We are spending a week in Lisbon with day trips the middle of March 2018, via trains or buses. We were in Seville eight years ago and loved it and always said we would go back one day. But we also like to explore other locales given the opportunity. Our end destination is Barcelona (which we have spent a week in previously) to embark on a Mediterranean cruise. As a side note also, we have already travelled to Toledo, Segovia, Madrid, Córdoba and Granada. Our dilemma is stay in Coimbra, Portugal for a night on the way to Salamanca and fly from Valladolid to Barcelona, OR stay in Lagos, Portugal for a night and drive to Seville and fly from there to Barcelona (spending one night in either city). Both Coimbra and Lagos are planned day trips from Lisbon anyway (possibly overnight in Lagos as it is further afield). So after the trip background, my question is Seville again or Salamanca? Which one poses the most convenient, logical travel plans? Oh, and possibly have time to stop in Zamora on the way to Valladolid? We can fly from there any time as we don't have to be in Barcelona until Mar. 24th. We will have a car for this part of the holiday, and are comfortable driving anywhere on any roads. Thank you!
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
7175 posts
You have hefty fees for trans national car drop off, so I would head to Porto from Coimbra and then fly to Barcelona.
Perhaps driving ...
Lagos >> Evora >> Coimbra >> Douro Valley >> Porto
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
7159 posts
Unless you have a desire to revisit Sevilla, I'd visit Salamanca and Zamora if you haven't visited them; they are not that far apart. Zamora's historic center isn't very large and can be seen in half a day. Salamanca is probably worth between a half and full day depending on what you want to visit Between Zamora and Valladolid is Tordesillas. The convent of Santa Clara was a nice stop if you had the time. The tour took about an hour.
Posted by
Washington DC
28083 posts
The historic district of Salamanca is quite large. I spent about a full day just wandering the streets. If you come across an open courtyard, take a look; some are very beautiful. I, personally, was underwhelmed by the interior of the university, but it certainly didn't help that I was unable to find anyone renting the audioguide Rick mentions.
Posted by
OP
BC, Canada
92 posts
Thanks for all the replies. David, I read in one of Rick's posts regarding car rentals that the drop off between countries can be $100-300 and he had seen one that was actually $1000! Well, we had 't thought of that having always in the past picking up and dropping off within different countries, without drop off fees (other than a few bucks). Thanks for the head's up and prompting me to do some research.
We have decided to just spend a couple of extra days in Portugal and will continue our Spanish adventures on a separate trip.
Posted by
898 posts
You might find some useful ideas from this travel article.
Posted by
Liverpool UK
440 posts
Enjoy Portugal great country