Group Traveling to Spain and Portugal for 15 days
Hi,
I've never been to Spain or Portugal and I'm looking for some advice. I'll be traveling with my husband and son(16 months) along with 4 other adults for 15 days in September 2013. Our main focus is not museums but more architecture, history, food, wine and the culture.
Here is a potential itinerary we are looking at:
Fly into Lisbon- 1 day
5 days, stay in Lisbon
Day Trips by Train to Sintra, Cascais, and Sesimbra
Take a one way flight to Madrid
Stay in Madrid 2 days
Take AVE Train to Seville
Stay in Seville for 3 days
Day Trips by Train to Granada, Jerez and/or Cadiz
Train back to Madrid and then train to Barcelona
Stay in Barcelona for 5 days
Day trip to Sitges and Tarragona
Fly Home-1 day
I'm curious:
Is this doable or too much?
Should we rent a car instead of traveling by train/planes
Do you have any advice or recommendations? Also, places to stay, eat, visit?
Thank you for your help. I've always had great luck on with recommendations on here.
Christine
Seattle, WA
Christine
Seattle, WA 2/3/13
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Maybe find a way to spend 2 nights in Granada and then fly to Barcelona from Granada. It is almost a 4-5 hour train from Granada to Madrid, then another 2-3 hours to Barcelona, making for a long day of travel. Flying was pretty quick, as Granada's airport is small and easy to maneuver around.
'Is this doable or too much?' - way too much, even if there was not such an unwieldy party size.
To consider.
Any movement base to base, however you travel, will take four hours or more, accommodation door to accommodation door, out of your 'architecture, history, food, wine and the culture' time,
So - only one and a half days for Madrid?
So - next to no time for Seville?
Granada from Seville, presuming you mean the Alhambra in Granada, will be not less than four hours each way, whatever transport. Not my idea of a day trip.
'Train back to Madrid and then train to Barcelona' - why, when you could fly or train direct?
'Should we rent a car' - not when your focus is built up areas, which in the main can be walked or bussed around. And, for example, about six hours, no stops, by car Madrid to Seville as opposed to about two and a half by train.
'Do you have any advice or recommendations? Also, places to stay, eat, visit?'
- take a look at the many guides, here is another - http://maribelsguides.com/
Hi Christine,
For what it's worth, the Lisbon end would be doable if you cut out one of the day trips. I personally love the city and could easily spend 5 days in Lisbon itself. Sintra is a must though and if you want any beach time in Portugal, Cascais is easy enough to get to. I've never been to Sesimbra so can't advise on whether it's worth going to or not.
Same with Barcelona - it's got plenty to keep you occupied for 5 days but Sitges is lovely and you could keep Tarragona in reserve but I guess you'll be exhausted by then!
As others have pointed out, the middle part of your itinerary is the one that needs trimming down. I'd skip Cadiz and Jerez but don't miss the Alhambra in Granada unless it's really going to make your travel plans awkward.
Maybe you could skip Madrid...
Have fun!
If you want ideas for things to do in Portugal, you could take a look at my blog, Julie Dawn Fox in Portugal: http://juliedawnfox.com