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BETS--Putting People on the Right Track Since 1978! 800-441-9413;
800-441-2387; in KS & MO, 877-441-2103
Spain
is Europe's #1 tourist destination for Europeans. Many come for the beaches, and many for the old-world lifestyle that
permeates the country. Nights are especially animated as the cities come to life after the afternoon-long siesta. Streets
are crowded with strolling people and musicians; cafés are full well past midnight — a unique Spanish ambience.
Paella (a rice dish), sangria and flamenco dancing are three more pleasures of Spanish life. The
best part of traveling in Spain used to be the cheap cost, but, unfortunately, now prices in Spain are more on par with the
rest of Europe. If possible, avoid travel here in August when many European vacationers descend en masse on the country, trains
are most crowded, and the weather boiling hot.
Trains: RENFE, the Spanish Railways, has
improved train quality greatly in recent years: the Alta Velocidad Española (AVE) trains
are excellent and zip along at speeds of up to 200 mph between Barcelona, Madrid and Seville. Spain also has a high-quality network
of overnight trains; these "hotel trains" can make sense when covering long distances.
The Spain Flexipass provides 3 to 10 days of unlimited rail travel to
be used anytime over 2 months on the Spanish national railway system. Rail tickets are inexpensive
on local trains, but tickets on the high-speed AVE trains are quite expensive. For a few short trips, point-to-point
tickets will make the most sense; but if taking several longer trips, consider the convenience of a railpass even if not saving
a great deal of money. By taking care of all of your rail ticketing at home before you go, you can make the most of your
precious (and always too short) vacation time. For railpass holders, seat reservations are an extra charge: they
are not required for local trains, but are required for all long-distance trains. On most premier intercity trains,
a meal, included in the reservation fee, is served to first-class passengers at their seat. Although a quality meal, the cost
is about $25-30 for railpass holders; the only way to avoid the meal charge is to sit in second class where there is no meal
and you just pay a nominal amount for an ordinary seat reservation.
Anomaly: Because the Spain Flexipass
does not offer a Saverpass version, as the Spain & Portugal Flexipass does, two people
traveling together who wish to travel first class can save money by purchasing the Spain & Portugal Flexipass
even if they are traveling in Spain only. Prices for the Spain & Portugal Flexipass are listed in
the chart below the Spain Flexipass chart.
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Questions About Rail Travel in Spain or Portugal ? Talk to a Real Person ! Before buying your Spain, Spain & Portugal or Portugal Flexipass, talk to
one of our rail experts about your Spain/Portugal itinerary to make sure you make the most of your precious vacation
time and get the right pass for your trip. Our rail consultants have traveled extensively in Spain and Portugal.
For Info
or To Order Your Spain/Portugal Flexipass,
Just
Call BETS! Call 800-441-9413 or 800-441-2387 (in KS & MO, call 877-441-2103) 9am-5pm Mon-Fri (Eastern Time)
Spain Flexipass Prices Choose 3 up to 10 days of unlimited
rail travel to be used anytime within a 2-month period on the national railroads of Spain. |
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Adult1 Single
Traveler 1st Class
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Adult1 Single Traveler 2nd Class
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Saver2 2 Adults 1st Class (Price/Adult) |
Saver2 2 Adults 2nd Class (Price/Adult) |
Youth Ages 12-25 2nd Class
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3 days
4 days
5 days
6 days
7 days
8 days
9
days
10 days |
$309 $351 $395 $441 $489 $534 $583 $629 |
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- Children
under 12: half single adult fare — under 4: free.
- Price is per person based on two or more people traveling together; children 4-11: half Saverpass
fare.
Pass must be validated within 6 months of purchase. Prices are in
U.S. dollars, and are subject to change due to fluctuations in the dollar to euro exchange rate. |
- To order this pass online, click on the text
link to the right.
- Or call Budget Europe to order your pass directly from one of our rail experts, who will make sure
this pass is the best deal for you and will also happily answer any questions you have about rail travel at the same time.
