How to visit Portugal in 15 days
By Two World Backpackers
Living in a different country than your family makes you value the little things, and one of the things I missed the most is taking a trip with my family. So in this post, I will tell you how it was and if we survived it.
Thinking about the best place to enjoy together and after so much discussion with my parents through Skype, we decided that our destination would be Portugal for 15 days.
As we had decided to go in August, which means the peak tourist season, we would have to figure out how to organize a route as less crowded as possible. Do you think we got it? Keep Reading!
Table of Contents
Day One: Olhão
Our first stop was Olhão. It is a fishing town with a lot of local and commercial life located 10km east of Faro.
It is the perfect place for all those who want to be away from large crowds of tourists during their holidays, and the best way to visit it is by getting lost in its narrow and traditional streets.
One of the things we did and that we recommend is to buy some fish and seafood at the central market. The central market is made up of two buildings: the fish and seafood market; and the fruit and vegetable market.
It is also the perfect area where you can enjoy the best restaurants and bars in the city.
Day Two: Faro Island
On the second day, we had planned to visit the Ria Formosa Natural Park, but since it was so big and the weather was so good, in the end, we only decided to visit one part.
This park is separated from the sea by 5 islands and 2 peninsulas: Barreta Island, Culatra Island, Armona Island, Tavira Island, Cabanas Island, Cacela Peninsula, and Ancão Peninsula (also called Faro Island).
We went to the last one as it was recommended to us by a local in the area, and for us, this is one of the best ways to discover beautiful places.
To get to Faro Island, we took a ferry from Olhão that costs € 1.85 per person, depending on the season.
Careful: keep in mind the times for the return!
This island is, without a doubt, a recommended place that we loved and not so touristic to which we would return without hesitation.
Day Three: Tavira
On the third day, we decided to spend the day in Tavira, which is a small town with a nice mix of Portuguese tradition and Arab influences.
There we visited:
– The Medieval Castle: Visiting hours from Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
– The Church of Santa María Do Castelo: Where there are the tombs of 7 knights of the Order of Santiago who died at the hands of Muslim troops.
Free entry, and visiting hours are from Monday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
– The Church of Mercy: it is the one we liked the most! It is considered the best Renaissance building in the Algarve.
The entrance is free, and the hours to visit it are from Tuesday to Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
We went to eat in Santa Luzia, which is considered the capital of octopus. That’s right! Regarding the value for money, we recommend the Casa Do Polvo Tasquinha restaurant.
After eating, we decided to relax at Playa Do Barril. One of the most beautiful beaches in the Algarve with crystal clear waters and all kinds of services.
Do you know that you can access the beach by a tourist train?
The train goes from Pedras del-Rei to Playa Do Barril, making a 1km journey for an approximate price of € 2.40 round trip. The trip lasts 8 minutes. You can also walk, since you must leave the car in Pedras del-Rei.
Day Four: The Seven Hanging Valleys
Finally came the day! One of the places that I was more excited to visit was the route of the 7 Hanging Valleys of the Algarve, after hearing so many times that it was one of the most beautiful hiking routes in Europe.
It is a beautiful route of about 5.7km (one way) linking Vale Centianes Beach with Marhina Beach.
If you don’t like hiking a lot, you can also visit the different caves and grottos by boat.
We did both. Regarding the excursion of the caves by boat, it is a recommended option, but you have to inquire and compare prices of the different companies that offer this service since some are quite expensive. The cheapest rate that we found was € 25 per person and lasted for 1 hour.
If you want more information about this place, take a look at our article on The Seven Hanging Valleys.
Day Five: Beach, Carvoeiro and Ferragudo Towns
As holidays are also to rest and laze from time to time, our fifth day was basically on the beach and a bit of sightseeing around Carvoeiro and Ferragudo towns.
So we spent the morning at Playa Do Carvalho, it is a small beach located in the Seven hanging valleys.
Nearby is Carvoeiro, a small coastal and fishing village in which we didn’t stay long as it was crowded with people.
Our next stop was one of the charming towns that we liked the most, Ferragudo. It is a very picturesque and quiet little fishing village where we were able to relax for a while and buy some souvenirs. Furthermore, despite being located next to the Algarve, one of the most touristic spots in Portugal, it has managed to preserve its traditional charm.
Day Six: From Olhão to Raposeira
On the way to Raposeira, we decided to go through Lagos and spend the day at Dona Anna Beach, south of Lagos.
This one is my favorite beach in the entire Algarve and the one I liked the most because of its crystal clear waters, the cliffs that surround it, and its peaceful atmosphere.
