Portugal?

[JellySlice]

Thinking maybe of visiting Portugal this summer. My parents took me there in my early teens - I remember that the language was beautiful, the food delightful, the weather perfect and the sea cold. Not much else!

So, where could 2 adults, 3 teens go? Where should we stay? What should we do?

I like culture, they like being active (particularly hill-walking). We all like food and swimming. We prefer half-board or self-catering, but are open to other ideas.

Have stayed in Carvoiro a few times and Praia da Luz once. Both places you can enjoy the sea, swimming, good food yet walk in the hills. We always went self catering. Breakfast in the Villa, lunch out, sometimes dinner out or a bbq at home. DS loved it as small children, teenagers, and adults.

Carvoeiro is nice, Monte Dourado might be a good base. Lagos might also suit teens I haven’t stayed there myself, Alvor or Olhos De Agua are quieter and more family orientated all great for swimming, beaches and eating out but I would hire a car then you have more freedom.
Not sure about culture you might want to consider an area like Cascais (nearer Lisbon).
The Algarve is very popular due to a lot of other places being off the agenda so prices are high and availability low particularly for school holidays. So it might be what is available.

Memmo Baleeira has lots of outdoor activities www.memmohotels.com/baleeira/Activities.html including a surf school and some good hiking opportunities. It also has two bedroom family suites so you wouldn’t have to be in the same room. There’s some good sight seeing in the area too www.memmohotels.com/baleeira/Sagres.html

How about a couple of days in Lisbon and renting an apartment then taking the short train journey to Cascais/Estoril on the coast?I've not been to Cascais or Estoril for many years but it was a really attractive area that looks like it was once pretty grand, the beaches were good and there were plenty of nice squares and places to eat. Sintra (town in the hills with a very grandiose castle) was very pretty and you can reach it by train from both Lisbon and Cascais I believe. I don't know the Algarve at all but we had a short break in Faro and Tavira last year and while Tavira was pretty (wasn't hugely fussed about Faro), I'm not sure I'd want more than a weekend in the area but maybe it comes into it's own in summer!

We are hooked on the silver coast now. surfing is amazing. Baleal, Obidos we stayed at a villa in Praia del Ray. Golf course there. We did not do any walking it was all about surfing so you would need to investigate.

www.jamesvillas.co.uk/destinations/portugal/silver-coast/praia-del-rey-golf-beach-resort

I loved Lisbon and visited Sintra for the day with my husband -I enjoyed Sintra so much that I'm planning to visit there again one day and visit for longer. Deffo worth a visit!

Btw Sintra is an hour on the train from Lisbon. its full of beautiful castles, most on a big hill/mountain. It's magical, cultural, lots to see and do and you can either bus up or walk it. (Was bussed up but walked down). It really was a breathtaking place.

If you like culture and walking then stay away from the overcrowded south coast and Lisbon, look instead at Coimbra and Tomar in the central area (disclaimer - I live near Tomar!) and Porto and the Minho region in the north

The drive from Porto on our first trip to the silver coast was amazing forest wise.

We did Estoril and Lisbon a few summers ago. We all loved Lisbon. Estoril is more residential but we were 20 minutes walk from the (windy) beach and also 30 minutes walk along the lovely promenade to Cascais. If you're foodies, the restaurants in Estoril are amazing. We found great food at reasonable prices in Lisbon too. It's remarkably unpretentious for a capital city. The trains are easy to use. I'm sure you could easily head out to the countryside for some hill walking.

These suggestions are wonderful! I think we may have gone to Estoril...the name rings a bell. I like the idea of exploring by train - or, rather, dh will like it (he's a bit of train-lover).

Please, more

The train journey from Porto through the Douro valley is supposed to be lovely, great wine too of course. Porto is a wonderful city (I prefer it to Lisbon).

Peneda-Gerês National Park for walking, you would need a car though. If not then there might be some good walks around Guimaraes, which is a nice town and easy to get to by train from Porto.

Coimbra is nice too, easy to get to by train from Porto or Lisbon, quite a small place though. Or Evora, easy to get to from Lisbon by train.

Lots of steep hills in Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra etc.

Good prices on train tickets if you book in advance, sometimes cheap tickets in first class (which is not really that different but is usually less crowded). Download the CP train app to get an idea of prices, times etc.

Inexpensive country for food and accommodation compared to most of Western Europe and people are very friendly and helpful. English widely spoken in Porto, Lisbon etc. Lots of neglected and run down buildings etc, but lots of beautiful architecture too and tiles everywhere.

@JellySlice We went to Cascais last year and it was absolutely lovely. 30mins from Lisbon, gorgeous coastline, beautiful old town, and good bus/train links for going out exploring.