Portugal In-Depth

Today, we'll explore the charming city of Porto. We'll wander through the winding streets of the old town, marvel at the unique São Bento train station, and visit the stately Stock Exchange Palace. We'll also admire the exterior of the cathedral and the famous Clérigos Tower. After a port wine tasting in a local cellar, we'll enjoy a leisurely boat tour on the Douro River. The afternoon is yours to explore at your leisure before ending the day with a delightful dinner at a nearby restaurant.

Today, we'll head to Vila Real, a small town nestled in the foothills of the Sierra do Marão mountains. We'll visit the magnificent 18th-century mansion, Palácio de Mateus, and stroll through its gardens. Then, we'll head to Régua, Portugal's most important wine-growing region, where we'll visit a country estate and taste the delicious local wine. Our final destination for the day is Coimbra, where we'll spend the night (or similar).

Today, we'll admire one of Europe's most beautiful Cistercian monasteries in Alcobaça and visit the famous monastery church. Then, we'll drive to the medieval town of Óbidos, a charming place with picturesque alleys. We'll continue to Évora, where we'll learn about traditional cork processing at a local factory. This charming town is also known for the famous Bone Chapel and the historic town center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We'll spend the night in Évora (or similar).

We'll leave Évora and drive south to the Algarve. After a short visit to Faro, the tranquil provincial capital, we'll continue to the nearby Ria Formosa Nature Park, one of the largest lagoon landscapes in Europe. Here, we'll take a walk between lagoons, sandbanks, and green islands. If we're lucky, we might even spot flamingos. We'll spend the next two nights in Lagoa (or similar).

Our day trip will take us to Lagos and the most beautiful bays of the Algarve. The coastline is characterized by spectacular limestone rock formations and beautiful sandy beaches. Depending on the weather, we'll take a short swim break and make photo stops at the most beautiful viewpoints. We'll also visit the fortress of Sagres and Cabo Sao Vicente, the southwestern tip of Portugal.

On our way to Lisbon, we'll visit a tile factory in Azeitao and stop at the Arrabida Nature Park for a magnificent panoramic view of the Atlantic coast. In Lisbon, we'll walk through the Park of Nations, the city's most modern and architecturally impressive neighborhood. We'll spend the next four nights in Lisbon (or similar).

We'll spend a full day in the capital, exploring the historic Rossio Square, the financial district of Baixa, and the famous old town with its Moorish, winding streets. In the afternoon, we'll head to Belém, where we'll visit the famous church of the Jerónimo Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and admire the exterior of the Tower of Belém.

We'll start the day by driving to Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of mainland Europe, for a fantastic view of the Atlantic Ocean. Then, we'll take a panoramic tour of the seaside resorts of Estoril and Cascais, known as the 'Portuguese Riviera'. In Sintra, we'll visit the Palacio de Vila, the former summer residence of the Portuguese kings.