8-Day Portugal Off-Season Itinerary: Best of Lisbon & Lagos

If you're looking to visit Europe in the off-season to save some cash and avoid crazy crowds, yet still looking for some comfortable sunshine - Portugal fits the bill. Here's how we explored both the Algarve and Lisbon for 8 days this past November:

Day 1: Arrive in Lisbon, Head Down to Lagos in Your Rental Car, and Explore the Beauty

We caught a red-eye flight from Philadelphia so that we landed in Lisbon bright and early on our first day - this was huge in saving us a travel day!

Once we landed, we grabbed our rental car (100% recommend renting a car if you plan on staying in the Algarve region - public transportation is limited, and parking was free everywhere) and drove the 2.5 hours to Lagos.

We checked in to our amazing bed & breakfast, 3 Marias Guest House and set out to explore the downtown and grab a coffee at one of the adorable cafes. We then walked to stroll along Ponta da Piedade, which has a gorgeous walking trail with rock formations along the coastline. There is a lighthouse at the end of the trail where we stopped and caught our first beautiful Portuguese sunset.

Note: when travelling in the off-season, the sun sets much earlier. In November the sun set in Portugal around 5:30PM each day. Keep this in mind when planning activities!

We grabbed dinner at Casa Do Prego for lighter fare and cocktails. I had my first taste of Vinho Verde and was HOOKED.

Day 2: Hike Seven Hanging Valleys Trail & Catch the Sunset in Sagres

One of the perks of traveling in the off season is not racing to hiking trails by sunrise to beat the heat and large crowds. We took our time with breakfast and sipping coffee on our terrace before starting our hike on the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail at 10AM. We had the trail almost completely to ourselves, and the weather was very mild - feeling comfortable with a light jacket. The trail was relatively easy and the views of the rock formations on the water were beautiful - making this a must-do on your itinerary.

This trail is out-and-back, but we instead parked at Praia Do Marinha, walked the length of the trail, and caught an uber back to our car. There is also a small beach at the end of the trail where you can grab beers or coffees to go!

We then drove over to Sagres, a surfer town, at Cabo de São Vicente to catch the gorgeous sunset and grab dinner.

Note: in the off-season, Sagres becomes very quiet once the sun sets. Plan any activities here during the day time, and know dinner options may be limited during this time of year and/or after dark.

Day 3: Explore the Algarve Coast via Car

We spent our last full day in the Algarve exploring all of the adorable little towns along the coast by car. We would park, take a stroll throughout the beautiful cobblestone streets and buildings, grab a bite or drink, and repeat. Here are some of our favorite moments or must-do's from this day:

Exploring Ferragudo: even in the rain, this little town was so quaint and picturesque. For those of you looking for a backdrop for your next Instagram post, you've found it. Definitely make sure to walk around Praça Rainha Dona Leonor to find your next coffee or bite to eat.

Wander throughout Algar Seco: we felt like little kids on a playground climbing along the rocky formations and clifftops of this beautiful attraction in Carvoeiro. Even if you're not in the best footwear to traverse rocks, there is a nice boardwalk that runs along the coastline to take a walk.

Checking out the cliffside and beach views of Carvoeiro was our favorite part of this day. During this time of year, this town seemed to be the most lively in the Algarve, even in the rainy weather.

By sunset, we stumbled upon the most memorable restaurant, Mar d'Fora, and had one of the best meals of our trip. Read more about Mar d'Fora and the rest of our food reviews from this trip here.

Day 4: Head to Lisbon & Explore Cais Do Sodre

We soaked up our last beautiful morning in Lagos, packed up our rental car, and drove the 2.5 hours back to Lisbon. Once we got to the city, we returned our car (definitely recommend doing this - Lisbon is extremely walkable and public transportation is easy). We checked into our apartment in Chiado, and the location couldn't be more perfect to easily access everything the city has to offer.

We spent our first afternoon and evening in Lisbon exploring Cais Do Sodre and Time Out Market. Some have mixed reviews on Time Out, however, it wasn't extremely crowded this time of year, and we thought it was so fun to walk around and try small bites from multiple different local chefs. This is where we tried our first Pastel De Nata from Manteigaria and, quite literally, went to heaven.

We finished the evening hanging out on Pink Street, grabbing cocktails, and enjoying the city's nightlife and local entertainment. I feel like you can't say you've fully experienced Lisbon without grabbing a drink on Pink Street!