- 1-800-441-2387 or 1-800-441-9413.
|
For More Info,
To View a Rail Map
or
To Order Online,
Click the Link
Below
Spain Flexipass & Map
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Spain & Portugal Flexipass Prices Choose 3 up to 10 days of unlimited rail travel to be used anytime within a
2-month period on the national railroads of Spain and Portugal. |
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Adult1 Single
Traveler 1st Class
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Adult1 Single Traveler 2nd Class
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Saver2 2 Adults 1st Class (Price/Adult) |
Saver2 2 Adults 2nd Class (Price/Adult) |
Youth Ages 12-25 2nd Class
|
3 days
4 days
5 days
6 days
7 days
8 days
9
days
10 days |
$352 $399 $447 $496 $542 $587 $636 $684 |
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$300 $340 $381 $422 $461 $500 $542 $582 |
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- Children
under 12: half single adult fare — under 4: free.
- Price is per person based on two or more people traveling together; children 4-11: half Saverpass
fare.
Pass must be validated within 6 months of purchase. Prices are in
U.S. dollars, and are subject to change due to fluctuations in the dollar to euro exchange rate. |
- To order this pass online, click on the text
link to the right.
- Or call Budget Europe to order your pass directly from one of our rail experts, who will make sure
this pass is the best deal for you and will also happily answer any questions you have about rail travel at the same time.
- 1-800-441-2387 or 1-800-441-9413.
|
For More Info,
To View a Rail Map
or
To Order Online,
Click the Link
Below
Spain & Portugal Flexipass and Map
|
First Trip to Spain
This two-week
trip is a good introduction to historic Spain. The rail links between these cities are excellent, with high-speed
service over nearly the whole route. Besides Barcelona and Madrid, highlights are Toledo, whose medieval city center was shaped
by a fusion of Moorish, Jewish and Christian cultures; Seville, which is stuffed with three-star sites and
is perhaps Spain's most charming city; and Granada, the center of Moorish Spain, with its lavish Alhambra
Palace complex.
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Sightseeing
Day trip to Toledo |
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Train to Seville
Sightseeing |
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Train to Granada
Sightseeing |
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Return by train to Madrid or Barcelona |
Madrid: 4.75 hrs; Barcelona: 8 hrs via Madrid or direct overnight train |
All
Passes for Spain & Portugal
Below is a complete list of all railpasses that are available for travel in Spain and Portugal. |
Point-to-Point Rail Tickets
Compare the
Cost of a Pass Versus Tickets
Check Schedules
Get Your Tickets
Before You Go
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Have questions? Just call BETS! Our rail experts will gladly help you find the perfect railpass for
your itinerary.
Call 800-441-9413 or 800-441-2387
(in KS & MO, call 877-441-2103)
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Spanish-French border crossing: As the track width is wider
in Spain than in France, a change of trains is usually required at the border. This would not be a big
problem except that French and Spanish train schedules seldom mesh, often resulting in lengthy waits between trains. Sometimes
it seems the schedules are designed to deliberately frustrate travelers; for example, having a connecting train depart one
minute before the arrival of your train. There is, however, one type of Spanish train with adjustable
axles that does not require a change at the border. Madrid-Lisbon:
Currently, there are no daytime trains between these two capital cities; however, there is a daily overnight train--see details
below. Getting from the Algarve in
southern Portugal to Spain: At the border there is a gap in rail service requiring a bus connection between
the two rail networks. If you are coming from Lagos or Faro in Portugal, there is convenient bus service to Seville.
