Authentic small town between Porto and Lisbon Portugal
January 7, 2018 8:26 AM Subscribe
Family trip to Portugal this year. Help us find the perfect spot for a one night stop between Porto and Lisbon!
We know we'll be spending time in Porto, and then in Lisbon. Between the two, we're searching for a small, quaint and authentic town to spend the night in.
Ideal town is picturesque, has a square that comes alive with locals in the evening, has at least a couple of restaurants, and a local hotel or Quinta that's within walking distance.
We already have plans to stay in Sentra. And we're considering Obidos, but while beautiful, it may be just a bit too touristy for us.
We will also have a car. Thanks!
We know we'll be spending time in Porto, and then in Lisbon. Between the two, we're searching for a small, quaint and authentic town to spend the night in.
Ideal town is picturesque, has a square that comes alive with locals in the evening, has at least a couple of restaurants, and a local hotel or Quinta that's within walking distance.
We already have plans to stay in Sentra. And we're considering Obidos, but while beautiful, it may be just a bit too touristy for us.
We will also have a car. Thanks!
Luso is a small town about 30minutes drive north of Coimbra which we felt had an oddly alpine feel for Portugal. It is a spa town with a reasonably priced spa attached to a big 4* (also reasonably priced when we were there) hotel in town, along with an indoor and a large outdoor swimming pool. You can get treatments if desired via the hotel. Alternatively, just up the hill there is a very upmarket and attractive pousada which has been converted from a royal palace and which sits in a forest of tress brought from around the world. It makes for a nice walk even if you decide not to stay there.
A number of restaurants are in easy walk of the 4* place, which is right in the centre of town.
posted by biffa at 8:57 AM on January 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
A number of restaurants are in easy walk of the 4* place, which is right in the centre of town.
posted by biffa at 8:57 AM on January 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
I just got back from Portugal and our two stops between Lisbon and Porto were Obidos and Alcobaca. We enjoyed Obidos much more, but only spent a few hours there. We walked up onto the wall, had lunch at a small restaurant, did some shopping, and had a few cherry liquor shots. That's about all there is, but it is a very cool, old place.
posted by tryniti at 10:53 AM on January 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by tryniti at 10:53 AM on January 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
Forgot to mention, if you don't mind driving a tiny bit out of the way, Evora is small and absolutely lovely. It's a little east of Lisbon, so not exactly between there and Porto, but it was my fave of the small towns we stayed in. Feel free to PM me with any questions.
posted by tryniti at 10:56 AM on January 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by tryniti at 10:56 AM on January 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
You may find this AskMe question useful, I asked it about the same trip a few years ago.
posted by biffa at 11:25 AM on January 7, 2018
posted by biffa at 11:25 AM on January 7, 2018
Aveiro is great (canals, traditional boats, ovos molos), but probably too close to Porto and a little too touristy.
Obidos is memorable.
posted by Segundus at 1:47 PM on January 7, 2018
Obidos is memorable.
posted by Segundus at 1:47 PM on January 7, 2018
Seconding Aveiro, we had a memorable lunch stop there. The old town around the farmer's markets and canals is really picturesque. It is close to Porto but then the whole country is small; Lisbon to Porto is a 3 hour drive.
We stayed in Obidos. It's a very quaint town to visit for a few hours. We spent two nights which was too much. Also we stayed in the old city center which was very neat but also incredibly awkward with the car. I'd suggest staying near the old city, then going in to visit it.
From Obidos we made a day trip to visit monasteries; Batalha and Alcobaça. These were great. I'd consider staying near there if you like monasteries, but can't recommend a charming town.
We also stayed in Coimbra. I did not love it. I think it counts as "small town" by my American standards, and definitely has some liveliness. But the town and the big University tourist site were all kind of disappointing. The best part of it was staying at the Quinta das Lagrimas hotel. It's about a 1.5km walk from the town center, so kind of far, but it was a lovely hotel with a great restaurant.
Sintra is great.
I have photos and notes on most of these places in this Storify collection.
posted by Nelson at 1:56 PM on January 7, 2018
We stayed in Obidos. It's a very quaint town to visit for a few hours. We spent two nights which was too much. Also we stayed in the old city center which was very neat but also incredibly awkward with the car. I'd suggest staying near the old city, then going in to visit it.
From Obidos we made a day trip to visit monasteries; Batalha and Alcobaça. These were great. I'd consider staying near there if you like monasteries, but can't recommend a charming town.
We also stayed in Coimbra. I did not love it. I think it counts as "small town" by my American standards, and definitely has some liveliness. But the town and the big University tourist site were all kind of disappointing. The best part of it was staying at the Quinta das Lagrimas hotel. It's about a 1.5km walk from the town center, so kind of far, but it was a lovely hotel with a great restaurant.
Sintra is great.
I have photos and notes on most of these places in this Storify collection.
posted by Nelson at 1:56 PM on January 7, 2018
Rick Steves tours and guidebooks are a really good place to get ideas for where to visit. Here's their best of Portugal tour.
posted by cnc at 6:25 PM on January 7, 2018
posted by cnc at 6:25 PM on January 7, 2018
Yes, if you visit Obidos, park in the car park outside the walls.
Batalha is essentially the outgrowth of a cathedral, but a remarkable one. It combines English Perpendicular with Portuguese Manueline in a unique and beautiful building. It commemorates the battle of Aljubarrota, which essentially decided that Portugal was not going to be part of Spain. The Portuguese have never forgotten that an English army under John of Gaunt stood beside them in that crucial fight, a friendship sealed by the marriage of King João to Phillipa of Lancaster; the two countries consider themselves to have been allies ever since.
posted by Segundus at 1:54 PM on January 8, 2018
Batalha is essentially the outgrowth of a cathedral, but a remarkable one. It combines English Perpendicular with Portuguese Manueline in a unique and beautiful building. It commemorates the battle of Aljubarrota, which essentially decided that Portugal was not going to be part of Spain. The Portuguese have never forgotten that an English army under John of Gaunt stood beside them in that crucial fight, a friendship sealed by the marriage of King João to Phillipa of Lancaster; the two countries consider themselves to have been allies ever since.
posted by Segundus at 1:54 PM on January 8, 2018
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posted by Beardman at 8:40 AM on January 7, 2018 [1 favorite]