Portugal Discovery

Welcome to Lisbon. On arrival at Lisbon International Airport, make your own way to your hotel, where we will spend the night. Depending on your arrival time, you may wish to start exploring the city, with its traditional neighbourhoods and riverside setting.

After breakfast, we enjoy a half-day tour of Lisbon. We begin in Belém, where we see the 16th-century Jerónimos Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We then visit a historic pastry shop dating from 1837 to taste the famous pastéis de Belém. We also stop at the Belém Tower for photos before returning to the hotel.

The afternoon is free at leisure for you to explore the city independently. We recommend a visit to Sintra, often described as Portugal’s most romantic town and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You might like to stop at the traditional Piriquita coffee shop in the centre to try the local pastries, travesseiros and queijadas (not included). You may also choose to book one of the optional tours below.

Optional Tour: Half-day tour to Sintra, Cascais and Estoril Coast
Meet your professional guide in central Lisbon and set off on a half-day trip to Sintra, Cascais and Estoril. Travel through the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park to reach Sintra National Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and former residence of Portuguese royalty. Learn about its architecture and interiors before continuing along the coast.

From April to October, weather permitting, you visit Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of mainland Europe, to enjoy sweeping Atlantic views. Then follow the coastline past golden beaches and turquoise waters, stopping at the dramatic Boca do Inferno cliff, shaped over centuries by powerful Atlantic waves.

Optional Tour: Boat Tour in Lisbon with Drinks and Snacks (2 hours)Discover Lisbon from the water on a relaxed sailing tour along the Tagus River. Meet your crew at the harbour, settle on board and watch the city skyline open up as you cruise away from the shore. Take in views of Lisbon’s key landmarks from the river while you unwind with a glass of sparkling wine and light snacks.

Optional Tour: Live Fado Show Ticket in Lisbon (1 hour)
Experience a traditional Fado performance in Lisbon’s Chiado district. During the show you will listen to male and female vocalists accompanied by Portuguese and classical guitars, giving voice to the soulful music often described as the sound of the Portuguese spirit. The show takes place in the historic Theatro Ginásio in Espaço Chiado, offering an intimate and atmospheric setting.

Optional Tour: Lisbon Go 7 Hills Electric Bike Tour (2 hours)
Lisbon’s steep hills can be challenging on a regular bicycle, but on this electric bike tour you can reach the city’s viewpoints with ease. Ride through historic neighbourhoods such as Alfama and Graça, and climb up to lookouts like Castelo de São Jorge or Miradouro da Senhora do Monte without excessive effort. This is an enjoyable way to see some of the city’s most characteristic quarters and panoramic spots.

Optional Tour: Portuguese Food and Wine Tour (3 hours)
Savour traditional Portuguese flavours on a guided food and wine tour of Lisbon. You will taste regional cheeses, chouriço, bifana, rice dishes and port wine, as well as sample wines from regions such as the Alentejo. Along the way, your guide shares local tips and introduces you to some of the city’s authentic food spots.

Optional Tour: Half-day tour to Sintra, Cascais and Estoril Coast with return hotel transfers (5 hours)
Enjoy the same itinerary as the central pick-up Sintra, Cascais and Estoril tour, with the added convenience of hotel pick-up and drop-off. Travel through Sintra-Cascais Natural Park to Sintra National Palace for a guided visit, learn about Portugal’s royal past, then continue to Cabo da Roca (April to October, weather permitting) for exceptional ocean views. Follow the coastline past beaches and cliffs and pause at Boca do Inferno to see the dramatic rock formations.

Optional Tour: Boat Tour in Lisbon with Drinks and Snacks with return hotel transfers (2 hours)
This option offers the same scenic sailing tour on the Tagus River, including a glass of sparkling wine and snacks, but with hotel pick-up and drop-off included for added comfort.

Optional Tour: Live Fado Show Ticket in Lisbon with return hotel transfers (1 hour)
Enjoy a traditional Fado performance in Chiado with return transfers from your hotel. Listen to expressive vocals and guitar accompaniment in a comfortable setting at Theatro Ginásio, and experience first-hand the music recognised by UNESCO as part of the world’s intangible cultural heritage.

