Lagos, Algarve

We started off the day bright and early by driving to the town of Tavira. We stumbled upon an indoor farmers market. The market was a large space with many vendors selling nuts, dried fruits, local honey, teas and spices. We made sure to grab some delicious fruit on our way out, including peaches, nectarines and cherries, all in season of course…my favourite!

We then wandered toward the center of the old town. The focal point of Tavira is its severn-arched Ponte Romana (‘Roman bridge’), that spans the Gilão / Ségua river, but you’ll also find picturesque plazas, cobbled streets lined with pretty whitewashed buildings.

Just a short walk away from the old bridge is the Castelo de Tavira. This well preserved fortress is a secret garden. With cobblestone and ivy-lined walls, it offeres stunning views of the old town.

After a short visit, we head back towards the bridge. We came across a quaint square with a few restaurants. Unfortunately it was a holiday so everything was closed, but we would have stopped at Canalha, a local tapas bar just on the river.

We crossed the Ponte Romana to get to the other side of old town. This side was definetly busier than the other side of town. The streets were much narrower, lines with shops, bars and restaurants. Check out Armazém for pottery and home goods, or Kozii for linens.

Next stop was Santa Luzia: the octopus capital of Portugal. Santa Luzia is a delightful fishing village on the eastern Algarve, famed for octopus. The village using traditional and sustainable fishing techniques, while the retsuarants that line the harbour have perfected cooking this fickle dish. It was the perfect fay trip from Tavira.

Tip: This region of the Algarve is quite vast, it is best to rent a car to see as much as possible and explore the coastline. This way, you can do day trips to several villages along the coast.

The next part of our trip was spent in Laos, in Portugal's southern Algarve region. This region is much different from Tavira, as Laos is known for its walled old town, cliffs, and sandy coves. We checked into Casa Mãe for our short stay.

This dreamy estate is much more than a hotel. With a restaurant, spa, and terrace on site, you could easily spend a weekend without getting board. Just steps away from old town, it's also the perfect spot to explore.

We wandered into the town of Laos. Head to Praca Luis de Camoes in the old town and grab a pastel de nata from Casa de Nata. This place is known for these delicious custard filled pastries. They are the perfect snack to have during the day...not too sweet and full of flavour!

Walking around the pretty old town is another enjoyable activity, admiring the tiled buildings, the stonework of windows, and the wrought iron balconies. The highlight, however, is the Church of St. Anthony. Continue towards the waterfront until you reach Plaza Infante Dom Henrique.

Enjoy the evening see breeze before heading to Cervejaria 2 Irmãos for a seafood dinner. They serve oysters as well as the catch of the day. We ordered the sole grilled to perfection. For dessert, we tried a Portughese almond tart.

The next morning we had breakfast at Orta, the restaurant at Casa Mãe. They offer a healthy, farm to table brunch with local and seasonal ingredients. They have a menu where you can pick and choose from. I chose two poached eggs over sautéed kale and a green juice.

Lagos is very famous for its coves and grottos. A novel way to enjoy the beauty of the golden coast is by kayak, and Ponta da Piedade's scenic and dramatic grottos are a must see! The tour starts at the marina de Lagos where a catamaran picks you up and cruises along the beaches of this coast. Once at Ponta da Piedade, you get in your kayak.

Tip: While the Benagil Caves are famous in Portugal, avoid going during peak season. The Ponta da Piedade grottos are just as beautiful, and also offer a more authentic experience without the crowds.

After a day of swimming and exploring the grottos and hidden coves, we made it back to Casa Mãe.

We then went for an afternoon drive along the coast. We drove all the way to Cabo de São Vicente, the southwesternmost point in the Algarve. This hillside village has gorgeous views of the atlantic sea. Cabo de São Vicente is a wild and beautiful place that is really worth a visit.

Tip: For girls, make sure not to wear a dress or skirt when you visit, or risk it being blown away by the wind!

We then head back towards Tavira and stopped in the beach town of Salema. this sweet little town was quiet with just enough going on to make it worth our while. With a beachside hotel, a couple restaurants, with lawn chairs lining the beach, its the perfect spot for a stay along the coast if you want to avoid the town of Lagos but not miss out on the Algarve's beautiful beaches.

We sat down at Olhos n'Água, a small beachside restaurant. We ordered oysters and grilled calamary to start followed by the usual: freshly-caught sole along with fries and salad.

This was the end our of trip to the Algarve!