(Four buses per day in summer; two buses daily the rest of the year; journey time is about 3 hrs between Faro and
Seville; the service is operated jointly by EVA/DAMAS; get schedules on their websites: www.eva-bus.com and www.damas-sa.es.) Getting to Santiago de Compostela in
northwest Spain from Portugal: Although there is rail service across the border, it is limited. There is really only
one good connection each day. (Depart Porto about 8am, arrive Redondela just inside Spain about noon; change to a Spanish
train here departing at about 12:15pm or the next train at about 1pm to continue on to Santiago, arriving at about 2:30pm
or 3:45pm. Note: Spanish time is one hour ahead of Portuguese time.) Overnight
Trains in Spain & Portugal: Because of long distances, overnight trains are practical on several routes.
Most Spanish overnight trains have singles, doubles, quads and seats; toilets are located at the end of the cars. Deluxe
singles and doubles, with toilet and shower in the compartment, are also often available; people in deluxe compartments are
provided a full-course evening meal and breakfast. Quads on Spanish trains have a sink in the compartment, but no toilet,
and are segregated by sex unless a group occupies all four berths. Here is a brief rundown of the principal routes.
Madrid-Paris: From Madrid (Chamartin Station) departs about 7pm, arrives
Paris (Austerlitz Station) about 8:30am; from Paris (Austerlitz Station) departs about 7:45pm, arrives Madrid (Chamartin
Station) about 9:15am. Barcelona-Paris: From Barcelona
(Franca Station) departs about 9pm, arrives Paris (Austerlitz Station) about 9am; from Paris (Austerlitz Station) departs
about 8:30pm, arrives Barcelona (Franca Station) about 8:30am. Lisbon-Paris: From Lisbon (Santa Apolonia Station) departs about 4pm, arrives Hendaye (French border) about
7:15am. Change here for all points in France; to Paris, TGV departs Hendaye about 7:45am, arrives Paris (Montparnasse Station)
about 1:45pm. From Paris (Montparnasse Station), TGV departs about 3:45pm, arrives Irun (Spanish border) about 9:30pm. Change
here for Lisbon overnight train; departs Irun about 10pm, arrives Lisbon (Santa Apolonia Station) about 11am. Barcelona-Geneva/Zurich: From Barcelona (Franca Station) departs (Tues,
Thur, Sun only) about 7:45pm, arrives Geneva about 5:45am, Zurich about 10am; from Zurich departs (Mon, Wed,
Sat only) about 7:30pm, Geneva about 11:30pm, arrives Barcelona (Franca Station) about 9:45am. Barcelona-Milan: From Barcelona (Franca Station) departs
(Tues, Thur, Sun only) about 7:45pm, arrives Milan about 5:45am; from Milan departs (Mon, Wed, Sat only) about
7:45pm, arrives Barcelona (Franca Station) about 9:45am. Madrid-Lisbon:
From Madrid (Chamartin Station) departs about 10:30pm, arrives Lisbon (Santa Apolonia Station) about
7:45am; from Lisbon (Santa Apolonia Station) departs about 10:30pm, arrives Madrid (Chamartin Station) about
9am. There are no day trains between Madrid and Lisbon--only this daily overnight train. Barcelona-Cordoba/Granada From Barcelona (Sants Station) departs about 9:30pm,
arrives Cordoba about 7:15am, arrives Granada about 8:45am; from Granada departs about 9:45pm, from Cordoba
departs about 11pm, arrives Barcelona (Sants Station) about 9:30am. Barcelona-Seville: From Barcelona (Sants Station) departs about 10:30pm, arrives Seville
about 8:45am; from Seville departs about 9:30pm, arrives Barcelona (Sants Station) about 8:15am. Madrid-Santiago de Compostela: From Madrid (Chamartin Station) departs about
10:30pm, arrives Santiago about 7:30am; from Santiago departs about 10:30pm, arrives Madrid (Chamartin Station) about
7:45am.
Elipsos overnight trains to France, Switzerland
and Italy can be booked thru BETS up to 90 days in advance; domestic Spanish hotel trains, including the Madrid-Lisbon
overnight train, can be booked up to 60 days in advance. People with railpasses only pay the sleeper supplement.
