We are a retired couple who would like to spend the month of February in southern Portugal, most likely splitting time between 2 areas in airbnbs. We're looking for suggestions of places that will have sufficient restaurants and markets open in the off season, are relatively walkable, and that still retain the Portuguese culture and charm.
Posted by
Tunbridge Wells
6113 posts
You will get a much better deal if you stay in one property for the whole month, as usually you pay for 3 weeks and get the fourth free.
If by southern Portugal you mean the Algarve, then most places don’t rank highly for culture and charm - this can be found further north, as the Algarve is known for its beaches and golf. However, it is popular with Northern Europeans and increasingly Canadians seeking to escape the cold, wet winter, as the weather here is milder, although this year, no less rainy!
The Algarve towns with the most to offer in the winter are Tavira and Lagos, at opposite ends of the Algarve. Cabanas, near Tavira is a popular winter destination, although it comprises mostly modern accommodation, none of the restaurants are closed, unlike some of the smaller Algarve resorts such as Salema.
Booking.com and Trip Advisor Rentals offer much more favourable terms, often for the exact same property than Airbnb, due to the high administration fees that they charge, often a 20% differential.
Posted by
Cascais, Portugal
1826 posts
I agree with Jennifer about the relative lack of charm of the Algarve. If you really want a sense of Portugal, staying much further north would be preferable. And, the weather in the more central areas is usually not that much cooler than the Algarve.
You are obviously English speaking. There are many English speaking expats in the Lisbon area, if that is of interest. And, the Lisbon area would provide a much wider range of activities than the Algarve.
But, if it must be the Algarve, I agree with Lagos and Tavira being your best options.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you Jennifer and Kathryn for the input. By southern Portugal I was thinking of Lisbon and southward - I imagined the south of the country would give us a better chance of escaping the cold of February in Ohio. From what you have both said, the Algarve sounds like it will lack the cultural feel that we would prefer. We've spent the month of January in Spain a few times - in Sitges just south of Barcelona and in Palma, Mallorca - and we're hoping to find something comparable in Portugal. We like places that offer long walks, day bus trips, a market or two and small restaurants with no English on the menu...
Thank you for the lodging site recommendations. I will definitely check them out.
Posted by
Cascais, Portugal
1826 posts
You don’t need to worry too much about the cold anyplace in the Lisbon area, especially compared to Ohio. It never freezes and most winter days the temperatures are in the 50’s, with very rare dips into the high 30’s at night.
The biggest issue with being here in winter is the heating in a lot of homes. Be sure to ask what type heating is in the apartments you rent. A lot of older apartments (mine included) only have oil radiators that heat the room you are in - not the entire apartment. If that’s the case, be certain there is more than one in the apartment.
Other than the Lisbon area, you might want to research Evora. It’s smaller and quite charming, with lots of wineries outside of town. But, I’m not certain how cold it gets in the winter. In the Lisbon area, there are several smaller towns on the commuter train line from Cais do Sodré in Lisbon to Cascais. If you google cp.pt you can see the names of the stops and research those towns to see if any look good to you.