Portugal Uncovered

From Porto’s Charms to Lisbon’s Landmarks: Unveil the Rich Tapestry of Portugal’s Landscapes, History, and Culture

A 12-day journey showcasing the very best of Portugal.

Starting in the north we begin in the medieval city of Porto then explore the famous wine region of the Douro Valley.

Next, you set off south through the beautiful historical cities of Coimbra, Obidos and stopping by the city of Nazare to see the world’s biggest wave. While finishing the central visit in the rolling hills and vineyards of the Alentejo region.

You finish your tour with the hilltop castles of Sintra and the lively capital Lisbon before making your way home.

Highlights

The backstreets and hidden squares of Porto
Douro Valley Traditional vineyards
Óbidos Medieval Castle & Ginjinha Tasting
Cork farm trekking in Alentejo
Palaces of Sintra
Discover historic Lisbon by tram, tuk tuk and boat

Why choose this tour

Cultural Immersion: Immerse yourself in Portugal’s rich heritage through guided tours of historic cities, UNESCO sites, and traditional landmarks.
Diverse Experiences: From exploring medieval towns to wine tasting in the Douro Valley, this tour offers a diverse range of experiences showcasing Portugal’s beauty and culture.
Expert Guided Tours: Benefit from the expertise of local English-speaking guides who provide insights into Portugal’s history, architecture, and traditions.
Scenic Drives and Luxurious Accommodations: Enjoy scenic drives through picturesque landscapes and relax in luxurious accommodations throughout your journey.
Comprehensive Package: With private transfers, guided tours, and admission fees included, this tour offers a hassle-free and comprehensive travel experience, allowing you to focus on enjoying Portugal’s charms.

What is included in the price?

11 Nights at 4 and 5-star hotels
Breakfast at hotel
Local English-speaking guide on transfers and excursions
Private airport transfers
Admission and fees for the sights and attractions mentioned
Guidelines for visiting the mentioned destinations in the itinerary.

Comprehensive package of excursions

Tour Plan

Day 1: Arrive Porto

Upon arrival, you will be met in the arrival’s hall by your driver. Enjoy a private transfer to your hotel in central Proto. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner with your guide at a local restaurant.

Meals: Dinner Hotel:
Hotel Vila Gale Ribeira (Double/Twin) or similar

Day 2: Half Day Tour in Porto

After breakfast at your hotel, you will be met by your tour leader for your walking tour of Porto. During this half-day tour, your guide will introduce you to the highlights and the hidden secrets of this historical city. You will start by visiting two of the most beautiful churches, the Carmo and Carmelitas churches where you will also have a small introduction to the process of tile manufacturing so famous in Portugal. Next you will visit the bell tower of Clérigos Church, Porto Cathedral, and São Bento Railway Station, some of the most interesting monuments in the area. As well as these main sights, this tour will take you to some breathtaking monuments away from the large tour groups, in places that buses can't access. Your guide will tell you about the politics, religion, local customs, traditions, gastronomy, wines, and everything else you need to know about Porto's local customs. You will also enjoy a tasting of Portugal's famous traditional pastry. Next stop at a local taverna for a traditional lunch. This afternoon your local guide will take you to one of Porto's oldest port wine cellars where you will sample 3 different port wines at this historic venue. Here you will gain a deeper understanding of one of Portugal's most famous exports and learn about the various grapes varietals and wine making process all while enjoying a sampling of wine.

Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Vila Gale Ribeira (Double/Twin) or similar

Day 3: Porto - Viana do Castelo

This morning you will leave Porto and head north towards Viana do Castelo. En route you will stop to visit the historic town of Guimaraes known as the birthplace of the kingdom of Portugal. Here you will enjoy a relaxing walking tour through the medieval city and the stunning castle. Next, visit the Palace of the Dukes and be dazzled by the luxuries of royalty throughout the centuries where your local guide will share with you the stories and drama of the old monarchy. In Guimaraes enjoy lunch in one of the medieval squares of the city. Next continue to Braga, the religious centre of Portugal where every hour a cacophony of different church bells ring-out. Here you visit the Bom Jesus do Monte complex, with a neoclassical church atop an elaborate 17-flight stairway. Later in the day continue to your hotel in Viana do Castelo.

Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Axis Viana Hotel (Double\Twin) or similar

Day 4: Viana do Castelo - Gers National Park

This morning, join your tour leader for a guided walk of the old town where you can admire the architecture inspired by the Manueline, Renaissance, Baroque and Art Deco movements. Next, visit the Praça da República, the heart of the city where you will find the 16th century Misericórdia building and fountain, as well as the old Paços do Concelho (Town Hall). Close by is the beatufiul Romanesque Cathedral or Igreja Matriz (Parish Church). Depart Viana do Castelo to visit the historic town of Ponte de Lima. Here you will see the Roman bridge that gave its name to this very ancient and beautiful town. Enjoy a traditional lunch in the town square. Next continue to Quinta do Ameal in the heart of the Vinho Verde wine region. This small ancient property, dating back to 1710 is a place of rare natural beauty. You will visit the cellar and learn about the vinification process, ageing, bottling, and labelling of the organic grapes. Finish your tour with a tasting of two wines, accompanied by appetisers in the tasting room with view to the vineyard, or in the garden if the weather permits. Then re-join the coach and transfer to your hotel in Geres National Park. Tonight, dinner will be served at your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Hotel Sao Bento da Porta Aberta (Double/Twin) or similar

Day 5: Geres National Park - Douro Valley

Following breakfast, you will experience all the diversity that Geres National Park has to offer. After a short transfer to the park entrance, enjoy a relaxing guided walk through the national park to see hidden waterfalls and lagoons. Take the opportunity to swim in the natural waters after a rustic picnic lunch at the water’s edge. This walk is considered moderate, distance covered is 10km which will take approximately 3 hours. Next, you will drive south into the famous and scenic Douro Valley wine region. Your first stop will be the town of Vila Real, a drastic hilly landscape, clinging to a headland far above the Corgo River. Here enjoy a visit to Mateus Palace, a baroque masterpiece which is still owned by a noble Portuguese family.

Meals: Breakfast / Picnic Lunch
Hotel: Vila Gale Collection Douro hotel (Double/Twin) or similar

Day 6: A Day Tour in Douro Valley

This morning, drive to the lovely town of Pinhao in the heart of the Douro Valley. Here you will board a historic Rabelo boat for a relaxing cruise on the Douro River, where you will be flanked by wineries on both banks. Your tour leader will serve you some local porto wine as you enjoy this relaxing cruise. Next, board a local train in Pinhao and enjoy a scenic rail trip along the Douro River to the town of Peso da Regua. On arrival, the coach will meet you and continue to a local family-run winery, Quinta das Sequeirinhas. Here you will enjoy a tour of the vineyard and learn about the wine making process and have the chance to sample the wines. Return to your hotel for some time at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch at Vineyard
Hotel: Vila Gale Collection Douro hotel (Double/Twin) or similar

Day 7: Douro Valley - Coimbra

This morning, depart Douro Valley and drive to the coast of Central Portugal. Heading south, you will explore the beautiful city of Aveiro which used to be a great seaport. The town is crossed by canals navigated by the colorful traditional boats and often considered the Venice of Portugal. Besides exploring the streets of the historic centre of Aveiro you will get to try the famous traditional specialty – ovos moles (“soft eggs”)! Lunch will be served at a local restaurant where you can enjoy traditional specialties of the region. Next, continue to Coimbra, the city of students as it is aptly nicknamed, because it was here that the first university in Portugal was established which is now the oldest and one of the most important in the country. You will visit the city centre, explore narrow streets that hide love stories of thousands of students, see gardens, convents, and monasteries. Finally, you will reach the beautiful university campus which sits atop the town where you will have the opportunity to visit the Baroque Library from the 18th century that is one of the highlights of this fantastic city.

Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Vila Galé Coimbra Hotel (Double/Twin) or similar

Day 8: Coimbra - Caldas da Rainha

This morning you will depart Coimbra and head to the old town of Tomar where you can visit the Castle and the Convent of Christ. Here, admire the various styles of architecture including Romanic, Gothic, Manueline, and Renaissance while you learn about the history and legends of the Templar and the Christ Orders. Next, visit the monastery of the Holy Mary of victory. This monastery, nicknamed Batalha, is the Portuguese biggest gothic monument and is where the Manueline style was born and the first Portuguese-stained glasses were made. We will admire the architecture, discuss history and legends of the individuals that began the period of maritime discoveries, like Henry the navigator, who is buried there. Continue to the Royal Abbey of Alcobaça where we find the largest Portuguese gothic church. This monument, like the Monastery of Batalha, is a UNESCO world heritage site. Admire the gothic architecture of the twelfth century and learn about the influence of the Order of Cister in the creation of the kingdom of Portugal. Next, continue to the traditional fishing village of Nazare, also famous for its big wave surfing with the largest wave in the world. Enjoy a walk around the town and lunch in a local seafood restaurant. Then head to the medieval, walled town of Obidos. Try some of the sweet cherry liqueur known as ginjinja and soak up the fairytale atmosphere of the cobbled paths and small medieval houses. Browse the handicraft stores along narrow streets. Finally, continue to your hotel where you will enjoy dinner.

Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: SANA Silver Coast (Double/Twin) or similar

Day 9: Caldas da Rainha - Evora

This morning you will meet your coach and depart Coimbra and drive to the Alentejo region. Your first stop will be to a working cork farm. The farm you will visit is a paradise for walkers and wine lovers with rolling hills, cork forests, olive groves and vineyards in a landscape occasionally broken by a medieval fortress or an abandoned chapel. For six generations, the family owners have made a living on the 1,400-acre estate by sustainably managing cork forests, rearing sheep and making fine wines. During your tour your guide will explain to you everything about the cork trees and cork production cycle. You will also learn about local fauna and flora, honey production, vineyards, Iberian pig fattening, olive groves and all the farm activities. When you return to the farmhouse you will enjoy a tasting of wine produced in the area. After arriving to the town of Evora, enjoy lunch in a local restaurant. After lunch, your guide will lead you on a walking tour of the town. Explore the UNESCO classified city center, seeing sights from Roman times to the Renaissance era. Visit the Temple of Diana, thought to date back to the 1st century AD. Continue to the Renaissance Church of St. Francis to see the Chapel of Bones (Capela dos Ossos). Marvel at walls covered in human skulls and bones. Wander around Évora Cathedral and climb its roof to admire the golden plains surrounding the city. Finally, continue to your hotel where you will enjoy dinner.

Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Vitoria Stone Hotel (Double/Twin) or similar

Day 10: Evora - Lisbon

This morning you will meet your coach, depart Evora, and drive to Sintra. Upon arrival, enjoy a walking tour of Sintra town where you visit Pena Palace which stands atop the mountains in Sintra and is a classic example of 19th-century Romantic architecture. Next visit Quinta da Regaleira palace built in a romantic revivalist style, in an imitation of Gothic, Manueline and Renaissance architectural and decorative forms, mixed with mythical and esoteric symbolism. Following your tour, visit a local restaurant for a traditional lunch. Depart Sintra town and continue to your hotel in the capital of Lisbon.

Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: My Story Hotel Figueira (Double) or similar

Day 11: Private Tour in Lisbon

This morning you will be met by your local guide for your private tour of Lisbon and Belem. Begin with an eco-friendly electric tuk tuk for an enjoyable ride from Lisbon to Belem, passing by the river and watching the bustling. city life. On arrival in Belém you will see the Discoveries Monument (Padrão dos Descobrimentos), the Jerónimos Monastery, the Belém Tower and Belém Cultural Center, home to one of Lisbon’s most prestigious modern art collections. We will then enjoy a 2-hour sailing tour on the Tagus River, the perfect way to discover Lisbon city from the best perspective. Admire the city while sightseeing from a unique point of view while sailing the calm water of the Tagus River on board a luxurious and comfortable sailing yacht. See sights such as the Belém Tower, Terreiro do Paço passing by Cristo Rei, Discovery Monument and the 25th April Bridge. You then stop at a local restaurant for a relaxing lunch. After lunch, you begin at the famous Miradouro de Sao Pedro de Alcantara viewpoint to enjoy the breath-taking sights while listening to unique local stories from your guide. Find out how the city has changed over time and learn about the great mysteries and insights of the notorious 1755 earthquake. Continue to Martim Moniz square and board your private ’28 Tram’. The 28 route travels through the oldest districts of Lisbon and is one of the most popular ways to discover the city of Lisbon. The tiny trams dating back to 1930 are still part of the public transport network as they are the only transport that can pass through the narrow streets of the older districts. The tram passes through the popular tourist districts of Graca, Alfama, Baixa, and Estrela. Climbing and descending the hills of Lisbon as it passes by monuments, splendid views, and history. You will see the beautiful Carmo church and be amazed by the San Roque golden chapel. Your local guide will introduce you to the historical neighbourhoods of Bairo Alto and Alfama, important churches and so much more! This evening, you will enjoy a farewell dinner at a rooftop restaurant with views across the city and the river.

Meals: Breakfast / Dinner
Hotel: My Story Hotel Figueira (Double) or similar