Milan + Turin or Just Lisbon for 2 full days
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 105
Milan + Turin or Just Lisbon for 2 full days
Would like to escape to Europe from New York for a long weekend in late October. Can only spend 2 full days there. So flying out on Thursday night. Back to New York on Sunday morning.
Narrowed down my choices to Milan (because of the convenient and well priced direct flights from New York, including on Emirates) and Lisbon.
I am aware that there is not that much to see in Milan itself (and I don't care at all about shopping). So plan to spend 1 full day in Turin during my 2nd day there (a fast train from Milan to Turin takes just 1 hour). Because of this I would only be in the city centers (Milan and Turin) - no time for the side trips to the lakes.
Another option is Lisbon. The downside is that the flights (surprising) are much more expensive, even though on a whole Lisbon is known as a cheaper destination. Maybe because it's popular now, all the convenient flights are close to a $1000 round trip in economy.
But because the food and everything else is cheaper perhaps it will be the same total cost in the end.
What I am looking for is just the European charm, coffee shops, walking streets, old, beautiful buildings, squares with people and cafes, etc. (love good coffee). Not much into museums and shopping. Any thoughts would be much appreciated.
Narrowed down my choices to Milan (because of the convenient and well priced direct flights from New York, including on Emirates) and Lisbon.
I am aware that there is not that much to see in Milan itself (and I don't care at all about shopping). So plan to spend 1 full day in Turin during my 2nd day there (a fast train from Milan to Turin takes just 1 hour). Because of this I would only be in the city centers (Milan and Turin) - no time for the side trips to the lakes.
Another option is Lisbon. The downside is that the flights (surprising) are much more expensive, even though on a whole Lisbon is known as a cheaper destination. Maybe because it's popular now, all the convenient flights are close to a $1000 round trip in economy.
But because the food and everything else is cheaper perhaps it will be the same total cost in the end.
What I am looking for is just the European charm, coffee shops, walking streets, old, beautiful buildings, squares with people and cafes, etc. (love good coffee). Not much into museums and shopping. Any thoughts would be much appreciated.
#2
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Platinum/LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 5,594
Neither is a terrible choice, but I'd choose Lisbon. Great walking city, beautiful views from the higher neighborhoods, good restaurants, especially seafood. If you see everything you want to see on Friday, it's a quick train ride to Sintra for the day on Saturday.
I don't know that I'd call Lisbon "cheap", but compared to NYC, it definitely is!
Of course, you'll get wonderful food and coffee in Milan too, but Lisbon is still a bit of a hidden gem, as least for American tourists.
I don't know that I'd call Lisbon "cheap", but compared to NYC, it definitely is!
Of course, you'll get wonderful food and coffee in Milan too, but Lisbon is still a bit of a hidden gem, as least for American tourists.
#3
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: LAX
Programs: UA/AA
Posts: 1,739
If coffee's your thing....your not going to do better than Lisbon. Remember, Brazil was a colony of Portugal, and they have a long and well-developed coffee culture.
Walking around Lisbon is great. Lisbon has a "San Francisco" feel with narrow streets, old canary-yellow trams rattling along steep hills that overlooking the ocean. And, Lisbon has a reputation as having hot culinary scene.
The weather in late October will be warmer and sunnier in Lisbon.
Walking around Lisbon is great. Lisbon has a "San Francisco" feel with narrow streets, old canary-yellow trams rattling along steep hills that overlooking the ocean. And, Lisbon has a reputation as having hot culinary scene.
The weather in late October will be warmer and sunnier in Lisbon.
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,271
I'm reminded of the person who asked about what there was to do in NYC after the first day. There's not much to see there if you aren't into shopping or museums either. It's not as if there are hundreds of years of history, architecture, or culture to explore.
#6
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,557
Let me also add my vote for Lisbon (lovely city). The extra money you'll spend for the Milano-Torino train plus the higher North Italian prices for restaurants and hotels will most probably be more than the higher cost of the flight to/from Lisbon.
#7
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Either at the shooting range or anywhere good beer can be found...
Posts: 50,980
I spent four days in Milan earlier this year, and I'd go back because I missed seeing some things.
#8
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: AA, UA lowly commoner
Posts: 778
I think that Lisbon, the OP's choice, is a wonderful city. I spent about 10 days there 12 years ago and never got bored (but, then, I am into museums), and it seems to have become much trendier since then. But in the interests of fairness on the coffee issue, I'd add that Turin, the home of Lavazza, is certainly no slouch. It has a number of famed and beautiful grand caffs (which are also good places for hot chocolate), high quality overall, and its own coffee-and-chocolate drink, the bicerin. As for history, what is now Italy introduced coffee to Europe from North Africa and the Middle East.
#9
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: K+K
Programs: *G
Posts: 4,859
That's a fast and loose summary of the coffee trade. Most country's lore has coffee introduced without an intermediary. In Austria it was a direct contact with the Ottomans during the Holy Roman Empire's war vs the Ottomans.
#10
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: WAW
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And if they insist that 'Turkish coffee' is actually a Greek invention, just explain to them in a patronising voice that Greeks got coffee from Italians in any case
#11
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: AA, UA lowly commoner
Posts: 778
Sorry, you're right, I could have worded it better. It's not that Italy served as the intermediary to other European countries, it's just that it is generally accepted as being the first place on the European mainland to have had coffee.
#12
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: PEK
Programs: A3*G, UA Gold EY Silver
Posts: 8,925
LIS is much cheaper than MIL but everyone and their grandmother are coming to visit now, so flights will be expensive
Also, if you're looking at nonstops - you'll pay a premium as most traffic here is *A and TP has a hub in LIS.
In my non-objective view, LIS is much more interesting for a weekend than MIL+Turin. If you're into skiing, look into doing Milan and Turin in the winter, where you can get a good day or two of skiing in Via Lattea.
Also, if you're looking at nonstops - you'll pay a premium as most traffic here is *A and TP has a hub in LIS.
In my non-objective view, LIS is much more interesting for a weekend than MIL+Turin. If you're into skiing, look into doing Milan and Turin in the winter, where you can get a good day or two of skiing in Via Lattea.
#13
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: On the upper deck of an A380
Programs: OZ*G, QF Gold
Posts: 242
I was just in LIS a few weeks ago, and I definitely think it ticks every single one of your boxes. And it's the kind of place that can be as cheap or expensive as you wish to make it. There are plenty of mid- to high-end bars and restaurants (still very modestly priced in comparison to the US though), but just as many dirt cheap, hole-in-the-wall local gems.
Since it sounds like you're into cafes with old world charm - don't miss Confeitaria Nacional when you're there.
Since it sounds like you're into cafes with old world charm - don't miss Confeitaria Nacional when you're there.