Call BETS to book
or for more information.
Bullfights
Spanish
bullfights (corridas) are held on many Sundays from mid-May to late September. Though these blood
baths have lost popularity in recent years, they are still held in most major cities. The Running of the Bulls
is held in Pamplona July 6-14 each year. |
Point-to-Point Rail Tickets
Get Your Tickets
Before You Go
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CATALONIA
Barcelona, only two hours from France, is a must see extravaganza easily included in a rail trip to Spain or France.
Spurred on by being the host city for the 1992 Olympics, Barcelona has spent billions sprucing up its labyrinth-like,
centuries-old Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter), many attrctive parks, and amazing collection of edifices
by Gaudí (an architect who designed buildings as works of modern art). Don't miss Gaudí 's Parc
Guëll, an incredible fantasy park, or his wildly unconventional cathedral, Sagrada Familia
(begun in 1883 and nearing completion only now). Barcelona is lively at night; thousands stroll Las Ramblas,
the main boulevard through the old quarter. Outdoor concerts, street dances and busy sidewalk cafés add to the festive
atmosphere.
Day Trips From Barcelona: A one-hour train ride takes you to Montserrat
and its spectacular mountain setting. Millions have made pilgrimages here since AD 880 to visit the famous Black Madonna
Shrine (a wooden carving attributed to St. Luke) and the Monastery that was founded to house it. The view from Montserrat
is perhaps the best reason to come here as on a clear day the panorama stretches from the Pyrenees Mountains to the Balearic
Islands off the coast. Sitges, 45 minutes by train from Barcelona, with its super beaches and plentiful clubs,
sizzles by day or night. Stop by Girona, 90 minutes from Barcelona, to wander its charming old quarter's
narrow lanes, winding your way up from the river to the Cathedral, at the top of a monumental 90-step staircase.
Figueras, two hours north of Barcelona and only 20 minutes by train from the French border, is famous
for its Dalí Museum celebrating the maestro's surrealistic works. Salvador Dalí and
other well-known artists, such as Magritte, lived at the nearby art colony, Cadaqués, called the prettiest
town on the Costa Brava — the Mediterranean coast between Barcelona and France.
THE BASQUE COUNTRY
The mountainous Basque Country (País Vasco) straddles
the French-Spanish border in northeastern Spain. The exact origin of the Basque people remains a mystery — they are
not Spanish, and their language resembles no other European tongue. Pelota (jai alai), a Basque game similar to handball,
originated in this area. Each city has a jai alai frontón where you can watch and bet on the players.
San Sebastián, near the French border, is a convenient stop on the Paris-Madrid rail line. Called
the Pearl of the Cantabrian Coast, this fashionable Basque resort, set on a captivating seashell-shaped bay, has
inviting sandy beaches, many nightspots, and restaurants that are a gastronome's delight. Its old quarter and shoreline
promenades make for inspiring walking venues. A private commuter rail line (not valid with railpasses) links San Sebastián
to Bilbao, which has the celebrated Guggenheim Contemporary Art Museum in an out-of-this-world
titanium-and-glass structure, or to Hendaye, France, where you can connect to main-line French trains.
Pamplona, two hours by train from San Sebastián, is famous for its Festival of San Fermín,
popularly known as the Running of the Bulls, which is held each July 6-14. Made famous by Hemingway in The
Sun Also Rises, the nonstop party attracts throngs for the daily 8am encierro, when the bulls are released to
run loose through the streets. Anyone can run ahead of the crazed animals; however, there are occasional gorings and even
deaths. Don't expect to do much sleeping — the festivities continue through the night.
