Has travel to portugal become too crowded for a relaxing trip?

I have been looking into travel to portugal for a quiet getaway sometime next year but the reports I keep seeing make me wonder if the crowds have changed things too much. My last visit was back in 2018 and I spent two weeks mostly in the smaller towns around the Douro valley and a few days in Porto. Back then it felt easy to find spots with almost no one around after midday.

Now it seems like Lisbon gets packed even in the shoulder months and places like Sintra or the Algarve beaches look busy year round from what friends have posted. I remember waiting in line for the tram up to the castle in Lisbon for over an hour one afternoon and that was in October which used to be calmer. The idea of hunting for a peaceful beach or a small village where I can just sit with a book for days sounds harder these days.

I am not looking for party scenes or big attractions every day. I just want decent weather, some good food without reservations weeks ahead, and the chance to walk around without dodging tour groups. Has anyone been recently and found areas that still feel relaxed or is it better to shift the dates to January or February? Any suggestions on towns that have held onto that slower pace would help a lot.