Need help with a three week trip

I guess the question might be -
How will you leave your final cruise "port"? Will you have transport back to Porto or Lisbon available - or need to move on your own?
Where do you fly home from? Lisbon or Porto? might determine location - for ease of last night/day.
What will you see on your way from Lisbon to Porto at the beginning of the trip? Tomar, Coimbra, Silver coast? How much time in Porto or Lisbon prior.. ??
How will you be moving around the country for the last week? If you can get back to Porto or Lisbon - you could then bus, train or car to several choices.

North of Porto: Guimares and Braga might be good areas to explore - if you didn't see "enough" on the river cruise. Probably car rental makes sense. Could do day trip to Santiago De Compostela, Sp.
South/East of Lisbon: Evora is accessible by train from Lisbon (could get there from Porto, too) and has some interesting sites and lots of small villages in it's area.
South: Algarve & Taveira lots of day trip sites. by flight or train (via Lisbon) when arrive- rent a car or use local bus/train services.

Lots to see in a smallish country - I'd suggest tracking down a good guide book (RS is a great start) and talk with others after they have read up to pick a location.

Sounds like it will be a great trip!

Thank so much! Is is more detail about our trip so far… I have been researching online and with several books.
We are traveling to Portugal in April/May 2022 flying RT from Charlotte NC to Madrid (using FF miles and the flight is nonstop-so that why I booked Madrid). We plan to spend four days exploring the Madrid area then hop a flight to Lisbon to meet up with a small group of friends. Our first week after arriving in Lisbon is being spent touring from Lisbon to Porto. Here are some general ideas for that week.
1 - arrive in Lisbon, meet group in the evening for light appetizers or dinner
2 - walking tour of Lisbon to include food venues and Time Out food hall (possible cooking class at Time Out). Some free time with sightseeing suggestions for afternoon. Hopefully a fado dinner/show.
3 - day trip to Sintra and the coast via convertible VW bugs
4 - day trip to Algarve - winery visits, architecture viewing
4 - transfer to central Portugal - Braga or Coimbra - afternoon winery visit (Luis Pato?)
5 - more time in central Portugal
6 - transfer to Porto - jitney tour or foodie walking tour of city
7 - winery visit in Porto (Taylor-Fladgate?) or just outside Porto - check in to ship

Our second week is being spent on a Amawater Douro River cruise which ends near the border of Spain and Portugal. Not sure yet how the heck to get transportation to the next destination???

Now, I really need some help.. how to spend the last week of our time once we depart the boat.?

** One idea is to rent a Villa in Tavira with another couple or two and using that as a basecamp to explore the Algarve area further. Could hop a flight back to Madrid from the Faro airport..
** Another though was to go back to Porto or Lisbon and spend the week exploring those areas in more depth. Can easily get a flight back to Madrid form either of those areas.
** Of course there is also the northern or central part of Portugal to explore as well. So many options my head is spinning now.

What we really enjoy is NOT moving everyday but finding a good base camp area from which to explore wineries, small villages, or hike. Also love local markets where we can buy great foods and cook a bit at home but we also enjoy small charming restaurants (pretty much done with the Michelin scene). Also love the water and wildlife.

Looking forward to hear all your thoughts and ideas! Thanks!!!

One place to consider is Madeira if you are willing to take a short plane ride. We spent a week there after 2 weeks in mainland Portugal. Lots of hiking and small towns. We rented a car for part of our time and really enjoyed driving around.

I second the idea of Guimares and Braga. Very scenic and close to Porto.

Thanks for the suggestions… still trying to pin down the post cruise transportation options in Vega d Terron.,

Whoa! Your post isn’t clear to me if you are going to spend your time trying to accomplish all of these, or are trying to narrow it down, but regardless, I think it’s more realistic to focus your visit either in the north — Porto and environs, and/or further south, basing in Lisbon and with day trips to nearby sites. A day trip to the Algarve from anywhere is impossible. Even with a car, you’d have to count on 4 hours in travel time from Lisbon. Total flying time is just as bad.. A day trip from Porto to Braga or Guimaraes is possible. A day trip to Coimbra from anywhere is not, but you could visit there on a drive from Lisbon to Porto. I think a day, or less, in Lisbon and Porto seriously shortchanges both of them. A lot of people plan 3 or 4 days in Lisbon and at least two in Porto without day trips. In my experience, planning any more than that would result in your needing a couple days’ sleep before starting a river cruise. After the cruise, you’d undo the relaxation you enjoyed on the cruise.

"** One idea is to rent a Villa in Tavira with another couple or two and using that as a basecamp to explore the Algarve area."

That's my favourite! There are so many things to do and see in Algarve that are almost impossible during summer time, that I believe it's the right place to go in May.

What I do when I go to Algarve in May, and stay East: (I go by car)
Stay in Montegordo or Manta Rota (I like Tavira, it's a really lovely small town, but I think it has a smell. It's just my nose, my friends and family don't agree with me).

