Portugal gave us beautiful old streets, boat trips, very good food and enough unexpected moments to make the whole holiday feel like a proper adventure. We went without trying to create a perfect itinerary, which meant we found some brilliant places—and a few things that were not quite what we thought they were.
Our first impressions
Our apartment was a lovely surprise, with a bedroom, living area, kitchen and two balconies. It gave us a comfortable base for having a gander around the area, although “having a gander” quickly became a fairly long walk while we attempted to find a museum. We eventually found it open, only to discover that a large part of it covered the local fish-canning industry. It was not the historic collection we had imagined, but it was genuinely interesting in a very random sort of way. We now know considerably more about how sardines end up in tins.
The museum also contained Iron Age objects, art and other local displays, so it became one of those stops we would never have planned but were glad we experienced. That sums up quite a lot of this trip: we kept setting off towards one thing and finding something completely different.
Boat taxis, castles and a very cute town
One of our favourite discoveries was the little boat taxi across the water. It was a simple journey, but the bouncing waves made it feel like part of the day rather than just transport. On the other side we climbed towards a castle, only to find that the site itself appeared to be private. We could still see the old walls and enjoy the view, so it was not a wasted trip—just another classic example of us confidently walking somewhere without fully knowing what would be open when we arrived.
The town below was gorgeous. The tiled buildings, balconies, bright flowers and little streets had exactly the holiday feeling we wanted. We found a mixed grill deal for around €14 with a drink, which felt like a proper bargain, and then continued searching for a church while keeping one eye on the time for the return boat. Naturally, we briefly lost the route, found a cat and eventually spotted the church.
The cave boat trip
We also booked a boat trip to see the coastal caves. The rock formations and views were well worth seeing, but the journey back was absolutely freezing. This was Portugal, yet Lottie was wrapped in a towel feeling as though the boat had quietly left the Algarve and arrived at the North Pole. The lesson is simple: even when the day looks warm, take something dry or an extra layer if the boat is fast and the weather is windy.
Back on land, we learned that one of the old buildings we had noticed was a former convent connected with the surrounding historic site. We also found coffee, strawberry dessert, pizza and a very persuasive cat that seemed ready to move into the apartment with us.
What went a bit wonky
Not every part of the holiday was quite as relaxing. One supposedly Irish bar had a very limited beer choice and served a drink Lottie found genuinely rancid. We were repeatedly approached by people offering drugs during one short walk, which made the area feel uncomfortable at night. There was also an alarming lift-door incident when the doors closed without appearing to sense Jordan properly. None of this ruined the trip, but it is part of our honest memory of the location.
We even had a transfer wobble at the beginning because our accommodation had changed and the driver had not been told. Thankfully, the driver helped and it worked out, but it is worth confirming any amended accommodation details directly with the transfer company before travelling.
Would we return to Portugal?
Yes. The attractive towns, tiled streets, waterfront views, inexpensive food and easy boat journeys gave us a lot to enjoy. We would plan the cave trip for calmer weather, research opening times more carefully and be a little more aware of the atmosphere after dark. Even with those reservations, Portugal ticked the important boxes and gave us exactly the mixture of scenery, food and chaos that makes a trip memorable.