CASTILE
Madrid, smoggy and hectic, is not as attractive as Barcelona — but, like Barcelona,
its old town and public squares filled with restaurants, bars, sidewalk cafés and strolling minstrels come alive at
night. The city's few "must" sights need not occupy more than a day or two. The Prado is inevitably
included in the list of the world's top five art museums. Its collections include many old Spanish and Flemish masterpieces,
such as works by Goya, El Greco, Velázquez, Murillo and Rubens. Picasso's celebrated Guernica hangs in
the Centro de Arte Reina Sofía along with other 20th-century art. The Palacio de Villahermosa
houses the Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection, said to be the world's second most important private art collection
(after Queen Elizabeth II's). Madrid's flea market, El Rastro, is one of the most famous in Europe.
Day Trips From Madrid: Madrid is a great base city for easy day trips to see some nearby jewels.
Ávila is still circled by intact ramparts with old town gates and 90 towers. El Escorial,
the "Spanish Versailles," is on the same train line as Ávila. An immense 16th-century palace with 300 rooms
and 2,600 windows, it is called the best Renaissance building in Spain. Segovia, like Ávila, has intact
town walls but with only 86 towers. It also offers a famous Roman Aqueduct, 40 medieval churches
and its Alcázar — a Moorish fairy-tale castle of unusual beauty. Toledo, which
sits on a hill overlooking a craggy gorge, is famous for its Cathedral, Synagogue, and its
interesting town center resembling an Arab casbah with its warren of tiny alleys. Stop in Aranjuez to tour
its grandiose Royal Palace, with its unique Porcelain Room and graceful gardens.
Cáceres, four hours east of Madrid by rail, has a deliciously preserved historic center, an antique
marvel demanding to be photographed.
Salamanca, a university town two hours and 20 minutes northwest
of Madrid by rail, is classified as a national historic site due to its citywide untouched look and its Plaza
Mayor — considered to be one of the most beautiful squares in the world.
Burgos,
two hours and 20 minutes north of Madrid via new high-speed service, is one of Spain's most notable centers
of Gothic art and architecture. Its major Gothic Cathedral — Spain's third largest — is Burgos'
most famous landmark.
León, a bit off the tourist track (but now only two hours and 45
minutes northwest of Madrid via the new high-speed line), has the outstanding Gothic Cathedral
with acclaimed stained glass, San Isidoro Basilica's Royal Pantheon with arresting ceiling frescoes,
and the former San Marcos Monastery, now a state-run parador hotel fit for royalty. If making a
pilgrimage to Santiago, León makes a good stopover on the way to or from Madrid.
GALICIA
Galicia is the remote northwestern area of Spain. Although well-off
the main Eurail tourist trek, if touring Spain extensively, be sure not to miss Santiago de Compostela, the
third most popular Christian pilgrimage town in the world after Rome and Jerusalem. You'll find the famous Shrine
of St. James the Apostle in the 11th-century Cathedral. Besides its centuries-old religious
significance, Santiago is a bustling university town that has retained its medieval old quarter virtually intact — in
fact, the entire old quarter has been designated a national historic site.
ANDALUSIA
Once ruled by the Moors, this region of southern Spain exhibits a strong Arab influence in its architecture.
Exploring Andalusia will entail traveling in one of Europe's hottest climates — in summer the average high is 97°.
Seville offers not only many Moorish relics, but also Europe's third largest Cathedral,
whose richly decorated interior includes famous paintings by Murillo and Goya. La Giralda, the symbol of
Seville, is a former minaret of a mosque, but is now the Cathedral's belfry. Climb to the top on its gently sloping ramp
for a good view of Seville. Also of special interest are the Alcázar, an exquisite 14th-century royal
palace, and the narrow lanes of the Barrio de Santa Cruz, with its intimate café-filled squares. The
city also has an energetic night life and a cosmopolitan flare, perhaps due to the thousands of foreigners studying here.
Its many flamenco pubs attest to the fact that Seville was the birthplace of flamenco dance and music.
Jerez de la Frontera is the home of sherry wine (a British corruption of "Jerez"), sherry
tours, and the Royal Riding School with its prancing Andalusian horses.
