My husband and I planned a trip to Portugal in 4 days, yes that's right...it was a whirlwind to plan last minute but we are so happy we got to experience this amazing country for a week. Luckily, we had a lot of friends who have traveled in Portugal so we were able to get lots of good recommendations to start. We both agreed, that 6 days was not nearly enough time to spend in this beautiful country and we can't wait to go back and explore more. But here is what we accomplished in our short trip with little time to plan:

First Stop: Pine Cliffs Resort, Algarve

As a teacher, I knew I wanted to start my summer break relaxing so we decided to start our trip at the beach. Algarve is the Southern coast of Portugal and where some of the most beautiful beaches in the world are. We were recommended the Pine Cliffs Resort by several people and were very happy with our stay. Pine Cliffs is a massive resort, one of the biggest in Europe, with many accommodations available including rental homes. This is the perfect place for families, in fact my husband and I kept commenting on how we cannot wait to bring our boys back there. On property there are 8 pools, a 9-hole golf course, tennis club, revitalizing spa, an up-to-date fitness center and a variety of fine dining options. There is also a massive kids club , an arcade, a VR studio with kids ranging in all ages enjoying the facilities. The dining options on property seem endless from a steakhouse, to a sushi restaurant, an Italian bistro, coffee shop, smoothie place and an amazing free, continental breakfast served each morning. The best part of Pine Cliffs is the location. Located at the top of the cliffs of Falésia in the Algarve's coast, the property overlooks the Atlantic ocean and a beautiful beach surrounded by cliffs. There is elevator access to the beach and a beach club serving drinks and fresh seafood right on the sand. We loved our stay at Pine Cliffs but would definitely recommend it more for families. Since we were there as a couple, there were times where we couldn't escape al of the families and the hotel does not offer an adults only section. That being said, our room was spacious, with a balcony and extra large bathroom. The staff was helpful and Pine Cliffs is part of the Marriot resorts, so members can use points to stay. We will be returning to Pine Cliffs with our kids and can't wait to continue to explore more.

What to Do: Algarve

We stayed 3 nights at Pine Cliffs and besides beach and pool time, we were also able to explore around the region. We did the Seven Hanging Cliffs Hike one morning, and it was beautiful to explore the stunning coastline from high above the cliffs. If we had planned ahead, we would have booked a kayak tour of the Benagli Caves and would definitely recommend arriving early. The place gets packe,d and there are tons of people kayaking out to the caves. It also gets hot, and there aren't a lot of stops along the path to get water or other amenities, so come prepared.  We also explored Old Town Albufeira and although it was very touristy, it was fun to walk around and experience a different side of Algarve. There are tons of bars, restaurants, and shops, and it gets busy with nightlife. 

Second Stop: Road Trip from Algarve to Lisbon

On our last day in the Algarve, we decided to take our rental car to several towns to explore on our way to Lisbon,  and this was one of our favorite parts of the trip! We started by driving about an hour to Lagos. This marine town is fun to walk around, explore the shops and restaurants, and search for trinkets. It is also located right on the water, so there are boat excursions and adventures to join. You can also check out the freshest fish in some of the markets in Lagos, which was a very cool experience. From Lagos, we went to Comporta, a beachy town often referred to as "The Hamptons of Portugal." We went straight to the Comporta Cafe, which is directly on the beach and was straight out of a movie. We sat watching the waves while we ate some of the freshest octopus, salmon, and codfish we had all our trip while sipping on Aperol Spritzs. It was heaven! We walked around the tiny village of Comporta after our beach lunch, and there were so many local artists and stores selling unique clothing, jewelry, ceramics, and artwork. There were also a number of cafes and restaurants.  It seemed the town is still up and coming, with a lot of construction happening. This is a perfect day trip while in the Algarve or on your way to Lisbon. Our last stop before we made it to Lisbon was a small town called Alacer Do Sal, where this is a castle, miles of rice fields, a lovely promenade with a bridge overlooking the tiny town, and lots of small shops and cafes. 

Third Stop: Lisbon

We had heard so many things about Lisbon, but one of the best comments we got was that we will want to go back. This could not be more true! We loved Lisbon.  The city is so alive with art, restaurants, music, shopping, culture; it literally has it all. We kept commenting on how every part of the city is happening and offers something for everyone. There are also many day trips you can take from Lisbon to explore even more. We wish we had more time to do this but here is what we loved:

Stay: Hotel, Hotel

We booked our trip 2 weeks before we arrived, so we had limited options for accommodations. We settled on Hotel, Hotel right in the middle of the Principe Real neighborhood, and were pleasantly surprised. The hotel's location is great, right in the middle of one of the most sought-after neighborhoods in Lisbon. The hotel also has an outdoor pool area, which we found so convenient since it was hot in Lisbon and after walking around the cobblestoned, hilly streets all day, it was nice to have a pool to come back to and relax. The free breakfast at the hotel was also spectacular, with very fresh ingredients. The staff at the hotel were great, and the bar area and restaurant were always busy. They also offer yoga classes and even have a tattoo artist in the hotel. Our room was small, which is common for European accommodations, but we did have a terrace area that made it feel bigger and the bathroom was spacious. Overall, we enjoyed our short stay at Hotel, Hotel and it was convenient to everything we wanted to see and do while in the city.  Other recommended hotels are below:

