From 6 full days to 3 days in Portugal, I had to make the most of my time here given the travel disruptions that cut my trip short.
Long story short, United had delayed our flight 6 hours, for nonsense reasons, then put us all on a flight and right after departing the gate they told us the flight staff had timed out (after getting our flight a new crew 30 minutes before we boarded). Not accommodating anyone after this at 2:00 in the morning, to my luck I was booked on the next flight out the next evening, with one seat to spare, losing two full days of what I had planned for this Portugal trip.
With limited vacation days from work, I refused to let the chaos ruin the adventure. Instead, I made the most of every moment.
Here’s how I turned a travel disaster into an unforgettable three-day trip through Lisbon and the Algarve.
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3-Day Portugal Travel Overview
☀️ Day 1: Lagos + Coastal Hike
- Coffee at 📍Bora Cafe + exploring shops
- Hike the Seven Hanging Valleys trail 🌊
- Starts at 📍Marinha Beach
- Views + cliffs + peek into Benagil Cave
- Beach time at 📍Praia Dona Ana + 📍Estudantes hidden tunnels 🏖️
- Tapas dinner at 📍BARBOSA Bar & Kitchen 🍽️
- tuna tartar, flaming chorizo, burrata, shrimp
🌅 Day 2: Sunrise + Lisbon Arrival
- Sunrise swim in Lagos 🌊
- Bus to Lisbon 🚌
- Wander Bairro Alto streets 👣
- Walk Rua Nova do Carvalho ⛱️🌈
- Dinner in Alfama with wine + sunset views 🍷
💃 Day 3: Lisbon Magic
- Breakfast in Alfama ☕ (with a pastel de nata, of course!)
- Tuk Tuk city tour 🚖 through Lisbon’s hills
- Explore Castelo de São Jorge + shop local boutiques in Alfama 🏰
- Visited NEXT MEMORY Perfume Atelier for a custom experience ✨
- Ended the trip with a night out in Lisbon 🍸✨
Algarve region – Lagos
I was supposed to have two full days in the Algarve region which quickly turned into one full day which meant I needed to make the most of the orange cliffsides, that rayed into a constant golden hour along the beaches and beautiful views that encapsulated you along the beach and any walk near the coastline.
We decided to stay in Lagos because of its lively atmosphere and its great location for exploring other towns along the Algarve coast. It also has a lot of affordable accommodation options. We stayed at Dbv Hostel E Guesthouse. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it because the rooms were pretty small, but the location was perfect for getting to the city center and nearby beaches. Plus, the rooftop was a great place to relax after a long day of exploring.
During my train ride from Lisbon to Lagos, I realized I only had one full day in the Algarve. I wanted to make the most of it, balancing city exploring with beach time.
The perfect plan: wake up early, grab coffee at Bora Café, wander through Lagos’ charming streets, then head out for a coastal hike.
One of the highlights of the Algarve is the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail, a stunning coastal hike that runs between Praia da Marinha and Praia de Vale Centeanes. Along the way you’ll see dramatic cliff views and even look down into the famous Benagil Cave.
Not making it all the way to Vale Centeanes Beach, because we wanted to see the beaches near Lagos as well, we finished at Benagil Beach and made our way back to Lagos from here.
Tip* I used Bolt throughout Portugal, although Uber is available, I found Bolt to be more affordable!
While in Lagos, my friends had seen the striking beach of Estudantes which they came across from going under hidden tunnels carved into the cliffs which looked jaw dropping.
Finishing our day off in Lagos, we ended at Praia Dona Ana where we settled in the narrow strip of shadows from the cliffs to get shade. The evening ended with a delicious Tapas meal at BARBOSA Bar & Kitchen with spotlight dishes including the Tuna Tartar, Flaming Chorizo (literally set on fire), Pesto Burrata and shrimp.
To make the most of what was already my last day in Lagos, we ended up meeting some incredible friends on the beach of Praia da Batata, where we sat along a beach side fire with Kebabs and drinks, sharing laughs and memories, until the sunrise creeped above the horizon.
Fully embracing a FULL day in Lagos, it was worth every minute of lost sleep and saving it for our bus journey to Lisbon the morning of.
I know this isn’t the most traditional travel guide for the Algarve, but it’s a reminder that even when plans fall apart, you can still make the most of a destination. None of my transportation or accommodations were refundable, so instead of booking ahead, I decided to go with the flow and it ended up being an unforgettable adventure.
