LISBON

ITINERARY

1st Day | Lisbon Your tour guide will meet you at the airport and take you on a tour to the famous neighborhood of Belém where you can taste the unique custard tart of Portugal: ‘Pastel de Belém’. You will also have the chance to see both heritage sites monuments; The Jerónimos monastery and the Tower of Belém. Dinner You’ll only feel you arrived in Portugal after you hear Fado. Have dinner at a famous Fado house and enjoy a grilled cod fish with smashed potatoes and olive oil in the oven while you listen to the beautiful Fado music. Overnight in: Lisbon 2nd Day | Sintra, Cabo da Roca and Cascais + Sunset Sailing Tour (2 hours) Visit the charming village of Sintra, located in a Natural Park with castles and grand mansions used as summer houses by the Portuguese royalty. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site and owing to its beauty is one of the most visited sites in Portugal. Sintra-Cascais Natural Park The Park holds more than 200 species of vertebrates: 33 mammal species, more than 160 bird species, 12 amphibian species, 20 reptilian species, and 9 sweet water fish species. Pena Palace A summer palace constructed in the 19th Century by Kind consort Ferdinand II of Portugal. He turned a 16th Century monastery ruins into one of the most eclectic palaces in Europe by blending different types of Gothic, Egyptian, Moorish and Renaissance elements to it. Around the palace, he created a park where he planted different exotic species of trees from all over the world. An astonishing fairytale palace located on one of the highest peaks of the Sintra mountain range. Local products and handicrafts Visit the historic center and go inside small shops and bakeries, that sell local products and handicrafts. Colares The wine region of Colares was defined in 1908, becoming the second oldest demarcated region in the country. In 1865 the arrival of the phylloxera in Portugal damage most of the country’s vineyards. In Colares, the sandy soil vines due to the depth of the roots did not allow the propagation of the insect as it did in other types of soils and thus the vines were not damaged. You’ll have the opportunity to taste this unique wine. ‘Cabo da Roca’ It’s located on a large cliff with more than 140 meters height. Considered the most western point of continental Europe has an amazing view to the Atlantic Ocean. Guincho beach Considered one of the most beautiful beaches of the region of Lisbon was the place of a James Bond movie: ‘On her majesty’s Secret Service’. Lunch Visit a local fishing restaurant and taste a grilled fresh fish with a cold bottle of Vinho Verde (unripe wine) to go with your meal. Sunset Sailing Tour At the end of your tour, you will enjoy the sunset as you sail through the city of Lisbon on board a sailboat on the river Tagus. During the tour, you will get to know Lisbon from a different perspective. Overnight in: Lisbon 3rd day | Óbidos, Nazaré and Aveiro This Western Portugal day tour will offer you an unforgettable experience. Discover the typical crafts, the rich gastronomy, the traditions, the aromas and flavors in a unique atmosphere that characterizes this region. Lourinhã Lourinhã is one of the three demarcated regions of grape brandy in the world alongside the French Cognac and Armagnac. You’ll taste the so called ‘Aguardente’ that is so popular in Portugal and in the world. Nazaré Nazaré is a seaside resort with its own charm. Its the perfect place to enjoy a fresh grilled fish. Aveiro Considered the Venice of Portugal, here you will take a boat trip through the city’s canals and taste its famous sweets. Lunch At the village of Nazaré taste a grilled octopus with olive oil, garlic and smash potatoes on the side. A dish that you’ll never forget. Overnight in: Porto 4th Day | Porto During this Oporto city tour, we will discover the history and charm of the city. Dom Luis metal bridge Designed by Théophile Seyrig, a disciple of Gustave Eiffel, the bridge was inaugurated in 1886 and connects Oporto to Vila Nova de Gaia, on the other side of the Douro River. Port’s wine cellars Port’s Wine is internationally acclaimed for its quality and although it is produced in the Douro Valley, the cellars are located in Oporto. Have a taste of this amazing and worldwide known Oporto’s wine. Cruise at the Douro’s River Enjoy the fantastic landscapes on board of a typical local boat called ‘Rabelo’. São Bento train station The railway station of Oporto built in the 20th century is the most beautiful in the country. It has a glass and iron structure and it’s decorated with twenty thousand tiles that illustrate the evolution of the transportation and important events of Portuguese history and lifestyle. Church and Tower of the Clerics Considered to be the city’s symbol, this 18th century baroque church was designed by the Italian architect Nicolau Nasoni. São Francisco church The Church of St. Francis was classified as a National Monument and Unesco World Heritage because of its extraordinary decoration in gilt wood carvings. Oporto’s Catedral The Cathedral of the city of Porto, located in the heart of the historical center is one of the main and oldest monuments of Portugal. Bolsa Palace Located in central Oporto was built in 1834 in a neo classical style constructed by the Commerce Association of Oporto. Lunch The Francesinha in Oporto it’s the must eat dish! Go to a local restaurant the is famous for cooking the best Francesinha in Portugal. Overnight in: Porto 5th Day | Douro Explore one of the most beautiful regions of Portugal: The Douro Valley, classified as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. Do a panoramic tour and see breathtaking landscapes of vineyards planted on the mountains slops, visit local wineries and taste the famous Douro wine. Village of Pinhão At Pinhão you will visit the railway station to see the famous 24 tile panels with landscapes of the Douro Region. Lunch There’s nothing better than having lunch in a local winery surrounded by vineyards and with the Douro valley as background. Overnight in: Porto 6th Day | Alto Minho A unique tour that highlights the charms of the Alto Minho region. Along the day you’ll visit the historic centers of Valença, Monção, and Melgaço and family run wineries with beautiful vineyards and ancient cellars. Green wine Green wines are produced in the largest