Hello
My husband and I are planning on spending some time in Portugal this April. He cannot travel in the summer months do to work so we are planning for end of April. My father is Portuguese, from the Azores, so I have been to the islands before but never to 'mainland' Portugal. We plan to spend a few days in Sao Miguel, one of the islands, and then heading to Lisbon for a few days, then going to the Algarve (Lagos) and then to Porto. I have a few questions and concerns regarding Portugal. 1. I am an extremely nervous traveler ... my husband is not ... and I have read terrifying posts online regarding how dangerous Portugal and Lisbon in particular are. People report being beaten up, held at knifepoint etc... For any of those who have been to Portugal/Lisbon recently, did you feel this could be true at all?? Most people say its "getting worse" with the current economic situation in Europe. Also potential strikes etc...? The hotel in Lisbon we planned to stay at is the Tiara Park Atlantic Lisboa, I dont know if that area is safe or not though. Its across from the Four Seasons Ritz, beside the Parque Eduardo VII, and the closest Metro stop is Marquês de Pombal Station. I feel completely in the dark, and almost foolish asking but I feel like I need to talk to people who have been there!! 2. As I mentioned, we are planning on going end of April, will we be able to enjoy the Algarve or is it a complete waste? We plan to stay in Lagos but travel to other spots around the Algarve. I know it wont be HOT, but for any who have been to the Algarve around that time of year, will we be able to enjoy the beach? THANK YOU!!!!
Posted by
Oak Park, Illinois
4535 posts
I never felt unsafe in Lisbon or Porto. But both cities have more apparent poverty on display in the city centers than most any other European city. I would not wander aimlessly late at night off the beaten path of the main tourist areas, but I've never heard of either city being particularly dangerous. As far as I know, your hotel is along one of the main parks and streets. But checking the reviews on tripadvisor is a good way to check if there are any issues with the neighborhood.