Portugal: 1 Week in Lisbon & Algarve
Our trip to Portugal was a 1 week road trip to discover the city of Lisbon, the west coast until Costa Vicentina, and the south coast all the way to Faro. So if you are planning to do the same, this is the right article for you! I hope it will guide you through the perfect Portugal experience. If instead, you want to go to Portugal for a week but don’t know yet where, then I strongly suggest you to read this tour and jump on the next flight!
Read my brain:
✿ Really worth doing!
✎ Not worth, unless you have time to spare!
Who to go with:
Friends, Your lover, Your best friends, or your family!
I think Portugal is the perfect place for any kind of trip, as it has lots of different things to offer: from romantic spots to view stunning sunsets with your partner, to savage lands to explore with your friends, or relaxing and fun experiences to do with your family!
Where to start for a 1 week trip:
2/3 days in Lisbon
Something interesting to know about Lisbon:
Fly to Lisbon:
Our trip started here. I have to say: I expected way more from Lisbon, but I realised it is one of those cities you should definitely visit with a local friend who can bring you to the authentic places.
How long:
2 days, at max! I would not spend more time here, the coast is so much more worth the time!
Where to rent a house, airbnb or hotel in Lisbon:
We rented an Airbnb and it was very functional thanks to its location: anywhere near Largo Trindade Coelho will be the perfect area to reach the main places in the city. It’s not too close to the touristic area (around Praça do Comércio), and it’s very centred to be able to see both sides of the city.
What to do in Lisbon and how:
Day 1: Barrio Alto, Alfama, Chiado, Santa Justa
If you wish to find my map pins and easily follow them, follow me on mapstr!
✿ Praca do Comercio
Definitely something you should see, as it’s a beautiful square, but it’s the most touristic area! If you cross to Rue... you will find a nice street with bunch of shops, street artists and life.
✿ Have a tasty and local lunch at O Velho Eurico
First of all, book it in advance! It’s always hard to find a spot, you can just send them an email! This is a very local restaurant for you to start tasting Portuguese food (lot of coriander and garlic! I always asked to remove it... up to you!).
✿ Get some drinks
For this evening, I suggest you to go to Rue de Queimada. This is a cute little street where we had our airbnb and we discovered only later it was the nightlife street with a lot of nice bars around!
✿ Enjoy the city view from Mirador de Graca
A not too touristy viewpoint with a small bar to get a drink on top. We enjoyed some live music whilst we were there, and the night view of the city with all the lights on was just beautiful!
✿ Walk through the historical lanmarks
Church of Sao Vicente de Fora, Castle de Sao Jorge, Convento do Carmo, Catedral Sé, Jardim Do Torel.
✿ Jump on Tram 28
I only saw it passing next to me, but I did not jump in it. I wish I did, I saw some locals getting in and out so smoothly, I think it would have been a fun experience, if you have some time just get in!
✿ Get Pineappple Pina Colada along the sea!
You will find it basically walking along the shore on Avenida da Ribeira das Naus, it’s a small wheel stand with bunch of pineapples. They empty the pineapple and fill it in with fresh just-homemade juice or pina colada! So tasy, refreshing, and unique!
✎ Views from Miradors
If you walk by them, you can definitely enjoy the views! I personally lvoed the one in Mirador de Grace (read above), but these are also nice: Miradouro de Santa Luzia, Miradouro das Portas do Sol, Sao Pedro de Alcantara.
✎ Pink street
I definitely think there is just too much hype behind this street... this said, I walked through it in the afternoon and it was not so much lively. If you really want to enjoy it more than I did, go there in the evening; my local friends told me there is much life and fun there!
✎ Street Art
I searched for this street where you should find street art all around, but I could not find it. I think it can be nice to be seen, so if you happen to find it great (and let me know, just out of curiosity!) :).
✎ Dinner (No dinner) at Casa do Alentejo: I was suggested this restaurant for dinner. I booked it because i loved their location pictures... and indeed the location was stunning, you could see the Arabic influence and the typical Azulejo and mosaics! But, that was it. If I knew before what I know now, that is the food is not worth at all (I call it the hospital food kind) I would have just entered the location, see it, and then leave and enjoy local food somewhere else!
Day 2: Almada, Alcantara & Belem
If you wish to find my map pins and easily follow them, follow me on mapstr!
