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If you're staying in Lisboa (oh, hi! did you know the Portuguese version of Lisbon is Lisboa?) and wondering if it's possible to make a day trip to the Algarve from Lisbon, let me tell you it is absolutely possible!
Chances are high you will wish you had more time in the southern coast of Portugal and a one-day visit is going to make for a long day, but it IS definitely possible and oh so worth it.
Benagil Cave Boat Tour
A top activity when you come to the southern coast of Portugal is to a Benagil Cave tour by boat. I really do recommend this as you get spectacular views of the unique cliffs all along the Algarvian coastline. The guides are great and intertwine facts with humor and explain all the little beach towns and secret beaches you see along the way. On occasion you may even see wild dolphins, though this is not guaranteed.
Benagil Cave by speedboat
A Benagil Cave Speedboat Tour | Traveling Through Food Portugal Travel Blog
The most popular way to see the caves is by speedboat. There are tons of companies offering these tours from all over Algarve. This is the boat tour we did recently and we had a good experience! It's likely that your boat will be pretty full in-season and you really are packed like sardinhas (sardines). On our boat each row sat 3 people. If you're in the middle seat you will find it a bit more difficult to see at times. You really want to be on the ends if you're the photographer/videographer of the group.
Tips: Try to get in the front of the boat and a seat on either end for the best views. The boats can only pull so far into the caves so the people toward the front will have the best view. As the boats are usually traveling roundtrip from the same town if you start out on the side of the boat facing the ocean, on the way back you will face the shore. Typically the return trip is faster, though. You've already seen what they want to show you and now you are turning back. So if you really want the best photo ops go for the left side of the boat (when inside the boat) if you are departing from Portimao Marina Boat Tours. Benagil Cave by Pirate Ship
See the Algarvian Coast from a Pirate Ship | Traveling Through Food Portugal Travel Blog
Another option is to take the pirate ship cave cruise. As you can see right away this is a much larger vessel. You may find this more comfortable if your body structure is not compatible with the sardine situation, if you have bad knees and it would be hard to sit in a low seat, or if you're nervous about feeling the waves too much in a speedboat.
The pirate ship is equipped with a bar selling beverages and snacks, but many bring their own snacks on board. The ship has two smaller boats at the back that you can board to actually get a closer look at the caves as the main pirate ship is too large. Benagil cave by Kayak Tour
The most immersive Benagil Cave experience is by Kayak | Traveling Through Food Portugal Travel Blog
If you are more adventurous and truly want to get inside the caves, in the water and on the beaches, you must do a Benagil caves kayak tour.
Ocean Kayakers touring Benagil Caves in Portugal | Traveling Through Food Portugal Travel Blog
Pre-cruise snack at mel & Canela
If you've taken an early morning bus from Lisbon to Algarve you are probably going to be pretty hungry. I recommend grabbing a little something to eat.
As our boat trip was leaving from Portimao Marina, we stopped at this spacious cafe called Mel & Canela, meaning Honey & Cinnamon in Portuguese. We just got some classics like a bifana com ovo (pork sandwich with an egg) and a pork bitoque which came with a side of French fries, a simple salad, and an egg on top. Post-cruise snack at Sorbetto Gelateria
It only feels like vacation when you have an ice cream, right? A Gelato was a perfect treat after the benagil cave speedboat tour and we opted for a place called Sorbetto Gelateria at Praia Da Rocha in Portimao.
The gelato was unbelievably delicious and we got two very European flavors - Améndoa e Figo (Almond and Fig) and Pistachio. Prices here ranged from 2.50-6 euros for small, medium, large, or extra large cones. And do note that even if you get a small (pequeno) you can have two flavors ;)
The girls working in this Gelateria were especially simpatico (friendly) and actually made this sweet treat an even sweeter experience! We definitely recommend this gelato in Portugal - Sorbetto Gelateria. They use fresh, natural ingredients and make everything in small batches and that is totally our style. Algarve Beaches
Of course while you are on your day trip to the Algarve you should see the beaches. Maybe you already did a boat tour or maybe you aren't into water activities. Either way you should see the beaches, whether you sunbathe and eat Bolas de Berlim (a portuguese pastry that's sort of like a sugared donut cut in half and filled with cream that is traditionally egg and sugar based, although plain and other flavors like Nutella can be had) or you enjoy a sangria at a beach cafe or you walk some cliff trails - you really cannot go wrong!
