Need advice re holiday in Portugal

[ExConstance]

DH and I have decided we want to go to Portugal for our holiday from 23 September to 7 October. We did not think we would get a holiday this year as caring for elderly poorly dog, sadly he is now deceased.

We have never been to Portugal before and want to spend the first week divided between Lisbon and Sintra and the second week somewhere seaside on the Algarve. We will be travelling by plane to Portugal and then want to make the trains our main method of transport. I suppose we should fly into Lisbon and probably fly out of Faro but not certain of what order to do the holiday in, although seaside has to be last. DH has suggested Albufeira for seaside leg but although we want somewhere with things to do I have a feeling this might be a bit commercial for us. We have become empty nesters this year so it is only the 2 of us. All advice and suggestions very welcome.

I'd go into Lisbon and out of Faro, I like to do the busy bit first and end on the chilling out bit as for the Algarve I love Alvor as a base. Last time we were there we took a river cruise up to Silves which I'd highly recommend, as well as a day trip to Lagos. We did a trip to see Cape St Vincent and stopped in Lagos for a few of hours on the way which was nice, and all we really needed to see it.

Lagos is beautiful as is villamoura, is steer clear of Albufiera to be honest.

I live in the Algarve, avoid albufeira at all costs

Have a look at carvoeiro, small, compact resort but with lots of choice of restaurants etc and very popular with couples outside of the school

Happy to answer any questions about Portugal/Algarve in general

It's very easy to get from Lisbon to the Algarve by train, and not expensive either. Depending on where you decide to stay, you might be better to get off at Tunes rather than staying on to Faro as you'll just be backtracking. The website is www.cp.pt and I think you can change it into English

school holidays!!

Thank you for all these really helpful replies, I had a feeling about Albufiera not being quite us. I'm quite excited about this as we have not been to Portugal before and it will be an adventure as we know very little about it (exits to buy Rough Guide)

Lagos is lovely - we have stayed here a few times, nice apartment hotel on the marina: www.marinaclub.pt/en/

Another option would be to go north of Lisbon - Sao Martinho do Porto is lovely, but early October means the weather may not be as good as further south.

We did a fortnight in Portugal a couple of years ago, in the summer.

We flew into Porto and spent 3 nights there. Took a train to Lisbon and had 4 nights, then train to Faro and spent a week in the Algarve with car hire. We then flew back from Faro.

the trains were easy to book online and fairly cheap. However, the fast timing trains made me feel very sick - dh and dd were fine. I had to buy travel sickness pills, but those given to be in Portugal must have been strong - they knocked me out and I slept for most of the second journey!

We always stay in Vilamoura - though normally a villa a bit further out, or one of the renovated apartments at the Old Village there. We like to go to the marina in an evening.

If you fancy something a little different - between Lisbon and Porto, inland, an previous colleague of mine has set up this clamping site: dolittleholidays.com

We haven't been - its adults only - but friends who have stayed have enjoyed it, and the couple who own it are lovely. You would need a car though.

Another vote for Villamoura - it's between Faro and Albufeira. Quite laid back but plenty to do if you want to - Roman ruins, Zoomarine a few miles away, mini golf, great beaches etc etc. Faro old town is nice too.

Carvoeiro is lovely. Spent many fabulous holidays there when we lived in UK. Excellent restaurants and central for other Algarve resorts.

We have now booked 4 days in Lisbon, 3 days in Sinta and a week in Lagos and will travel by train once we arrive. I'll keep all the other recommendations in mind if we go back or want to venture to other places while we are there. Thanks.