Day 5: Day Trip to Belem & LX Factory

Just a short tram ride from the center of Lisbon, Belém is home to multiple famous tourist attractions: the Belém Tower, Jeronimos Monestary, and of course, the pastry factory, Pastéis de Belém. We got an early tram to start our morning with pastel de natas and coffees at Pasteis de Belem - and this was such a cool, historical experience. Another perk of traveling here in the off season? We waited a grand total of 0 minutes to get seated!

After eating our weight in natas, we spent the next hour walking through the Jeronimos Monestary, capturing more picturesque moments while learning about the history of the monastery. The Belém Tower was our last stop of the morning, where we caught some beautiful (and very windy) views of the Tagus River. The amount of visitors at one time are limited, so this did require about a 50 minute wait to get in. Despite the wait, all 3 of these stops should make it on your list!

On the tram ride back to the center of Lisbon, LXFactory was an easy stop along the way. This was a really unique area with shopping, food stops, libraries, coffee shops, and live music. We got a really great happy hour while catching a live band, and picked up a few souvenirs. While not historic like many other parts of the city, this was still a really cool pit stop and an opportunity for some more good eats!

Later that evening, we had a dinner reservation back in Lisbon at Leonetta, inspired by my TikTok scrolling for restaurant recommendations. This was a super cozy spot with amazing pasta that did NOT disappoint - it was also very reasonably priced (earning an even higher rating in my book!).

Day 6: Day in Sintra

We spent our next day in the fairytale city of Sintra and WOW. STUNNING. A day spent in Sintra 100% needs to be a part of your own itinerary. The town was so quaint, the views were incredible, and the architecture was so rich in history. I truly felt like we were walking through a storybook.

Plus, getting to Sintra was easy. It was about an hour train ride from the center of Lisbon and only cost 3 euros per ticket.

There are so many sights to explore there, but we prioritized seeing the Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira. Between the two of these sights, we spent about 6 hours exploring, and spent the later part of the afternoon walking through the town before sunset (and finding more pastries, of course).

Pena Palace is definitely the most popular place to see when visiting Sintra, and it was beautiful, however, we ended up enjoying the gardens of Quinta da Regaleira even more!

Note: They are very strict with the arrival time printed on your tickets for Pena if you choose to walk through the interior of the palace. Plan accordingly! Your uber is only able to take you as far as the palace gardens - and there is still another 30 minute walk to reach the entrance of the actual interior of the palace from the garden entrance.

Day 7: Enjoy the Miradouros & Good Eats

On our last full day in Lisbon, we wanted to soak it all in. We decided to take our time aimlessly walking throughout the neighborhoods, catching spectacular views (many of Lisbon's miradouros), and taking advantage of all of the good eats while we could. We started our morning with brunch at Dear Breakfast (of course, another TikTok recommendation) and started wandering.

We enjoyed a slow day and taking in all of the beauty of each viewpoint. November was such an ideal time of year to experience Lisbon on foot like this - the weather was mild and the sun was shining - making the perfect temperature for walking all day throughout the hilly city. We walked over 20,000 steps this day, and didn't end up drenched in sweat (or fighting off crowds) for our photo ops at each outlook! Our favorite viewpoint was Miradouro de Santa Luzia, where you get a great view of the Tagus River and all of the red rooftops of Alfama.

That evening, we had a dinner reservation at one of the most popular Portuguese restaurants, Ponto Final, which is known for it's location along the river and stellar sunsets. It is a bit of a journey to get to via ferry, however, many feel that it is worth it for the unique experience.

Unfortunately, as we were in Lisbon in November, the sun set at 5:30PM, and Ponto Final does not re-open for dinner until 7PM. We had no issue getting a reservation, although we did end up eating in the dark. While it was great Portuguese cuisine, you can likely leave this one off your off-season itinerary if it's sunset views you are looking for.

As an alternative, we actually grabbed a few pre-dinner drinks at Quiosque Ribiera das Naus to watch the sunset before catching our ferry for dinner. This was a cute little spot where there were plenty of tables and lounge chairs to sit back, sip a glass of wine, and enjoy the view on the water. I could've watched the sunset here every night!

Day 8: Travel Day Back Home

With tired legs and full bellies, we caught a late morning flight back to Philadelphia (but not before grabbing a few more pastel de natas to go!)

Portugal, we will be back!