Mainland Portugal- Algarve, Alentejo & Lisbon
When you think of the Algarve, your mind goes straight to sunshine and coastlines… and while you’re not wrong, that’s only half the story. Driving through the countryside, passing authentic Portuguese villages (seeing the bread man leave the bag on the door), hearing church bells in the distance, picking fruit right from the trees and enjoying it in a homemade meal just hours later. Pure joy.
I had the opportunity to explore Portugal’s southern coast, and it exceeded every expectation. Lucky to those of you in New England- it’s a quick 5-hour direct flight from Boston to Lisbon, making it a wonderful choice for school vacation week, a long weekend, a girls trip and even a honeymoon!
The Algarve had a variety of areas to explore! We sight inspected Villa Vita Parc and enjoyed a seafood lunch, paired with wine of course, and if I wasn’t with the group, I would have stayed the night to take in the view or visit the 12 restaurants at the resort!
But the road took us 30 minutes up the mountain to pure nature, the Ombria Algarve Viceroy Resort. We checked into our rooms, and it was the best hotel I have ever stayed at. The bathroom had heated floors, the standup shower in its own room and a bathtub that felt like a personal spa. I was greeted with a personalized welcome card, and you guessed it… a bottle of wine! As we got to explore the property, the view of the golf courses stole the show. That evening, we dined at the hotel’s restaurant- the Cataplana de Marisco paired with (you guessed it!) wine was truly a taste I will remember forever.
The next morning we adventured into the Algarve mountains taking in all of nature’s breathtaking surroundings. We picked the medronho berries off the trees and learned that is how they make their region’s brandy, but who knew that evening we would head into the mixology class at the Ombria Algarve Viceroy Resort—crafting our own Algarvian Medronho (Aguardente)—and then unwinding in the spa overlooking the pristine golf courses. It wasthe perfect finale to an unforgettable experience.
We drove our way North to the Alentejo region where we were warmly welcomed by Julio at Heradade do Sobroso Wine Luxury Hotel and Suites- this is a remarkable estate blending wine, nature and hospitality . You may even visit the property as a wine tourist destination (WARNING! you will tempted to stay the night! & you won’t regret it)
The 11 room boutique hotel offers homemade breakfast- made to order and dinner from Avo! Avo is the chef at the property who chooses the regional meal you will eat that day- to my luck, I had duck for the first time in my life. Although I’d love to have it again, I think the bar was set too high! We took a jeep tour into nature and saw deer, birds, wild boar andmade it safely back before dawn for a very detailed wine tasting in their wine cellar. In the Spring of 2026 a picnic on their vineyard will be available for couples right in the heart of it all, overlooking the rivers.
Before reaching our last destination, we partook in a cheese making class in Azeitao you must go to try it for yourself! There were so many local pastry shops nearby and I had to get one last Pasta de Nata!
Last but definitely not least, Lisbon was the perfect ending. When we got to Lisbon it was downpouring, but it did not stop me from roaming the romantic streets and was in awe of its charm and authenticity. To my luck, the Christmas markets were open, and I bought a bag or two! Sardine world was a must, and I made it in time to get an official Cristiano Ronaldo jersey to take home. We had dinner in the Baixa neighborhood at a Cervezzaria (typical Portuguese seafood), but of course we stopped for Ginjinha before heading there!
On the flight back to Greece, I promised myself this will not be my only trip to Portugal, I will be going out without any second thoughts! From the incredible gastronomy, to the warmservice, to the resorts—whether perched on the coastline or tucked just 30 minutes from the beach—each stop was better than the last.
& once again, thank you to our partners from @azurtravel.co for such an amazing introduction to mainland Portugal, as we will definitely be back! Your hospitality, expertise and love for Portugal is so appreciated and we can’t wait to share it with our clients!
Adeus,
Sophia