We are planning 5 days in the Algarve in January. We are thinking of either Lagos or Tavira as a base for exploring the area. We are looking for a walkable area good for exploring restaurants and cafes. We also like architecture, history, and interesting local sites. What are the pros and cons of these two towns? We will have a car.
Thanks.
January isn’t a great time to be in the Algarve - it can be very, very wet. The Algarve is known for its beaches and golf rather than its history and architecture, but of your two options, Tavira has the most to offer. Lagos has a small old town, but has been swamped by development over the past 25 years. Tavira has also expanded, but to a lesser degree and is less high rise.
The western end of the Algarve is very windy which can knock degrees off how warm it feels.
Both have a good selection of cafes and restaurants.
The western end of the Algarve has cliffs and rock formations although the boat trips to the caves won’t be running. The formations can be seen well from the beaches around Carrapateira. The eastern end is less developed and has a number of towns with castles. Parking is easier in Tavira.
It won’t be beach weather. The beach in Tavira is out on the barrier island, reached by a water taxi.
If you want history, architecture and interesting sites, I would focus on the area between Lisbon and Porto - towns such as Tomar, Evora and Alcobaca.
Fully agree with the opinion above!
What is the rest of your trip like? It will help us make better seasonal suggestions.
As noted above, you do not want to go to the Algarve in January. Trust me. Focus on other areas of Portugal.
We have a 10-day trip. I was planning on 5 days in Lisbon and the other 5 days somewhere else, so at this point, Tavira. I thought the other parts of the country would be too cold. This is only a 10-day trip so I didn't want to make it too complicated.
If you have 9 nights, I would spend 6 in Lisbon and 3 in Porto, which won't be warm but no worse than Lisbon.
The extra night in Lisbon can be used for a day trip somewhere, Evora for instance.
OK, I'm convinced... My husband has been asking about Porto for a while. (I actually have 10 nights). Can I get from the Lisbon Airport to Porto by train or bus, or should I rent a car? I was thinking of getting the car for the first half of the trip, then dropping it off when we return to Lisbon for the second half.
It is very easy to get from Lisbon Airport to Porto by train as you arrive: quick taxi or metro (2 stops) to Lisboa Oriente station, then train to Porto Campanha (about 3 hours), and train (free connection to Sao Bento with your Lisbon-Porto ticket, if I remember correctly), tram or taxi to your hotel.
It is quite easy and there is no need to book the train in advance, same-day fares are quite reasonable (not much more than gas and tolls on the highway, for 2 people...) and trains almost never fill up.
It is definitely safer than driving 200 miles after a transatlantic flight.
