Classic/ luxury hotels on the Portugese coast

Transportation, Travel and Trips
1
Can anyone a classic hotel in a beach area of Portugal that is also interesting to explore the local area? Thanks

2

https://www.pousadasofportugal.com/p…sada-of-porto/

https://www.pousadas.pt/pt/hotel/pou…SAAEgL4nvD_BwE

Viana is like going back in time (in a good way).

3

Or stay at Miragem in Cascais (home town) and take the train in to Lisboa…you could easily spend a week there…

https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/cas…s=1&#hotelTmpl

4
Another thing about Cascais is the farmer's market held every day. We went early today when it was still cool (headed for 22C later; not a cloud...). A kilo of the best strawberries I've had in years (2,50 euros), huge Lisbon lemons for about 10 cents, bunches of cilantro (25 cents), avocados, bell peppers, and giant prawns. Vendors sell milk-fed pork with cracklings, Iberian hams and salami, and cheeses of every description. Guactail (a cross between guacamole and prawn cocktail) will be served for lunch!

5
Which coast? Algarve or West coast? South, middle or north?

6
Thanks for the replies. Will probably fly into Lisbon and look around but not sure where else we should go for a few days.

7
Porto for sure. Could also take the train down to the Algarve and then fly back from Faro.

8

I love the northern coast, between Porto and Galicia. We’ve been twice to Esposende, it’s a small fishing town, not luxurious at all but amazing long and deserted sandy beaches, we stayed at this place, only 3 stars but if feels much better.

It’s not very touristy, we met just a few Irish, a couple of Germans and French, the bulk are Spanish and local visitors. It’s also one of the friendliest towns I’ve ever been to (one Sunday we walked 10km south of the town to visit a suggested village. It was very hot so we thought we’d take the bus back - no buses on a Sunday, so asked in a bar where we could get a taxi. They tried calling for one, but all taxi drivers were having their lunch (!), so the lady had called her husband who drove in from home and took us back to our hotel, refusing to take any money!

Just inland is the lovely historic city of Braga and further north the busier port of Viano do Castelo. But the quiet town, simple restaurants and stunning beaches are why we will probably return.

9
@grumpy, that's why I suggested the pousada at Viana do Castelo--the best of all worlds, with quiet beaches, interesting towns, and the luxury of the old hotel with its pool and views. We stayed there 20 years ago (it was renovated into a pousada in the 80s). When we visited again last year, our courtly waiter was the same as before, and the front desk handed us our mail we'd had sent there as if we were old friends. Also loved Braga and the uni town of Guimaraes.

On the other hand, Cascais is gorgeous, bustling, upscale, has the huge beach at Guincho, and is close to Lisbon. The weather up north has been bad recently (and lovely here in Cascais)--the dividing line is at the "nose" of Peniche. Everywhere had a wet and cold winter, and it seems to have lingered on in the north.

10
Thanks Grumpy, we are going to Porto for about 10 days late September, early October. Can't wait. Will do the Douro, up by boat and down by steam train, or t'other way round, and to Lisbon by train.

11

Oh joy, oh rapture…The Telegraph has just proclaimed our town as “the Hamptons of Portugal” and a destination for European A-listers. As if we needed any more McLarens roaring around (except at the Estoril racetrack).

Sorry, paywall:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/d…ean-a-listers/