Portugal ideas

[iknowitsthePittsbutiloveit]

Hello thinking of a trip to Portugal was thinking 4 nights in Lisbon then getting the train over to Faro so I’d like your opinion on whether we should stay in Faro or head over to Tavira for 4 nights
we are older couple no kids with usand really like scenery food etc a nice pool no nightlife but like a nice walk after dinner .
does this sound ok . I’ve only been to Porto so all pretty new to me

Alvor is a nice fishing town an hour from Faro.

Faro has an interesting Citadel and worth seeing, many people just fly there and head off for the more touristic parts of the Algarve

But in my view pretty Tavira is the queen. It’s lovely. You have the benefit of both worlds. It’s on the river but a short, regular exceptionally cheap ferry hop (around 20 minutes down river) past flocks of flamingos takes you to the island with spotless beaches and a handful of low key restaurants. You will need to change trains in Faro and pick up a slow 60 year old regional train.

You can also pop over to Spain for a day by train and river ferry.

Feel free to drop me a PM if you want to know more.

I’d go to Cascais. It’s only 30 minutes from Lisbon on the train and it’s a nice little seaside town.
You can go to Sintra, well worth a visit from either Cascais or Lisbon.

In fact I’d just stay in Cascais and catch the train in to Lisbon for sight seeing.

Went to Faro last year and loved it. This year going to Tavira.

Staying with the AP hotel group both times. The hotel in Faro was so central and really friendly staff. There was a swankier hotel nearby which we had drinks at once but ours had a bigger pool. The only thing was it was a bit tatty around the edge but you could tell in the off season they were getting the decorators in. The hotel bar was recommended as the best roof top bar in the city. But there were so many decent places to eat and drink.

Anyone heading towards Faro this year, be aware that the AP Group hotel’s rooftop pool is closed for refurbishment.

Ignore my post then…. Tbf it did need doing up last year but it was still useable.

I love Tavira

Shhh, don't tell everyone how lovely Cascais is, they'll all want to go there 😜😜

@iknowitsthePittsbutiloveit I agree with the above. Stay in Cascais and get the train to Lisbon. You need a Navegante card, and the train is only a couple of Euros. You can stop off on the way and see the Tower of Belem, the monument to the navigators, Jeronimos monastery, and then in to Lisbon.

Also from Cascais you can get the bus up to Sintra.

If you do go, head to Somos um Regalo for dinner, although you'll have to queue to get in.

Tavira is lovely 🥰 definitely gets my vote.

This! Cascais is fabulous

I would also go Cascais rather than down to Faro. We filled a week easily in the Lisbon area, we had 2 days/2 nights in Sintra and then rest of time around Lisbon. We actually split our time between Lisbon and Cascais, we went to Belem from Cascais and had some beach time, and then moved to the city, but you don't really need to do that, you could just use one as a base. In fact if you use Uber, Cascais is quite close to Sintra too.

I like Cascais, but the beach does not compare with the beaches of Ilha de Tavira, and in my view the town is not as pretty. To be fair, the OP’s question was Faro or Tavira.

Tavira is beautiful, I'd highly recommend it. Lagos is also lovely. I'd do the Algarve OR Lisbon though, they aren't close. The year we did Lisbon, we went to Nazaré as well, a coastal town a 2-hour bus journey from Lisbon. Lisbon is 4 hours from Tavira.

The train journey is quite pleasant though. And if you time your connections right you can have lunch in Faro where you have to change trains.

All train journeys across Europe are lovely! We had to get the coach to Nazaré from Lisbon there weren't any trains. But in Tavira we stayed right next to the train station, it's very small.

Tavira! It’s gorgeous. Me and DH went last year for 5 nights. Just us. Easy to walk around, lovely cafes/restaurants and a boat trip to the beach runs several times a day. I’d go back. We stayed in an air bnb, an old monastery.

Thankyou all so much!! I’ve booked it 4 nights in Lisbon then 4 nights in Tavira. I’ve booked pousadas ( sp?) . I can fiddle about with it as the hotels are cancellable but all sounds delightful

all this chat about Tavira is making me excited for our trip in a couple of months time. Glad you booked something op have a wonderful time

All booked including first class train from Lisbon to faro on the fast train unbelievable value about €40 for both of us!! Can’t wait

I love Faro and Tavira, but there are lots of lovely places nearer Lisbon to explore, maybe stay in that area this trip and keep Faro &. Tavira for another trip?

The OP has booked.

But the hotels are cancellable and it may be possible to get train refunds (I don’t know). I personally wouldn’t spend so long on a train when there are plenty of lovely places near Lisbon to explore. But if the OP‘s happy with that then fair enough.

We are off to Cascais on Tuesday, staying in the Pestana Citadela, which looks lovely. We have booked it as we wanted a peaceful town, but withing easy reach of a city. Lisbon is 30 mins or so on the train. Not been before, so quite excited. On the Algarve, the beaches are lovely. We used to stat on Quinta do Lago, which is an upmarket golfing area, close to Faro. Some lovely restaurants at all price levels, gorgeous beach. For a day visit, Silves is a lovely town.

Places to eat (IMHO) are:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/8PuzF2SkxPbjKBMd7
https://maps.app.goo.gl/8PuzF2SkxPbjKBMd7?g_st=ac
https://maps.app.goo.gl/atnE51cnYGFYDS3s5?g_st=ac
https://maps.app.goo.gl/bpriHXYfrTpVgEVr8?g_st=ac

I echo Somos um Regalo. Almost the best chicken I’ve ever had.