Praia dos Três Castelos
This is from the miradouro dos Três Castlos (Viewpoint of the 3 Castles) an observation deck in Portimao, Portugal. You can walk down to the beach from here if you'd like!
By the way praia is the Portuguese word for beach. =) 
Praia dos Trés Castelos as seen from the Miradouro | Traveling Through Food Portugal Travel Blog
Praia Grande Ferragudo
Praia Grande in Ferragudo is just across the river from Portimão. It's another beautiful and spacious Portuguese beach on which you can find a medieval castle, the Forte de São João do Arade, which I think is so cool. The initial watchtower is thought to have been built around 1520, while the actual castle was constructed around 1640, after the Portuguese Restoration War. Forte de São João is privately owned, so do be respectful when you are near the property. =)
Medieval Castle on Praia Grande, a beach in Ferragudo Portugal | Traveling Through Food Portugal Travel Blog
The fishing village of Ferragudo is also not to be missed. It's a great village to walk around in as it is filled with cute and funky shops, great restaurants, and quaint cafes. 
Charming street in the Fishing Village Ferragudo Portugal | Traveling Through Food Portugal Travel Blog
If you're into unique, artsy souvenirs check out deja vu art shop in Ferragudo.
Praia de Carvoeiro
Heading a short distance to the east of Ferragudo you will find Praia de Carvoeiro.
Famous Praia de Carvoeiro | Traveling Through Food Portugal Travel Blog
It is a small sandy beach with a hilly, but walkable and lively town. While you are here you should try and walk along the Carvoeiro Boardwalk, Algar Seco, for stunning views and you can climb down into some of the cliffs which is very cool.
Algar Seco Cliffs and Beautiful Views in Algarve Portugal | Traveling Through Food Portugal Travel Blog
You can go decently far where there are stairs built in to the rock, and wooden posts with rope hand rails. For the adventurous and well coordinated you can safely continue to explore further if you wish.
Before you catch a bus home, if you're around long enough, I can't recommend highly enough getting a pizza at Forno do Fraser. This is the best pizza place in Carvoeiro we've had to date and it's a short walk up the hill from the beach. 
Fig Pizza on Carvoeiro Beach from Forno do Fraser | Traveling Through Food Portugal Travel Blog
Current hours at time of this article are Monday - Saturday 17:30-22:00 (5:30pm - 10pm)
If you want to dine in, I recommend you make a reservation. Depending on the day the dining room may be packed and unable to accommodate walk-ins. Although we have picked pizza up to eat at the beach as seen above. Forno do Fraser deserves a full review for our Pizza in Portugal series, so stay tuned for that. one day in the algarve is simply not enough
There are so many ways to spend one day in Algarve. Boat trips, beach days, shopping for local handicrafts, day trips to monchique or Silves castle, trying the many Portuguese Pastries, hiking, summer concerts, waterparks, spas, golfing... there is so much to do here I'm sure you will be convinced after one day that you simply must come back again soon! ;)
How to get to algarve from lisbonOf course you can rent a car and drive (check car rental prices), but if you're not interested in messing with that I can recommend the train or the bus. BuyPortugal train tickets at the Comboios de Portugal (Trains of Portugal) website: cp.pt Buy Portugal bus tickets through the Rede Expressos website rede-expressos.pt/pt Buy Portugal bus tickets through FlixBus website flixbus.com/bus/portugal While it depends where exactly you get on and off, the bus takes around 3 hours between Lisbon and Algarve. Which stop should you get off at? Albufeira is popular with tourists, but you can also take the bus to Armação de Pêra, Portimão, or Lagoa if you'd like to visit Carvoeiro beach town. How much is the bus from Lisbon to Algarve? The bus is incredibly affordable with seats starting at $5 euros. An incredible value! Do note that the cheapest seats will be at the back of the bus and the ticket price increases as the travel date nears. My best tip for you is that as soon as you know when you want to make your trip from Lisbon to Algarve, if the dates are available for purchase, buy your tickets! This way you get the best price and you're guaranteed to see some of the amazing this shared in this post! ;) FYI: In some cases the tickets will only be available approximately 1 month before a travel date. You'll also like:
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