I've been avidly reading postings and tour books while planning a 2 week trip to Portugal in early November. Our trip will probably span the Algarve to Obidos.

1. Is it possible to swim off Algarve beaches this late in the season;
2. Will lovely flowers/vegetation commented on still be evident in towns like Obidos?
3. Are there places which are likely to be closed or not particularly attractive during this period?

Thanks for your help.

Hi stillhouse,
I have been to Algarve in mid October and the weather then is quite nice, however I didn't go in the sea. It is too cold. The water looks gorgeous but its cold.

The Algarve is on the Atlantic not the Med. The Atlantic is significantly colder.

In November naturally it would be colder and I suspect it would take a hardy person in a wet suit to swim then.

I am off there again in 2 weeks and I will think twice about swimming in the sea even then.

This is just my personal opinion, there may well be others that differ in opinion.

Good luck

Muck

Hi,
Algarve is a very nice place but hardly the place to swim in November, unless you don't mind very cold water!
You will still get vegetation, but the country is greener up North, so do not bring your expectations too high. And no, I do not remember anything to be closed in November, exception to most clubs and bars (at least the trendy ones) in Algarve.
I live in Lisbon and November is a lovely month to come visit Portugal if you are lucky with the weather, but it is also a month where you are likely to get some rain (or even a lot of it!). Mainly, do not forget your umbrella.
I do not know exactly what you would like to visit, or in what kind of budget you will be, so it is hard for me to give suggestions.
I have to be honest, I belong to that gorup of Portuguese people that love the beach but hates the crowds so I am not very good for suggestions in Algarve as we avoid going there. I do think you should not miss Sagres and a very nice road to take is the one on the coast from Sagres to Lisbon (called the "Costa Vicentina", already Alentejo). If this is the first time you are coming to Portugal, do not miss Évora and the towns around (Alentejo as well, but not on the coast). If you are not on a tight budget, try staying at some of the Portuguese Pousadas, there are plenty in Alentejo. I am sure that you are able to get good deals at that time of the year, specially during the week. Be aware that some of the historic pousadas have quite small rooms, which are part of their charm, but may be disappointing to some guests. Find out if there are any festivities in Obidos: it gets over crowded and it is almost impossible to be there at those times. Two recommended places to eat there are the Pousada de Óbidos and the "Casa das Senhoras Rainhas", you need reservation to any of those places.
Not very far from Lisbon, you have the National Horse Fair, taking place every year during "São Martinho" (a must in November is to eat chestnuts, traditionally on the 11th, you can buy some on the street, but be sure that you only get them while they are warm). It is an opportunity to visit a fair, and to get to know the Lusitano horse (Portugal's own...). Apart from these, you get the typical Lisbon, Cascais, Sintra sightseeing. Before I forget, if you like Óbidos and since you are planning being in the South, do not miss Monsaraz. Have a nice trip !

Thank you for your responses. This will be my first trip to Portugal and I'm having a hard time deciding how far to go. I have a high energy level and will pack a lot into whatever destinations we see, but I don't want to spend all of my time in the car. As to what I like:

1. Gorgeous Scenery, particularly mountains and coast
2. Hiking and walking
3. History and historic buildings
4. Walking tours
5. Museums of all types
6. Chatting with local residents
7. Interesting, but not luxurious inns

What I'm not intested in-

1. Bullfighting. I'd probably find information on this interesting but don't want to see a bullfight.
2. Fado
3. Endless churches. I know many of these have great architecture, and I do like monasteries and convents because of their history, but I just can't get into churches.

Unfortunately I don't speak Portugese-will some Spanish help?

I think you should be sure to include the Alentejo, given your list of likes.

Spanish will be of some but limited use. It will not help you understand spoken Portugese, which does not sound anything at all like Spanish, even when the written words are close. But many (most) Portugese understand Spanish and lots of them speak English. I would guess that there is some sensitivity about speaking Spanish since Spain is the 800 lb gorilla next door, but the Portugese are unfailingly polite and will do a lot to accomodate you.

After traveling in a number of countries with Romance languages, you will find that you can read most of the signs in most of them, whether the signs are in Portugese, Spanish, Catalan, Occitan, Provencal, French, Corsican, Italian, or Sicilian. I would love to go to Romania and see whether this applies there.

Hi stillhouse,
The Algarve is definately geared up for visitors although it is not nearly as tacky as many places (Albufeira excepted).

However the following are a few places that we liked:
Caldas de Monchique- Beautiful place to visit up in the hills.

Sagres: Interesting fortification amongst other things to see, quite windy but stunning coastline.

Portamao: Visit one of the outdoor restaurants near the bridge. Go at lunchtime and have fresh fish. I initially thought this was a tourist thing but it was full of Portugese people when we were there.

Lagos: nice town lovely views.

Silves: Fortification up on the hill well worth visiting.

Plenty more to see its a lovely place.

Enjoy

R

Hi again!
I will try to give suggestions based on my favorite sightseeing places in the South if the country:
1. The tips given by Mucky about Algarve are very good, you can follow those. I will much rather go to Alentejo than to Algarve. It does not have the best scenery if you wish to see the ocean, although the coast is great. There has been a lot of investment on "turismo rural" in that area. Great places to stay, some of them quite popular now. Check the website www.alentejolitoral.pt (I am hoping you can read Portuguese), also www.atmospherehotels.pt (sorry, in portuguese also...) and www.wonderfulland.com/wonder2006/index_pt.html (finally one in English!!!). Again, try to go to Évora and Monsaraz. You do not need to stay long in any of these places, but they are definitely a "must see". I have no idea how old you are, but Évora has a big University and it is definitely fun to be there in November... If you take the route on the coast ("vicentina&quot, stay in one of the recommended "Turismo Rural". Stay in Zambujeira, Cercal, Carrapateira (look at the map and see what suits you best). Take the ferryboat in Troia. Stop in Comporta before to have lunch at one of the beach restaurants (great fresh fish and clams).
2. For hiking and walking I cannot help you. Best suggestion that you will get from me is up and down hill in Lisbon and Sintra...
3. If you want to avoid churches and not go further North, go to Óbidos, Évora, Monsaraz, Sintra and visit the castles, palaces or "just" the towns.
4. See 2. for my answer on this one...
5. Well, this really depend on what you enjoy. There are small museums spread throughout the country and then you have CCB, Museu do Fado, Museu do Chiado, Museu da Gulbenkian (classic and modern, Museu do Brinquedo and endless others in Lisbon area.
6. Stay in Turismo Rural, eat out at "tascas" (small, "bad-looking" restaurants, where locals go and the food is usually good and cheaper), go to fairs. People are usually friendly around here.
7.Definitely, Turimso Rural. Basically, those are family-owned inns. There are 3 types: "Turismo de habitação", meaning that the house itself has some touristic value, usually these will be more expensive and mostly up North (small amnor houses); "Turismo rural", which means that they maintain the typical regional architecture; "Agro-turismo", meaning that guests may be allowed to work the land or ride a horse if they wish (usually paying something extra).
As a final remark, speak Spanish only if people do not understand you at all in English. The worse you can do to a Portuguese is to say "Gracias": we are NOT a Spanish province Learn your "Obrigado" and you will do just fine