Advantages of this tour:
-The departure is guaranteed every day.
-Add or eliminate days and tours to this program with increase or decrease in the price.
-Choose the most famous sites of Northern, Central and Southern Portugal.
-Start and end the trip in Lisbon or Porto.
-Overnight stays at Hotels in Lisbon and Porto (you don't need to change the Hotel everyday).
-Have days at leisure, without tours.
-You can also choose and book your Hotels.
-Meet different guides and different groups every day.
-You may Include private or group tours, by bus, limo, train, cruises, jeep safaris, half day, full day, by night, etc. If you don’t find in the list a tour you want to do, we can arrange it as private tour.
Below, some of the tours you can add to your progam:
Day 1 Lisbon & Oporto - Lisbon, the millenarian city of the seven hills. Cross the central Marques de Pombal square and go down by the XVIII century boulevard called Liberdade avenue to the popular Restauradores and Rossio squares it's the heart of Lisbon since Roman times, and the Pombaline downtown which has been the shopping area for more than 2000 years. The majestic waterfront Comercio square, facing the extraordinary estuary of the river, once the welcome gate to seafarer and caravels. Close by is the nucleus of ancient Lisbon. Drive by the oldest quarter, Alfama, with the structure of the medieval city. Belem historical quarter: stop in Belem fortress (jewel of manueline art), proceed to the monument dedicated to the Portuguese Discoveries (stop), Jeronimos Monastery (stop). Afterwards, catch the train to Oporto at 1:55 p.m.. Arrive to Oporto at 4:55 p.m.. Transfer to the Hotel. Free evening in the capital of the North of Portugal, site of Port wine. Lodgment in Oporto.
Day 2 Minho full day tour (lunch included) - Minho is undoubtedly a source of water, where green fields and mountains are in evidence. Besides boasting the great monuments associated with cities, Braga also has deep religious roots with its churches and pilgrimage places like Bom Jesus. Take a walk around the Historic Centre. Another great city is Guimarães, World Heritage and birthplace of the first King of Portugal. After the visit to this city, return to Porto. Lodgment in Oporto.
Day 3 Douro full day tour (lunch included) - Douro valley, the most ancient demarcated area of wine in the world, considered worldwide heritage. Amarante typical town where we stop to taste the delicious pastry and visit Saint Gonçalo convent. Afterwards we go to Régua (capital of Port wine) where we'll visit a wine producer farm, Pinhão and Lamego. Lodgment in Oporto.In alternative: Douro river cruise with lunch (pick up at Hotel not included on the cruise tour) - 9:30 a.m. departure from Oporto. Breakfast on board. 11.15 Arrival at Crestuma floodgate (14 m). 11:30 free taste of Port Wine. 12:00. Lunch on board. 2:15 p.m. Arrival at Carrapatelo floodgate (35 m). 4:45 Arrival at Regua quay. 6:08 Departure to Oporto by train or bus. 8:10 Arrival to Oporto. Lodgment in Oporto.
Day 4 Oporto tour - with a visit to a Port wine cellar with Port wine tasting. The City of Porto has carefully preserved its architectonic treasures, including monuments (palaces and churches) in the Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque and Neoclassic styles. Sightseeing tour of the famous bridges of Luís I and Arrábida, the Cathedral, S. Francisco, Carmo, Clérigos, Foz, Boavista, Porto Stock Exchange Building, Aliados avenue, Batalha square, Santa Catarina shopping street, Miragaia, Vila Nova de Gaia section to visit a Port wine lodge. At 2:15 p.m. we take the train back to Lisbon or Algarve (if you choose an extended tour to the south). Arrive to Lisbon at 5:15 p.m. Transfer to the Hotel. Lodgment in Lisbon.
Day 5 Obidos, Nazaré, Batalha, Fatima full day tour (lunch included) - Travel northwards and arrive at the beautiful and very ancient walled town called Obidos with picturesque streets. Guided tour and free time to walk through the narrow streets and old castle in a unforgettable trip to the past. Then drive to Nazare, a colourful fishing village, where one can mingle with fishermen, breed a strong maritime breeze and enjoy the atmosphere of one of the most typical villages in Portugal, famous also for its seaside resort. Proceed to Batalha Monastery for a guided visit of the church, a 14th century masterpiece in Gothic style. Finally Fatima - the Centre of Christian faith and a local of world's pilgrimage. Religious services can be attended. Lodgment in Lisbon.
