Originally Posted by
Hornetcoach
Another place I forgot to put on my list is the National Palace at Mafra. It is worth a couple of hours if you have the time on your drive from Obidos to Lisbon. All the other places I listed were north of Obidos and you can't possibly fit all those in, along with Coimbra, in a one day drive from Porto to Obidos. I enjoyed all of them and none of them were crowded but I had two nights in Obidos. I would have liked to visit the lines at Torres Vedras but couldn't fit that in. I would have skipped Fatima but that was important to my wife.
Well, our trip has taken a turn. We decided to forego Porto this time because my traveling companions felt that after arriving from the West Coast, via Paris, another flight was just too much for 24 hours. So I booked a car and we'll drive out Evora for a couple of nights. I found a self-drive Twizy tour of the town which sounds like a good activity after a the day long TATL. But I personally would like to see the dolmens.
Then drive to Obidos stopping in Santarem on the way to visit the Gardens, spend 2 nights in Obidos staying at the Pousada. While in Obidos, the intention is to leave town during the crowded daytime, maybe visiting Praia de São Martinho do Porto and the fortress at Peniche. Our group has only passing curiosity about Fatima.
Then we'll drive down to Lisbon, and I'm checking out Torres Vedras as a en route stop (thank you ^) dropping the car back at the airport before heading into the city. 3 nights there (apartment in Barrio Alto), finishing with 2 nights in Sintra. I thought we get Transit Passes in Lisbon which I understand includes the train to Sintra.
It's 4 stops in 10 days/9 nights in central Portugal. I think this makes more sense than trying to sort of canvas half the country in 10 days.
Also leaves two or three more potential trips to explore the other regions of the country. Certainly the north deserves more than a quick stop in Porto (which is why I agreed with the itinerary change).