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I went to Lisbon in December for 3 days and spent NYE there. I really enjoyed it but the time was short I've decided to go back this year.
The trip will be anywhere betwen 10 and 20 days' likely on the shorter end of that (10-12 days).
I want to go go:
Lisbon
Faro region for the beaches
Porto
Question 1: Suggestions on what order I should go in? I think I'll put Lisbon in the middle, but was trying to decide whether to start or end the trip at the beach and do:
Faro-Lisbon-Porto, or,
Porto-Lisbon-Faro
I'm looking at the beginning of September.
Question 2: Suggestions on number of days you'd spend in each place? For simplicity sake let's say I'm doing 10 days.
If I am going somewhere I have been before, I'm a fan of starting off the trip in that city. Makes it easier to acclimate, you have a good idea of how to get around town, what the vibe is, etc.
Just my thoughts.
You are lucky, I was in Lisbon about a year ago, we loved it so much. If you have a chance, take a bus ride to Ericeira, one of the coolest places ever, got that tip from a local. Try this place!
If I am going somewhere I have been before, I'm a fan of starting off the trip in that city. Makes it easier to acclimate, you have a good idea of how to get around town, what the vibe is, etc.
Just my thoughts.
You are lucky, I was in Lisbon about a year ago, we loved it so much. If you have a chance, take a bus ride to Ericeira, one of the coolest places ever, got that tip from a local. Try this place!
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We enjoyed a stay private B&B in Douro Valley (We were the only guests / residents at a winery... NO ONE around, great views, very peaceful (Which the touristy / ex-pat / cities of Portugal are not). We used the winery stay to access Porto / western remote beaches via day trips.
Contact locals in each region and find out their favorite places. We were led to some real treasures by staying with locals. (private stays, not B&B, definitely not Airbnb) Locals are hard to find in Southern areas that have been overwhelmed by UK expats.
Hotels... hope you like smoke Even NON-Smoking hotels are saturated with decades of smoke, and likely the night manager will smoke through a few packs / night while seated in the kitchen, parlour, desk, hallway, front porch, veranda under your room...
We enjoyed a stay private B&B in Douro Valley (We were the only guests / residents at a winery... NO ONE around, great views, very peaceful (Which the touristy / ex-pat / cities of Portugal are not). We used the winery stay to access Porto / western remote beaches via day trips.
Contact locals in each region and find out their favorite places. We were led to some real treasures by staying with locals. (private stays, not B&B, definitely not Airbnb) Locals are hard to find in Southern areas that have been overwhelmed by UK expats.
Hotels... hope you like smoke Even NON-Smoking hotels are saturated with decades of smoke, and likely the night manager will smoke through a few packs / night while seated in the kitchen, parlour, desk, hallway, front porch, veranda under your room...
Thanks for the recommendation...I will look into the B&Bs. I've been curious about those. I think I can book these with points. Or at least I hope I can as I need to.
Smoke is something I feel like comes with the territory when visiting certain parts of Europe. I couldn't escape it Madrid or Barcelona or Lisbon either. At least not in the streets and not even in certain restaurants/cafes since it filters in from the outside. I can't sleep in a smoke filled room though. Luckily I didn't have any issues with this place which I stayed in over New Years:
The Azore Islands, off the coast of Portugal. Several islands, that I wish now that I had traveled to, while my husband was stations at Terceria Air Base. Check it out on line. Breath taking landscape.
I think you can end your trip at the beach because lastly you need relaxation and there is no place better than beach..
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) Locals are hard to find in Southern areas that have been overwhelmed by UK expats. 
Even NON-Smoking hotels are saturated with decades of smoke, and likely the night manager will smoke through a few packs / night while seated in the kitchen, parlour, desk, hallway, front porch, veranda under your room...
