Portugal for spring break?

[Anonymous]

Is April a good time to visit Portugal? We were thinking a couple days in Lisbon and then the Algarve. Or maybe skip Lisbon and just stay in the Algarve. But if the water is too cold to swim, is there really anything else to do there?

Or is this a better trip for the summer, even though it will be hotter and more crowded?

[Anonymous]

I think April is a great time to visit the Iberian Peninsula. Beautiful sunshine, everything in blossom, and it will feel very warm to you if you are coming from DC and points north.

It is off season for the Algarve. But you can still enjoy the seaside tranquility, eat really good seafood, buy cheap, high-quality portuguese linens, stroll by the ocean without the crowds, etc. And if you go during Semana Santa (april 13-19 this year) the beach may actually be a bit lively since people usually get this week off and do some national tourism.

The Algarve is on the Atlantic and at the same latitude as Virginia so, April is a little early for swimming. But heat waves start earlier and earlier every year in Europe so you might even get decent swimming weather.

[Anonymous]

Also bring a warm coat for this trip! The coast can get very windy and cold especially toward the evening/early mornings. It's a damp cold so you will be glad to have a really great warm waterproof winter jacket, even if you don't need it at all int he middl eof the day.

[Anonymous]

We are going to Portugal in April - staying just under two weeks. We decided against going down to the Algarve area since it seemed it would be too cold to swim. I think warm enough to sit on the beach, but the water is still cold in April.

We’re doing 4 days based in Cascais (will use mainly as a base for day trips), then 4 days in Porto, and 4 days in Lisbon.

[Anonymous]

We decided against Algarve in April because of the cold, and stuck to Porto and Lisbon.

[Anonymous]

Do 3 days in Lisbon so you can do a day trip to Sintra on the 3rd day. If you save Algarve for the summer, I would suggest going in mid/late June or very early in July to avoid the worse of the crowds. The water is chilly but swim-able.

[Anonymous]

We went for spring break in 2022. Last week of March - cool and rainy. We still had a blast, but didn't go south. DH got COVID and stayed an extra week in Lisbon - warm and sunny. So be ready for both!

[Anonymous]

We just went to Portugal over winter break - Lisbon and the Algarve. Yes, it was chilly but not uncomfortable, just needed a coat most days. I'm sure April would be great.

Obviously didn't go to the beach in the Algarve but did take a great dolphin watching trip, explored sites in some small towns, and did some hiking along the coast.

[Anonymous]

We went to Portugal in July and the water was frigid!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think April is a great time to visit the Iberian Peninsula. Beautiful sunshine, everything in blossom, and it will feel very warm to you if you are coming from DC and points north.

It is off season for the Algarve. But you can still enjoy the seaside tranquility, eat really good seafood, buy cheap, high-quality portuguese linens, stroll by the ocean without the crowds, etc. And if you go during Semana Santa (april 13-19 this year) the beach may actually be a bit lively since people usually get this week off and do some national tourism.

The Algarve is on the Atlantic and at the same latitude as Virginia so, April is a little early for swimming. But heat waves start earlier and earlier every year in Europe so you might even get decent swimming weather.

I highly doubt OP will get “decent swimming weather” in April. Portugal is not on the Mediterranean. It’s on the Atlantic!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We went to Portugal in July and the water was frigid!

+1
I think April is probably a great time to go with smaller crowds

[Anonymous]

Can you suggest some hotels in Lisbon?

We are looking at the Tivoli, bario alto hotel. Heard these maybe at the center of nightlife and noisy.


quote=Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We went to Portugal in July and the water was frigid!

+1
I think April is probably a great time to go with smaller crowds

[Anonymous]

https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/lispllx-pousada-de-lisboa/

quote=Anonymous]Can you suggest some hotels in Lisbon?

We are looking at the Tivoli, bario alto hotel. Heard these maybe at the center of nightlife and noisy.


quote=Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We went to Portugal in July and the water was frigid!

+1
I think April is probably a great time to go with smaller crowds

[Anonymous]

Any apartments Airbnb recommended?

Anonymous wrote:
https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/lispllx-pousada-de-lisboa/

quote=Anonymous]Can you suggest some hotels in Lisbon?

We are looking at the Tivoli, bario alto hotel. Heard these maybe at the center of nightlife and noisy.


quote=Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We went to Portugal in July and the water was frigid!

+1
I think April is probably a great time to go with smaller crowds

[Anonymous]

We went to Portugal in the summer of 2023. 4 days in Lisbon, 7 in Albufeira (Algarve), 4 days in Cascais.

We stayed at the Hotel Avenida Palace in Lisbon and I cannot recommend it enough. It is beautiful, comfortable, perfectly located, quiet, and the staff are incredibly hospitable.

In Albufeira we rented a villa overlooking the sea in a quieter area of the town. It's a very busy town that can get quite touristy but it didn't bother us. We LOVED the Algarve with all of its charming seaside towns. I would choose it again and again when visiting Portugal, even if it was winter.

Cascais was meh. Yes located closer to Sintra (a must see) and the sea but it was incredibly windy and didn't have much charm. We stayed at the Sheraton Cascais Resort, and the best way to describe it is: weird.

Have a wonderful trip!