Hello, we are planning a trip to Portugal over Spring Break (4-11 April). We already live in Germany, so we have access to RyanAir which we can use to fly into either Jerez, Spain or Porto, Portugal. We plan to rent a car for the week. What are some of the "musts" to see? We are travelling with a 9-year-old. Thank you!
Posted by
Atlanta
3262 posts
Hi Barbara, You could consider flying into Porto and driving or taking public transportation travel to Santiago de Compostela.
Posted by
Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
324 posts
Barbara,
I've recently been spending some time in Viseu (about 90min from Oporto on the highway. It is a pretty, medieval town. I don't know how much appeal it would have from a touristic point of view (I've been going there for job stuff, and haven't had much of a chance to look around during the day.), but the natives rave about the museum, the church, etc.
While in the area, if you need to spike your cholesterol level, try out the local specialty, the francesinha.
Posted by
gaston, oregon, usa
842 posts
Barb
Two XMass ago we met our friends in Herzo. Germany, drove to a small and wonderful Gast House with good food, $43 /nite, (www.mueller-altay.de) near the airport that Ryan Air flys out of (frankfurt Hahn), and flew to Faro. ( they stored our car for free while we were gone) Our friends flew into Faro and out of Oporto.(Don't forget...you can gets lots lf rain in Porto!)
Ryan Air was great. Portgal was fantastic. We rented our car at the Faro airport thru Guerin (great prices)
We drove 1st to Tavira, where we rented a flat right downtown for four days, and did day trips to other towns, having fun in the water and warm southern areas. The autobahns in Portugal are all new, with no traffic.
Then we drove north and stayed in Oporto to visit the Port houses and wineries, and do sight seeing up North.
We ended our trip in Lisbon. (don't miss Lisbon!)Again, we used it as a base to day trip from, and rented an apt for 5 days.
We read our Lonly Planet guidebook, and used it to pick the areas that we thought were interesting.
Since it is Spring break, you would prob really enjoy the warmer areas in the south,(especially the 9 year old) and then maybe? move and do a little site seeing around the Lisbon area.
You may want to only rent a place near the beach, and spend your whole time there. You will love the warm weather, no matter weather you stay in Spain or Portugal.We found, and used wonderfull rentals in Portugal thru homeliday.com, and VRBO.com.
We stayed in downtown Tavira, and wished that we had stayed at one of the places nearby on the water.
Let me know if you would like more info.