After a couple busy days exploring Lisbon, we traded city streets for two very different kinds of adventures: the colorful palaces and mysterious gardens of Sintra and three blissfully relaxing nights along on the shores of the Algarve.
One felt like stepping into a fairy tale. The other felt like a deep breath.
Sintra: a Storybook Side Trip
Sintra makes an easy day trip from Lisbon, but nothing about it feels ordinary. Set among lush, forested hills, the town is filled with great architecture and enough winding pathways to make you wonder if you’ve discovered a secret garden.
Our first stop was Pena Palace, perched high above the surrounding countryside. With its bright yellow and red walls, decorative towers, tiled archways, and sweeping terraces, the palace looks like several architectural styles were tossed together to create something spectacular.
The views alone were worth the trip. From the palace terraces, we could see across the green hills toward the Atlantic Ocean. Inside, the rooms offered a glimpse into royal life, complete with ornate furnishings, painted ceilings, and elaborate details around nearly every corner.
After exploring Pena Palace, we headed to Quinta da Regaleira, an estate that feels far more mysterious than royal. The property is filled with gardens, hidden tunnels, grottoes, stone towers, and twisting pathways.
The most famous feature is the Initiation Well, a deep spiral staircase that descends into the earth. Walking down its moss-covered steps felt like entering another world. At the bottom, underground tunnels lead through the gardens and emerge near waterfalls and hidden passages.
Between Pena Palace’s bright colors and Quinta da Regaleira’s mysterious gardens, Sintra delivered everything we hoped for from a side trip.
Slowing Down in the Algarve
After Sintra, we headed south to the Algarve for three nights of sunshine, swimming, and much-needed beach time.
We stayed in a VRBO right on the water, giving us a comfortable home base where we could spread out, relax, and enjoy a slower pace. After days filled with sightseeing, train schedules, and packed itineraries, it felt wonderful to wake up without a long list of places we had to be.
Our days in the Algarve were refreshingly simple: swim, sit by the pool or on the beach, enjoy the sunshine, and repeat.
The region is famous for its golden cliffs, clear blue water, sandy coves, and dramatic rock formations. Even an ordinary walk along the coast came with postcard-worthy views.
Wandering Through Lagos
We spent time exploring the beach town of Lagos, one of the Algarve’s most popular coastal destinations. Its historic center is filled with cobblestone streets, tiled buildings, outdoor cafés, shops, and lively public squares. We browsed the streets, stopped for meals, and enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere. After the faster pace of Lisbon and Spain, Lagos felt like permission to take our time.
The real stars, however, were the beaches. Golden cliffs surrounded stretches of sand and turquoise water, creating secluded coves that looked almost too perfect to be real. The water was refreshing, the scenery was beautiful, and we were more than happy to spend several hours doing absolutely nothing productive.
Kayaking to Benagil Cave
Our biggest Algarve adventure was sea kayaking along the coast to Benagil Cave.
From the water, the Algarve’s cliffs looked even more impressive. We paddled past towering rock formations and caves carved into the coastline.
Benagil Cave is famous for the large opening in its ceiling. The opening allows sunlight to pour into the cavern and illuminate the beach inside. Arriving by kayak gave us time to appreciate the size of the cave and the incredible work of wind and water that created it.
The Perfect Ending to Portugal
Sintra and the Algarve offered two completely different sides of Portugal.
Sintra gave us extravagant palaces, underground tunnels, and lush gardens. The Algarve gave us sunshine, sea caves, beach days, and a chance to slow down.
Together, they made the perfect ending to our trip. If you enjoyed this post, check out our adventures in Lisbon and our time in the Spanish cities of Barcelona, Madrid, or Sevilla for more travel inspiration.
Happy adventuring, Rochelle