Travelling to Portugal in July. Likely flying from Vancouver to London and then into Porto. May rent a car and drive down the coast to the Algarve. Looking for hotel and food recommendations and things to do / see along the way.

Following this as I will also be travelling to Portugal in July!

Day trip from porto train to aviero then from there take a local bus to costa nova
Coimbra oldest university in portugal
Lisbon daytrips belen for the Nuta. Caiscais for a nice beach around an hour by train
Evora for the skeleton cathedral and amazing eateries.
Lagos day trips to sagres and portimao for nice beaches for surfing and caves

Can do all this by trains and buses. Spent a month here last summer and was amazing and cheaper than spain

Also a day trip to Sintra from lisbon and Christ the Redeemer in lisbon nice view from up there

We stayed in Luz while on the Algarve - close to everything and less expensive than Lagos. Nice coastal walk from Luz to Lagos (13 km return). Surf towns along the coast have a nice vibe - Peniche, Nazare, Ericera...

I rented a car and enjoyed driving thru Portugal. Love the olives and cork trees. There are neat old castles to stay in. Wine is excellent and cheap, only ate seafood which is also excellent and cheap. Lots to enjoy outside of Lisbon.

It'll be pretty hot weather (up to 42C) dont forget to pack sun blocker and always carry water with you, have fun, And don't forget eating Pastéis de Belém the finest Portuguese pastry.

Best pastry ever!

I might be doing the same. Is it possible in July to find reasonable accommodation without booking way ahead? It would be nice to just wing it in a rental car, planning the day before where we'll be. It will be my wife and I so just a small basic room is all that is required. There must be some places that are still off the grid and not on the Internet...aren't there?

Check craigslist ads in Portugal and see if anything suitable though adv booking is highly recommended it's peak tourist season don't go without pre-confirmation European standard of basic room is different than in N.America, I highly recommend hotels rather private accommodation. Good luck

Thanks, Khurram. This is a pretty last minute trip, July 9-22. Spain and Italy is also on the table. I guess the same applies?

Yes, you may consider taking day trains to visit near by towns (less hasels compare to rent a car) but prefer flying on long routes to save time (air tickets are cheap) prepare for really hot weather throughout your journey, comfortable shoes are must don't compromise on shoes quality at all. Below the standard rooms will be so so small and cheap quality fixtures though you will get breakfast regardless the price. You may take organized city bus tours to max out sight seeings. Be aware of pick pocket thieves they are on proll at this peak season, don't carry jewelry or valuable stuff.... Must pack small alarm watch (it'll be life saver)

Sintra you have to spend a day or two there. You can stay in Cascais which is a beach suburb of Lisbon and take a 30 minute train ride to Lisbon . Hotels rooms and airb are cheaper there and you have nice beaches.

I second so many of the above comments! Cascais, Sinatra, Portimao (pirate ship ride to see the caves) Evora, Obidios, Sagres, Cape St. Vincent, tour a cork factory, Fatima.
I only went Lisbon down but need to go do north of Lisbon too.