April 2026 · Family Trip
Portugal
& the Algarve
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Departs
Apr 10
SEA → PHL → LIS
Arrives Lisbon
Apr 11
AA258 lands 8:50am
Destinations
2 cities
Lisbon · Sagres
Returns
Apr 19
Lisbon departure
Day by Day
The Itinerary
✈
Thursday, April 10
Departure Day
Seattle → Philadelphia → Lisbon
9:37am
Alaska AS442 — SEA → PHL
Seattle–Tacoma to Philadelphia
9:05pm
American AA258 — PHL → LIS
Overnight transatlantic · arrives Lisbon 8:50am Apr 11
1
Day
Friday, April 11
Arrive Lisbon
Touch down, settle in, get lost
First full look at the city after an overnight flight. Check into the hotel, let the kids run off the plane energy, and wander Alfama with no agenda. The light in Lisbon in April is something else.
8:50am
Land at Humberto Delgado Airport
Customs, collect bags, grab a taxi or Uber to hotel
Afternoon
Tram 28 through Alfama
The iconic yellow tram — get on, hold on, take it all in
Sunset
São Jorge Castle
Panoramic views over the city and the Tagus river
2
Day
Saturday, April 12
Belém & Pastéis
The classic Lisbon day
Morning
Belém Tower & Jerónimos Monastery
UNESCO World Heritage — arrive early to beat the crowds
11am
Pastéis de Belém
The original pastel de nata — get at least three each
Afternoon
LX Factory
Repurposed industrial complex — markets, food, art on Sundays
3
Day
Sunday, April 13
Sintra Day Trip
Fairy-tale palaces in the hills
40 minutes by train from Rossio station. Sintra is a UNESCO World Heritage site perched in forested hills above the Atlantic — the kids will love Pena Palace, which looks like something out of a storybook.
9:00am
Train from Rossio to Sintra
Comboios de Portugal · ~40 min · buy tickets at station
10am
Pena Palace
Colorful Romanticist castle — book tickets in advance online
Afternoon
Cabo da Roca
The westernmost point of continental Europe
4
Day
Monday, April 14
Lisbon → Sagres
Road trip south to the Atlantic edge
Morning
Depart Lisbon
Pick up rental car or drive south on A2 highway
Midday
Lunch stop in Évora or Lagos
Break up the drive — both towns worth a quick wander
Afternoon
Arrive Sagres
Check in, walk to the fortress, watch the sunset
5
Day
April 15 – 17
Sagres Days
Beaches, cliffs, and the end of the world
Sagres sits at the southwestern tip of Europe — it genuinely feels like the edge of the world. In April the Atlantic is still wild and cold, the cliff walks are dramatic, and the beaches are uncrowded. Pure reset energy.
Each morning
Praia do Martinhal
Best family beach in the area — sheltered, sandy, calm water
One afternoon
Fortaleza de Sagres
Henry the Navigator's fortress — epic Atlantic views
One afternoon
Cabo de São Vicente
The southwesternmost point of Europe · buy a certificate!
Any evening
Nortada Restaurant
Fresh grilled fish in Sagres village — locals' favorite
8
Day
Sunday, April 18
Sagres → Lisbon
Back north for one final night
Morning
Last beach morning
One more Martinhal visit before hitting the road
Evening
Farewell dinner in Lisbon
Chiado or Príncipe Real neighborhood — great restaurants everywhere
✈
Monday, April 19
Departure
Lisbon → Home
Early
Transfer to Humberto Delgado Airport
Allow extra time with kids and bags — Uber or taxi from hotel