Córdoba,
the capital of Moorish Spain, was one of the world's greatest cities during the tenth century. Its extraordinary Mosque
is a vivid reminder of Córdoba's Moorish heritage even though it was later transformed by the city's Christian
conquerors into a most unique cathedral.
Ronda is famous for its Plaza de Toros,
Spain's oldest bullring, where traditional bullfights are held each September. The setting of the town is striking; a
canyon splits the old Moorish section from the new town.
Granada, with its old Arab quarter and
Alhambra, one of the world's finest Moorish palaces with intricate marble carvings and mosaics, is a
"must" if in Andalusia.
The Costa del Sol is a string of modern beach resorts on Spain's
southern Mediterranean coast. Torremolinos and Fuengirola are just two of the beach towns
that attract tremendous numbers of foreigners to fill their endless line of high-rise hotels — it's hard to find
anything Spanish about this region.
Gibraltar, a British colony famous for its "Rock"
and Barbary apes, is at best a short diversion if you have the time. (No direct rail service; train to Algeciras and
catch a bus at the station to La Línea; then walk across the border.)
Algeciras is the
gateway to Morocco, with ferries to Tangier (2 hrs; $50 round trip).
The Costa Blanca makes a
convenient and pleasant stopover between Andalusia and Barcelona. Alicante is a good bet with its beautiful
beaches and impressive Castillo de Santa Barbara, a castle perched on a hilltop overlooking the Mediterranean.
The rest of the coast is full of high-rise beach resorts catering to the annual tourist invasion.
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Balearic
Islands
These
Mediterranean islands, sitting off Spain's eastern coast between Barcelona and Alicante, reward any visitor
with a grand mixture of sun, sea, history and wonderful scenery. The three largest islands, each with its own distinct
personality, are Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza. The central focus of
Mallorca is Palma de Mallorca, a centuries-old maritime port with a historic city center and an elegant
cathedral overlooking the seafront. You will enjoy walking its maze of narrow streets. From Palma you can take a very
scenic train excursion to Sóller on the island's rugged western coast or to Inca
in the island's interior (railpasses are not valid on either line). Menorca is known for its
natural beauty and for its numerous Talayotic stone-age cultural artifacts (circa 1400 BC) which dot the island. Ibiza
is where young people from all over Europe congregate, and the party never seems to end. But the island also offers plenty
of spectacular scenery, and the medieval upper town of Ibiza City is impressive. And, of course,
the main draw for many visitors are the island's great beaches, among the finest in all of Europe. Ferry service
to the islands is from Barcelona, Valencia and Denia (near Alicante). Sailings vary greatly by season; for current schedules,
see websites: www.trasmediterranea.com or www.balearia.com. The Balearia ferry company offers a 20% discount to railpass holders. |
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Portugal
is well worth the detour off the main Eurail routes as this country has a unique charm and lifestyle far different
from the rest of Europe or even neighboring Spain. The sun-drenched beaches in the Algarve at the southern end of
Portugal are among the best beaches anywhere. And, although prices are escalating, your tourist dollars go a bit
further here than in most of Europe.
Trains: CP, the Portuguese Railways, provides
good train service between its major cities. Lisbon-Porto: 2.75 hrs (hourly trains); Lisbon-Faro in the Algarve:
3.25 hrs; Lisbon-Évora: 2 hrs; Lisbon-Sintra: 40 mins (2-3 trains/hr).
The Portugal
Flexipass provides 3, 4 or 6 days of unlimited first-class rail travel to be used
anytime over 1 month on the Portuguese national railway system. For railpass holders,
seat reservations are an extra nominal charge: they are not necessary for local or regional trains, but
are required for all InterCity (IC) and Alfa Pendular (AP) express trains and must be bought locally (about
$5). Questions About Rail Travel in Spain or Portugal ? Talk to a Real Person ! Before buying your Spain, Spain & Portugal or Portugal Flexipass, talk to
one of our rail experts about your Spain/Portugal itinerary to make sure you make the most of your precious vacation
time and get the right pass for your trip. Our rail consultants have traveled extensively in Spain and Portugal.
