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Last minute trip to Portugal - Algarve area question

Posted by (Seattle) on

Hello. We are going on a last minute bus tour of Portugal which doesn't have as many activities/excursions as I thought it did. We will be staying for three nights in Albufeira in the Algarve area and have two free days with nothing planned. We will be there 10/29 & 10/30.

I have the Rick Steves book and it said we are in the worst part of the region. Great! I guess that's what happens when you book what's available at the last minute. At least it will be warmer than in Seattle. We can take a ferry from Albufeira to Lagos. I see some tours for the Benagil caves and various places on Get Your Guide.

We have three free late afternoons in Lisbon as well. Any suggestions of recommended places or activities would be appreciated.

Thank you,
Linda

Posted by
46 posts

If your tour doesn’t cover it, we really enjoyed the National Tile Museum in Lisbon. Buy tickets online beforehand to avoid standing in line.
We also really enjoyed our Culinary Backstreets food tour. Ours was 5 hours (Lisbon’s Post-Colonial Feast) so wouldn’t work for you, but they have shorter ones as well.

Posted by
1796 posts

If you can go to Lagos, there are stunning rock formations outside of town- Ponte de Piadade. Very much worth your time. The small city is also cute to walk around.

Btw - I have friends who go to Albufeira regularly and like it. And, one of RS recommends for the Algarve, I think is awful. So, just because he doesn’t like Albufeira doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy it.

Bring your rain gear, as late October gets a bit of rain.

Posted by
27 posts

Thank you for your replies. Our tour starts in Lisbon for three nights, goes to Porto for three nights, back to Lisbon for one night, Albufeira for three nights and then back to Lisbon for another night and most of a day. It does some day trips from the main cities.

The main Lisbon sights includes a 1/2 day guided city tour including Jeronimos Monastery, Tower of Belem and Monument of Discoveries. In Sintra you drive by the Pena Palace but don't get to go inside.

Thank you,
Linda

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