Our trip to Portugal began in Lisbon, where we stayed for 3 days before renting a car and making our way down to the Algarve. We absolutely loved Portugal and have plenty of recommendations to share. A word to the wise: if you’re visiting Portugal, do not leave without touring the Algarve! Travel tips for both Lisbon and the Algarve are below.

 

Lisbon

WHERE TO STAY:

Lisbon has many wonderful neighborhoods, each one being unique in its own way. We chose to stay in between the Bairro Alto & Chiado neighborhoods and really enjoyed being able to experience a little bit of each. Bairro Alto is quiet during the day and comes to life at night. This area is packed with bars and can be a bit crowded in the late hours, but it is certainly the place to be if you’re looking for a taste of the city’s nightlife. The Chiado neighborhood is the most convenient for transportation. It is filled with restaurants, boutiques, and cafes. To determine which neighborhood is best for you, I recommend reading through the article below:

https://www.roughguides.com/article/the-best-area-to-stay-in-lisbon/

 

WHAT TO SEE AND DO:

1. Walking tour (there were plenty of options for tours and several free walking tours offered in the main square of Chiado)

2. LX Factory (artsy area with local vendors, boutiques, restaurants, and bars- highly recommend Praça for lunch or dinner while there)

3. Timeout Market (Food hall with several vendors)

4. Stroll through Belem (This is the southwesternmost civil parish of the municipality of Lisbon. Popular landmarks here are Jeronimos Monastery and the Tower of Belem)

5. EAT AS MUCH PASTEIS AS YOU CAN!! (the most famous pastry shop for pasteis is Pasteis de Belem)

6. Day trip to Sintra (resort town known as a royal sanctuary filled with villas and palaces. You can travel here in 1 hr by train or 30 mins by car. Points of interest are Quinta da Regaleira and Pena Palace)

7. Day trip to Cascais (this is a coastal resort town west of Lisbon known for its sandy beaches and busy marina. You can also get here 1 hr by train or 30 mins by car)

 

WHERE TO EAT:

Breakfast/Brunch:

1.  Fauna & Flora

2.  Dear Breakfast

3.  The Mill

4.  Bowls & Bar

5.  Nicolau

Lunch & Dinner 

1. Chapito (need reservation)

2. Time Out Market (food hall)

3. Lx Factory  (highly recommend Praca)

4. 100 Manieras

5. Bairro do Avillez (4 different restaurant options. We tried “Pateo” try the prawn acorda and seafood soup)

6. Boa-Bao (get the shrimp yellow curry- so good)!

 

WHERE TO DRINK:

Coffee shop 

1. Manteigaria (great coffee and pasteis)

 

Cocktails

1.  Cinco Lounge

2. Park (rooftop bar with a fun atmosphere. It can be a bit tricky to find. You will need to enter through a parking garage and take the stairs up to the top)

3. A Capela

4. Foxtrot

 

 

Algarve Road Trip

Start in (1). Sagres– the southwesternmost point of mainland Europe. I would recommend spending one day visiting this area but do not feel there is much of a need to spend a night. During your time here, drive over to Cape St. Vincent and take in the the incredible views. After, head over to Praia do Beliche for some beach time (be sure to bring your own beach towels). Before heading off to the next stop, be sure to have lunch or dinner at Terra, located just steps from the beach.

Second stop is, (2). Lagos.  Explore the town which is filled with cafes and boutiques, but most importantly…head over to the beach, Praia da Ana. This was one of the most beautiful beaches we visited during our stay. I would recommend one full day and night in Lagos before heading off too the next stop.

(3). Portimao– The beaches of Portimao are not quite as scenic as those in the other coastal towns but they do have several cafes along the beach as well as in the main street in town. It is worth a stop to stroll through for the day but I do not feel you need to spend much time here.

(4). Carvoeiro was our favorite beach town in the Algarve and where we recommend you spend the majority of your time (we recommend 2 days). There is something very charming about this beach town and the food is AMAZING! You must have lunch or dinner at Onze when here (get the fried feta and lamb). Another must-do during your time in Carvoeiro is to drive over to the small fishing village of Bengali (17 mins) and rent a kayak to tour the Bengali Caves. This was one of our favorite experiences during our trip to Portugal! Tip: rent a kayak ahead of time so that you can head out on the water as soon as you arrive.