_
_
_
Portugal is such a great country to visit and has so much to offer. It's a great destination for a road trip because the country is so diverse and it is cheap, and it's safe. It has white sandy beaches with dramatic rock formations, beautiful cities, and great food and wine.
Here's how to spend 1 week in Portugal
Land in Faro Airport and pick up rented car.
•Marina de Albufeira - Go to the Marina and take a dolphin tour
•Explore Albufeira Old Town - The old town is so charming and beautiful.
•Praia do Barranco das Belharucas: Spectacular red/orange cliff view from the beach, with white clay and turquoise waters.
•Praia da Falésia: This beach is so unique with beautiful orange cliffs.
•Sunrise at Praia da Marinha: One of the most popular spots in the Algarve and for a good reason. Sunsets here are magical.
•Hike The Seven Hanging Valleys Trail: You can do it either as a 3.5-mile (5.7 km) hike, and get a taxi/Uber on the way back or a 7-mile (11.4 km) return hike.
•Algar Seco: Man-made cave with two windows, benches, and a great view of the ocean. It is very accessible, and the whole area offers great views.
•Praia do Paraíso: Beautiful beach accessed by a series of stone steps.
•Praia dos Caneiros: This beach has beautiful a cave, cliffs, white sand, a rooftop bar, restrooms, and a great hike. It's pretty small so come early.
•Praia do Carvalho: Another great beach near Benagil cave. You have to walk down some steps through a tunnel to get to the beach.
•Sunrise at Praia dos Três Irmãos: This is one of our favorite beaches. Tucked away in Portimão, you'll find this beach with dramatic rock formations, pure golden sand, and clear blue water.
•Explore Benagil Cave: by Kayak, boat or SUP
•Ferragudo Old Town: The scenery in the small town is beautiful with pink flowers and coloful houses by the beach.
•Praia Nova: Praia Nova is a small beach near Praia da Senhora da Rocha on the Atlantic coast, Porches.
•Church of Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Rocha: A small and charming white Chapel on the top of a cliff overlooking beaches from both sides. Sunrises and sunsets are magical here.
•Sunset at Albandeira Beach: This beach has a stunning rock formation in the shape of an arch. There are plenty of cool caves nearby that you can explore. The beach is so quiet and secluded.
•Sunrise at Praia dos Estudantes: This is one of Lagos’s most photographed beaches due to the famous Roman Bridge, which linked the mainland with Pinhao Fortress. It's called the Student beach because it’s a small beach that can fit a class of students
•Praia Dona Ana: This beach has golden sand and many beautiful shells. It is best to come for sunrise.
•Praia do Camilo: a very scenic beach, but quite narrow, so it gets busy very quickly. You can access 2 other small beaches from there. Before you go down to the beach, you can enjoy the view from above. It is stunning.
•Ponta da Camilo: A great viewpoint
•Ponta da Piedade: Once you park, you'll find a path with many steps that leads to a small platform in the ocean where you can rent a boat and explore caves. Walking down, you'll enjoy the beautiful view and natural arches. Take into consideration that if you come mid-day it gets very crowded and it isn't as magical.
•Old Town Lagos: Explore Old Town Lagos, it is a charming place filled with nightlife, restaurants, and gift shops.
•Sagres Fortress: Known as the edge of the world, this fortress was built to protect Portugal against the Moors. However, the original structure was severely damaged by the 1755 earthquake. It's got dramatic cliffs, a small church, a maze, and beautiful views. I would definitely recommend visiting if you're in the area, however, I wouldn't go out of my way to visit.
Entrance Fee: 3 Euro per person
Duration of stay: You'll need more than an hour to properly stroll around and see
•Cabo São Vicente: Considered the edge of the world, this spot is definitely worth visiting.
➟ Drive 2.5 hours from The Algarve to Lisbon
•Miradouro da Senhora do Monte: One of the most beautiful viewpoints in the city. You can see the entire waterfront as well as the bridge.
•Miradouro da Graça: This terrace offers dramatic, panoramic views of city rooftops & the water beyond.
•Saint George’s Castle: This historic castle that dates to at least the 8th century BC. It's a very beautiful place to explore and has a spectacular view of the city.
