Traveling to Portugal in June. 1st trip. Spending first 4 nights in Azores (will have a car), fly to Porto 3 nights (no car), train to Lisbon 2 nights then we pick up a car and drive to Algarve for 4 nights. Love tips on any of the places we are visiting, although have a lot of ideas and plans bouncing around other than Algarve. Algarve all we have planned is kayak tour to the Benagil caves. Love ideas on other things to see/do or great places to eat/drink. Thanks!
Basic itinerary:
Azores:
2 nights in Lagoa (air bnb), 1 day exploring Ponta Delgada, booked the Gin Library, 1 day driving towards Furnas/Nordeste, booked geo thermal tea lunch at Chalet da Merces, try to see botannical garden, some beaches, dinner at Bar Caloura if able to get a table
2 nights in Mosteiros (air bnb), 1 day booked Caldeira hot springs and 4 x 4 Sete Cicades buggy tour, 2nd day see hotel Monte Palace, mosteiros beach, pota da ferraria thermal baths if low tide
2 nights Porto (Hotel Carris) walk around downtown, try to see Sao bento train station and crystal place gardens and was suggested to try Nomadik lounge bar and check our Bonfim if time to check out some breweries, 2nd day booked Douro Valley Wine experience w/ river cruise, 3rd day try to see Lisoria lello, clergios tower, reservation at Ferno Velho, was suggested to try Apotocerio speakeasy, like to see Coimbra but don't think there will be time.
2 nights Lisbon (Aurea Museum Eurostar hotel). would like to do a Fado dinner but not something that lasts more than 2 hours., (love suggestions), 2nd day walk around to different areas. Rossio Sq., Chido, Alfama were suggested, time out market suggested, Pink street suggested :Cais do Sodre, Bairo Alto, Pensai Amor, Red Frog, love suggestions!
4 nights Algarve: booked ony 1 kayak tour to Benagil caves. Love suggestions. We love the beach, moderate hikes, scenic drives, wineries/breweries and of course good food and sunsets! Appreciate feedback from others that are more familiar with Portugal! Thanks!
Posted by
WI
409 posts
The Algarve covers a lot of ground and I'm not sure where you're staying there (we were based in Lagos), but I'll offer a few favorites in that region from our trip in March.
Lagos itself is worth a visit, and the boat tours that leave from the harbor there are a great way to see the coastline. There's a few decent hikes along the cliffs near Lagos too (e.g., near Praia de Porto Mos) with plenty of cliffside views.
There's lots of great beaches, but we loved Praia da Bordeira on the far west coast just north of Sagres. Sand dunes as well as great hiking on the left side of the beach (as you face the ocean). It's a little wild (big waves) and windy, but the beach is absolutely gorgeous and it's huge (length and depth) so you can certainly find your own spot in the sand. It's very basic though, so no facilities or refreshments etc.
On the opposite side (almost to border with Spain), the little town / beach near Altura were pleasant surprises.
We visited Tavira as a day trip from Lagos and loved the town, the castle, etc. Well worth a day out (though we were happy with Lagos as our choice instead as a home base - just more going on in Lagos it seemed).
Posted by
Rhode Island, USA
528 posts
My suggestions based on your Sao Miguel itinerary are as follows:
Azores:
2 nights in Lagoa (air bnb), 1 day exploring Ponta Delgada (Forte de Sao Bras, Santuario do Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres, Igreja de Sao Jose, Torre do Relogio, Igreja de Sao Sebastiao, Mercado da Graca, Jardim Botanico Antonio Borges, Museo Carlos Machado, Nucleo de Arrte Sacra, Portas da Cidade, Portas do Mar), booked the Gin Library,
1 day driving towards Furnas/Nordeste, booked geo thermal tea lunch at Chalet da Merces, try to see botannical garden, some beaches ( beach options Praia das Milicias, Praia de Agua D’ Alto, praia da Vinha da Areia) , dinner at Bar Caloura if able to get a table
2 nights in Mosteiros (air bnb), 1 day booked Caldeira hot springs and 4 x 4 Sete Cicades buggy tour, (Ribeira Grande has lots to see including the Museo Municipal, Fabrica de Licores-A Mulher de Capote, Convento da Ordem do Sao Francisco, Jardim de Ribeira Grande, Torre do Relogio behind the Camara Municipal, Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Estrela)
2nd day see hotel Monte Palace, mosteiros beach, pota da ferraria thermal baths if low tide (the road down to it is closed due to a landslide, access is only allowed by foot) (add Miradouro do da Vista do Rei, Miradouro Boca do Inferno, Tunnel das Sete Cidades, Igreja de Sao Niculao,)
Posted by
OP
Boston
35 posts
Thank you for this great info!
Love some more thoughts on Algarve. We are staying at an air bnb in Lago's and we will have a car. Would love one boat tour if anyone has a good suggestion.
Posted by
WI
409 posts
The boat trip we took in Lagos was with the appropriately named Lagos Grotto Trips which is based (along with other providers) right in the Lagos Marina. We booked through GetYourGuide.com. It was a 75-minute tour in a small boat (6-8 people plus 2 crew) and it was very nicely done and reasonably priced (3 adults for $80). Whatever provider you go with, I'd book ahead - there were people walking up but this was in March when it was a little quieter.
Posted by
Minnesota
187 posts
We were just in the Algarve in April, and it is very beautiful.
We stayed at the Pine Cliffs Ocean Suites Resort by Falesia Beach. The views from the cliffs are spectacular. Falesia Beach has gorgeous amber and red sandstone cliffs and a white soft sand beach.
I have read that you can hike on top of the cliffs from Acoteias to Vilamoura and that you can rent sun loungers by restaurants near Vilamoura. but we have not done that.
We stopped at Albufeira at Fisherman's Beach. The top of the escalator down to the beach there is by Divini Gelato and Pizza. It looked like there were boat tours that you could take from Albufeira to see dolphins and the Bengali Caves, etc.
The Algarve was the highlight of our trip to Portugal. I hope you enjoy it.