Algarve or Madeira???
 

We're planning a trip to portugal for the summer (thinking june/july). Reading a lot on this forum of all the day trips from Lisbon so I've decided to extend our stay there and I think I'd like to go into the country for a little bit (maybe Evora) but then we'd definitely like some beach time (btw, we have a 20 month old toddler). Algarve? Madeira? or should we go North? We're spending 2 weeks in total in Portugal and just want to make sure we get a good flavor... never know when we'll be back.

Hi Roro - Madeira isn't big on beaches.

For that you're best bet is probably the Algarve.

Hope this helps ...

Steve

There are no beaches in Madeira (unless you count one man-made in the western coast). It is not a beach place at all. So Algarve is more like what you are looking for. Just remember that the water in The Atlantic is not necessarily warm.

Thanks for your replies. Will June be a good time to go down to the Algarve. I was thinking of being in Lisbon for the Feast of St. Antonio and then heading down to Algarve afterwards. What about the beaches closer to Lisbon or maybe in Porto?

OH.. and one more question. Would 1 week in the Algarve be too long? We have 2 weeks in total in Portugal.

Don't rule out Madeira just like that.

June would be perfect for the Algarve and a week would certainly not be too long.