We are a family with three children ages 10, 8 and 6. We have lived in the Netherlands for the past 2.5 years, and will be moving back to America this July. We will take a final three week trip, which must include visiting family in France. We will be driving , and the first week will be in Champagne, Beauvais and a village near Clermont Ferrand. We've been to Italy several times, and went to Provence, Paris and Cote d'azur last year. We've also been to and loved Sardinia, Mallorca, Corsica and some Greek islands. So we've been wanting to go to Spain and Portugal, haven't yet, so that is the plan. After we finish family visits we will have two weeks. We have tentatively planned to continue to Cahors for three nights, then to Barcelona for four nights. Then, we will fly from Barcelona to Porto for three nights, then back to Barcelona. After that we will head home. I just can't totally commit to it. I picked Porto because we would like to go to Portugal, and we can get a good fare on Ryanair, but only to Porto. Should we skip Portugal then, and go somewhere else in Spain? We will be in Barcelona, so what would be a good place to visit within a four hour drive? Maybe a beautiful beach area, as our other stops are inland. Looking for authentic, clean, beautiful with some other worthwhile sites besides the beach.
Any suggestions would be appreciated!
Posted by
Bay Area
3551 posts
I would skip Porto(unless you are in Portugal for other sights) espec w/ family. I enjoyed Porto and the Douro Valley but to me it is not a big draw like the Costa del Sol or Costa Brava. I have not been to West beach towns in Spain for a long time. I hear alot has changed and some beaches may not be so family inviting.
Best let others help you with appropraite beaches/ towns nr Barcelona.
Posted by
Malaga, Malaga, Spain
410 posts
I will admit to some bias as I live in Spain but I would agree with others that Porto could probably be missed in favour of places/more time in Spain. It is a nice enough place but to me has nothing of great interest for kids and it is also a long way from Barcelona. In your situation I would skip Portugal. In terms of beaches there are lovely beaches not too far from Barcelona and of course Barcelona itself has a good beach.
Posted by
Oak Park, Illinois
4535 posts
I agree. I liked Porto but it might not offer much for the kids and the Lisbon area would probably be tops on the list for most sites and activities if you only go one place in Portugal. What about Pamplona and San Sebastian? Those would make a nice circle route back towards France. And/or there should be lots of coastal towns within striking distance of Barcelona.