For Info or To Order Your Spain/Portugal Flexipass,
Just call BETS! Call
800-441-9413 or 800-441-2387 (in KS &
MO, call 877-441-2103) 9am-5pm Mon-Fri (Eastern
Time)
Portugal
Flexipass Prices This pass provides 3, 4 or 6 days of unlimited
rail travel to be used anytime within a 1-month period on Portugal's national rail system. |
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Adult1 Single
Traveler 1st Class
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Adult1 Single Traveler 2nd Class
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Saver2 2 Adults 1st Class (Price/Adult) |
Saver2 2 Adults 2nd Class (Price/Adult) |
Youth Ages 12-25 2nd Class
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- Children under 12: half single adult fare
— under 4: free.
- Price is per person based
on two or more people traveling together; children 4-11: half Saverpass fare.
Pass must be validated
within 6 months of purchase. Prices are in U.S. dollars, and are subject to change due to fluctuations in the dollar to euro
exchange rate. |
- To order this pass online, click on the text
link to the right.
- Or call Budget Europe to order your pass directly from one of our rail experts, who will make sure
this pass is the best deal for you and will also happily answer any questions you have about rail travel at the same time.
- 1-800-441-2387 or 1-800-441-9413.
|
To Order Online, Click the Link Below
Portugal Flexipass
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First Trip to Portugal
Most tourists
to Portugal never get further than the beach, and very few Americans ever get to Portugal at all. But if you do visit Portugal,
you will be amply rewarded with rich memories as this slice of Europe still has not been completely absorbed into
the 21st or even 20th century.
Lisbon, a beautiful city of charming ambience, makes a great base
for several diverse day trips: to Évora, a walled city, whose historic city center is home to Roman
ruins and plenty of medieval churches and palaces, with much of its architecture exhibiting a strong Moorish influence;
to Óbidos, a small village of white-washed houses bedecked with colorful flowers, especially enticing when viewed from
the top of its medieval walls, which are open to walking; and to the old town of Sintra, which features a royal
palace in the city center and also the summer palace of the kings of Portugal in the hills above the town from where
there are great views of the countryside all the way to the Atlantic coast.
Porto, a graceful old-world city famous
for its sweet-tasting port wine, also offers some outstanding day trips: to Braga, with its delightful historic district
and the Bom Jesus do Monte pilgrimage site, one of Portugal's most famous monuments; to Coimbra, a centuries-old
university town; or to Guimarães, with an opulent ducal palace and a fine old quarter whose maze of streets make
for an enjoyable stroll. If you are looking for a very scenic rail ride, the trip along the banks of the Duoro River to Pocinho
is a favorite of rail buffs.
From Porto you can return to Lisbon or if you have some remaining vacation time,
a very enjoyable extension is to continue on to Santiago de Compostela in the far northwest corner of Spain, one of the
most famous pilgrimage destinations in all of Europe. Each year, thousands of pilgrims walk across northern Spain to humble
themselves before the remains of St. James the Apostle, interred below the high altar of the Cathedral. Santiago
also has a most enjoyable old quarter. Though you can go from Porto to Santiago in one day, if you have the time, Viana
do Castelo on the Portuguese Atlantic coast makes a very good stopover. It has a quaint historic city center, the Santa
Luzia Basilica overlooking the city, and excellent beaches. From Santiago it is easy to make your way to Madrid with
a stopover in León, one of Spain's finest cities.
