This August we (6 adults, USA based) will be visiting Portugal for the first time. We like laid-back vibes, walking around, beach time, boat time, trying different food/drink options, a significant historical site once or twice. Not into partying, significant hiking, or tons of history/museums at once. Staying at beachfront/central hotels in both towns. Here is a breakdown of tentative day-by-day plans and I've added a couple questions I had.
-Day 1. (Saturday). Arrive in Faro airport 10am together. Shuttle into carvoeiro. Spend the day walking around town, checking in, coffee, ice cream, staying awake, later PM boardwalk to Algar Seco, maybe food/drink at the bar there.
-Day 2. Spend all day in Carvoeiro, jet lag adjust. Walk around town, see some viewpoints, get tapas, lay out at the beach in PM, nicer dinner
-Day 3. Visit Ferragudo, walk around old town area, around 2hr total. Planning also to do a vineyard tasting/picnic later (maybe 4pm). Evening in Carvoeiro.
Q: Is there enough to do in Ferragudo we could get there at ~10am and stay until 4pm? Or just go for a couple hours right before the vineyard. Any Ferragudo or nearby vineyard recs?
-Day 4. Lagos day. Boat tour (Benagil, etc) scheduled for later afternoon/early evening. Will pack up some in the AM, head to Lagos by 11, see old town and lunch. Planning on casual-ish rooftop dinner in Lagos after.
Q: Is it doable to find something like an UberXL/Bolt at ~9pm or so from Lagos back to Carvoeiro? Anything worth a quick stop in Lagos midday or near the Marina before our boat?
-Day 5. Transfer day. Driver booked for the whole day. Will take us via van toward Cascais, but on the way will stop in Lisbon (ETA around 1130a-12p). They will keep our bags in the van. I think will drop off near pink street/Time out Market area. Will get lunch around there. Will get ride up to Alfama (either his van or if too big will uber). Will check out a viewpoint or two, ice cream, walk around a bit, etc. Walk back down to the big Placa on the water for pickup. Plan to drive back to Cascais ~630p, dinner there.
Q: Any way to make this day better? We know we won't see much in Lisbon but we're okay with that. I think seeing two highlights (Pink street, mirador Santa Luzia) would be fine. Any food or activities to do in this area? Or different route to do?
-Day 6. Sintra. Pena palace w interior tour booked for 0930. Probably dont need to see Moorish castle. Definitely want to see Quinta da Regaleira. Lunch in Sintra town. If we end early we may head to the Atlantic coast but that might be too much. Evening in Cascais.
Q: Since I want to book Regaleira ahead of time, do people do Pena and Quinta back-to-back, or does getting lunch in between make sense?
-Day 7. Staying in Cascais, walking around town, Boca do Inferno, beach day. Nice dinner.
-Day 8. Fly out 11am Lisbon.
I appreciate any input!