A full breakdown of where we stayed, what we ate, and two things I didn’t expect about Lisbon, including a map I made just for you!
Portugal has been on our bucket list for quite some time, and currently it’s a place I hear everyone and their mother (literally) talking about. It’s a place people want to move to, visit often, and absorb completely.
Thus I was naturally very excited and curious to go! I felt like it was a place I would surely fall in love with and ask my husband, “should we move here?”
The truth is though: At first, it felt a bit underwhelming and left me wondering what I was missing. Now, please don’t get me wrong, we had an absolutely fabulous time and the pictures I will be sharing clearly convey that. But I guess it just wasn’t what I expected at first. I think I went in with a bit of an “Instagram” mind, which I’ve honestly never done before, and am a frustrated looking back on. I think it skewed my perspective, and is something I want to consider when following people who share travels and reading other’s travel blogs in the future.
Anyways I want to go back with fresher eyes! But for you, I’ll let you form your own option through this post. If you have specific questions, please leave them in the comments! I will always answer anything & everything.
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Google Map of Everywhere We Went in Portugal (& Loved!)
How to Use This Map: Click on each icon to discover more about each location. To save this map for future reference, click the star next to the map’s title. This will add the map to your Google Maps account. Later, open Google Maps, go to the menu, and select “Your places” to find this map! Download it here: Linds Alyse’s Google Map for Portugal
Where We Stayed in Portugal
Algarve Marriott Salgados Golf Resort | A brand new hotel that wasn’t fully open yet. Nice, big rooms with great views, 3 pools, and a dedicated kids area. The only con was it just wasn’t totally “ready” as there wasn’t pool service, and not all the restaurants were open.
Hotel Hotel in Lisbon | we love the Design hotels and always try to stay at one when we travel. This one is in a very central area, which made it really convenient to get around. The rooms were cute and comfy as usual, and we just love the Deign Hotel touches. The included breakfast was also delicious!
Algarve Marriott Salgados Golf Resort | A typical Marriot style property, but the rooms were beautiful and our view was great. There was hardly anyone there too!
Cities We Visited + a Few Things We Did
Lagos | We stuck to Old Town, which felt like a very typical ‘touristy’ city. We headed there after brunch at Everyday People, took some pictures, and wandered around before checking out Praia do Camilo. One thing we really enjoyed in the city was the Abridged Wall of Hope. It’s a colorful mural that’s part of the city’s street art series called Mind Matters. It’s a powerful gallery and something we really enjoyed taking a bit to explore.
*In my opinion, and I know these spots are stunning, I wouldn’t recommend driving and trying to walk down to the beaches near the arches. They’re super crowded and honestly, not the most relaxing experience. If you can go super early in the morning, do it. Instead, I’d suggest booking a kayak tour to see them from the water, which gives you a totally different (and much better) perspective. Those can get busy too, so just do a little research ahead of time to find the right one for you.
Tavira | Such a cute little city! We started off by exploring old town, and then drove just a few minutes over to Noélia for lunch (which is the spot to eat at), but we couldn’t get a table, so we ended up at Restaurante O Coral and had an amazing meal nonetheless. After that, we took a quick boat ride over to Praia de Cabanas for a beach afternoon. It’s €1.50 for a roundtrip ticket, and the beach is clean, has bathrooms, and day beds to lounge in. Truly a 10/10 day.
Silves | Tucked away in the heart of the Algarve, we stopped at Morgado do Quintão. This family-run vineyard and farmstay is full of charm, boasting a 2,000 year old olive tree and wines made from local grapes with minimal intervention. We loved their 1 p.m. wine break, where you can taste three wines, explore the beautiful grounds, and snack on local bites in the shade. We enjoyed it so much, we ended up buying two bottles to take home.
Albufiera (where we stayed) | We knew we wanted to see a lot along the coast so chose to stay here since it’s right in the middle. Super convenient location and easy to get around.
Lisbon | This city needs its own guide, but to get you started a few things we enjoyed (food is in the next section):
- We were there during the Festas dos Santos, which is basically a big celebration of fun, food, and community vibes. Music spills into the streets, there is late-night dancing around every corner, and, of course, the iconic grilled sardines. It was a really fun time to be in Lisbon!
- LX Factory for drinks, live music and a boutique shopping.
- Exploring a lesser known part of the city, Arroios and Intendente.
- Miradouro de Santa Luzia for a photo op with the iconic roof tiles in the background.
