Portugal - Algarve
 

My fiance and I are considering Algarve, Portugal for our Honeymoon. We are looking for a good base to take day trips and something less touristy (i understand most of the region will be filled with tourist in late june / early july) but perfer a good mix of culture, good food and wine, easy beach access and relaxation. We are flying into Lisbon and will head down to the Algarve after a couple of days. Any feedback will be much appreciated.

What we are looking for in a town? We like activities. We are not the type of couple that enjoys laying on a beach all day more interested in see historical sites, good food and wine, natural wonders, day trips to other towns, boat tours, maybe even some active extrusions. Hopefully that helps. Any additional insight is much appreciated.

Lagos is pretty nice because it is pretty and strollable, has loads of nice restaurants, and is a decent base for daytrips. Daytrips can include Capo Sao Vicente (the far southwest corner of Portugal, and Prince Henry's navigation school), the pretty coast out southwest with rolling hills nice walks and pretty towns, the castle in Silves, and then trips out East to Tavira, the old fort at Castro Marim, and across the border Ayamonte in Spain. There are loads more interesting towns and sights that make having a car worthwhile.

Rick Steves has been steering people toward Salema for a number of years, which is futher west, small and more rustic, and it has some limited charm, and the surrounding area is pleasant, though Lagos is more central and is a fine little city.

I'd aim for somewhere in the Alentejo, the wine is better and fewer tourists.

Thank you for the responses. We are arriving late june (into Lisbon) and leaving early july. I have had a few others suggest Alentejo. We are starting in Lisbon then what to spend a 4 or 5 days in either Alentejo or Algarve before we had to Paris (we have a few friends there). Any insight? ALentejo or Algarve? Figured both might be a lot. We are planning on flying out of Faro so imagine we could stay one night there.

The Algarve will be wall to wall coach buses threading between golf courses and taking people to and from the airport.

The Alentejo, is just far enough to minimise the pressure and yet allows you to access some old cities, some wonderful national parks and go bird watching, oak trails etc, the locals will have a little less English but there is always someone around who can help out and are very friendly.

If you want a very graceful place to hang out near a quiet beach have a look at Casa Fajara Rustic Boutique House & Hotel which is just on the border between the ALgarve and the Alentejo.

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_R...t_Algarve.html

Evora is the obvious city to visit in the Alentejo, and you might like a drive to Castelo de Marvao.

Wines
http://www.winesofportugal.info/pagina.php?codNode=3907
http://www.vinhosdoalentejo.pt/detal...?id=16&lang=en
http://www.theguardian.com/travel/20...ne-restaurants

We have friends who live in the Algarve, and when they come to visit us they always bring the wines of Alentejo. Because, they are stupidly cheap and very good.

Except for beach time, you have all reasons to stay in Alentejo.
I heard about a thematic hotel (Hotel Marmoris Vila Viçosa). When I first saw your post I remembered this hotel as a perfect base to explore the upper Alentejo. Give a look to their website.
If you opt for Alentejo, you can still do beach time is Lisbon area.

"...in Lisbon area"
http://alentejomarmoris.com/