Portugal's Best Two-Week Trip
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Rick's Favorite Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Lisbon, sleep in Lisbon
Day 2: Lisbon, sleep in Lisbon
Day 3: Sintra side-trip by train, pick up car, pick up car and drive to Salema in evening, sleep in Salema
Day 4: Salema, sleep in Salema
Day 5: Salema, side-trip to Cape Sagres, sleep in Salema
Day 6: To Tavira via Lagos, sleep in Tavira
Day 7: To Évora, sleep in Évora
Day 8: To Nazaré via Óbidos, sleep in Nazaré
Day 9: Nazaré, sleep in Nazaré
Day 10: Near Nazaré (Alcobaça, Batalha, and Fátima), continue to Coimbra, sleep in Coimbra
Day 11: Coimbra, sleep in Coimbra
Day 12: To Douro Valley, sleep in Douro Valley
Day 13: Douro Valley, end in Porto (could drop car), sleep in Porto
Day 14: Porto, sleep in Porto
Day 15: Fly out of Porto, drive or train back to Lisbon, or drive north to Santiago, Spain
Try to avoid being in Lisbon (or Porto) on a Monday, when many major sights are closed (including Lisbon's Gulbenkian Museum, Museum of Ancient Art, National Tile Museum, Monastery of Jerónimos and Coach Museum, and Sintra's Pena Palace). If you like big cities, Lisbon is worth an extra day. But if you're a beach-lover, leave Lisbon early and drive to Salema.
If, after touring Portugal trip, you're continuing to the Spanish destinations of Salamanca or Madrid, it's better to visit Porto and the Douro Valley before Coimbra.
While this itinerary is designed to be done by car, it can be done by train and bus. If you're taking public transportation, stay three nights in Lisbon and catch a bus to Salema on the morning of the fourth day. Consider skipping Tavira, unless you're a beach connoisseur. From the Algarve, take the bus to Évora (via Lagos) and spend a day and night, then take a bus to Nazaré (there's no direct service, so you have to go via Lisbon). See the sights near Nazaré by bus, using Nazaré as your home base. Take the train to Coimbra. Catch the bus or train to Porto and, using Porto as a home base, see the Douro Valley on a combination boat/train tour (or, with extra time, spend the night).
Sightseeing Priorities:
Depending on the length of your trip, here are my recommended priorities:
3 days: Lisbon, Sintra
6 days, add: The Algarve (Salema and Tavira)
9 days, add: Évora, Nazaré
11 days, add: Sights near Nazaré, Coimbra
14 days, add: Porto, Douro Valley
Updated for 2008. For lots more information, check out our best-selling Rick Steves' guidebooks — or join us on one of our free-spirited Spain & Portugal tours!