- A photo op on my favorite street in the city. You can navigate to “Tasca Dos Poiais” and you’ll be on the street.
- The iconic Rossio Square for a cool, quick pic!
- Stop by the Time Out Market and grab a few pastel de nata from Manteigaria‘s. (Skip eating here, but it’s worth a look around for the fun vibe).
Okay now into my bread and butter when it comes to content: Food and Drink Recommendations!
The Best Cafes & Restaurants Along the Algarve Coast
Umami | We had no idea this was in a very fancy golfing community called Quinto de Lago, and it was honestly quite funny. We had read about Umami in Condé Nast (I think) and really wanted to check it out. As we got closer we were thinking, “wow this is really fancy”. I googled who lives there and of course Rory McIlory has a house there! Their menu is great, fish is fresh and delicious, and the setting is beautiful.
Antisocial | a newly opened coffee shop & bakery by the sweetest woman! She opened the spot two months ago and I swear, her baking is top notch. We went multiple times and each time I ordered her vegan cinnamon cake which was OUT OF THIS WORLD.
Everyday People in Lagos | a super casual spot for fabulous coffee and brunch/lunch items. I love a spot that has a mission and ethos, which is really hard to find in Switzerland.
Rei das Praias | a beach restaurant serving fresh fish, traditional Portuguese dishes, and fabulous wine. We went on Sunday night and there was a DJ and it was a blast.
Paper Moon | located on the rooftop of the W Hotel we read about this in various food and wine publications, and honestly the dinner was just okay, but the dessert? Absolutely amazing. The creme brûlée with mint marinated peaches was one of the best desserts I’ve ever had. It has an excellent view as well, especially at sunset, so it’s worth the stop.
Restaurante O Coral | A wonderful spot of elevated, yet not fussy, Portuguese food.
Castelo Beach Club | A fabulous meal, in an even more beautiful setting.
Antisocial club | Everyday People | Rei das Praias | Rei das Praias | Castelo Beach Club | Umami
Restaurants & Bars We LOVED in Lisbon
We lucked out and didn’t make any reservations before we arrived (risky!) but we were able to eat at all the places that were on the top of our list! You can also read my 48 Hours in Lisbon Travel Guide here!
- Prado | This is an absolute gem and should be on your list if you visit Lisbon. We snuck in without a reservation for lunch and we cannot wait to go back. Their speciality is organic wines, but they also pride themselves in serving locally sourced and seasonal dishes that I can attest to, are absolutely fabulous.
- Trinca | If you haven’t checked out any of my restaurant guides on my blog before, this will be new to you, but food makes me emotional. And for that reason it’s why I love creating food guides, and only share meals that truly are an experience. Now, Trinca made me cry, and this is a normal occurrence for me, but in the absolute best way possible. Their tacos were outstanding, and flavored to perfection. They weren’t trying to be something they were not, and they honored the traditional tacos such as al pastor and tacos de lengua.
- O Velho Eurico | This is a spot featured in pretty much every Lisbon food guide so I was naturaly a bit skeptical at first, but it’s a must. It’s Portuguese food at its finest, in a cozy setting. We couldn’t make reservations, they are booked at least a month out, but we walked in towards the end of lunch and were able to snag a table.
- Holy Wine | A *tiny* spot for natural wine and small bites you have to check out for yourself.
- Taiyaki | Another spot that made me cry as soon as I stepped inside. It engulfed me with memories of my time living in Singapore and honestly, nothing has made me feel this way since I left. It’s an adorable spot for taiwanese wheel cakes, tea & coffee.
O Velho Eurico | Prado | Trinca
Now two things that really surprised me about Lisbon….
- First, we were offered coke at least a dozen times while just walking around. I’ve never had that happen anywhere else I’ve traveled, and honestly, I didn’t think I gave off that kind of vibe? Maybe there’s no “type,” but it definitely surprised me, and I haven’t seen it mentioned much in travel blogs.
- Second, the city really smelled like pee. I know all big cities have their smells (I grew up in the Bay Area, so trust me, I’ve seen it and smelled it all), but this stood out. We actually saw quite a few men peeing in public, so… mystery solved, I guess. But just something I haven’t experienced before.
That’s all! I hope you enjoyed this kind of travel recap, it’s new for me to use this kind of format so let me know your thoughts and what you want me to include in my next one!
You might also like:
- How to Spend 48 Hours in Lisbon, Portugal
- What I Wore in Portugal (Outfit Ideas & A Packing List)
- How to Spend One Day in Zurich, Switzerland
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