Portugal (The Algarve, Lisbon)

Navigating the Unexpected: A 7-Day Family Adventure in Portugal

When you look at a map of Portugal, it is easy to dream up the perfect, seamless itinerary. For our Thanksgiving week getaway, we had seven days to bridge the gap between California and the Iberian Peninsula, thanks to direct flights from SFO to Lisbon. Our goal was simple: experience Lisbon, and pair it with a second destination.

While Porto tempted us, the allure of the Algarve coast and a lifelong dream to see the Benagil Cave won. We chose Faro and Lagos as our southern anchors. What we didn’t plan for was a crash course in Portuguese emergency rooms, childhood fevers, and the beauty of pivot-planning.

Here is how our Portuguese adventure unfolded—the raw, the beautiful, and the deeply resilient.

The Algarve Coast

View my Instagram recap!

Brief Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrive. Drive to Lagos
Day 2: Lagos
Day 3: Sick Day
Day 4: Faro. Drive to Lisbon
Day 5: Lisbon sightseeing
Day 6: Lisbon (failed plan to Sintra!)
Day 7: Lisbon sightseeing

Day 1: Road Tripping to the Algarve

Landing in Lisbon, we hit the ground running. We rented a car and stopped for a quick lunch at Feast of Madras. A word of warning for travelers with severe allergies: food allergy awareness was not a priority here. I had to speak directly with the chef to ensure our safety, so always trust your gut and double-check.

Driving out of Lisbon was a chaotic, crowded test of nerves, but once we cleared the city limits, the highway opened up into a beautiful drive with excellent rest stops. By nightfall, we reached the coast.

Day 2: Sunsets, Trails, and the First Pivot

We based ourselves at the Lagos Atlantic Hotel, which was a flawless choice—exceptionally comfortable and convenient. Our second day was supposed to be about booking our Benagil Cave tour around the tides. Instead, we shifted gears to explore the jaw-dropping coastal cliffs.

We started at the lighthouse at Ponta da Piedade and walked the coastal trail. The views are spectacular, and we took the steep stairs down to the hidden beaches at several points. Afterward, we wandered into Lagos' old town for a vibrant lunch in an area filled with charm. 

Our Intended Algarve Bucket List vs. Reality
┌─────────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────────┐
│ What We Planned                 │ What Actually Happened          │
├─────────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────────┤
│ • Benagil Cave morning boat tour│ • Coastal hike at Ponta da      │
│ • Walk the old town of Lagos    │   Piedade and Lagos old town    │
│ • Drive to Cape de Saint        │ • Total hotel rest day          │
│   Vincent (Southwest edge of EU)│   (nursing a sick toddler)      │
│ • Explore historic Faro alleys  │ • Beautiful walk in Faro        │
└─────────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────────┘

By the end of Day 2, our daughter began coming down with a fever. Day 3 became a mandatory hotel rest day. We ordered food in, comforting our little one and letting go of our plans for Cape de Saint Vincent and the sea caves. If travel teaches you anything, it’s that a family's well-being always outranks a sightseeing list. 

Day 4: Cobblestones and Carbon Copies of the Golden Gate

Monument of discoveries

By Day 4, the fever broke, and we explored Faro. The old town is a gorgeous pocket of history. We walked the winding cobblestone alleys, visited the cathedral, and climbed the stairs of the bell tower for a sweeping view of the city.

Leaving the south behind, we drove back toward Lisbon, crossing the iconic 25th of April Bridge. Looking out the window, we felt a sudden flash of homesickness—the suspension bridge looks exactly like our Golden Gate Bridge back in San Francisco.

Day 5: A Presidential Ceremony and a Sudden Scare

Day 5 was a whirlwind of historic sights and a sudden medical emergency. We started along the beautiful waterfront in Belém:

• Belém Tower: Covered in scaffolding for repairs, but still majestic against the water.
• Monument of the Discoveries: A gorgeous, towering structure celebrating Portugal's age of exploration.
• Jeronímos Monastery: Closed to the public for a state visit by the Slovakian president! Instead of viewing the architecture, we got front-row seats to see the Portuguese Prime Minister, the visiting president, and a grand military ceremony complete with horses and soldiers.
  

Arco da Rua Augusta

Because of the massive state-visit crowds, we had to skip the famous Pastéis de Belém pastries. We grabbed lunch near the Lisbon Cathedral, planning a packed afternoon of riding a tuk-tuk, seeing the National Pantheon, and visiting the Christ the King statue at sunset.

Then, history took a back seat. I was struck by excruciating, sudden abdominal pain. We rushed to the local emergency room suspecting a kidney stone. After hours of tests and immense stress, the results came back clear. Armed with heavy pain medication and a wave of relief, we headed back to the hotel so I could sleep it off.

I would be forever thankful to the woman in the ER who stood next to me holding my hand till Sumit finished the paperwork. Once he was back, she quietly left. I have no clue who she was, or what was her name. She was Godsent and made me think highly of all the Portuguese people I have known. I'll forever be in her debt.

Famous red rooftops from
one of the Miraduoro (view points)

Day 6: Holiday Magic in Lisbon

We spent the first half of Day 6 resting at the Hotel Lisboa Plaza. The staff here were absolute angels, helping us coordinate options for a follow-up ultrasound. The hotel itself is stunning and located perfectly for a gentle return to exploring.

By evening, I felt well enough to venture out. We took a cab down to the Arco da Rua Augusta and walked the grand pedestrian streets from Augusta to Avenida da Liberdade. Because it was late November, the city was alive with Christmas markets, festive holiday decorations, and brilliant light displays. We even found great Indian restaurants to warm up our evening, topped off with a bit of holiday shopping.

We missed our planned day trip to the fairy-tale castles of Sintra and the westernmost cliffs of Cabo da Roca, but the festive energy of Lisbon's streets was a wonderful consolation prize.

Day 7: The Saving Grace of the Tuk-Tuk

Santa Justa Lift

On our final day, determined to see the city without overexerting my recovering body, we booked a private tuk-tuk tour. It was the best decision of the trip. It allowed us to zip up Lisbon's steep hills, catch up on the scenic viewpoints we missed, and see the city comfortably.

We spent our last remaining hours strolling along Avenida da Liberdade. I missed out on visiting the world’s oldest bookstore, lingering in local cafes, and taking a side trip to Évora. But as I looked out over the tiled roofs of Lisbon, I didn't feel disappointed.

The christmas market and the hustle bustle of narrow pedestrian friendly streets did not disappoint. The Santa Justa lift which is now closed for operation was another landmark I wanted to see. As we did the Tuktuk tour, we also ditched standing and waiting in the long queue to get on the the Tram. Good call. 

Portugal showed us its wild coastlines, its grand history, and its deep kindness when we were at our most vulnerable. We left plenty of stones unturned—but there is always a next time.

List of things we missed (for our next trip)

• The Benagil Caves
• Day trip to Sintra
• Towns along the Algarve Coast
• Cape de St. Vincent, Algarve
• Of course, Porto!
  
• And Nazare for the gigantic waves.

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* Generated using AI after feeding it detailed trip notes.