Portugal: From Lisbon to the Algarve and Everything in Between

There was plenty of what you imagine when you think about Portugal: beautiful coastlines, historic cities, tiled buildings, wine, great food and little towns that make you want to slow down and stay awhile. But there were also experiences we probably would not have thought much about before the trip, like watching cork being transformed at a small factory in Azaruja or seeing Portuguese tiles being painted by hand in Azeitão.

Those were the kinds of moments that gave the trip personality.

What Made Portugal Special

One of the things we enjoyed most was how different each area felt.

Lisbon had the energy you expect from a European capital, with beautiful architecture, busy streets, history everywhere you look and neighborhoods that each seem to have their own personality. We of course enjoyed some of the food and flavors that are such a big part of being there.

One evening, we experienced traditional Fado along with dinner and learned more about the Portuguese idea of saudade, that deep sense of longing, nostalgia and emotion that is so closely tied to the music. It was one of those experiences that helped us understand Portugal.

The Algarve area gave us something completely different. Around Lagos, the coastline is dramatic, with golden cliffs, arches, caves and turquoise water. Being out on the water and seeing it all from that perspective was easily one of the highlights of the trip. Portimão and Monchique added another side of the region and reminded us how quickly the scenery and atmosphere can change as you move around the country.

The Unexpected Stops

Some of our favorite experiences were the ones that sounded the least obvious on paper.

A visit to a cork factory in Azaruja was one of them. Before this trip, cork was simply something we associated with Portugal. Seeing how it is actually processed and transformed into so many different products made it much more interesting than we expected.

We were able to watch the process up close, learn more about how cork is used and, naturally, leave with a few things ourselves.

The same thing happened at Azulejos de Azeitão. Portuguese tiles are everywhere, and they are one of those things you begin noticing almost immediately when you arrive. But seeing the artists actually creating and painting them by hand completely changes the way you look at them.

There is a tremendous amount of patience and skill involved, and knowing that the same Azeitão craftsmanship was commissioned for Christian Louboutin's Vermelho hotel in Melides made the visit even more interesting for us. It was a wonderful connection between something very traditional and something very contemporary. And yes, one of those tiles came home with us.

Slowing Down in the Alentejo

Évora was another place that stayed with us.

Its historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and everywhere you walk there are reminders of the many different periods of Portuguese history. The Roman Temple, the Cathedral, the old city walls, the narrow cobblestone streets and the whitewashed buildings all seem to exist comfortably together.

What we enjoyed most, though, was simply walking around.

There was no need to rush through it. The small squares, cafés, shops and quieter streets gave the city a very different feeling from Lisbon, and it was nice to spend time somewhere where wandering around was part of the experience rather than something squeezed in between scheduled stops.

That slower pace carried into other parts of the Alentejo as well. Visiting the countryside and experiencing some of the wine culture of the region gave us another side of Portugal that felt very different from both Lisbon and the Algarve.

And Then There Was Cascais

After seeing so many different parts of Portugal, Cascais still managed to become our favorite area.

There was something about the combination of the coastline, beautiful views, beaches,

restaurants, little bars and shopping that simply worked for us. It had plenty going on without feeling overwhelming, and it was the place where we most immediately thought, “We could stay here longer.”

That is always an interesting feeling when you travel. Sometimes the place you end up loving most is not necessarily the one you expected to be your favorite before you arrived.

Cascais was that place for us.

Traveling Together

Another part of what made this trip so special was the group itself. Group travel is different from private travel, with a fuller itinerary, scheduled sightseeing and the opportunity to experience a lot in a relatively short amount of time. The logistics are handled, which allows you to enjoy the destination without worrying about how everything fits together. There is also a social side to traveling this way that is difficult to duplicate on a private trip. New friendships formed along the way, and sharing these places, experiences and plenty of laughs became part of what everyone will remember.

One of the things that made this trip especially meaningful was that it was designed as a photography journey with Autumn Stankay, owner and photographer of SkySight Photography. Autumn photographed the group throughout our time in Portugal, capturing candid moments, portraits, group photos and the beautiful places we experienced along the way. She also shared her knowledge and photography tips, helping everyone get better photos with their own phones and cameras. It was such a nice combination of travel and photography. Everyone could be present and enjoy the experience while knowing that Autumn was also documenting the journey and that they would come home with beautiful professional photographs to remember it by.

The trip was also a good reminder that there really is no one right way to travel. Some people love the energy of a group trip and seeing a lot along the way, while others prefer a private driver, later mornings, long lunches and more unscheduled time. Some travelers want to visit every historic site they can, while others would rather wander through a neighborhood, sit in a café or spend an afternoon discovering something they never planned. The same destination can feel completely different depending on what interests you and how you like to experience it, and that is part of what makes travel so personal.

Portugal gave us a wonderful mix of the places we wanted to see and the experiences we never expected to enjoy quite as much as we did. We will remember Lisbon and its history, the coastline around Lagos, the streets of Évora and the relaxed feeling of Cascais, but we will also remember listening to Fado, watching cork being worked in Azaruja, seeing tiles painted by hand in Azeitão, sharing wine in the Alentejo and enjoying all of it with a wonderful group of people.