Hi all - we will be in Portugal for eight nights in July and I am second guessing our plans to spend three nights in Salema. I've read varying opinions of whether it is worth a stop. Has anyone been recently? Just how quiet a town is it? Will there be enough activity to keep us entertained for three days?
My alternative would be to skip Salema and go to the Douro Valley instead.
I appreciate any thoughts!
If you stay in the Algarve for the 3 nights, I would recommend Lagos. Salema is not as worthwhile as it may have been many years ago.
Porto and the Douro Valley is beautiful for 3 days. Even for a non-wine drinker, I loved it. Algarve has Lagos, beaches, Sagres, Silves, and cork production tours. So if you still want the Algarve, just choose a different town for your hotel. That would be the only difference.
You dont have to skip the Algarve entirely, maybe just go to a more lively town like Lagos.
I did not stay in Salema, since it sounded to quiet for us.
There is lots to see and do in the Algarve. Dont forget it will be busy at that time of year. But probably everywhere in Portugal is busy in July\August.
Lol Carl beat me to it!
Thank you both. I'm working our trip around using frequent flier miles for our flights and it may make more sense for us to fly out of Porto as far as the miles are concerned. Are there any worthwhile beaches between Lisbon and Porto? I realize it's not the Algarve, but thought there may be an alternative to explore there.
Salema has been ruined by over development, but it certainly won’t be quiet in July, which is peak season. Many places are already fully booked, so your issue is more likely to be finding suitable accommodation. Salema is quiet in the winter months.
With only 8 nights in Portugal, the Algarve, being the most developed and touristy would be the area I would drop if you want to see more of the unspoilt Portugal.
If you haven’t been to Portugal previously, I would suggest 5 nights in Lisbon including day trips to Sintra and Cascais and 3 nights in Porto to include the Douro Valley. Evora is also an interesting place to visit as a long day trip from Lisbon or an overnight stay.
There are plenty of good beaches between Lisbon and Porto including Foz do Arelha and
Sao Martinho do Porto. Personally, I don’t care for Nazare.
I agree with the suggestion to drop the Algarve. There are lovely rock formations but in July it will be so overrun, and there are lots of beaches in the central portion of the country.
Splitting your time between Lisbon and Porto will be much more sensible in your short time.
There are also beaches not far from Lisbon, such as Guincho and areas around Sintra.
The Douro is lovely and well worth your time. I much prefer it to the Algarve.
