Hi everyone,

My boyfriend and I are going to one of the Euro 2004 games in Portugal this year...It's in Aveiro, but we both really want to go to the algarve region because we love beaches. I see it's QUITE a hike from algarve to aveiro, and I'm wondering a few things:

1) Is there a region closer to the aveiro which has fantastic beaches? Unfortunately, we're late on the ball with booking, so i'm afraid everything near lisbon will be booked solid (including that western coast). Of course, I can always check, but those are my instincts.

2) I reserved a couple nights at the pousada in sagres, which I hear is fantastic. Is it easy to get from town to town in the algarve if we don't have a car? is the bus system good down there?

3) Does everyone think that spending one day in aveiro and then taking the train ALL the way to lisbon, then to lagos, then a bus to sagres is ridiculous? we would be staying in sagres for 5 days or so...Should we rent a car instead and brave it?

4) we are flying into lisbon...i hear sintra is a do not miss, but where to stay nearby that might not be booked full?

Thanks to everyone!
Natasha

Natasha, You need a car to see Portugal. I love the Pousada in Sagres, but it is a bit isolated for 5 days. I would stay in Lagos as a more centro and lively location--perhaps one nite at Sagres.

Thanks for the advice- I've spent the entire day reading through threads here, and it seems most people agree Lagos is nice. Is the driving around the Algarve as horrible as the rest of portugal? I'm terrified of getting into an accident in a foreign country!

The only driving hassle I saw was in the big cites--Lisbon and Porto.

Hi Natasha

Algarve is Cool but if you want to be surprised go to the Beaches in Alentejo coast. You still can find desert beaches and is not that touristic still

Think about It

Kind regards

Paulo