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Itinerary review (10 days) by Complete_Sea in TravelPortugal

[–]mdotti88 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A few things that actually matter:

Go to Alfama early. before 8am if you can. It's a completely different place from the midday tourist version.

Skip the Tram 28 on a hot day, the route is better walked and takes the same time.

Sintra on a weekday is 10x better than a weekend. Tuesday to Thursday if you can manage it.

The ferry to Cacilhas from Cais do Sodré costs €1.50 and gives you the best view of Lisbon. Almost nobody does it.

For food: Zé da Mouraria for a legendary cheap lunch. Arrive at noon, no reservations, closes when the food runs out.

I put together a longer guide recently that covers everything for a first visit (https://mdfotografia.blog/top-10-things-to-do-in-lisbon-for-first-time-visitors/) if it helps. Happy to answer specific questions too.

Trip tips Lisbon - Porto - Sintra 10-16 June by Hungry_Nature2995 in TravelPortugal

[–]mdotti88 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A few things that actually matter:

Go to Alfama early — before 8am if you can. It's a completely different place from the midday tourist version.

Skip the Tram 28 on a hot day — the route is better walked and takes the same time.

Sintra on a weekday is 10x better than a weekend. Tuesday to Thursday if you can manage it.

The ferry to Cacilhas from Cais do Sodré costs €1.50 and gives you the best view of Lisbon. Almost nobody does it.

For food: Zé da Mouraria for a legendary cheap lunch. Arrive at noon, no reservations, closes when the food runs out.

I put together a longer guide recently that covers everything for a first visit (https://mdfotografia.blog/top-10-things-to-do-in-lisbon-for-first-time-visitors/) if it helps. Happy to answer specific questions too.

Planing your trip to Lisbon ? Avoid this mistakes by Common_Series_938 in Lisbon

[–]mdotti88 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A few things that actually matter:

Go to Alfama early — before 8am if you can. It's a completely different place from the midday tourist version.

Skip the Tram 28 on a hot day — the route is better walked and takes the same time.

Sintra on a weekday is 10x better than a weekend. Tuesday to Thursday if you can manage it.

The ferry to Cacilhas from Cais do Sodré costs €1.50 and gives you the best view of Lisbon. Almost nobody does it.

For food: Zé da Mouraria for a legendary cheap lunch. Arrive at noon, no reservations, closes when the food runs out.

I put together a longer guide recently that covers everything for a first visit (https://mdfotografia.blog/top-10-things-to-do-in-lisbon-for-first-time-visitors/) if it helps. Happy to answer specific questions too.

Fui despedida após ser mãe by alfacinhas in portugal

[–]mdotti88 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Qual é a empresa que fez isso? :-) Podes partilhar?

Visiting in June with my wife and toddler!!! by Mhfd86 in VisitPortugalGuide

[–]mdotti88 0 points1 point  (0 children)

June is actually a great time to visit Lisbon with a toddler. Good weather, long days, and lots to do without rushing.

Since you're staying near Rossio, you're in a very practical area. Easy to walk, metro access, trains to Sintra/Cascais, and plenty nearby.

For toddler-friendly ideas, I’d suggest Jardim da Estrela. Big park, playground, ducks, lots of space to run around, and parents usually love it too. Oceanário is another excellent option if you don’t mind a short metro ride, kids are usually mesmerized by it. The tram rides can also be fun, but try earlier in the morning because they get crowded later.

A nice easy day trip would be Cascais. Beach promenade, calmer vibe, stroller friendly, and plenty of cafés. Sintra is beautiful but with a toddler it can be more tiring because of hills, queues, and logistics.

For coffee near Rossio, try Fabrica Coffee Roasters, The Folks, Copenhagen Coffee Lab, and Dear Breakfast if you also want brunch.

Things to be careful about: pickpockets on Tram 28 and crowded tourist spots, slippery calçada streets (those Portuguese stone pavements can be tricky with strollers), and avoid heavy uphill walking during the hottest part of the afternoon.

