Portugal: Algarve for a week plus...??

[MustBeDueSomeBetterFeet]

I'm already starting to think ahead to next year's holiday and I'm planning for Portugal.

I know I want to do a week in a villa on the Algarve (for the relaxation/sun factor), but I'd like to tag something else on for 3/4 nights which might be a bit more interesting/cultural?

I wondered if Evora or Sintra/Cascais might be good? Perhaps in a hotel? But open to ideas as I'd like to get more of a sense of the real Portugal, rather than the touristy elements.

I'm looking to fly in/out of Lisbon I think, so of course we could just spend the time there.

Thanks in advance for help with my itinerary!

Cascais is really just Lisbon by the sea and is full of (very) wealthy expats and while Sintra is spectacular it is jam packed all year round but uncomfortably so from May-October. Evora is much less touristy and will give you a much better sense of the 'real' Portugal.

Thanks, @Sarahlou63 - that's really helpful! Everyone goes on about Sintra so I didn't want to 'miss' it. That being said, if we like Portugal, we'll obviously come back!

Lisbon is a lovely city - granted we were there in May not midsummer, though. Plenty to see in 3-4 days, and good public transport for getting around to slightly more outlying areas.

Thanks @cantkeepawayforever.

What were your highlights? I only hear good things about it, so think it might be worth a look! Any thoughts on where to stay?

We stayed in a very central flat (just found via Tripadvisor, nothing fancy) as there are lots of small cafes / restaurants to grab anything from a quick breakfast to a fancy seafood supper.

My children would say the Aquarium (a useful stop on the way out to the airport) was the highlight; I liked Belem; or take the tram up to the castle for an excellent lazy time wandering the small surrounding streets and get great views. It's a lovely city to just wander the streets of or watch the world going by from a cafe

Love the Algarve for its beaches and Lisbon is my favourite European city. Stayed several times at the Lisbon Short Stay apartments - quirky modern rooms in a VERY central location, close to Rossio Square (you can take the Metro or the Aerobus from the airport and it's just a few mins walk from there.) Shops, river-front, trams all just a short walk away.

Porto is a lovely little city too and very 'real Portugal'. But it's a couple of hours north of Lisbon by train so probably you won't want to do it on this trip. I don't know anything about Evora - I must look it up!

Hope you have a lovely time!

Thank you @cantkeepawayforever and @applesinmypocket for your super recommendations. I will get investigating!

I think my husband feels Portugal is going to be like areas of coastal Spain that we've visited (del Sol, Brava, Majorca etc) and I'd like to see if there's more to the country. Our recent summer holidays have all been France (we love castles, churches, medieval villages, etc which of course it has in abundance and therefore which suits all of us).

In that case try my area of Portugal! Tomar, Coimbra, Alcobaca, Batalha and Obidos. All doable in a week and there’s the coast at Nazare to ogle the surfers!

I liked Evora (and it is definitely very Portuguese) but preferred Coimbra. Both are easy to reach from Lisbon by train. Sintra is worth an overnight stay if you have time as it's a lot quieter when the daytrippers go home!

Also prefer Porto to Lisbon, although Lisbon grew on me after a second visit and it's less of a journey from the Algarve.

@Sarahlou63 - oooh, controversial. Let me take a look.... I assume climate is similarly good in July?

I've never heard of Coimbra @buttermilkwaffles so will add to my list.

www.lonelyplanet.com/portugal/central-portugal/coimbra

Inland in July is hotter than the Algarve (35c+) so better to base yourself closer to the coast (Nazare/Peniche/Figueira da Foz) where it's cooler and take short trips to the historical centres. In terms of culture it's a million miles away away from the south coast and, from what you've said you prefer, much more your style.

And you could come and meet my horses

Thanks @buttermilkwaffles - it looks stunning. Do you think there's enough to stay there a couple of nights?

I had a quick look @sarahlou63 at that area and it looks right up our street! I'm now looking for a suitable base - do you know anything about Sao Martinho do Porto? Also, I know they say the coast there isn't suitable for swimming, but I assume you can just paddle at the sea's edge? Or might the children be swept away?!?

I stayed in Coimbra for 3 nights, giving me 2 full days there as I arrived in the evening on the first night. That was a perfect amount of time for me, but I like to spend time just wandering around, sitting in cafes, taking photos, rather than sightseeing a list of sites.

It's a small place, but would definitely stay at least 1 night as it has a nice atmosphere in the evenings. In terms of sights, there is a museum, a couple of cathedrals, the botanic gardens and of course the university.

Only negative is that it doesn't make use of it's riverside in the same way that Porto does (Porto riverside on both sides is largely pedestrianised, loads of bars, cafes, buskers, etc) but it's still worth crossing the river for the view of Coimbra (looks a lot like a smaller version of Porto) even though there is not really anything else particularly interesting on the other side.

Sao Martinho do Porto has a lovely sheltered bay so it very safe for children. It's the Atlantic so might not be too warm though!

Thank you, both. I have a plan!!

If you go to Coimbra I'd recommend the Portugal dos Pequenitos park. You get to visit facsimiles of the whole of Portugal and most of its empire in one day.

Thanks @otherpeoplesteens. That sounds fascinating!

I wanted to update this thread - despite its age - as we finally got to Portugal...

After I originally posted, we had booked for 2020, but Covid put paid to it. We moved our holiday to 2021 but the changing testing requirements put me off so we cancelled. This year we did it and had a wonderful time.

We stayed in Tomar for two nights - just our sort of place, such a lovely vibe, especially as the football was on! We then spent some time near Nazare, with a lot of time by the sea, and on Obidos lagoon doing watersports. We then had three nights in Porto which were fab - it's such a fascinating city. So I highly recommend Portugal and will definitely go back. Next time I need to fit in Coimbra, Lisbon and some of the Algarve I think!