As new parents, our trip to the Algarve was designed to balance being baby-friendly with natural beauty and cultural immersion. From the dramatic cliffs of the west to the quiet charm of the east, this journey delivered a rewarding and varied Portuguese experience that went well beyond the standard beach holiday.

Lagos: Coastal Splendor

Lagos served as our ideal base for exploring the Western Algarve.

• Old Town: We dedicated much of our time to simply wandering the Lagos Old Town. The historic center, with its maze of charming cobblestone streets, provided the perfect backdrop for morning strolls.
• Iconic Views: Ponta Da Piedade served breathtaking views of the iconic sea arch and rock stacks. While Lagos is famous for boating to see the Benagil grottos and dolphins, we consciously avoided this due to traveling with a young baby. We found that the cliff-top walks alone were absolutely worth the visit!
• Beach: We did visit Praia de Batata for a taste of the coast. But a warning for fellow swimmers: the Atlantic water there was shockingly cold! We found it hard to get in, even on a scorching day.
• Dining Highlights: Our meals were a mix, but we particularly enjoyed the whole grilled sea bass at Casa Mae’s Orta and fresh sushi at Studio Satake. For breakfast, the yogurt bowl from Indigo Bar was a hit.

Silves: Wine, History, and Views

To inject some culture, we planned a fantastic day trip inland to Silves. This former Moorish capital was a fascinating contrast to the coastal towns.

• Historic Tour: We took a private walking tour through the steep streets, focusing on the history of the Cathedral de Silves. The climb rewarded us with beautiful views of the town’s colorful terracotta rooftops and surrounding landscape.
• Wine: We combined our history lesson with leisure by booking a wine tasting and vineyard tour at Morgado do Quintão. This was a great opportunity to sample local varietals and see the beautiful, rolling countryside of the Algarve.

Tavira: Calm and Cookery

Concluding our journey in Tavira offered a serene contrast, characterized by its slow, river-fed pace and deep culinary roots.

• Market to Table: We joined Taste Algarve for a market tour and cooking class. After selecting the freshest fish and produce, we successfully learned to cook intricate dishes like garlic confit goat cheese and fish and seafood cataplana. Inspired by our success, we spent several nights cooking our own dinner at the Airbnb with ingredients from the Tavira market.
• TukTuk and Salt Flats: We took a short TukTuk city tour to cover the historic highlights efficiently and ventured out to the Salt Flats to see the unique landscape and local flamingos!
• Riverfront & Sea: For a classic beach day, we caught the ferry out to Tavira Island for wide stretches of sand. In the evenings, we loved strolling along the Gilão River Waterfront to enjoy the sunset views before dining at spots like Borda D’Agua Gastrobar or Restaurante Brisa do Rio.

The Algarve was both challenging and rewarding. It demanded an appreciation for its history, a tolerance for cold water, and a willingness to explore beyond the beaches—and those are the elements that made the trip truly memorable!