•Miradouro de Santa Luzia: Our favorite viewpoint. It has beautiful gardens and balcony view, and gorgeous azulejos.
•Miradouro das Portas do Sol: Not far from Miradouro de Santa Luzia, you'll find this beautiful viewpoint.
•Explore Alfama District: Alfama is the oldest and most characteristic district in Lisbon.
•Se de Lisboa: The Lisbon Cathedral was built in the 1100s, this is one of the oldest monuments in Lisbon and is rich in history.
•Praça do Comércio: The Praça do Comércio is a large, harbor-facing plaza and is one of the largest in Portugal.
•Arco da Rua Augusta: The Rua Augusta Arch is a stone, triumphal arch-like, historical building on the Praça do Comércio. It was built to commemorate the city's reconstruction after the 1755 earthquake.
•Livraria Bertrand: Livraria Bertrand is the oldest operating bookstore in the world and is worth visiting!
•Santa Justa Elevator: The Santa Justa Lift, also called Carmo Lift, is an elevator. It is situated at the end of Rua de Santa Justa, and it connects the lower streets of the Baixa with the higher Largo do Carmo.
•Carmo Convent: The ruined Carmo Convent is one of Lisbon's most beautiful sights. It was a former Catholic convent that now stands as a reminder of the devastating earthquake of 1755 that destroyed most of the city. What makes it so captivating is how the arches still stand, but the roof that collapsed was never rebuilt and there is no ceiling.
•Rossio Square: A popular square located in the Pombaline Downtown of Lisbon and has been one of its main squares since the Middle Ages.
•Pink Street: Rua Nova do Carvalho, located in the popular neighborhood of Cais do Sodre. This neighborhood is known for its nightlife and during the day there are many coffee shops.
•Elevador da Bica: This 19th-century tram is one of the most popular in Lisbon.
•Pena Palace: Pena Palace is the most visited palace in Sintra for a reasonable reason. This castle is like none you've ever seen. The beautiful vibrant colors and magnificent views make you feel like you're in a fairytale.
•Moorish Castle: Many visitors to Sintra overlook the Moorish Castle, but you shouldn't because it offers one of the best views of Sintra! The Moorish castle was built in the 8th century and resembles the wall of China, making it a fantastic location to explore.
•National Palace: We didn't plan on visiting Sintra National Palace, we wanted to visit Monserrate Palace. Still, we accidentally purchased tickets to Sintra National Palace, so after grabbing lunch in the center of town, we decided to hop on in to take a glance at the interior of the palace.
•Quinta da Regaleira: This Gothic palace is a must-visit landmark visiting Sintra and has to be our favorite palace. The opulent palace has spectacular gardens with a surrealistic initiation well and ornate follies.
•Torre de Belém (Belem tower): This tower dates back to the 16th century and was once the port of embarkation for Portuguese explorers and a ceremonial gateway to the capital.
•Padrão dos Descobrimentos: This is a beautiful monument in honor of the Portuguese maritime explorers. There is an entrance to the top of the monument that provides incredible views.
•Mosteiro dos Jerónimos: This is a former monastery of the Order of Saint Jerome. The architecture of this place is truly incredible. There is so much detail and ornamentation packed into the arches and ceilings.
•LX Factory: A hipster, industrial complex. These are industrial buildings are home to designer shops, street art, and restaurants.
•Ler Devagar Bookstore: The highlight of LX Factory is this shop that is filled with books from top to bottom.
•Santuario de Cristo Rei: The Sanctuary of Christ the King is a Catholic monument and shrine dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ overlooking the city of Lisbon and Ponte 25 de Abril.
•Ponte 25 de Abril: A suspension bridge connecting the city of Lisbon to the municipality of Almada on the left bank of the Tagus river. The 25 de Abril Bridge is a suspension bridge connecting the city of Lisbon to the municipality of Almada on the left bank of the Tagus river.
•Museu Nacional do Azulejo: The National Tile Museum, is an art museum dedicated to the azulejo, the traditional tilework of Portugal, and the former Portuguese Empire.