Day 1: Arrive in Lisbon, the capital and largest city of Portugal and a vibrant cultural hub. Check-in at the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon, a 5-star hotel with elegant rooms, a spa, a rooftop fitness centre, and a restaurant with panoramic views of the city. Relax and explore the city centre, where you can visit the Lisbon Oceanarium, one of the largest and most impressive aquariums in Europe, the Monument to the Discoveries, a tribute to the Portuguese explorers who sailed across the oceans, and the Belém Tower, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a symbol of Lisbon.
Day 2: Join a Lisbon Food Tour and experience the delicious and diverse cuisine of Portugal. You will be guided by a local expert who will take you to some of the best eateries, markets, cafes, and bars in the city. You will taste traditional dishes such as pastel de nata (custard tart), bacalhau (salted cod), sardines, cheese, ham, wine, and more. You will also learn about the history and culture of Lisbon and its food.
Day 3: Take a day trip to Sintra, a fairy-tale town that is home to some of the most stunning palaces and castles in Portugal. You can choose from several options, such as a Sintra and Cascais Small Group Tour, which includes visits to the Pena Palace, a colourful masterpiece of Romanticism, the Moorish Castle, a medieval fortress with panoramic views, and the Quinta da Regaleira, a mysterious estate with gardens, grottoes, and symbols. You will also stop at Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of continental Europe, and Cascais, a charming seaside town.
Day 4: Depart Lisbon and drive to Coimbra, the former capital of Portugal and one of the oldest university towns in Europe. Check-in at the Quinta das Lágrimas, a 4-star hotel with historic rooms, a spa, a golf course, and a restaurant. Enjoy the views of the gardens and the Mondego River from your room. Explore the city centre, where you can visit the University of Coimbra, one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world, the Joanina Library, a magnificent baroque library with thousands of books, and the Old Cathedral, a Romanesque masterpiece.
Day 5: Depart Coimbra and drive to Porto, the second-largest city in Portugal and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Check-in at the InterContinental Porto – Palacio das Cardosas, a 5-star hotel with luxurious rooms, a spa, a gym, and a restaurant. Enjoy the views of the city’s landmarks from your room or from the terrace. Explore the city centre, where you can visit the Livraria Lello, one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world, the São Bento Railway Station, which features stunning azulejo tiles depicting scenes from Portuguese history, and the Clérigos Tower, which offers panoramic views of Porto.
Porto
Day 6: Join a Porto Wine Tour and experience one of Portugal’s most famous exports. You will be guided by a wine expert who will take you to some of the best wineries in Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia. You will taste different types of Port wine, such as ruby, tawny, white, rosé, and vintage. You will also learn about the history and production of Port wine and enjoy some local snacks.
Day 7: Depart Porto and drive to Guimarães, one of Portugal’s most historic cities and the birthplace of its first king. Check-in at the Pousada Mosteiro de Guimarães, a 4-star hotel with charming rooms, a pool, a garden, and a restaurant. Enjoy the views of the city and the mountains from your room or from the terrace. Explore the city centre, where you can visit the Guimarães Castle, a medieval fortress where King Afonso Henriques was born, the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza, a majestic residence that showcases the history and art of Portugal, and the Largo da Oliveira, a picturesque square with a Gothic church and a fountain.
Day 8: Depart Guimarães and drive to Braga, one of Portugal’s oldest and most religious cities. Check-in at the Vila Galé Collection Braga, a 4-star hotel with modern rooms, a spa, a pool, and a restaurant. Enjoy the views of the city and the gardens from your room or from the terrace. Explore the city centre, where you can visit the Braga Cathedral, the oldest cathedral in Portugal, the Bom Jesus do Monte Sanctuary, a stunning baroque complex with a monumental staircase, and the Santa Barbara Garden, a beautiful garden with colourful flowers and a fountain.
Day 9: Depart Braga and drive to Aveiro, known as the Venice of Portugal for its canals and boats. Check-in at the Montebelo Vista Alegre Ílhavo Hotel, a 5-star hotel with stylish rooms, a spa, a pool, and a restaurant. Enjoy the views of the river and the countryside from your room or from the balcony. Explore the city centre, where you can ride a moliceiro boat, a traditional wooden boat that used to transport seaweed, visit the Aveiro Museum, which displays religious art and azulejo tiles in a former convent, and taste some ovos moles, a local delicacy made of egg yolks and sugar.
Aveiro
Day 10: Depart Aveiro and drive to Nazaré, one of Portugal’s most famous surfing destinations. Check in at the Miramar Hotel & Spa, a 4-star hotel with cosy rooms, a spa, an outdoor pool, and a restaurant. Enjoy the views of the beach and the ocean from your room or from the terrace. Explore the town centre, where you can watch some of the world’s biggest waves at Praia do Norte, visit the Nazaré Lighthouse, which houses a surfing museum and offers stunning views of the coast, and admire the traditional costumes of the local fishermen and women.
Day 11: Depart Nazaré and drive to Évora, one of Portugal’s best-preserved medieval towns and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Check in at the Convento do Espinheiro Historic Hotel & Spa, a 5-star hotel with elegant rooms, a spa, an indoor pool, an outdoor pool, and two restaurants. Enjoy the views of the countryside and the gardens from your room or from the terrace. Explore the town centre, where you can visit the Roman Temple of Évora, one of the best-preserved Roman monuments in Portugal, the Capela dos Ossos, a chapel decorated with human bones and skulls, and the Évora Cathedral, a Gothic-Romanesque masterpiece.
