Lisbon/Porto or Naples/Sorrento in early June? (European city + beach hol)

cactusgal

Hi everyone,

It's that time of year again, thinking about summer holidays!!

Last year, my boyfriend and I went to Biarritz, San Sebastian, and Bilbao over the course of a week and had a fantastic time.

This year, we are also hoping to go away for a week, to somewhere in Europe. I'd love to go to Lisbon and Porto, to get a combination of city, culture, and beach. I've also heard that Portugal is relatively cheap, compared to the rest of Western Europe, and that public transport is good, so we wouldn't need a car.

My boyfriend isn't that keen on Portugal for some reason, he seems to think there isn't much culture there, tho I'm not sure where he's got that idea from!

Another idea might be Naples and Sorrento, but I don't know if we could do that without renting a car? Neither of us is keen on the idea of driving while on hols.

If anyone out there has visited any of these places and has positive or negative feedback, I'd love to hear it! Or if you have any other suggestions for a European city + beach holiday that didn't involve hiring a car, that would be great.

Thanks for your help!

Tigerandahalf

Lisbon is a very good option as you have the city and then a 30 min train out to estoril and the beaches. Some beaches are only 15 mins out from the city centre. Easy to split the week into 3/4 days in either place. It is cheap and no need to have transport as the system there is very good. I would have no problem going back there again.

sarkozy

I've heard Naples is amazing, but also resembles a demilitarised zone. When in Italy, we went northward to Perugia and Orvieto. That said, I'm sure it's spectacular down south. I've been to Pompeii, but that's the furthest south I've gone, though I long to visit Puglia.

By contrast, Lisbon oozes atmosphere, history, tradition and is one of the most cultured, coolest, trendiest of European cities, and I've been to a lot.

This this summer, we're going to Porto. Second holiday en famille and, while the Primavera music festival is on then, we'll eschew that in favour of a more salubrious and languid two weeks resting up, walking and eating.

Back to Lisbon, I think it's the perfect city with much in the surrounding region to explore, including winelands. Porto, by contrast, has the wonderful Douro wine region, in effect, its Rioja valley.

In the end, it's hard to interpret what your OH means by 'lacking culture'. If that means lacking the infectious and sometimes frustrating Italian la dolce vita, then you obviously won't get that in Portugal, but the Portuguese are far from dour. Latin blood courses through their veins, too, albeit in a more Iberian way.

Tigerandahalf

Last year, my boyfriend and I went to Biarritz, San Sebastian, and Bilbao over the course of a week and had a fantastic time.

That must have been a great trip but expensive I'd imagine. Bilbao is a fab place. Very chic and affluent. Great choice of food there.

cactusgal

Thanks for the replies so far, much appreciated. Yeah, I don't know where he's gotten the lack of culture idea from, I think he's equating Portugal with package resort holidays, when there's actually much more to it! Yes, the holiday last year to Biarritz, SS, and Bilbao wasn't cheap, so I'd like to spend a bit less this year.

Thanks again for your help!

grimm2005

I loved Lisbon and would go back in a heartbeat. It's extremely laid back, great weather and cheap but far from a "resort" type place. It's not a massive city but there's enough to see to spend a few days, while also being able to relax and you've got both Sintra and Cascais just a short distance by train (have only been to Sintra but definitely worth spending a day there). There's a good thread that myself and others have contributed to with lots of info on Lisbon here: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=91400214

I've never been to Porto but I have heard it's a really nice city and definitely worth visiting.

ardmacha

Portugal is great and not so expensive, although not as cheap as in the past. I suspect your boyfriend is misinformed about the cultural possibilities.
Porto has a great festival around the 3rd week in June, but this may be after your travel.