Anyone travelled in Portugal near Porto?

[twobone]

Hi

I’m going to be in Porto Portugal in July for a bit over a week. With friends. On the tail end of the trip we have 2 days by ourselves. We are thinking of making the trip to Lisabon....but open to other suggestions of unique overnight spots near Porto.

Thanks

[LWJ]

Not Porto but I spent time in Lisbon and some other spots. I would certainly go to Lisbon. What we loved about Portugal was that it was very low key. I could make suggestions but two days is a nice amount to poke around Lisbon. It's a treat.

[wdfifteen]

Sorry, I stayed with friends in Carcavelos and caiscais. Spent all our tourist time in Spain.

[stuartj]

I was in Porto and Lisbon just recently. Both these cities are fabulous. Walk, walk, coffee, Portuguese tarts, walk, eat. Cod. Portuguese (mainstream) beer is bloody awful but the wine, oh my, the wine.

But if you want to go a little regional.....Nazare lies on the Atlantic coast between the two cities, worth the visit. Big things happen there.

Edit: July. Porto will be very busy.

[Jolly Amaranto]

Overlooking the Douro River from the garden at Miradouro da Serra do Pilar in Porto. Sintra is a cool town outside of Lisbon on a hot July day as it is up in the hills a bit.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by stuartj

I was in Porto and Lisbon just recently. Both these cities are fabulous. Walk, walk, coffee, Portuguese tarts, walk, eat. Cod.

Cod? I thought I was going to lose my lunch the first time I walked into a market and there were cases and cases of salted cod. The smell nearly made me retch. Portugese cod - no thanks.

[Bob Kontak]

I bet you can fill two free days in Porto with ease with a little study. It's pretty big.

I spent a night or two In Vigo, Spain, a touch north (75 miles), and had a splendid time. However, that was a function of the work peeps there taking me out to eat.

Stays light for a long time in July. It's almost Anchorage like but not an axis thing, time zone, I believe.

People eat very late. Families chowing down at 10:00pm. Cultural thing?

Lisbon, though. How many chances in a lifetime?