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Sightseeing in Lisbon
Day trips to Sintra, Óbidos or Évora |
Sintra: 40 mins; Óbidos: 2.5
hrs; Évora: 2 hrs
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Train to Porto
Sightseeing
Day trips to Braga, Guimarães, Coimbra or the
Douro River Valley
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Porto: 2.75 hrs
Braga: 1
hr; Guimarães: 80 mins; Coimbra: 1 hr; Douro River Valley: 3.25 hrs
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Return to Lisbon
or
Train to Santiago, Spain
(add a day if wishing to stop over
in Viana do Castelo)
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Santiago: 5.5 hrs
Viana do Castelo: 1.75 hrs
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Lisbon, with
its antique charm, is one of Europe's most enjoyable cities. Don't miss the colorful Alfama section
with its maze of narrow twisting corridors and turn-of-the-century trolleys; the great views from the hilltop St.
George's Castle; the intricately sculpted Jerónimos Monastery; the intriguing National
Coach Museum, one of the world's finest collections of carriages; and the Baixa area with its
hundreds of restaurants and sidewalk cafés.
Day Trips From Lisbon: Nice and easy
rail trips can be taken to Sintra (40 mins), with its fairy-tale palaces; to the beach resorts of Estoril
and Cascais (30 mins); and to Óbidos, an enchanting village with its castle
and whitewashed houses encircled by ancient walls that you can walk along (2-2.5 hrs by train or bus).
Évora is
a dream city right out of medieval times -- its charming grid of tiny walled lanes are still paved with timeworn stones (2
hrs by train from Lisbon). Its São Francisco Church includes the bizarre Capela dos Ossos,
a chapel lined with the bones and skulls of 5,000 departed souls. Évora is a good stopover if heading to the Algarve.
The Algarve, one of Europe's most famous beach areas, is filled with foreigners
on package holidays. Train service from Lisbon to Faro or Lagos, two of the most
popular resorts, is good. For less-touristed beaches, try the area near Sagres and the stretch between the
fishing villages of Olhão and Tavira. If going on to Spain, a bus from Faro to Seville
is the easiest option. As there is a rail gap at the border, going by rail involves switching to a ferry or bus to cross the
Guadiana River and then changing to a second bus for the 40-mile ride to Huelva in Spain to connect with trains to Seville.
Nazaré, on the Atlantic, is worth a stop to see a centuries-old fishing village (rail to Valado,
then bus 4 miles). It's easy to day-trip by bus from Nazaré to the nearby famous monasteries at Alcobaça
and Batalha.
Tomar is notable for the 12-century fortified Convento de
Cristo dominating the town and once the Portuguese headquarters of the Knights Templars (2 hrs north by rail from
Lisbon). The neighboring pilgrimage town of Fátima is a short bus ride away. (Note: the Fàtima
rail station is 12 miles from Fatima; if coming from Lisbon, rail two hours north to Caxarias; from this
station, bus or taxi the 6 miles to Fàtima.)
Porto, with its dramatically breathtaking
setting on the Douro River, oozes old-world ambience in its old quarter, whose many buildings are decorated with vibrant azulejo
tiles. Must-do stops are the port-wine tours; the 12th-century Cathedral and its azulejo-rich
Cloisters; the São Francisco Church, with a show-stopping exuberant golden interior;
and the Bolsa Palace's Arabian Hall, sporting an intricate Arabian-inspired decor.
Day
Trips From Porto: Train to Guimarães (80 mins), called the Cradle of Portugal, to
tour the Dos Duques Palace and climb the Castle Tower. Visit the cathedral city
of Braga (1 hr) and the nearby pilgrimage stop, the Bom Jesus do Monte. Rail to the
seaside resort Viana do Castelo (1.75 hrs), which, along with a fine historic center, has the Santa
Luzia Basilica, yet another pilgrimage spot. Go to Coimbra (1 hr) to check out its Old
Cathedral and Old University. Strictly for scenery, boat or train up the vineyard-clad Douro
River Valley (3.25 hrs to Pocinho).
From Porto you can go on to Santiago in northwest
Spain (5.5 hrs; see For Your Information on this page for more details).
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BETS- The European Rail Experts
800-441-9413 or 800-441-2387
in KS & MO, 877-441-2103
V140313
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