Portugal HELP

Hi TT members, looking for some help advice and peoples opinions,

My girlfriend and I are looking to drive/travel around Portugal. We will have been travelling for the previous 2 months around Italy and France and Spain. We have Madrid booked up until the 31st July and then from there we were thinking of heading to Southern Portugal and making our way up the coast before finishing our trip in Porto on the 23rd August when we have to fly out to London, before you ask, we have to drop a rental car off in Porto and this cannot be changed so its a Spain southern route to Portugal and then a northern Portugal route

So basically looking for cities, suggested stops anything you can recommend.

A bit of background We are 28 / 29 well traveled, and like to get out and about and both very active. We would like to get off the beaten track but also have some down time as well just lazing on the beaches somewhere.

Where are the best places / islands / locations for some of the following
Diving / snorkelling
Historical sites
Best / favourite beaches
Natural springs / waterfalls
Caves to explore
Trekking and/or sight seeing

Looking forward to all suggestions.

Cheers

Rich

We've made three trips to Portugal over the last year, but have used public transport only rather than having a car at our disposal.

First suggestion woukd be to get hold of a paper copy of Rough Guide Portugal - more useful in our experience than equivalent Lonely Planet (we bought both to use in the early llanning stages of these three trips).

In the last year we've had a week in Lisbon with side visits to Sintra, Cascais, Estoril and Belem.

Our second visit was in and out of Lisbon (thanks to flight availability from the UK!) and then five nights in Porto (with a side visit along the Douro valley), two nights in Vianna do Castello, two in Aveiro (one would have been enough...), three in Coimbra and then back to Lisbn for a night out before the flight home.

Our week in March was to Tavira - no chance to get to Ilha de Tavira this time as ferry season hadn't started, but we wandered around the town and visited Cabanas, Villa Real do San Antonio and had a few hours in old Faro too.

Places visited on our first road trip in 2013 were Lisbon, Sintra, Evora, Tavira (hence return visit), Sagres, Lagos and then back to Lisbon for a good meal, a night sleeping in the airport and the flight home...

That Rough Guide should help you find out places re; the list in your post, as should the list of the places we've been to!

As you may have noticed from other posts, accommodation on the Algarve is difficult to come by this year. Take whatever accommodation you can find there.

Head up the Atlantic coast - the southern end is an alternative to the southern Algarve coast. Look at places such as Vila Nova de Milfontes. The sea is cold in Portugal, as it's not the Med. most snorkellers and surfers wear wetsuits.

Lisbon and its surroundings eg Cascais and Sintra deserves several days including a full day minimum in Evora. Stay at somewhere like Foz do Arelha on the coast en route to Porto. Inland cities worth exploring include Tomar, Obidos and Coimbra. You could head up to the Douro for a couple of days too.

Hello
Two options of entering in Portugal.
If you ever through Algarve, do the south coast to the west coast without missing Tavira and Sages, Faro old city worth the visit too.
Along the west coast there's are several wild beaches practically with no one (sorry just remember one"Fateixa" between Aljezur and Odeceixe), be prepared to find naked people or to get naked. You must ask locals for others and it's location.
Heading to Lisbon must Stop at Zambujeira do Mar and definitely on Porto Covo/Ilha do Pessegueiro. Maybe spend one night or more here.
Head to Troia, and cross Sado River by Ferry to Setubal. Invest 1 or 2 hours, visiting the old city.
Head to Sesimbra, through the Arrábida mountain upper way. The view is............
If you prefer to make a stop at a very nice beach, use the lower mountain way and make a a stop at Portinho da Arrábida. In alternative use the upper way then go back a little to Portinho da Arrábida.
Pass by Sesimbra, maybe spend the night there. And visit Cabo Espichel, a very special place. Near you have Aldeia do Meco beach, nice a nude possibility.
Heading to Lisbon, you have Lagoa da Albufeira and Fonte da Telha beaches.
Then Lisbon!!!

Entering in Portugal by Elvas, best way coming from Madrid. Don't miss Évora, Estremoz, Vila Viçosa and Monsarraz. This last one is another magical place. If possible with a night stand (or Évora). You can join also Castelo de Vide and Marvão, very nice and beautiful villages.
Then head to Lisbon through Montijo and if you have time give some minutes to Alcochete. Then Lisbon!!!
So two totally different routes. 1st ocean, ocean.
2nd time travel in a very relaxed and hot way.

On the way to Porto.

Try Berlengas islands, near by Peniche, a natural reserve ideal for diving or snorkel. Better have your own material. Snorkel is free, but diving I think you need a permit first.
Camping is allowed, but in very restrict conditions. You can go very early in the morning and return at the end of the day (by boat from Peniche).
Had to Obidos an amazing medieval village.
A visit to Alcobaça and Batalha monasteries can be very touching. In Alcobaça try on pastry ALCOA, or other the monastery sweets.
On the way to Porto you have Coimbra, Leiria ( good restaurants there), Figueira da Foz, São Jacinto natural reserve, Ilhavo, Costa Nova, Aveiro.....and then Porto !!!

Well i hope it helps.

Enjoy

Thanks for all the help!

How long would you spend in Evora 1 or 2 nights?

Also has anyone been to Caceres in Spain? Recommend....

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