Hi All

We are coming back CVO in November and as it will be out of season we were thinking of doing some day trips. Has anyone any good recommendations? We may go to Silves to see the castle and also I have been look at Costa Vicentina national park but not really sure where exactly to start with this one!?

If anyone has any info on Costa Vicentina national park or recommendations that would be great.

Thanks

Chris

Monchique, especially if it's a clear day. Sagres and Cape St Vincent.

chrisox wrote:Hi All

We are coming back CVO in November and as it will be out of season we were thinking of doing some day trips. Has anyone any good recommendations? We may go to Silves to see the castle and also I have been look at Costa Vicentina national park but not really sure where exactly to start with this one!?

If anyone has any info on Costa Vicentina national park or recommendations that would be great.

Thanks

Chris

The west coast makes a lovely day out, Odeceixe, is one of the best beaches in Europe. Make sure you go on a sunny day, or you may see nothing and be blown away, the west coast can be very wild.

Burgau is nice. Combine it with coffee in the Lagos marina and a trip to Praia Dona Ana, just outside of Lagos.

We were in CVO last November and it was great weather and on the beach.
Even if not there is plenty to do. Also recommend the West Coast as so unspoilt and best when empty. You can visit the small town of Aljezur which is good for a wander round and has a castle. Our favourite beach near there is Praia do Amoreira which goes out for miles.
Also just had a trip to Faro which has a good old town to wander round and restaurants to visit plus a big market nearby. You may in November also be able to go on a small boat around the Ria Formosa which is interesting.
Then as advised, touring down to the Cape is best off season.
Lobule has a good Saturday market too.

Try taking the train from Estombar station to Faro in one direction and to Lagos in the other. You will see a lot of the countryside as the train meanders from station to station.

We will be out for November and generally find the weather good though chilly in the evening or out of the sun.
All the above recommended , but if you go to Faro, explore a bit further east and go to Tavira....lovely old town, Roman bridge, fascinating back streets, old castle ( free entrance).

If you go even further east, then Castro Marim is a great old border town, again with historic castle.

Drive to Praia de Luz and take an easy 1.5 hour walk along the scenic coast to Bergau : have a coffee/beer/snack at the Verandah Bergau , wander round the streets & walk back.....or even, with luck, get a bus back. A flat walk apart from an easy hill in the middle. Old Roman Villa remains in Luz.

Why not try our walking group?
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=26102

Meet new people, get some more ideas?

Geoff

We've been heading east this year for a change. Thorougly enjoyed Vila Real de San Antonio on the Rio Guadiana across from Spain (woth lots of Spanish visitors), Castro Marim (as Geoff recommended) and a lovely drive north along a deserted motorway to Alcoutin where a boat shuttles back and forth across the river and time has stood still.

Also the beach at Manta Rosa east of Tavira which several people on the forum recommended to me this summer

Hi All

Thanks so much for your suggestions I will definitely look into them. Also thanks Geoff for the walking group suggestion but I probably should have mentioned one small thing before I posted this(well two small things!) we have a 4 year old and 2 year old so we are limited to what we can do and I am not sure they are quite there for the long walks at the moment(nearly thou!).

I think we will go to the west coast in some form maybe to see the lighthouse or castle but as we come out to Portugal often I have now have a lot more suggestions as where to go as although the beach is great we do want to see more of the natural Algarve!

Thanks again guys

Chris

If you have small kids, then consider the train options, they'll love that.

dennisg wrote:Try taking the train from Estombar station to Faro in one direction and to Lagos in the other. You will see a lot of the countryside as the train meanders from station to station.

I have taken the train from Faro to Estomber on two occasions, loved actually seeing the scenery as normally I am driving. Quite fancy the trip to Lagos by train for a change.