✿ LX Factory
An artistic center with shops, restaurants and more! It is in the year of 1846 that Alcântara becomes the industrial center. A fraction of that city has now returned to the city in the form of LXFACTORY. A creative island generating a dynamic that has attracted countless visitors to re-discover this area of Alcântara and live the industrial environment.
✿ Ler Devagar Library
You do not find this usually in the guides, but it’s a very beautiful library nearby the LX Factory which is worth having a look, even if you aren’t a book lover!
✿ Belém
A very beautiful historical neighbourhood nearby Lisbon, you can take a 15 minutes train from Lisbon center or a Uber and walk around.
Walk to Jeronimos Monastery, The Padrão dos Descobrimentos (a very tall status built in honor of the period of discoveries of Henri the Navigator), Tower of Belem (originally built in the middle of the sea to symbolize a docked boat, it is not very close to the land, so you can easily cross a bridge and get in it. It was very interesting for me to read more about this tower, which by itself does not speak! You can see the rope which wraps the entire tower, to indeed remind the essence of a boat. You can see how it was originally used as a defensive tower, you can spot holes where cannons used to be placed, and blocks shaped like defensive shields. You can also see influences from Arabia in the little towers on top of the tower, called Moorish architecture).
✿ Eat a Pastel de Nata at Pastéis de Belém
When you are in Belem, you MUST try the Pastéis de Belem. You were probably planning to eat some whilst in Portugal, and if you were, I strongly recommend to get them here in Belem, they were just the best of my entire trip (and I tried a lot of them!). You can eat them in (but usually there is a long queue to get a table), or skip the long queue and take them away and eat them during your walk, they are still warm and super tasty!
✿ Lunch at O Frade
Whilst you are in Belem, enjoy a local-dishes-lunch at this beautiful but tiny restaurant I discovered thanks to my local friends there, O Frade. It is a very affordable One-Michelin-Star restaurant which serves local and refined food. Whilst here, ask for their bread, as it’s their traditional family recipe! You can basically order anything you like, it’s all very good and authentic. We personally loved their salty cakes!
✎ Pont du 25 Avril & ✎ Statue du Christ Roi
I personally did not cross the bridge to go all the other side to see the statue, mainly because I did not have enough time, but also because it did not look so interesting to me!
✿ Dinner & Drinks at Rooftop Bar Limao Chill-out
A cute terrace above the city with lovely chair and tables to enjoy a drink with the city view. You cannot reserve, and it closes early (You can them move to their restaurant downstairs, Restaurant Azul & Branco) so I suggest you to get here at around 7pm to then enjoy the sunset).
Day 3: Escape to Sintra & Live the Local life
If you wish to find my map pins and easily follow them, follow me on mapstr!
✿ Sintra
If you happen to stay one day more, you should do a quick detour for Syntra, a place Lord Byron was frequenlty enjoying! It’s a little gem with its own microclimate, you will see walls covered in moss too! It’s very close to the city of Lisbon (30 min by car, or by train), and it offers beautiful castles to visit and views to enjoy. Whilst here, you must visit: Palacio de Pena, Quinta de Regaleira, Palacio de Monserrate.
✿ Dinner at a Fish restaurant in Cachilas
✿ Enjoying local singing and food at a Fadu Club
(Some of them have fixed dinner menus, and amazing singers of Fadu!). It’s very emotional, be ready for a deeper evening experience.
✿ Live the nightlife at an African Night Club.
✿ Get some drinks at Casa Independente
In Largo Independente.
5 days in Algarve
Something interesting to know about the Algarve:
Road trip to south:
How to get there: I absolutely suggest you to rent a car in Lisbon and drive all the way to the Algarve. The road there is simply beautiful and if yoi avoid traffic driving during the week (we traveled on a Monday) you can get there in 3 hours. DO NOT follow Google Maps, it would just suggest you to take the highway. You want to rather drive along the coast. You can simply drive to Sines, as a first stop on your navigator, and set Praia de Bordeira as last; this will create the perfect coast drive route!
You will enjoy red and orange limestone cliffs which are around 150 million years old and dare to the Lower Cretaceous period.
Bring your sweater, hoodie, scarf or whatever you need to cover up from the wind! The west coast gets all the winds from the oceans and they are very strong! Definitely a good point for surfers :).
