We're considering a trip to Portugal in early April- would probably spend 4 days in Lisbon and then 4 days somewhere else and and trying to decide whether it is worth going to the Algarve region. Understanding of course that it will be too cold to swim in the ocean, but would it be a nice time for hiking, exploring the towns, and taking a boat trip to the caves? I feel like I'm reading conflicting viewpoints on whether it is nice to visit this time of year or too cold/windy. We'd have 2 kids in tow (ages 5 and 8) who in general like coastal areas but I wouldn't want to get there and not be able to do much.
If not the Algarve, where else do folks suggest that time of year as another base, particularly with kids? Would prefer to take things a bit slower after Lisbon, so would probably save Porto for another trip.