Best of Portugal - From £1,667

Europe Portugal
OVERVIEW
This Best of Portugal tour reveals a nation’s proud history, warm-hearted locals and soul-warming cuisine. Starting in Lisbon, you’ll travel north and south to explore a Templar stronghold, watch thoroughbreds perform at an Alentejo farm and visit the Algarve.
EXPERIENCES
Batalha: Join a Local Specialist to see the Monastery of Batalha, with included entry to the cloisters and chapels.

Casa de Mateus: Admire the Baroque architecture of Mateus Palace and its gardens.

Castelo de Vide: See the traditional cobblestone streets and whitewashed homes of Castelo de Vide.

Coimbra: With a Local Specialist, visit the University and witness the triumphal arches, painted ceilings, and walls of ancient tomes in the Joanina Library.

Douro Valley: Marvel at the extensive terraced vineyards as you travel through the Douro Valley.

Évora: Explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site with your Local Specialist and see the famous Roman Temple. Witness the fascinating cathedral and its mix of Romanesque and Gothic architecture.

Fátima: Join the faithful at one of the world's holiest sites and pay homage at the Chapel of the Apparitions or see the basilica.

Guimaraes: See Guimarães Castle and the Palace of Dukes before walking through the medieval squares of central Guimarães. 

Lisbon: Visit the Hieronymite Monastery, a former monastery of the Order of Saint Jerome and exquisite example of Manueline architecture.

Lisbon: With your Local Specialist, visit the Belém Quarter to see the modern Monument to the Discoveries and the medieval Belém Tower.

Nazaré: Enjoy time at leisure on Portugal's Costa de Prata.

Obidos: Stroll along the cobblestone streets and view the traditional azulejos of medieval Óbidos, perhaps stopping in a local shop to try the regional cherry liqueur, Ginja. 

Porto: Savour the flavours of Portugal's centuries-old Port heritage and gain insights into its local production at a tasting in a Port cellar.

Porto: See the Clérigos Tower, Avenida dos Aliados and the Palácio da Bolsa former stock exchange. 

The Algarve: Explore the history of the Algarve in depth.