Rent a car:
I can’t suggest you a local renting service, but I can definitely advise you against Surprice. They charge you additional costs when you get the car, take forever to provide you with a car, and their pick up & drop out service is not at the airport! Rent a car online at Rentalcars or locally, and book the pick up in Lisbon, but drop off in Faro, which will be your last destination & the airport for your flight back.
How long:
5 days, or more! We spent 6 days and they were more than enough, we also had a lot of time to enjoy our villa, which you should definitely get there!
I suggest 5 days to take it slow, but if you wish to stay less, you can also squish the list of things to do in less days! Things are very close.
Day 1: Road Trip in Costa Vicentina
✿ Relax and enjoy Praia do Ribeiro do Cavalo
Just below Lisbon, this could be your first road-trip stop. It’s a beautiful beach and the sea is crystal clear!
✿ Drive through Costa Vincentina
DO NOT follow the google maps route to get to Algarve. Set Sines as next stop on your navigator, just to make sure google maps bring you in the right coast route. What you want to do is make sure you drive through Costa Vicentina where the landscapes are beautiful and untouched!
✿ Stop at Praia de Odeceixe in Aljezur
Definitely one must-see view. You can park the car on top of the beach, and enjoy the view of one of the most undiscovered beaches in the world.
✿ Ride horses at Sunset at Praia de Bordeira
I really hope this experience will still be there when you read this article, because I believe it’s very worth it. You can ride an horse on the Bordeira beach whilst the sunset goes down (the tour starts at 7pm and lasts hours if you plan your road trip to be here by that time, it’s definitely a must-do!).
✿ Have a local dinner at Casa da Horta Restaurant in Bordeira
This is a small and hidden away in the quiet little enclave of Carrapateira, it’s a long-time favorite amongst the surfers and it’s the perfect location to savour the Portugal coast life before going back home. The outside terrace is very pretty, hopefully you will get there on a non-windy day though!
If you drive just slight farer (or walk there) you will find free horses (Hopefully they will still be there!). I love horses :).
What to do in Algarve and how to best allocate your visits in the days:
Day 2: Stay in Carvoeiro, Algarve
Where to stay
Most people would go to either Lagos or Albufeira, some even in Faro.... DO NOT! You rather want to rent a house in Carvoeiro. This small village is set right in between Lagos and Albufeira, it has a port very close (in Ferragudo) and it’s just the perfect location to visit all the best places the Algarve has to offer.
We rented this villa: we were just amazed, a bit old in the inside, but very big to host around 8 people, and enjoy a view of the sunsets from the top balcony, a large swimming pool, and lots of outdoor places to have breakfast, lunches and dinners all together. We just loved it and promised we would go there again, it made our trip so much more memorable, and this is why I want to recommend this to you.
✿ Relax on local beaches of Algar Seco & Praia
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✿ Have dinner in Carvoeiro at Boneca Bar
This is also in Carvoeiro, so if you wish to go to a proper restaurant, this is very close and beautiful, also offering a view on the sunset and a nice location.
Day 3: Explore the area of Albufeira:
✿ Spend some time in Praia do Carvalho
You access the beach through a nice walk and cave which, as soon as you exist, gives a view on the beach which is absolutely nice! We got some sandwiches at a street food stand at the beginning of the walk and eat them at the beach. Definitely a calm and lovely place to relax.
✿ Praia da Marinha:
It’s also very beautiful and has a long staircase with a view to get to it. You can choose to do this another day if you stay longer in the Algarve, or the same day as Praia do Carvalho as they are very close!
✿ Kayak in Benagil to see the Grutas de Benagil!
Also very close, but worth doing it on a separate dedicated day, is Praia de Benagil, a small fishing village. The beach itself is not worth it, but the Cave nearby is!
DO NOT get Kayaks online or in any other place than this: get directly to the Praia, you will have a parking lot on top of the hill (precisely, there is a parking lot in front of the O Litoral restaurant). Here, you will see locals who rent kayaks for just 15€ per person for 2 hours (compared to all others that do it for 35€ instead!) Jump on your kayak, and go left (just because on the right you would have Praia do Carvalho which I kept for a separate day). You will stop at the Grutas de Benagil, then further at Praia da Corredoura, then Praia do Cao Raivoso, Praia da Mesquita with the Arco Natural on the way! The natural stones and the green and light blue sea are both spectacular!