Moving on to…Lisbon!
From Lagos to Lisbon, we embarked on a 3 hour and 40 minute bus ride for about $20 through the Algarve region to the heart of Lisbon.
Tired and drowsy, once we made it to Lisbon the first stop was lunch at Vista Do Castelo in the streets of Chiado, a winding neighborhood of shops, boutiques and restaurants. Despite hustling our suitcases up the stairs of Chiado, this restaurant did not disappoint and it was the perfect opportunity to try a Portuguese classic – Peri Peri Chicken.
After settling into our apartment in the heart of Chiado, we hit the streets of Bairro Alto – a beautiful bohemian neighborhood in the city. The cobbled streets bring a festive energy to the streets, especially along Rua Nova do Carvalho decorated with rainbow umbrellas hovering among the bars and cafes that line the narrow street.
Spend a drink or two here, and then make your way to Castro to try Pastel de Nata. Having only tried two ateliers, this one was my favorite.
Tip * Sprinkle cinnamon on top and I promise it will not disappoint
Wrapping up this long day, we enjoyed a nice dinner at BOA-BAO, an authentic and mouthwatering Asian Restaurant. Here you can peek into the kitchen and catch the chefs live in action and my favorite, unique touch was the passport menus! We did family style and ordered a little taste of everything, plus they had special deals when you ordered from select menu items (may vary).
The second day is your day to explore Alfama Lisbon – a vibrant steep neighborhood with iconic city views and historic landmarks scattered throughout the winding roads. Start your morning with Pastel de Nata and coffee from one of the various ateliers to choose from.
Since this was already marking our last day in Lisbon we wanted to make the most of our time exploring the city, so we ended up booking a TukTuk tour that brings you to the top landmarks throughout the city. This tour was great and he even had an English translation to walk us through all the history and back stories of Lisbon, which was not only shocking but very informative.
On this tour we got to see:
- Lisbon Cathedral
- Miradouro de Santa Luzia (Infamous viewpoint, fantastic at sunsets)
- Lisbon National Pantheon
- Mural de Azulejos – Botto Machado (Famous French Mural)
- Praça do Comércio (Main Square)
Another important activity you should do during your time in Lisbon is take a tram ride. It doesn’t need to be the iconic *tram ride, but if you can get on one of the older trams to get you where you need to be it’s definitely worth it!
*Tram 28 is the iconic line, winding through Alfama, Baixa, Graça, and Bairro Alto, which we saw plenty of tourists doing. Don’t get me wrong it’s a great way to explore the hilly city without walking or booking a TukTuk but those trams get very packed and uncomfortable (and you better hope to be near a window seat).
Following the TukTuk tour, we returned with the tram to Alfama where we wanted to explore Castelo de São Jorge and along the way, we stopped at a lively bar hidden in the narrow streets before finally walking up to the castle.
Although you have to buy tickets to explore the castle, there is a very cute neighborhood that borders the castle that is also worth your time walking around, having some food and drinks while you watch people wait in the long line to get into the castle (and a great place for gifts).
Once we had gotten our steps in for the day, we stopped at NEXT MEMORY Perfume Atelier for a unique experience. While you don’t actually customize the scent itself, you design the case for the perfume, making it a personalized keepsake from Lisbon. It was such a fun and relaxing experience trying the different fragrances and leaving with a custom piece that will always remind me of the city.
To end the night, we toasted goodbye at a hidden speakeasy called The Secret Poets Society, which turned out to be the perfect finale to our short but adventure-packed trip to Portugal. The host created the bar himself and crafts one-of-a-kind cocktails that he spends hours perfecting. It felt like such a special and intimate experience, and it’s definitely a place I would recommend visiting.
We even left with two bottles of wine he kindly sold to us during the late hours of the night before staying awake until our early morning flights (which I don’t necessarily recommend).
Overall
While I wouldn’t recommend exploring Portugal in just three days, this trip reminded me that even with limited time, you can still create an unforgettable experience. With a little planning and flexibility, it’s possible to immerse yourself in the culture, meet incredible people, and truly make the most of every moment.
Adjusting to a full-time job has definitely changed the way I travel. I can’t always extend trips when things go wrong, but instead I’ve learned to step back, shift my perspective, and embrace the adventure for what it is.
If anything, I hope this encourages you to get out there and travel—and when things don’t go according to plan, embrace it.
ContiTravels 
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