Tomar: Dominating the town is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Templar Castle and the Convent of Christ. During your visit with a Local Specialist, see the Manueline Window and follow the story of the mysterious Knights Templar.
DEPARTURE DATES AND PRICES
Tour
Departs		 Tour
Returns		 Starting From
(price per person)		 Definite Departure
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03/04/2028 13/04/2028 £2,650   Book
07/04/2028 17/04/2028 £2,650   Book
12/04/2028 22/04/2028 £2,650   Book
14/04/2028 24/04/2028 £2,650   Book
17/04/2028 27/04/2028 £2,650   Book
19/04/2028 29/04/2028 £2,650   Book
21/04/2028 01/05/2028 £2,650   Book
26/04/2028 06/05/2028 £2,675   Book
28/04/2028 08/05/2028 £2,675   Book
30/04/2028 10/05/2028 £2,675   Book
01/05/2028 11/05/2028 £2,675   Book
03/05/2028 13/05/2028 £2,675   Book
05/05/2028 15/05/2028 £2,675   Book
07/05/2028 17/05/2028 £2,675   Book
10/05/2028 20/05/2028 £2,675   Book
12/05/2028 22/05/2028 £2,675   Book
14/05/2028 24/05/2028 £2,675   Book
15/05/2028 25/05/2028 £2,675   Book
17/05/2028 27/05/2028 £2,675   Book
19/05/2028 29/05/2028 £2,675   Book
21/05/2028 31/05/2028 £2,675   Book
24/05/2028 03/06/2028 £2,675   Book
26/05/2028 05/06/2028 £2,675   Book
28/05/2028 07/06/2028 £2,675   Book
29/05/2028 08/06/2028 £2,525   Book
31/05/2028 10/06/2028 £2,525   Book
02/06/2028 12/06/2028 £2,525   Book
07/06/2028 17/06/2028 £2,525   Book
09/06/2028 19/06/2028 £2,525   Book
12/06/2028 22/06/2028 £2,525   Book
14/06/2028 24/06/2028 £2,525   Book
16/06/2028 26/06/2028 £2,525   Book
21/06/2028 01/07/2028 £2,525   Book
23/06/2028 03/07/2028 £2,525   Book
26/06/2028 06/07/2028 £2,525   Book
28/06/2028 08/07/2028 £2,525   Book
30/06/2028 10/07/2028 £2,525   Book
05/07/2028 15/07/2028 £2,525   Book
07/07/2028 17/07/2028 £2,525   Book
10/07/2028 20/07/2028 £2,525   Book
12/07/2028 22/07/2028 £2,525   Book
14/07/2028 24/07/2028 £2,525   Book
19/07/2028 29/07/2028 £2,525   Book
21/07/2028 31/07/2028 £2,525   Book
24/07/2028 03/08/2028 £2,575   Book
26/07/2028 05/08/2028 £2,575   Book
28/07/2028 07/08/2028 £2,575   Book
02/08/2028 12/08/2028 £2,575   Book
04/08/2028 14/08/2028 £2,575   Book
07/08/2028 17/08/2028 £2,575   Book
09/08/2028 19/08/2028 £2,575   Book
11/08/2028 21/08/2028 £2,575   Book
16/08/2028 26/08/2028 £2,575   Book
18/08/2028 28/08/2028 £2,575   Book
21/08/2028 31/08/2028 £2,575   Book
23/08/2028 02/09/2028 £2,575   Book
25/08/2028 04/09/2028 £2,575   Book
30/08/2028 09/09/2028 £2,695   Book
01/09/2028 11/09/2028 £2,695   Book
03/09/2028 13/09/2028 £2,695   Book
04/09/2028 14/09/2028 £2,695   Book
06/09/2028 16/09/2028 £2,695   Book
08/09/2028 18/09/2028 £2,695   Book
10/09/2028 20/09/2028 £2,695   Book
13/09/2028 23/09/2028 £2,695   Book
15/09/2028 25/09/2028 £2,695   Book
17/09/2028 27/09/2028 £2,695   Book
18/09/2028 28/09/2028 £2,695   Book
20/09/2028 30/09/2028 £2,695   Book
22/09/2028 02/10/2028 £2,695   Book
24/09/2028 04/10/2028 £2,695   Book
27/09/2028 07/10/2028 £2,650   Book
29/09/2028 09/10/2028 £2,650   Book
01/10/2028 11/10/2028 £2,650   Book
02/10/2028 12/10/2028 £2,650   Book
04/10/2028 14/10/2028 £2,650   Book
06/10/2028 16/10/2028 £2,725   Book
08/10/2028 18/10/2028 £2,725   Book
11/10/2028 21/10/2028 £2,650   Book
13/10/2028 23/10/2028 £2,725   Book
15/10/2028 25/10/2028 £2,725   Book
16/10/2028 26/10/2028 £2,650   Book
20/10/2028 30/10/2028 £2,725   Book
22/10/2028 01/11/2028 £2,725   Book
27/10/2028 06/11/2028 £2,595   Book
29/10/2028 08/11/2028 £2,595   Book
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ITINERARY

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Join a Local Specialist today for a sightseeing tour in Porto, which takes you past baroque churches and along the winding cobblestone lanes that tumble down towards the Douro River. See the remarkable bridges that span the river and the Gothic Church of St. Francis. Visit the Stock Exchange Palace with its splendid Arabian Hall inspired by Granada's Alhambra, then Dive into Culture and into the centuries-old tradition of local Port production at a tasting in a Port cellar. Spend the rest of the afternoon strolling through the historic centre of Porto admiring the azulejo-clad facades.

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.

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.

Say a fond adeus to your fellow travellers at the end of an unforgettable Portuguese holiday.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
  • All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
  • All porterage and restaurant gratuities
  • An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
  • Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
  • Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
  • Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
  • Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
  • Must-see sightseeing
  • On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilised
  • Optional Experiences and free time
ACCOMMODATION
DAY 1: SANA Malhoa, VIP Grand Lisboa - Meals: Dinner
DAY 2: SANA Malhoa, VIP Grand Lisboa - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 3: Holiday Inn Algarve Albufeira - Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 4: Holiday Inn Algarve Albufeira - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 5: M'AR de AR Muralhas - Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 6: Grão Vasco - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 7: OCA Oriental Porto , The Log Porto, Jupiter Porto - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 8: OCA Oriental Porto , The Log Porto, Jupiter Porto - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 9: Santa Maria - Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 10: Moxy Alfragide Lisboa, Olissippo Marquês de Sá - Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
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