72 Hours in Portugal

Breathtaking Beaches and Incredible Wine

Put together for those looking to spend a long weekend in Southern Portugal

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Portugal Key Spots: For the visually-inclined

(1) Lisbon International Airport; (2) Alfama neighborhood Lisbon; (3) Sintra Castle; (4) Pine Cliffs Resort; (5) Quinta do Frances Winery; (6) O Barradas; (7) Lagos

Itinerary:

  • Day 1:
    • Lunch in Alfama District, Lisbon
    • Sintra Castle and Old Town
    • Drive to Algarve (Southern Portugal)
  • Day 2:
    • Beach / Pool Lounging + Lunch
    • Wine Tasting at Quinta do Frances
    • Dinner at O Barradas
  • Day 3:
    • Beach / Pool Lounging + Lunch
    • Explore + Dinner in Lagos
  • Day 4:
    • Depart from Lisbon

72 Hours in Portugal (the wordy version)
If you’re looking to maximize your time in Southern Portugal then this trip is for you. While I covered a lot of mileage during this trip, there was more than enough time to relax, lounge and take in the warm sunshine in the Algarve region of Portugal. Coupled with some wine and delicious food, you can’t go wrong spending 3 days in such a beautiful place.

Day 1: Monuments, Castles and Ocean Air
As usual, I’d recommend taking a red-eye flight to Lisbon International Airport in order to get an early start on the day and maximize your time in the country. It can be a drag, but with a few well-honed techniques (and usually some caffeine) it’s possible to see something new every hour of your travels.

After landing in Portugal, we picked up our rental car and were off then we were off to our first destination of the day: the Alfama neighborhood in Lisbon. I’d heard so much about Lisbon, and with even just a few minutes’ research, Alfama looked like the perfect place to start my trip and a great way to ease in to a Portugal adventure.

After a quick 20-minute drive from the airport, I found myself in the quaint old-world neighborhood of Alfama. Wandering through narrow streets, dodging trolleys winding their way up some of the steep streets, proved a wonderful adventure within such a historic city. Kicking off the walking tour with a view of the city Miradouro das Portas do Sol gives you a fantastic look at the neighborhood and the water, after which it’s time to head to Commerce Square prior to lunch.

Once walking to your heart’s content, it’s time for lunch at Prado, a neighborhood favorite. The menu changes seasonally, with dishes curated based on the freshest ingredients Chef Antonio Galapito is able to source. The wine list is incredibly impressive as well, focused on organic, biodynamic varieties.

Once we’ve eaten all we can, it’s time to check out the next stop – a fairytale castle in Sintra about an hour outside the city. Pena Palace is a stunning complex that looks straight out of a picture book, and a perfect change of pace after Alfama and prior to making the drive South to the coast. If there’s enough time in the schedule, Sintra’s Old Town is a serene walk through a time capsule with beautiful little shops and cafes on cobblestone streets.

After Sintra, it’s time to venture South to Pine Cliffs Resort in the coastal town of Albufeira. Following the 3 hours drive and dropping our bags at the hotel, we freshened up for dinner and left for downtown Albufeira to have dinner at Casa Del Mar. Casa Del Mar overlooked the beach and had one of the freshest seafood menus I’ve ever seen and a wine list that paired perfectly.

Day 2: Sunshine and Vines

This morning is reserved for a relaxing wakeup, leisurely breakfast at the hotel and scoping out the perfect chair by the pool to recharge before the afternoon’s adventures. Once I started to get a bit hungry, and after a quick outfit change, we were off to Quinta do Frances for an impromptu wine tasting with a cheese plate – my happy place, with a pairing of perfect weather.

I could have spent a whole day at Quinta do Frances, but come dinner time we drove another 15 minutes to O Barradas which lucky for me sits in a vineyard, for a true farm to table dining experience under the vines creeping from tree to tree flanking the dining patio. I would highly recommend the house wine, made on-site!

Day 3: Sun, Sand and Lagos

After another leisurely wakeup, and breakfast at the hotel, we wandered through the property to the Pine Cliffs’ beach to pick out a pair of lounge chairs and soak in the ocean air. After a full day lounging with a bottle of local wine, and some snacks on the beach, we refreshed quickly and hopped in the car to explore Lagos for the evening.

After making the hour-long drive to Lagos, we found a parking spot just outside Old Town and drifted through the meandering streets for a few hours for some shopping and local treats. Once my feet started getting a bit sore, we hopped back in the car and made our way towards the hotel with our stop for dinner in Alvor at Ababuja, an oceanfront restaurant with an awesome vibe and even better seafood.

I turned in early that night for a sunrise wakeup to head back to Lisbon for my flight home.

Suggested Packing List:

  • Luggage: 1 roller carry-on, 1 backpack or purse
  • Shoes: comfortable walking shoes, beach sandals
  • Clothing: swimsuits, cute and cozy outfits for dinner and wine tasting
  • Accessories: sunglasses, hat
  • Apps to download: Uber if you don’t feel like driving