In the afternoon, we went to settle in the Airbnb that we had booked in Raposeira, a small and quiet town with few inhabitants that would be our base for the next four nights.
We were struck by the fact that upon arrival at the accommodation, the owner kindly received us with the typical cream cakes and a coffee. She is a super-sympathetic and close woman who has contacted us through the Airbnb website during the pandemic to ask us about our health and how we were dealing with the coronavirus situation. It is a real pleasure to meet people like this in the world!
Well, I´ll keep telling you about the trip. To end the day, we decided to go and enjoy a beautiful sunset at Cabo de San Vicente. Although with such bad luck, that the clouds ruined it and we could not see it.
Day Seven: Lagos
On the seventh day, unfortunately, we couldn’t do much due to the bad weather and the rain. So we went to spend the day at Lagos.
This city is known for its walled old town, its cliffs such as Ponta da Piedade; and for its beaches such as Playa Do Camilo.
A local told us that this beach was named after the restaurant located at the top of the hill.
In Lagos, we took the opportunity to buy vegetables and fish in the central market since I got into my head to make a cataplana for lunch.
Once the rain stopped and to end the day, we went to Cabo de San Vicente to enjoy the sunset for the second time. This time we did it, and it was beautiful!
Day Eight: Kayak
Of course, we had to visit the caves and grottos of Ponta da Piedade.
The best way to explore them, and the funnier, is to do it by kayak. But it can also be done on a paddleboard and by boat.
Days Nine and Ten : Day Trip and beach day
On the ninth day, we decided to go on an excursion to Aljezur, a small town located in the Costa Vicentina nature reserve. There we visit its medieval castle erected by the Arabs in the 10th century and from where you can enjoy beautiful views.
Just 8km from Aljezur is a beautiful shell-shaped beach where we decided to spend a couple of hours enjoying it, the Arrifana Beach. We liked it so much that we returned the next day for the day. Other beaches we visited that afternoon were Praia do Amado and Praia da Cordoama.
Another monument we visited was the Fortress of Sagres, also known as Sagres Castle. The ticket entrance is € 5, and its views will make you fall in love.
To end the tenth day, we decided to go to Cabo de San Vicente again but this time to see the tears of San Lorenzo. I didn’t see any to be honest, but my family did.
Day Eleven: Setúbal
On the way to Setúbal, we made several stops along the Costa Vicentina Natural Park. It is considered the best preserved in Europe with several species of unique fauna and flora. Also, many zoologists and botanists from many parts of the world visit it.
The next stop was Comporta, also known as the Hamptons of Portugal, where we went to gossip a bit about the area and see its exclusive and huge houses.
Afterward, we went to Troia, an area known for its historical heritage, to catch the ferry that would take us to Setúbal. The price of the ferry with the car was € 29.
Once we arrived at Setúbal we went to enjoy mainly the beautiful Da Arrábida Natural Park, which is a biogenetic reserve and whose territory is classified as a Site of Special Interest for the Conservation of Nature.
Our intention was to enjoy its beaches and coves as well, but it was impossible due to the number of people there. Still, the views are wonderful.
Day Twelve to Fifteen: Lisbon
Finally, we arrived in Lisbon, where we were going to spend the last days of this family vacation.
In the four days that we were in Lisbon, we visited the main tourist attractions. The tram number 28 made our visit much easier. Our apartment was near the Basilica de la Estrela on the street of the same name, and the tram 28 had that route. When we got to the Cathedral, it was closed, but we managed to see it on a second try.
Our four favourite places were:
- Castle of San Jorge:
It is one of the most emblematic monuments of the city, located at the top of the highest hill in the historic centre. From the Ulysses Tower, you can see spectacular 360º views of the city.
- Alfama neighborhood:
It is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Lisbon with many cafes and traditional craft shops. Besides, the famous tram number 28 passes through here in the direction of the Castle of San Jorge.
- The famous neighborhood of Belém:
Located in the historic center of Lisbon, it is one of the most touristic neighborhoods in the city. There we visit the Jerónimos Monastery, the Belém Tower, and the Monument to the Discoverers.
- The Chiado Neighborhood:
Through which we did a free tour that started from the statue of Fernando Pessoa.
If you want more information about Lisbon, visit our article about what you can see in Lisbon in four days.
Once again, Portugal did not disappoint me at all, and what I liked the most of everything we visited was the Algarve and its magnificent beaches.
What about you? Have you ever been to Portugal? Do you recommend any other place? Let us know in a comment below!
Other useful links to save on your trip:
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