Optional Tour: Lisbon Go 7 Hills Electric Bike Tour with return hotel transfers (3 hours)
Discover Lisbon’s historic centre while tasting a selection of local snacks and traditional dishes. This tour combines a guided walk through characteristic areas of the city with around ten tastings of Portuguese specialities, offering an enjoyable introduction to local gastronomy and culture.

Lisbon - Obidos - Nazare - Batalha - Fatima. After breakfast, we drive north towards Óbidos, a charming medieval town encircled by well-preserved walls. We walk through its narrow cobbled streets, lined with whitewashed houses, and see the imposing castle that once protected the region.

We continue to Nazaré, a traditional fishing village and popular seaside resort, now known worldwide for its impressive Atlantic waves. From there, we travel on to Batalha to admire the Santa Maria da Vitória Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site celebrated for its intricate Gothic architecture.

We then continue to Fátima.

Fatima - Aveiro - Porto. In the morning we visit Fátima, one of the largest Marian pilgrimage centres in the world. You will have time to explore the sanctuary area independently and, if you wish, visit Aljustrel, a small hamlet on the outskirts of Fátima. This is the birthplace of Lúcia dos Santos and Francisco and Jacinta Marto, the children associated with the apparitions of the Angel of Peace in 1916.

We then depart for Aveiro, known as the “Venice of Portugal” due to its canals and colourful boats. You will have free time to explore the town. You might choose to take a moliceiro boat tour along the canals to see the Art Nouveau buildings and salt pans, or to taste ovos moles, a typical local pastry.

Later, we continue to Porto and check in to our hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure for you to start discovering the city.

Today we explore Porto, beautifully set on the Douro River. In the morning, we take a sightseeing tour to get acquainted with the main attractions and historic districts of this vibrant city. Porto is known for its rich history, lively atmosphere and the production of port wine, aged in cellars along the river.

The afternoon is free at leisure for you to explore on your own. You might wander through the narrow streets of the Ribeira district, enjoy riverside views or stroll in the Jardins do Palácio de Cristal for pleasant panoramas of the Douro.

If you wish, you can choose from several optional activities listed below.

Optional Tour: Tuk Tuk Tour and Six-Bridge Boat Ride (1.5 hours)
Explore Porto on a tuk tuk, passing through key sights and neighbourhoods, then enjoy an hour-long boat ride on the Douro River. As you travel under the city’s famous bridges, you will learn about Porto’s wine-making heritage and riverside history.

Optional Tour: Walking Food Tour Porto (3.5 hours)>
Discover Porto’s culinary side on a guided walking food tour. You will visit local favourites and lesser-known spots, sampling around ten tastings that balance sweet and savoury flavours. The tour typically includes a visit to the temporary Bolhão market space and offers the chance to taste wines from some of Portugal’s less-known regions.

Optional Tour: Visit to a Wine Cellar and Wine Tasting
Visit one of Porto’s wine cellars and learn about the history and production of port wine. After a guided visit through the facilities, you will enjoy a tasting of selected port wines.

Optional Tour: Visit to a Wine Cellar, Wine Tasting and Fado Show
Combine a visit to a port wine museum and historic cellars with a premium wine tasting and live Fado performance. You will explore an interactive museum area, join a guided tour of the wineries and then taste two wines while listening to a 45-minute Fado show.

Optional Tour: Tiles Painting Workshop (2 hours)
Take part in a tile-painting workshop and create your own hand-painted tile. All materials are provided, and your finished tile will be ready for collection approximately two hours after the session, so you can take your unique piece home the same day.

Optional Tour: Tuk Tuk Tour and Six-Bridge Boat Ride with return hotel transfers (1.5 hours)
Enjoy the same tuk tuk and six-bridge boat experience, with the added convenience of hotel pick-up and drop-off.