Day whatever: wake up early, drive to Sagres (West), visit the fort (only visited once or twice, I just stay outside and take pics), visit the lighthouse, and go to Vila do Bispo for lunch. Vila do Bispo is a no-turisty small village, with good food. Marigil is one of my favourites. What I eat: Bife de atum (tuna steack). Drink: Quinta da Lagoa Reserva (red wine from Lagoa, Algarve). Dessert: Rodriguinho. Afternoon: beach at Lagos with dinner at Mexilhoeira Grande (another small village with good food, I recomend sopa de cação, shark soup) or beach at Praia da Rocha (Portimão) and dinner at Portimão, under the bridge, Cataplana (the best dish from Algarve). Dessert: an ice cream at Portimão central garden. A long day, I know!

Another day: Drive to Castro Marim, an historical village with border with Spain. Go there through the Natural Park, visit the salinas (salt extraction) and you may find some nice Flamingos. In Castro Marim, visit the fort and the castle. Eat wherever you feel like, and whatever you want, everything is good. Very famous is the "arroz de lingueirão" (write lingueirão at google and see the images). I don't like. I mean I never eated, something in me is against the poor lingueirão!

Another different day: visit Silves! It's lovely, historical, and has some kind of magic! (it is a cittaslow village). The last arabian king of Sevilla (yes, Sevilha the spanish city) lived there. Visit the castle and the cathedral, and walk (I don't) over the walls. I remember I eated there an excelent "cozido", not exactly the portuguese "cozido", not exactly the spanish "cocido", and not exactly the ingredients of the Morocco tagine. Maybe a mix of them all.

Another daytrip: perhaps you can go to Ayamonte, Spain, or even a litle bit further to Isla Canela. If you eat there, eat paella (I do, because in the North Spain, like Galicia, Asturias, etc, paella is not very common, other dishes are). Visit a supermarket and buy "jamon ahumado" (prosciutto).

And the last I suggest: day trip to praia Senhora da Rocha. It's a cliff, and there is a beach below, there are two in fact, you can go from one to another by a tunnel, or swimming. I don't advise swimming, because last time my father did it, was attacked by seaguls that have their nests in the cliff. This beach is my favourite, everyting is happening there. Lot's of fisherman. You can take a boat (not a touristic one, a fisherman boat, they are there advertising) and visit the caves, including Benagil. Dinner at "Guia", the best chicken in Portugal (roasted chicken).

Everyday: Olhão. The market. Really fresh everything (vegetables, fruits, and mainly the fish!). Morning tryp. Forget about the market after 12:00.
Buy: bread named "pão do Alentejo". Oregãos - only at algarve they are selled in a buquet, not a box.
Buy or catch: "Conquilhas", a kind of clam. People are selling them at the end of the beaches, don't buy at supermarkets. Put them in salt water, the best is sea water. Cook in a fridge for 1 minute, with just a drisdle of olive oil. I use to catch mine, it's very good for your butt, but next day you are in pain. So maybe just buy them.
Sunset: Definitely "Cacela Velha" a small (and I mean small) village that wakes up at 6:00 pm

Admire the white houses, all with chimneys and a terrace at the top. And also the cypress, heritage from the romans.

Sorry if I left you more confused about your decision.

Hi Helena..

Thank you so much for all the ideas in and around the Algarve!

Sounds like just our cup of tea!!

I would stay in Tavira, not Manta Rota - it doesn’t smell and there is more to see there of an evening. MR was dead when I was there in early April - most of the restaurants and shops were closed.

We drove to Lagos from Cabanas near Tavira on the non motorway N125 road and it took over 2.5 hours to get there without any stops one March midweek - hardly peak tourist season, so we took the toll road back. Marigil is a great restaurant, but it’s only open in the evening and the house special dishes need to be booked 24 hours in advance such as the octopus casserole.

I haven’t had any bad wine in Portugal by just having the house wine.

We have stayed at the western end of the Algarve many times, so know the area well. If you haven’t been before, it’s a long day trip and you would need to focus on what you want to see. Personally, I would skip Sagres and the Fort, which is always cold and windy and I would head up to Carrapateira to see the rock formations. April/May is a 50/50 chance of beach weather. There are plenty things to see at the eastern end of the Algarve that involve less driving.

In Faro old town, explore the area around the cathedral and have lunch at one of the restaurants grilling sardines outside.

If taking the boat from VRSA to Ayemonte for lunch, remember Spain is an hour ahead.

Alcoutim is a pretty riverside location for lunch.

For something completely different, drive to Rocha da Pena near Salir for a great walk in very different scenery to the coast.

If your car is insured for Spain, the morning fish market in Huelva is fantastic. Buy petrol in Spain as it’s cheaper. Fish is also good from Tavira market.

Thanks Jennifer.. Taveria sounds like a great base camp to explore the Algarve area. Love the water so this all sounds dreamy to me!