demarcated region of Portugal. It’s a young fresh wine, perfect for hot summer days. Valença Discover this beautiful hilltop town by the river Minho. Visit its fortress and enjoy the fantastic views of the River Minho. Monção Village known for its wine, its customs, and traditions. It’s a fortified small village on top of a hill with a peaceful atmosphere. Walk around the towns’ medieval center and enjoy the feeling of being in a Portuguese small village. Melgaço Surrounded by vineyards and the mountains of Peneda-Gerês National Park, its setting is breathtaking. Lunch Visit a local family run winery and enjoy a delicious meal, prepared specially for you, paired with their famous ‘Vinho Verde’. Overnight in: Porto 7th Day | Coimbra and Tomar Discover two of the most famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites, in Portugal: Coimbra and Tomar. Coimbra Known as the city of the students, it offers centuries of culture and history. Here you can visit the oldest university of Europe and its world famous library and walk the downtown city center. Lunch The bairrada region is famous for its sparkling wines which are very popular among the locals, specially if they are eating the traditional dish: roasted suckling pig. Its meat is so tender, and its skin is so crispy and tasty it became one the most requested dishes in Portugal by the locals. Served with French fries and a salad! After lunch, you’ll visit the oldest winery in the region. Tomar Walk around the historic center of Tomar and visit the churches of ‘São João Baptista’ and of ‘Santa Maria do Olival’ and the ancient 15th Century Jewish synagogue. Convent of Christ After the extinction of the Knights Templars in 1312, King Dinis creates a new religious militia the Military Order of Our Lord Jesus Christ, claiming the need to defend Portugal from Islam. The headquarters of the Order of Christ is set up in the former Knights Templars headquarters in 1357 where it will remain for centuries. Regarded as one of the greatest monastic complex in Europe was classified by UNESCO as a world heritage site in 1983. Inside we can see the Charola, the Knights round temple, the unique western window designed in Portuguese late gothic style and the main cloister, a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture. Overnight in: Tomar 8th Day | Marvão, Elvas e Vila viçosa Marvão Marvão is considered one of the most spectacular walled villages in the country. Set up on the very top of the Serra de São Mamede mountains, it offers splendid views of the region. Elvas A World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Elvas houses the World’s largest collection of bulwark fortifications and other military buildings as well as churches and monasteries of unique beauty. Vila Viçosa Surrounded by natural beauty, this hidden gem is full of history and cultural interest. Lunch Alentejo region is famous for its black Iberian pig. This free-range pig is on an acorns diet so its meat is full of flavor, succulent and delicious. Overnight in: Évora 9th Day | Évora and Monsaraz The Capital of Alto Alentejo (one of the Portuguese Regions) and classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage site since 1986. San Francisco’s Church The Convent of St. Francis in Évora, was the first house of the Franciscan Order in Portugal and was founded in the 12th century. The Church of the convent was remodeled at the end of the 15th century, between the years of 1480 and 1510, being an example of Gothic-Manueline architecture. It is related to the events that marked the period of the maritime expansion and is one of the most beautiful churches in Portugal. Bones Chapel Built in the 17th century by the initiative of three Franciscan friars in order to convey the message of the transience and fragility of human life. At the entrance, the warning: “We bones here laid, for yours we wait”. The walls and the eight pillars of the church are covered with about 5,000 human skulls and countless bones from the city’s cemeteries. Évora’s Roman Temple The Roman Temple of Évora was built in the early 1st century and is located in the historic city center, classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, in 1986, is one of the most famous landmarks of the city and a symbol of the Roman presence in Portuguese territory. Évora’s Cathedral Better known as Sé de Évora, it’s the largest medieval cathedral in Portugal. Its construction began in 1186 and consecrated in 1204, was completed later on, in 1250. It is a fascinating monument in granite that marks the transition from the Romanesque style to the Gothic style. Local vineyard and winery Get to know more about the wine production with a guided tour in a local winery. You’ll learn more about the daily life of a winery and at the end have a wine tasting with local ‘tapas’ such as cheese, sausage, olives, and bread. Store and cork factory Cork is a plant material, 100% natural, from the bark of the cork oak. It can be extracted every 9 years and has several uses such as floor coverings, musical instruments, decoration, and clothing. Considered the most important industry in Portugal, with an area of ​​730 thousand hectares of cork oak, it is responsible for more than 50% of the world cork production. S. Pedro do Corval It’s an Alentejo small village widely known for its handmade pottery. With about 35 pottery factories São Pedro do Corval is known as the Capital of Pottery (it’s the Portuguese largest pottery center). Monsaraz Medieval village conquered by the Moors in the 12th century. It played, over the years, a very important role in monitoring the Guadiana River, after the border with Spain. The beauty and state of conservation of the village of Monsaraz are impressive, making it a museum village, unique in the region. From the top of the castle walls, built by D. Dinis in the 14th century and classified as National Monument, we can see the whole village with houses painted white and slate roofs and the Alqueva dam. Lunch With so many different food options Portugal has always a little something for everyone. Why not taste a little of everything? You’ll go to a local restaurant that will serve you our best Portuguese ‘tapas’. This is a great option for those who want to taste different Portuguese dishes. Overnight in: Lisbon 10th Day | Drop off at Lisbon's airport