Portugal, Part I: The Southern Escape
vermelho in melides
Portugal is one of those countries that quietly captures you — layered with design, warmth, and a pace that invites you to exhale.
If you have one to two weeks, I usually split the country into two itineraries:
North: Lisbon, Porto, Douro Valley
South: Lisbon, Comporta & the Algarve
This guide focuses on the south, a combination of golden coasts, boutique design hotels, and easy living. (I’ll share the Northern edition soon — but if you’re heading that way, I already have favorite hotels and local partners I’d be happy to recommend.)
Algarve: Stay at Vila Vita Parc — the best resort in the region, full stop. It has direct beach access, endless restaurants, a gorgeous spa, and perhaps the best breakfast buffet you’ll ever experience. You could spend days here hiking the cliffs, visiting Porches Pottery, or lunching seaside at Rei das Praias.
Comporta: Chic, quiet, and impossibly photogenic. Stay at Vermelho, Sublime Comporta, or AlmaLusa — each with its own personality. Lunch at Cavalariça in the village or at Sublime Beach Club, and don’t miss the secret beach near Vermelho.
Lisbon: I always end or begin in Lisbon. Stay at AlmaLusa Baixa/Chiado, Bairro Alto Hotel, or Palácio Ludovice — all well-located and beautifully designed. Pair sightseeing with slow afternoons at Comida Independente, Pontofinal, or Seagull Method Café, and skip the long lines at Pastéis de Belém — Manteigaria is better.
For a day trip: Sintra + Cascais — palaces, cliffs, and oceanfront lunches.
Read my full Southern Portugal guide: Tune in on Substack
The full guide has everything you need including restaurant details, scenic routes, and hotel recs for every type of traveler.
Portugal: Sun, Culture & Slow Living
Portugal has a quiet magnetism—where golden coastlines meet timeless cities and long lunches stretch into evening. From Lisbon’s tiled streets to Comporta’s minimalist charm and the Algarve’s cliffside beaches, it’s a country that feels both grounded and glamorous.
Whether it’s your first visit or your fifth, Portugal always reveals something new—another view, another flavor, another reason to linger.
Ready to plan your Portugal escape?
Let me design a journey that’s beautifully paced, design-forward, and deeply restorative.
Reach out to start planning
With love, Michelle