Day 6 Sintra, Pena, Roca, Cascais, Estoril full day tour (lunch included) - Visit the majestic and romantic Pena Palace. Pena palace is on one of the highest peaks of the mountain range. It has a mixture of styles in Romantic art. We visit Sintra where we stop. Free time to walk around the streets of the medieval village to appreciate the several antiques and handicraft shops, restaurants and tea-rooms, to taste the so well delicious tarts known as queijadas. We leave to Colares, demarcated area of wine and famous for its table wines. Afterwards we go to Cabo da Roca, the most western point in continental Europe (stop). Then, passing by Guincho beach, we drive along the coastline to Boca do Inferno (mouth of hell, a sea grotto) and Cascais where we stop for a nice view of the fishing port and Estoril coast. We drive to Estoril to have a panoramic view of the Casino and its gardens and we return to Lisbon.
-You can add or eliminate days and tours to this program with the consequent increase or decrease in the price. You can add, for example, the following tours:
Evora - Drive across the largest cork region in the world for an exciting journey into the past. Along the rolling landscape of Alentejo, we pass by fields of Olive trees, cork trees and vineyards, to find the charming town of Évora, World Heritage of Unesco. By the richness of his history, architecture, gastronomy and handicraft, we are taken to a variety of times, styles, flavours, smells, colors and shapes. The forest-clad, elongated hummock of the Serra da Arrábida is a veritable oasis of natural vegetation amid the suburban sprawl with an incredibly diverse wildlife to match. Free time for a taste of Muscatel wine. Return to Lisbon. Lodgment in Lisbon.
Algarve - We take the motorway towards south, to cross the biggest cork tree region in the world, where 50% of world production of cork comes from. Our first stop will be Silves, the most historical castle in Algarve. The impressive remains of the castle dates back to Moors. The city’s earlier 13th Century Cathedral was built on the site of a Mosque. Free time to taste the delicious local pastry. We pass by Portimão for a quick sightseeing, to admire its impressive and typical fishing harbor, with the local and typical fishing boats. Next is Lagos, with a very nice seaside resort, the most historically interesting coastal town in the Algarve. Its fame derives from its association with Portugal's 14th-and 15th-century Age of Discovery. It’s here that we’ll have free time for lunch, near the ocean. We’ll proceed to Sagres, to visit the old fortress of the Portuguese school of navigators "who brought new worlds to the World". Finally we arrive to Saint Vincent cape, the southwesternmost point of Europe, “the end of the world”. The cliffs rise nearly vertically from the Atlantic to a height of 75 meters. Return to Lisbon.
Aveiro and Coimbra
Aveiro - stop in the Portuguese Venice with its canals. Aveiro is situated on the estuary of the Rio Vouga and is surrounded by a system of marshlands that run 50km parallel to the sea. The town's canals, bridges and pastel-coloured houses are somewhat reminiscent of Amsterdam and at the centre of it all is a bustling fish market.
Coimbra - a charming town with an ancient and traditional University, where we mingle in the atmosphere of students. Inhabited by Romans and Arabs, it was once the capital of Portugal, before Lisbon took its place. Sightseeing of Coimbra, including the University, the first to exist in Portugal, since the XIII century and one of the most important Universities in Europe: see the Library, a masterpiece of gilt wood-work and its courtyard from where we have another nice view over Mondego river. Free time to walk around through the narrow streets of the ancient section and see the antique Cathedral, dating from the XII century.
Serra da Estrela mountain 8:00 Pick Up at the Hotel - 10:30 Arrival to Seia and visit to a Regional Cheese Factory 11:30 Arrival and visite to the Serra da Estrela Natural Park - Lagoa Comprida + Ski Resort + Tower (1993m). Free time at a snow site. 13:30 Arrival to Sabugueiro. Lunch (not included). Visite to Regional Handcraft Shops. 15:30 Visit the Bread Museum (closed on Mondays). Departure to Porto 18:30 Arrival to Porto.
Santiago de Compostela Situated in the heart of Galicia, Santiago de Compostela is the spiritual and political capital of this beautiful province. Many pilgrims follow the Road to Santiago, just as they do to Rome or Jerusalem. On this tour we visit Santiago de Compostela. It's Cathedral, Obradoiro square, Catholic Kings Hotel and Raxoi Palace, etc.