Lisbon, Algarve or Madeira: Which Portugal Destination Fits You?

Portugal is small, but its three best-known destinations are very different trips. One is a capital, one is a coastline and one is an island in the Atlantic. Here is how to choose.

Lisbon: a city break with day trips

Choose Lisbon if you like cities: viewpoints, trams, old neighbourhoods, food and museums. It is built on hills, and walking between the sights takes more energy than most people expect.

Our tours there:

Lisbon private city tour, five hours, starting at 07:00 or 13:00.
Sintra and Cascais, a full day to the palaces in the hills and the coast.

The Algarve: cliffs and beaches

Choose the Algarve if the trip is about the sea. The western coast has golden cliffs, sea caves and rock arches, and the towns are made for slow days.

Algarve coast: Benagil, Lagos and Sagres, from the sea caves to Cape St Vincent.
Tavira and Ria Formosa, the quieter eastern side.

Madeira: mountains in the ocean

Choose Madeira if you want landscape: volcanic peaks, cliffs, waterfalls and levada walks, on an island where the roads climb from the sea into the clouds.

Can't decide?

Lisbon and the Algarve combine easily on one trip by road. Madeira and the Azores are islands and need a flight. Whichever you pick, every one of our tours is private and customisable, and we can arrange the airport transfer at each end.