Portugal was on my bucket list for quite sometime.  Our family finally got to travel there in the summer of 2019.  Given our current global pandemic state, we are especially thankful we made the trip.  Now we’re savoring every memory, including the time we spent on the beach under the summer sun in the Algarve, the fresh seafood dishes we ate, and the bustling energy we experienced in Lisbon.  We had only a week in Portugal which was not a lot of time and we decided we would focus our time in the Algarve and Lisbon.  We hope to see other parts of Portugal on future trips. 

ALGARVE, the southern coastal region of Portugal

Where We Stayed:

We flew into the airport at Faro from Spain, where we had spent the week prior.  We rented a car at the airport and drove to a town where we had booked an apartment via Homeaway.com.  We wanted to stay in a small fishing village, Salema, which was highly recommended by Rick Steves, the travel guide guru, of whom we are big fans, . Given that Salema is a small village, any good lodging is booked well in advance.  We were disappointed at first to not be able to get a place there and we decided to stay in a nearby village, Burgau.  It turned out to be the best experience for us.  Burgau is also a small fishing village with a beautiful beach.  The village is quiet, laid-back, and not touristy.  The visitors tend to be people who go there annually and the village is quite popular with Irish vacationers.  There were two small grocery stores, a few restaurants, and some gift shops.  The few restaurants make amazingly delicious food and having a dinner reservation at these restaurants is a must. 

Where We Visited

The beach is a major attraction at the Algarve.  Whether you stay in a small or big village, its beach is just as beautiful.  In addition to enjoying the beach at Burgau, we visited beaches at Salema, Luz, and Lagos.

Lagos is a bigger town in the Algarve.  There are many options for lodging and everything else.  We spent a day here.  First we started with a private boat tour of the beautiful rocks, caves, and beaches that Lagos is known for.  Then, we explored the older section of town where there are streets lined with either cobble stones or beautiful tiles.  There are many charming shops and restaurants.  After a nice lunch, we spent the afternoon at one of the many beaches at Lagos.  The beaches at Lagos are very dramatic because they are surrounded by cliffs and rocks.  Certain beaches require some treks to get to, but that’s part of the fun.

Cape Sagres is the most southwestern tip of Portugal, which was thought to be the end of the Earth during the time when people presumed the world was flat.  Points of interest here include the dramatic scenery of cliffs and ocean, the site of historical navigator school founded by Prince Henry the Navigator (1394-1460), and wind surfing.

LISBON

We took the train from Faro to Lisbon and it was a convenient trip.  The train ride is always a good down time to read up on our next destination or just to take a nap.  The apartment we booked via Homeaway.com was in a beautiful, hilly Santa Catarina area in the Bairro Alto neighborhood.  This neighborhood is great for exploring and there’s a beautiful view of the Tagus River.  There are many walking routes in travel guide books that take you to different parts of the city.  In the old neighborhood, Alfama, many building facades are covered in colorful tiles.  In addition to the neighborhood walks, sights that are not to be missed include the Commerce Square and Monument to the Discoveries.  We walked to most places, but for farther sights we took either a taxi or Uber, which was convenient and popular with our kids.

SINTRA

If you have a free day, be sure to visit Sintra, which is a train ride away from Lisbon.  Sintra was known as a getaway place for royals back in the day.  Pena Palace is a major point of attraction and be sure to purchase your tickets online in advance to skip the line.  Getting to the Palace from town can be tricky as there are narrow, hilly roads, but there are buses that make the trip.  As a family of four, it was just easier for us to Uber.  The Moorish Castle is another great sight not to be missed.  Whether you decide to hike up the ruined castle or just stroll in the greenery at the bottom, it’s worthwhile to visit.  The town is great for shopping and I recommend getting your souvenir shopping done here, instead of Lisbon.  There are many great restaurants, as well.  The National Palace, which is not too far from the shops and restaurants, is another good sight to see.  Tickets to all these sights can be purchased in advance online and I highly recommend that you do so to save time. 

FOOD

The meals we had in Portugal were fresh, simple, and delicious.  Seafood, such as grilled fish and seafood stew, is common.  Grilled meat and chicken were delicious, as well.  Even though the dishes were prepared simply, they were very tasty.  Many meals are accompanied with potatoes and fresh salad. 

Make sure you try the mini egg custard tarts, which taste great any time of day and can be found in every bakery.  I had them for breakfast, snack, and dessert every day I was there!  Be sure to visit the very famous café, Casa Pasteis de Belem in Lisbon, which is the birthplace of these wonderful custard tarts.  As for wines, be sure to try vinho verde (green wine); these white wines look a bit green and taste crisp and fresh.  They are great for aperitif or with grilled seafood.  Porto wine is another must to try when in Portugal.  They were originated in the Douro Valley, northern part of Portugal.  Both food and wine are very affordable, which add to the appeal of traveling to Portugal, in addition to its welcoming and friendly people.