Optional Tour: Walking Food Tour Porto with return hotel transfers (3.5 hours)
This option offers the same walking food tour, including multiple tastings and a visit to the temporary Bolhão market space, with hotel transfers included.Optional Tour: Porto Fado Night (4 hours)

Immerse yourself in Porto by night on a panoramic evening tour, followed by dinner and a live Fado show. You will see some of the city’s illuminated landmarks before heading to a traditional restaurant, where you can enjoy a meal while listening to Fado, the emotive music form recognised by UNESCO as an element of intangible cultural heritage.

Porto - Coimbra - Lisbon. After breakfast, we depart for Coimbra, a historic city on the Mondego River known as the “city of students”. Coimbra is home to Portugal’s first university, one of the oldest in Europe. You will have free time to walk through the old town and, if you wish, visit the university (entrance not included), which was once a royal residence and is now part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its baroque library is often cited as one of the most beautiful in the world.

After our visit, we continue to Lisbon and transfer to our hotel.

Lisbon - Natural Arrabida Park - Elvas - Evora. Today we depart Lisbon to explore the Alentejo region. We begin with a stop at the Cristo Rei viewpoint, where you can enjoy sweeping views over Lisbon and the Tagus River.

We then continue towards Setúbal and Arrábida Natural Park, a protected coastal area known for its striking scenery. Here, the deep blue sea meets white limestone cliffs and dense green vegetation. You will have some free time in Setúbal for lunch. If you wish, you may choose to join an optional wine tasting tour in Setúbal, described below.

In the afternoon, we continue to Elvas, a World Heritage-listed garrison town famed for its extensive fortifications and unique star-shaped walls. We enjoy a relaxed stroll through the narrow streets to appreciate its military heritage and local character.

We then travel on to Évora.

Optional Tour: Wine Tasting Tour in SetúbalTake the opportunity to visit one of the well-known wine estates in the Setúbal area, an important part of the wider Alentejo wine region. The estate produces both table wines and the renowned Moscatel de Setúbal, a distinctive lightly sweet wine with citrus notes. During the tour, you can learn about local wine production and taste selected wines. The surrounding landscapes of vineyards and coastline create a relaxing setting for this experience.

Today we explore Évora, recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage City thanks to its remarkable preservation over the centuries. With a history that spans more than 5,000 years, Évora brings together Roman, medieval and Renaissance influences.

We walk through the historic centre to absorb the atmosphere of the old town, continuing along narrow streets towards Giraldo Square, once the seat of the Inquisition. We also see the remains of the Roman Temple and the 12th-century cathedral, two of the city’s most important monuments. Our visit includes a short stop in the courtyard of the historic university, reflecting Évora’s long academic tradition.

The afternoon is free at leisure. You may choose to continue exploring the city’s streets and squares, visit additional museums or churches, or perhaps see the evocative Chapel of Bones.

Evora - Lisbon. Enjoy a free morning at leisure in Évora. You might like to revisit your favourite corners of the old town, relax in a café or do some last-minute shopping. You may also choose to join an optional tour to Reguengos de Monsaraz, detailed below.

In the afternoon, we leave the Alentejo region and return to Lisbon, where we spend our final night in Portugal’s capital, known for its cobbled streets, colourful buildings and lively atmosphere.

Optional Tour: Reguengos de Monsaraz with Lunch, Wine Tasting and SightseeingTravel to Reguengos de Monsaraz to learn more about Portuguese wine and the senses involved in tasting it. You visit the Esporão estate, where you can explore aspects of wine production, including processes in the winery and ageing in underground cellars, and enjoy a guided tasting of selected wines. A leisurely lunch is served at Herdade do Esporão restaurant, known for its cuisine and regional produce.

After lunch, you continue to Amieira, a riverside village on the shores of Lake Alqueva, one of the largest artificial lakes in Europe. Here you can appreciate the wide expanse of water and surrounding landscape. You then visit the medieval hilltop village of Monsaraz, one of the oldest in Portugal, which has preserved much of its historic character.

After breakfast at the hotel, your tour of Portugal comes to an end. When you are ready, make your own way to Lisbon International Airport for your return or onward flight to the USA or Canada.