Best of Portugal

Visit Portugal

Day 1

Welcome to Lisbon

A sea of pastel pinks, yellows and blues dot the seven hills of the romantic Portuguese capital, which you will have an opportunity to explore today before meeting your fellow travellers and Travel Director for dinner and an orientation drive past some of the city's most iconic sights.

Day 2

Discover Colourful Lisbon Dive Into Culture

Delve into Lisbon's centuries-old seafaring heritage today, paying tribute to the brave men who set off from these shores to discover the ‘New World’.

With our Local Specialist, see the shimmering white Monument to the Discoveries, the iconic suspension bridge spanning the Tagus, and Belém Tower, built as a fortress protecting the city of Lisbon. Dive Into Culture on a sightseeing tour of the UNESCO-listed Hieronymite Monastery, an exquisite testament to 16th-century Manueline architecture and art. There’s time to join an Optional Experience to the historic towns of Cascais and Sintra, before perhaps enjoying a traditional Portuguese dinner amidst the soulful and touching sounds of the Fado this evening.

Day 3

Journey to the Algarve Region Connect with Locals

We journey across the Tagus this morning and drive south towards the Serra da Arrábida Mountains and to the golden pastures of the Alentejo.

The hearty aroma of Portuguese chicken fills the air at our Be My Guest experience as we Connect With Locals over a traditional lunch at a stud ranch, where Lusitano horses were once reared at the pleasure of King João VI.  Our journey continues further south, bound for the holiday paradise that is the Algarve – our home for the next two nights.

Day 4

Cliffs, Beaches and More in the Algarve

The dramatic landscapes of the Sagres Peninsula provide a stunning backdrop for our morning drive.

Admire spectacular views across Baleeira Beach, before continuing along the coast to Cape St. Vincent, the site of many sea battles centuries ago. Enjoy your free afternoon in the resort town Lagos – once the home of Henry the Navigator.

Day 5

Onwards to Elegant Évora

Journeying north, we travel to the ancient Alentejo city of Évora.

Join your Local Specialist for a visit to the elaborate cathedral, Roman temple and the Chapel of Bones. Then, spend the rest of your day delving into the medieval history of this enchanting city. Trace centuries of history along its city walls, kick back with a bica and bolo in Praça do Giraldo or perhaps join an Optional Experience to the medieval village of Monsaraz. This evening we dine at our hotel.

Day 6

Venture Past Mountains to Viseu

Our first stop today is in the quaint hilltop town of Castelo de Vide with its charming white façades, narrow alleys and fascinating Jewish Quarter.

Travel north towards the Serra de Estrela mountains and arrive later in Viseu, set high on a plateau near the famous Dão vineyards. Explore the city's rich art and architectural history, and see the 12th-century Sé, standing imposingly on a hill overlooking much of the city.

Day 7

Through the Douro Valley to Porto

Vineyard-clad hills provide an enchanting backdrop for our journey today through the Douro Valley, where Port wine is produced.

We explore the magnificent gardens at the Baroque-style Palácio de Mateus, depicted on the label of the distinctive Mateus Rosé wine bottles. We continue via Guimarães for views of its impressive 10th-century castle, before arriving in the riverside town of Porto where we will spend the next two nights.

Day 8

Explore Vibrant Porto Dive Into Culture

Join a Local Specialist today for a sightseeing tour in Porto, which takes you past baroque churches and along the winding cobblestone lanes that tumble down towards the Douro River.

See the remarkable bridges that span the river and the Gothic Church of St. Francis. Visit the Stock Exchange Palace with its splendid Arabian Hall inspired by Granada's Alhambra, then Dive Into Culture and into the centuries-old tradition of local port production at a tasting in a port cellar. Spend the rest of the afternoon strolling through the historic centre of Porto admiring the azulejo-clad façades, or visit Livraria Lello, the city's oldest bookstore.

Day 9

On to Coimbra and Pilgrimage to Fátima

Soak up the grand atmosphere of one of Europe's greatest and oldest universities with a Local Specialist, then stroll through the ancient streets and squares of Coimbra, before journeying to the Templar city of Tomar.