✿ Have a drink at Sky Bar Carvoeiro
If one evening you wish to go out, enjoy the view but not go too far away, this is the place you want to go to. It is the rooftop bar of a luxury hotel, so it’s very beautiful, all open space and with a stunning view, and prices are reasonable (we are in Portugal anyway!). It closes at 9pm officially, but we stayed there until later. They offer drinks, but also some finger food if you are hungry!
Day 4: Explore the area around Lagos
✿ Drive to Praia Salema
This is where dinosaur footprints have been discovered, you can see them if you park on this spot here, and walk down the stairs to get to the beach. They are a curious and unusual thing to do I think!
✿ Caves of Ponta de Piedade
I haven’t kayak there, but I know it’s possible and it’s also beautiful! But, if you have enough of Kayak from the Benagil caves, you can even just pass by Ponta de Piedade and enjoy the rocks and the beautiful shades of blues and greens of the coast.
✿ Sunset at Cabo de Sao Vicente in Sagres
Standing at the southwesternmost point in Europe, this place wants you prepared with scarf, jacket and any wind protection you can ever have, the wind blows you away basically! But so does the view, you will enjoy the sun at its closes point in Europe. Cabo de Sao Vicente was believed to be the end of the world for a thousand years. The water stretched away, the sea monsters lived out of sight, just beyond the horizon before the earth dropped off into a terrible black hole. The Romans called it the Holy Promontory and believed the sun sank here – they would come to listen to it hissing into the ocean as it was extinguished and watch it bleeding into the water. They considered it a magical place where the sunset was much larger than anywhere else.
Day 5: Last day in Faro
Just as a final stop to take your flight back home! Faro is a small town in the eastern part of the Algarve, but claims beautiful desert beaches where you want to breathe some last moments of relax!
✿ Definitely in your radar you should have Praia da Barrinha
It constantly changes the configuration of its coastlines and ria lines by the action of the wind and ripple and gives a spectacular view on the dunes and numerous birds that seek refuge and food there.
Food & Drinks you want to try in Algarve
✿ Oranges
It turns out the word for orange in Arabic, Greek, Romanian, Bulgarian, Turkish and Persian is some variation of “Portugal”. It seems that the Portuguese first introduced the fruit to these places. These days Algarve oranges are so good they have a fancy European label: PGI or protected geographical indication. Growing under 300 days of sunshine and in mineral-rich soil, Algarve oranges are apparently left on the tree for longer, letting them sun ripen and get all sweet and juicy.
✿ Salt
Salt production and the Algarve go way back to the 8th century when the Phoenecians started preserving fish. Then came the Romans who gave their armies salt rations as salary. Salt financed the Portuguese maritime discoveries, it paid Holland to leave Brazil, and salt repaid Portugal’s debts to those that helped expel the Spanish in 1640. Maybe if Portugal could still pay for things with salt it would be the richest nation on Earth. If you want to see the salt pans, there are plenty just outside Faro airport, around Tavira or at Castro Marim, where you can also float in salt water at Agua Mae salt spa.
✿ Almonds
The closest thing to snow in the Algarve is a blossoming almond tree. There’s a legend about a Nordic princess marrying an Arab prince. She misses the snow, he plants thousands of almond trees, and then she’s no longer sad
✿ Figs
In the markets you’ll see dried figs turned into various things like figo de estrela (fig star with almond spikes) and queijo de figo (fig “cheese” puck made of dried figs, almonds, sugar and medronho liqueur).
✿ Olives
✿ Drink Medronho
A fermented fruit of the medronho (wild strawberry) tree. The fruit looks less like a strawberry and more like a lychee and is picked, fermented for a few months and then distilled. The final spirit is clear, fiery and usually taken neat after a meal. Think aguardente or firewater/moonshine but a bit sweeter.
✿ Green Wine
Cultivated in Douro region in the north - EA
✿ Fresh seafood
Sardines, Oysters (de Ria Formosa), Codfish, Muxama (from the arabic occupation), Cataplana, Octopus, Clams
✿ Piri Piri chicken
✿ Figues estrelas (with almonds)
✿ Nuts sweets
✿ Dom Rodrigo
✿ Bolo de Berlim