niko1279

I'm planning a trip to Madrid, Porto, Lisbon and Algarve I was wondering if 14 days is enough days to properly explore the cities without feeling like I'm being rushed.
If i phased out one location it would be Algarve.

This is what I got so far:

4 nights in Madrid (side trip to Toledo)
4 nights in Lisbon (side trip to Cascais and Sintra
3 nights in Porto (side trip to Douro Valley)
2 nights in Algarve
I got 1 night open for suggestions. (maybe Evora)

niko1279

Im planning a trip to Madrid, Porto, Lisbon and algarve i was wondering if 14 days is enough days to properly explore the cities without feeling like im being rushed. if i phased out one location it would be algarve

This is what i got so far:

4 nights in madrid side trip to toledo
4 nights in lisbon side trips to cascais and sintra
3 nights in porto side trip to douro valley
2 nights to algarve
I got 1 night open, maybe evora

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Michael

Skip the Algarve unless you are planning to drive, at which point you will incur a heavy cross-border drop-off fee--I am assuming that you are arriving by plane to start the trip in Madrid and departing from Porto at the end of the trip.

Northcoast

Two weeks should be fine. Two nights in Algarve is a broad concept as broad as Algarve itself. There's the western Algarve with Cape São Vicente and the cliffs on the coast. Otherwise Algarve is about beaches, some of them very nice, and tourism.

kja

For me, that would be way too rushed. I wanted four days in Madrid and two in Toledo. I think Lisbon easily merits five days. I spent two full days in Sintra. (I skipped Cascais.) I think Porto easily merits 3 days, with at least one more day for the Duoro. I skipped the Algarve. YMMV.

I think you would do well to consult some guidebooks to determine what YOU want to see before planning the number of days you want in any one location, and remember that because of the time required for relocation, the number of days you have in any place is generally one less than the number of nights.

SusanP

Just one thing--with all those day trips, you don't have much time in the cities where you're staying. Maybe that's OK with you, but something to consider. Also, check out time needed for connections from Madrid to Portugal.

kja

Please see your other thread:
Trip to Spain and portugal

and ask the moderators to merge your two threads -- to do so, click on the orange triange.

niko1279

I'm updating my Itinerary:

I'm scrapping Algave
5 days in Madrid
5 days in Lisbon
4 days in Porto
Starting in Madrid then I'll be flying from Madrid to Lisbon then taking a train to Porto.

Moderator1

Your two threads have been merged

Northcoast

That sounds like a good plan.

aulop

If the beach was the reason that you had the Algarve in your original itinerary, you can visit the beaches on your way to Cascais.
Carcavelos beach is the largest in the area , accessible by train from Lisbon.

https://lisbonlisboaportugal.com/lis...ch-Lisbon.html

bilboburgler

December or August?
Trains are very cheap in the Peninsula and they go city centre to city centre
I'd not touch a car ( I have holidayed in Spain by car but not in the areas you have identified, just too much bother)

Getting from Spain to Portugal can be interesting
seat61.com
cp.pt
renfe.com

niko1279

Thank you all for your input!

Aulop- I like that idea going to Carcavelos beach.

Bilboburgler- In July

I Updated my Itinerary again:

July 10th- Fly overnight to Madrid, arrive in the morning.
4 nights in Madrid
July 15th train to Seville Leave at 9am Arrive 12PM
3 Nights in Seville
July 18th Fly to Lisbon Depart at 10:15AM Arrive 10:15AM
4 nights in Lisbon
July 22nd Train to Porto Depart 9AM Arrive 11:48AM
3 Nights in Porto
July 25th Fly back Home

I left 1 day unused for now. any suggestions?

1 open day
Fly back home on July 25th

bilboburgler

Seville bus to Faro, enjoy Faro pretty quick with aircon and no stupid oclock start
Train or bus to Lisbon

niko1279

I chose to Fly because a train takes 6 to 7 hours to get there.

Michael

Seville can take the extra day. Right now you have two full days. That can be taken up my the highlights: Cathedral, Alcazar, the plaza España and the gardens going there; it could be done in one day, but why rush? Reservations are necessary for the first two venues. There are churches and palaces that are worth visiting on another day.

kja

I agree that you could add your "extra" day to Seville. There is a LOT to see there. OTOH, it will be HOT HOT HOT in July. Since you're skipping most of Andalusia consider skipping it entirely. You could add the days to Madrid so you have time for a day trip to Toledo or to Lisbon so you have time for Sintra or to Porto so you have time for the Duoro River valley....

When you count the time you need to get to and from the airports and the time you need to waste at the airport before your flight, you'll spend almost as much time as you would taking the much more comfortable (and greener) train.