10-Nights Country Roads of Portugal - Classic Group from $2,775

Itinerary Details

Insight Vacations: Country Roads of Portugal - Classic Group

Day 1 - Welcome to Lisbon
On arrival at Lisbon International Airport, there are complimentary transfers to your hotel. Settle in and relax before joining your Travel Director for dinner at a local restaurant. Enjoy the opportunity to mingle with your fellow travelers during a pleasant evening of good food and wine.
Accommodations: Corinthia, Lisbon
Meals: Dinner with Wine

Day 2 - Lisbon and the Age of the Great Discoveries
Your guided sightseeing with a Local Expert takes you along the spacious avenues of the Lower Town and across the tree-shaded squares. Pass beneath the hilltop Bairro Alto to the Terreiro do Paço. See the ancient Belém Tower and marvel at the Monument to the Discoveries. Explore more of the Belém Quarter as you enjoy a taste of Pastéis de Belém from the patisserie that has been using the same secret recipe for almost 200 years, and visit the Cloister of Jeronimos Monastery. This evening, gain further insight into Portuguese culture with an Optional Experience dinner.
Accommodations: Corinthia, Lisbon
Meals: Breakfast

Day 3 - The Algarve
Cross the River Tagus and make your way to the sun-drenched southern coast, arriving in Lagos, a charming fishing port nestled along the bay of Meia Praia. After some free time to explore, continue to your resort hotel, beautifully situated near the Ria Formosa National Park. Algarve cuisine is defined by its simplicity, with seafood so fresh it still tastes of the sea. Just a short stroll away, you'll find an array of specialized Portuguese seafood restaurants hugging the coastline, offering a true taste of the region.
Accommodations: Real Marina Hotel &Spa
Meals: Breakfast

Day 4 - Everlasting Évora Relaxed Start
Journey to the medieval walled city of Évora where cathedrals, churches, aqueducts and ancient castle walls all serve to create the feeling that this beautiful city is a living, breathing museum to Portugal's rich past. Join your Local Expert to explore the highlights of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the Roman Temple and visit the Capela dos Ossos, an extraordinary 16th-century chapel comprising the skulls and bones of 5,000 bones. Visit the cathedral with its attractive mix of Romanesque and Gothic architecture. With the rest of the afternoon at leisure, you may wish to continue to stroll through Évora’s unique historical center, or the serene city park, following the aqueduct inside the city walls.
Accommodations: M'Ar de Ar Aqueduto, Évora
Meals: Breakfast

Day 5 - Monsaraz and Évora Relaxed Start
Travel to the striking white village of Monsaraz, situated on an imposing hilltop, surrounded by olive groves and vineyards. From the castle ruins, admire the spectacular views across to the dry Spanish plains, contrasting with the blue of one of the largest artificial lakes. Join a local boat captain for a leisurely cruise on the tranquil waters of Lake Alqueva. Relax and enjoy calming waters, picturesque views and tales of river life. Sit down to a delicious lunch at local restaurant Sem Fim, once an olive mill. Enjoy a wide range of tasty tapas dishes showcasing the local cuisine, and soak up the vibrant; cheerful atmosphere. Return to Évora where the evening is at your leisure to explore this beautifully preserved regional capital.
Accommodations: M'Ar de Ar Aqueduto, Évora
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6 - On to Fátima and Tomar Relaxed Start
This morning, join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as you visit Casa Relvas for a wine tasting. Despite the dry climate of the Alentejo region, they have been producing exceptional wine using innovative techniques to reduce the use of water. Journey to Fátima, Portugal's most renowned place of pilgrimage. See the basilica or perhaps visit the Chapel of the Apparitions, which commemorates the appearance of the Virgin Mary to three young shepherds in 1917. Continue to Tomar and visit one of Portugal’s historical jewels, the Templar Castle and Convent of Christ, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With your Local Expert, explore the octagonal Templars' Rotunda in the cloister and glimpse the day-to-day life of a warrior monk in the domestic areas. Outside on the battlements, the Manueline Window is a national masterpiece. You also visit the Synagogue of Tomar, one of the best preserved medieval synagogues in Portugal, housing a small Jewish museum.
Accommodations: Hotel dos Templários, Tomar
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 7 - Coimbra and the Douro Valley Relaxed Start
In Coimbra, your Local Expert will show you the highlights of the Old Town, including the University of Coimbra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit its impressive baroque university library, one of the finest in the world. Your journey continues past verdant hills and lush vineyards, along the tranquil waters of the Douro River. Enjoy a wonderful Farm-to-Table lunch, freshly prepared from locally sourced ingredients, with a port wine tasting.
Accommodations: Douro Palace Hotel Resort & Spa, Douro Valley
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8 - Guimarães and Porto
The mountain ranges of Northern Portugal accompany your morning journey to Guimarães, known as the birthplace of Portugal. Here, you can take in views from the Visigoth castle before wandering the cobbled streets and charming squares that exude medieval character. Continue to Porto, a city steeped in history whose central district is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Porto seamlessly blends tradition and modernity. Accompanied by your Local Expert, visit the São Bento Railway Station, renowned for the hand-painted azulejo tilework depicting scenes of Portugal’s past, and stroll across the Dom Luís I Bridge, a masterpiece of engineering that offers spectacular views of the Douro River.  Unwind at your boutique five-star hotel, an esteemed member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, situated in the heart of Porto’s historic district. For a different perspective, consider joining an Optional Experience to explore the pastel-hued houses of the Ribeira district, cruise aboard a traditional Rabelo boat, and savor traditional flavors at a riverside restaurant.
Accommodations: NH Collection Porto Batalha
Meals: Breakfast

Day 9 - Porto, Grande Dame on the Douro Relaxed Start
With a full day free to enjoy at your own pace, why not take a stroll to admire the multi-colored houses and churches covered in beautiful glazed tiles. Perhaps choose to visit Braga, the capital of baroque. This evening, toast to your travels during dinner at a local restaurant.
Accommodations: NH Collection Porto Batalha
Meals: Breakfast

Day 10 - Ancient Óbidos and Lisbon
Discover the charm of the fortified town of Óbidos. Step inside the medieval town's ancient walls to wander through cobblestone streets, then continue to Lisbon. Perhaps choose to join an Optional Experience seafood dinner across the Tagus River.
Accommodations: Corinthia, Lisbon
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 11 - Depart Lisbon
After breakfast, transfer to Lisbon International Airport.
Meals: Breakfast