See: What not to miss in Lisbon

You could walk around Lisbon for hours and find something new and exciting every time. There were a few things we knew we wanted to make sure we did and saw. We toured the Alfama neighborhood, which is the oldest part of the city, and decided to take a Tuk Tuk tour since the streets are very steep and hilly. The tour was great, although a little hard to hear our driver over the engine of the Tuk Tuk, but it gave us a way to see more of the sites without breaking an ankle walking everywhere! Alfama is also known for the various cafes and restaurants that offer traditional Portugese Fado music. This was apparent walking the tiny streets and alcoves and seeing all of the signs for music and entertainment.  

We took a Lime scooter and bike to get around the city and this was a great way to explore. We mostly rode along the promenade and on flat streets, be aware that many of the streets in Lisbon are hard to maneuver with a bike or scooter and have many pedestrians, so stick to areas that are meant for these modes of transportation. 

The Trams are a staple part of Lisbon's history and you see them all over the city. There is a famous car, #28, that will take you all over the city. Although we didn't get to take Tram 28, we were able to ride the tram up and down some of the massive hills in lisbon and experience this decades old form of transportation, which was cool.

Shopping in Lisbon

Shopping in Lisbon is amazing! From art, to antiques, to designer stores and up and coming European fashion, it literally has something for everyone. We loved going to the LX Factory to see the many small, independently owned, carefully curated collections of designers and artists. This is where I got my permanent bracelet and we also bought a beautiful poster print and ceramics. Ler Devagar is one of the coolest bookstores weve ever been to. Its multi-leveled and includes books from all over the world as well as an old printing press eright in the middle of the store. Besides books, you can also purchase art posters, records and other collectibles here. It's a great store to walk around and get lost in. 

One of our favorite visits was to the Feira da Ladra flea market. This is the second oldest flea market in Europe and only runs on Tuesday and Saturdays. Its a must see when visting Lisbon. The market is enormous and you can find vendors selling antiques, custom artwork, handmade jewlery, and clothing, vintage tiles and so much more. We spent hours here and both my husband and I could not stop finding gems for ourselves. 

There are also a number of designer stores and popular labels all around Lisbon but I was determined to find goods specific to Portugal, or Europe. I had heard about Flabelus Mary Janes on TikTok and knew I had to make my way to the store. This was such a fun experience. This is a Spanish brand of beautifully crafted and designed Mary Jane flats  with the distinctive structure of the Spanish espadrille. The store is so vibrant and colorful and I loved trying on all of the different styles. Of course, I left with a pair of pink flats that I can't wait to wear!

Where to Eat: Lisbon

There are so many food options in Lisbon and because we booked so last minute, many of the recommended restaurants did not have available reservations. 

Bonjardim is a staple in Lisbon and if you're looking for great Piri Piri chicken for under 20 Euros for a full meal, this is the palce to go. Its no frills, the line for a table is usually pretty long but does fast and don't expect 5 star service. But it was a great experience to sit oustide on the cobblestone alleyway, listening to live music and eating some of the best chicken. 

For brunch we stumbled upon Dear, Breakfast in the Chiado neighborhood and had one of our best meals. The brunch staples like avocado toast and pancakes are so fresh and delicious and they had a great selection of pastries and coffee drinks. 

Java Rooftop was another highly recommended spot and it was a great experience. Overlooking the city and offering panoramic views, the restauirant and bar is open air and has such a good vibe. We went for drinks and stayed for food and were not dissapoinrted.  We had this dish that had lamb ragu in hummus with homemade pita bread and it was divine. Make sure you get a pic from the rooftop while you are there and enjoy the sites and scene.

Seafood is a staple in Portugal and we made sure to have our fair share. We ventured to Time Out Market, even though it is very touristy. We wanted to make sure to only try traditional Portugese food while we were there and we got a delicious lunch of codfish and chickpeas, octopus salad and mussels in tomato sauce as well as fresh bread, cheese and a traditional roast beef sandwich, all were delicious! We had some of the best octopus all over Portugal and the sashimi was fresh everywhere we tasted. 

When you're in Lisbon, you must try the famous Paste de Nata and was the #1 recommended to us. They have a few locations throughout Lisbon but what's great about the shops is you can watch them making the deliciosu pastries in house as you wait for your hot, fresh, egg custard delight to be handed to you. You can find pastel de nata all over Portugal, but make sure you try one fresh and hot and add cinnamon and sugar to the top for the ultimate experience. 


Here are some that were recommended to us that we never got to try:
JNcQUIO
Cervejaria Ramiro
Taberna do Bairro Alto
Rocco
Alma

Portugal is an amazing country and has so much to offer. We can't wait to bring our kids back with us next time and continue to explore the city and the beaches. There were a few day trips we were recommended that we did not have time to do this time around. I will list them below if you're planning a trip to Portugal. 

Cascais- 45-minute train ride, coastal city
Sintra- 30 minute cab ride, castles, medieval
Porto- 45 minute train ride, wine country, amazing views