This country has everything to offer: beaches, mountains, vineyards, enchanting city life and is the cheapest country in Europe to visit. When my sister and I were planning her yearly trip over, we couldn’t wait to explore this amazing place! We finally decided to go to the algarve in the south and Lisbon. We flew into Lisbon and rented a car from Holiday Autos to drive down to southern part of the country. This is a great budget rental company! For only $100, we had a good car for three days and unlimited miles. Driving time: 2 hours, 30 minutes.

The Algarve consists of several cities, all which are fabulous. We chose to stay in Albufeira for its lively city life and private beaches; but all of the cities are within a thirty minute drive of each other. We stayed at the Sao Rafael Atlantic Hotel mainly for its access to a private beach for guests.

My sister found this amazing hike that stretched over 13 kilometers called Seven Hanging Valleys. We spent our morning hiking over the cliffs and rewarding ourselves with Portuguese beer along the way. You can start the tour at any location; we chose the beginning to enjoy the full 11.5km hike! You don’t need hiking boots, just a pair of good walking shoes.

Later that evening, we took ourselves out on the town. The algarve is usually occupied by tourists from the UK so everyone speaks English.

One thing portugal isn’t short of is gorgeous sunsets. We enjoyed most evenings sitting on our private beach, drinking champagne and watching the sun set. Albufeira is a magical place to visit. Perfect for family, romantic or friends traveling together.