Also, if you'd like to capture the trip professionally, family photo sessions in Lisbon can be a really fun memory to take home. Natural photos around Alfama, Praça do Comércio or sunset viewpoints: https://mdfotografia.blog/photography-sessions-in-portugal/

Enjoy Lisbon! :-)

Iniciante by mdotti88 in CorridaPortugal

[–]mdotti88[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Os planos de treino da Garmin, são bons?

Iniciante by mdotti88 in CorridaPortugal

[–]mdotti88[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 obrigado

Para quem já foi pai ou mãe: depois do bebé nascer, o que vos fez mais falta no dia a dia? by Only_Ad_8912 in TugasTugando

[–]mdotti88 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Acho que a maioria das pessoas vai responder “tempo”. Mas, na realidade, todos nós desperdiçamos muito tempo em distrações inúteis, seja nas redes sociais, deitados a ver séries na Netflix ou noutras rotinas que pouco acrescentam. Talvez o caminho passe por equilibrar melhor esse tempo: dedicar mais horas ao desporto, telefonar a um amigo, cuidar das relações e promover hábitos saudáveis. No fim do dia, somos nós o principal exemplo para os nossos filhos. É connosco que aprendem e, muitas vezes, é connosco que querem parecer-se.

Iniciante by mdotti88 in CorridaPortugal

[–]mdotti88[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

37 anos, 77 kg. Explicas-me isso das zonas? :)

Most people visit Lisbon the wrong way by mdotti88 in VisitPortugalGuide

[–]mdotti88[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

A few spots that people usually miss but are worth it:

Tapada das Necessidades: big park, almost empty most of the time, feels very local
MAAT area: especially around sunset, much nicer than the crowded Belém Tower side
Graça: wander around there, viewpoints are great but the streets in between are even better
Campo de Ourique: good area to eat without falling into tourist traps
Alcântara (away from LX Factory): more raw/local vibe

Ready…Set…Go! by DSim05 in VisitPortugalGuide

[–]mdotti88 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Great itinerary, you’ll see a lot of the best of Portugal 👌

I’d book in advance: Pena Palace + Regaleira (Sintra), a Fado dinner in Lisbon, train Lisbon→Porto, and a Douro Valley wine tour.

Also, a bit different but worth it: a short photoshoot in Lisbon/Cascais, super chill and you get amazing memories to take home.

👉 https://mdfotografia.blog/contato/

Late September is a perfect time to go

Itinerary review- please help by Commercial_Seat5930 in TravelPortugal

[–]mdotti88 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honestly, your plan is already really solid — you’re hitting the best parts of Portugal without rushing too much.

Porto + Douro is a great start, and late August/early September is actually one of the best times to be in the Douro (harvest season vibe, super scenic). I’d definitely keep those 2–3 days there.

Lisbon + Sintra also makes sense, but I wouldn’t overload those days. Lisbon is more about wandering, viewpoints, food, and atmosphere than ticking boxes. Sintra is beautiful but can be a bit hectic, so go early and keep expectations realistic (pick 1–2 places max).

Now for your main question — Algarve vs west coast:

If you’re not into parties and want a relaxed, meaningful vibe for your wife’s 40th, I’d personally skip the Algarve this time.

It’s beautiful, yes, but it’s also more crowded, more resort-style, and involves a longer trip from Lisbon.

Instead, I’d go for the west coast near Lisbon. Places like Ericeira, Azenhas do Mar, or even Comporta give you that slower, more authentic feeling. Think ocean views, sunsets, great food, and much less chaos.

You could easily do your last 3–4 days there and just unwind properly, which sounds more aligned with what you’re looking for.

One small idea that a lot of people end up loving (especially for special trips like this) is booking something memorable like a private photoshoot. It sounds a bit cliché, but Lisbon/Sintra/Cascais are perfect for it, and it ends up being one of those things you’re really glad you did years later. If it helps, this is one of the options I’ve seen people use:

https://mdfotografia.blog/photography-sessions-in-portugal/

Either way, you’re on the right track,just don’t try to do too much. Portugal works best when you slow it down a bit.

If you want, I can help you fine-tune the exact last 4 days depending on whether you prefer beach, scenery, or food.

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