Algarve & Lisbon
Seven days between the southern coves and Lisbon's late tables.
← All destinationsLength
7 days
Best time
May-Jun, Sept-Oct
Pace
Balanced
Includes
Guide + map + tips
from our notebook —
Why we loved Algarve & Lisbon
Portugal's south coast and its capital want different things from you, and seven days is enough for both. The first four nights are in Portimão with a rental car. You start on the water with a boat tour past the sea caves and arches, then work your way along the coast: an afternoon at NoSoloÁgua on Praia da Rocha, the stairs down to Praia do Camilo and the cliff path at Ponta da Piedade, the rock arch at Albandeira, and lunch inside the cliffs at Boneca Bar. Get to the coves before 10, before the small lots fill.
Then an early drive north to Sintra for Pena Palace, the Castle of the Moors, and the Initiation Well at Quinta da Regaleira, and into Lisbon by dinner. Lisbon gets three nights: Torre de Belém and Jerónimos, pastéis de nata at Pastéis de Belém, a food tour through petiscos and ginjinha, the castle at opening, and a late lunch at Taberna Sal Grosso, the restaurant we recommend most. Pick up a Lisboa Card when you arrive, book the timed tickets, and don't expect dinner before eight.
The trip at a glance.
Some of the highlights of the trip below. The rest? Inside the guide.
4 nightsPraia da RochaPortimão
Algarve beach boat tour · Superjuice · Avenida Tomás Cabreira · Casa da Tocha · NoSoloÁgua
A boat tour past the sea caves, a beach club, and the best dinner of the trip.
↳ the rest of this day's features and activities inside the guide!
Day tripPonta da PiedadeLagos
Ponta da Piedade · Praia Dona Ana · Praia do Camilo · Praia dos Estudantes · Praia do Canavial · Goji Lounge
Cliff stairs, sea stacks, and oysters at the marina.
↳ the rest of this day's features and activities inside the guide!
Day tripPraia da MarinhaAlbufeira
Praia da Marinha · Praia da Albandeira · Boneca Bar · Praia dos Pescadores · Albufeira Old Town
A rock arch, a lunch inside the cliffs, and the old town at night.
↳ the rest of this day's features and activities inside the guide!
Day tripPena PalaceSintra
Pena Palace · Castle of the Moors · Sintra National Palace · Quinta da Regaleira
Hilltop palaces in the morning, Lisbon by dinner.
↳ the rest of this day's features and activities inside the guide!
3 nightsTorre de BelémLisbon
Torre de Belém · Jerónimos Monastery · Pastéis de Belém · Castelo de São Jorge · Carmo Convent · Bairro Alto
Pastéis in Belém, a food tour, and late nights in Bairro Alto.
↳ the rest of this day's features and activities inside the guide!
what you're getting —
What's inside.
Every Vacationary guide includes these four things. Yours from the moment you download.
Custom illustrated map
A hand-illustrated map for every destination, with every place we recommend pinned and labeled. Color-coded by category so you can see at a glance what's a beach, what's a meal, and what's a moment.
Day-by-day itinerary
Each day mapped out with timing, locations, restaurants, and activities. Built around how we actually traveled, with margin for sleep and improvisation.
Ground-level tips
What we learned that no blog mentioned. Where to get cash, what to avoid, when to book ahead, and the small things that make the trip easier when you're standing there figuring it out.
Local language guide
Common phrases and pronunciation notes for the places where English doesn't cover it. Enough to be polite, enough to be understood.
answers —
About this trip.
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Algarve & Lisbon