italy you would most likely incur a huge drop charge. I looked once at going from Lisbon to the Algarve via train, then crossing the border I think it was by bus, and then you could pick up a car somewhere in Andalusia (Jerez, Sevilla, etc.) and drive to Barcelona, return the car and take a train to Milan
How long do you have for this trip? I plotted a route from Sevilla then mostly along the coast from Malaga to Genoa, then north to Milan, is about 1400 miles. In Spain, if you want to be truly on the coast, you need to drive the slow minor roads. The main roads are inland. You could fly from Lisbon to Sevilla (or Malaga on TAP or RyanAir) and get a car there. There don't appear to be trains that run along the coast. In France, there are trains that follow the coast and serve the towns along the way. You can take the train to Ventimiglia just across the Italian border and then Italian trains also along the coast. Or you could fly from Lisbon to Valencia or Barcelona and then take a train route along the coast to France.
From Lisboa to Venice, by taking the small coastal roads, and stopping at all those small quaint costal towns, I would estimate you would need at least 6+ weeks. The biggest problem, if not the time required, would be the exorbitant drop off fee you would incur, as Jules mentioned, probably in the 1000s of Euros. Maybe consider leasing a car or straight up buying a cheap one and selling it after your journey?
Sounds like your trip will be at least 3+ weeks, in which case a short term lease from one of the French companies would be your best bet on getting a car you order, with bulletproof insurance, and at a reasonable price (including scheduling pickup in Lisbon / drop in Milan). I have used IdeaMerge https://www.ideamerge.com/car-lease-europe-renault-citroen-short-term-tax-free-france.html four trips, and I'm a believer. There are other companies that also handle the French lease program as well. Just watch your speed, and you'll also need to get the toll situation in Portugal sorted out to tie you car license plate to an account you fund in advance. Driving in Western Europe is no worse than in the Western US if you strive to avoid the big cities or historic centers. - Steve
Hi from Wisconsin,
You don't say, but you better have weeks to do this. Small towns are reached by small slow roads.
Check with Autoeurope about renting in Lisbon and dropping in Milan and see what they say. They offer great advise in my experience. You might find that renting as soon as you reach French soil and then going to MIlan and returning the car back into French soil a bargain compared to everything else.
SO an airline ticket of US to Lisbon returning Paris to US.
wayne iNWI
Note that the OP is MIA
