Best of Portugal

Tour Itinerary

• 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. Arrival Transfer: Depart the airport at 09:30, 12:30, 15:30 Accommodation: Turim Av Liberdade Lisbon Included Meals: Dinner

• Day 2 • Exploring Colourful Lisbon

  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 your Local Specialist, see the shimmering white Monument to the Discoveries, the iconic suspension bridge spanning the Tagus River, 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 trip through the Golden Triangle, visiting Estoril, Cascais and one of Lisbon’s stunning royal palaces, before perhaps enjoying a traditional Portuguese dinner accompanied by the soulful and touching sounds of the Fado this evening. Accommodation: Turim Av Liberdade Lisbon Included Meals: Breakfast

• Day 3 • Journey to the Algarve Region

  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 traditional Portuguese cuisine fills the air at your Be My Guest experience. You'll connect with locals over lunch in the family home of a historic stud ranch, where Lusitano horses were reared for King João VI in the 18th century. Your Portugal trip itinerary continues further south, bound for the sun-kissed shores of the Algarve – your home for the next two nights. Accommodation: Holiday Inn Algarve Albufeira Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

• Day 4 • Cliffs, Beaches and More in the Algarve

  Today, visit the historic resort town of Lagos – once home to Henry the Navigator and a key port during the Age of Discovery. Later, stop in the lively coastal town of Albufeira and enjoy some free time to stroll through its charming streets, then enjoy some free time relaxing at the beach or exploring local cafes and shops. Accommodation: Holiday Inn Algarve Albufeira Included Meals: Breakfast

• Day 5 •Onwards to Elegant Évora

  Journeying north, 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 you dine at your hotel. Accommodation: M'AR de AR Muralhas Évora Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

• Day 6 • Venture Past Mountains to Viseu

  The 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. Accommodation: Grão Vasco Viseu Included Meals: Breakfast

• Day 7 • Through the Douro Valley to Porto

  Vineyard-clad hills provide an enchanting backdrop for your journey today through the Douro Valley, where Port wine is produced. Explore the magnificent gardens at the Baroque-style Palácio de Mateus, depicted on the label of the distinctive Mateus Rosé wine bottles. Continue via Guimarães for views of its impressive 10th-century castle, before arriving in the riverside town of Porto where you will spend the next two nights.

• Day 8 • Explore Vibrant Porto

  Join a Local Specialist for a tour of Porto, exploring baroque churches and winding cobblestone streets leading to the Douro River. See the city’s iconic bridges and the Gothic Church of St. Francis, then visit the Stock Exchange Palace, including its stunning Arabian Hall. Enjoy a Port tasting in a traditional cellar before spending the afternoon wandering the historic centre or visiting Livraria Lello. Accommodation: Turim Oporto Hotel Meals: Breakfast

• Days 9 • Ios to Athens

  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. Accommodation: Hotel Fátima Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

• Day 10 • Experience Village Life Returning to Lisbon

  En route to Lisbon, with a Local Specialist, 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. Accommodation: Moxy Alfragide Lisboa Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

• Day 11 • Farewell Lisbon

  Say a fond adeus to your fellow travellers at the end of an unforgettable Portuguese holiday. Departure Transfer: Arrive at the airport at 07:00, 09:30 Included Meals: Breakfast