Country Roads of Portugal

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 travellers during a pleasant evening of good food and wine.

Your guided sightseeing with a Local Expert takes you along the avenues of the Lower Town and past tree-shaded squares. See the ancient Belém Tower and marvel at the Monument to the Discoveries. Explore more of the Belém Quarter as you visit the Cloister of Jeronimos Monastery and enjoy a taste of Pastéis de Belém from the patisserie that has been using the same secret recipe for almost 200 years. This evening, gain further insight into Portuguese culture with an Optional Experience dinner.

Cross the River Tagus and head towards the sun-drenched southern coast to reach Lagos, a fishing port nestled in the bay of Meia Praia. After some free time to explore, continue to your hotel, set near the Algarvian coastline. Simplicity is at the heart of the local cuisine, with seafood so fresh it still tastes of the sea. Just a short walk away, specialised Portuguese seafood restaurants line the coastline, overlooking the Atlantic.

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 centre, or the serene city park, following the aqueduct inside the city walls.

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 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.

This morning, enjoy a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience with a visit to Casa Relvas for a wine tasting, featuring uniquely Portuguese grape varietals like Touriga Nacional. Despite the dry climate of the Alentejo region, this family-run estate produces exceptional wine through innovative water-saving techniques. Continue your journey to Fátima, Portugal's most renowned pilgrimage site. Here, you may visit the basilica or the Chapel of the Apparitions, commemorating the Virgin Mary's appearance to three young shepherds in 1917.  Journey across central Portugal’s rolling hills to explore Tomar with Insight Choice. Choose to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site Convento do Cristo with a Local Expert, where you’ll admire the octagonal Templars' Rotunda and the Manueline Window, and learn about the daily life of a warrior monk. Alternatively, join a guided city tour and visit the Synagogue of Tomar, one of the best-preserved medieval synagogues in Portugal, as your Local Expert reveals the town’s rich architectural and cultural history.

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.

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.  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 savour traditional flavours at a riverside restaurant.

With a full day free to enjoy at your own pace, why not take a stroll to admire the multi-coloured houses and churches covered in beautiful glazed tiles. Perhaps choose to visit Braga, the capital of Baroque.

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. This evening, join your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a delightful dinner, raising a glass to the unforgettable moments shared on your tour.

After breakfast, transfer to Lisbon International Airport.