We join a Local Specialist to visit the Convent of Christ, originally built as a Templar stronghold in the 12th century. Later, we arrive in the pilgrimage centre of Fátima, visited by millions of Catholic pilgrims, where three young shepherds famously saw apparitions of the Virgin Mary.

Day 10

Experience Village Life Returning to Lisbon

En route to Lisbon, with a Local Specialist we stop at the imposing monastery of Batalha – a UNESCO World Heritage site and the best example of late Gothic architecture in Portugal.

Our next stop is the fishing village of Nazaré, before we visit the medieval walled city of Óbidos with its whitewashed houses and cobblestone streets. Celebrate our last evening in Portugal over dinner in a family-run vineyard, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Toast to an incredible journey over organic wine and locally sourced flavours.

Day 11

Farewell Lisbon

Say a fond adeus to your fellow travellers at the end of an unforgettable Portuguese holiday.

Dining Summary

4 Dinner (D)

10 Breakfast (B)

1 Lunch (L)

Be My Guest

Panoias-Ourique: Saddle up for a superb stud farm visit, the tragic story of unrequited love, and a traditional home-cooked lunch with Tiago and Vera in Portugal's beautiful Alentejo.

Dive Into Culture

Lisbon: Visit the Hieronymite Monastery, a former monastery of the Order of Saint Jerome and exquisite example of Manueline architecture.

Porto: Savour the flavours of Portugal's centuries-old Port heritage and gain insights into its local production at a tasting in a Port cellar.

Iconic Experience

Lisbon: Explore with your Local Specialist, from the Lower Town, beneath the hilltop Bairro Alto to the Terreiro do Paco. Visit the Belém Quarter to see the modern Monument to the Discoveries and the medieval Belém Tower.

The Algarve: Explore the history of the Algarve in depth.

Évora: Explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site with your Local Specialist and see the famous Roman Temple. Witness the fascinating cathedral and its mix of Romanesque and Gothic architecture.

Castelo de Vide: See the traditional cobblestone streets and whitewashed homes of Castelo de Vide.

Casa de Mateus: Admire the Baroque architecture of Mateus Palace and its gardens.

Douro Valley: Marvel at the extensive terraced vineyards as you travel through the Douro Valley.

Guimaraes: See Guimarães Castle and the Palace of Dukes before walking through the medieval squares of central Guimarães. 

Porto: See the Clérigos Tower, Avenida dos Aliados and the Palácio da Bolsa former stock exchange. 

Coimbra: With a Local Specialist, visit the University and witness the triumphal arches, painted ceilings, and walls of ancient tomes in the Joanina Library.

Tomar: Dominating the town is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Templar Castle and the Convent of Christ. During your visit with a Local Specialist, see the Manueline Window and follow the story of the mysterious Knights Templar.

Fátima: Join the faithful at one of the world's holiest sites and pay homage at the Chapel of the Apparitions or see the basilica.

Batalha: Join a Local Specialist to see the Monastery of Batalha, with included entry to the cloisters and chapels.

Nazaré: Enjoy time at leisure on Portugal's Costa de Prata.

Obidos: Stroll along the cobblestone streets and view the traditional azulejos of medieval Óbidos, perhaps stopping in a local shop to try the regional cherry liqueur, Ginja. 

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®

Lisbon: Bid farewell to your Portuguese adventures at the award-winning organic vineyard Vale da Capucha which prides itself in producing organic and biodynamic wines. Your experience supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.

Must-see Highlights

Explore Lisbon, Évora, Porto, Coimbra and Tomar

Discover the Algarve, Lagos, Castelo de Vide, Viseu, Nazaré and Óbidos

Visit the Hieronymite Monastery in Lisbon, the cathedral in Évora, the Palace Gardens at Palacio de Mateus, the Stock Exchange Palace, Arabian Hall and a local port wine cellar in Porto, the University Library of Coimbra, the Convent of Christ in Tomar and Batalha's Gothic Monastery

View the Castle of Guimarães and the Shrine at Fátima

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