Highlights
- Discover historic Portuguese cities and villages like Lisbon, Évora, and Porto
- Experience Porto's vibrant fishing culture at the market and a cannery
- Tour the breathtaking Douro River Valley with wine tasting and a boat cruise
- Take a cooking class in the historical ruined village of Marialva
- Explore bustling Lisbon and the Mercado do Livramento in Setúbal
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Lisbon - Guided Walking Tour | Lisbon |
| Day 2 | Visit the Seaside City of Setúbal and the Mercado do Livramento | Lisbon |
| Day 3 | Drive to Évora - Visit a Winery in Alentejo | Évora |
| Day 4 | Day Trip to Historic Olive Oil and Cork Farms | Évora |
| Day 5 | Experience the Famous Schist Villages - Drive to Lousã | lousã |
| Day 6 | Explore the Historic Village of Marialva | Marialva |
| Day 7 | Tour the Beautiful Douro River Valley and its Vineyards | Pinhão |
| Day 8 | Discover the Lively City of Porto with a Guided Tour | Porto |
| Day 9 | Experience the Culture of Portuguese Fishing | Porto |
| Day 10 | Departure day |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Lisbon - Guided Walking Tour
Welcome to beautiful Portugal!
After arriving at Lisbon Airport, your private driver will transfer you to your accommodation. Take some time to settle in before meeting your trip host and enjoying a guided tour of the city. Lisbon is Europe's second-oldest capital, after Athens. It was once home to some of the world's greatest explorers, like Vasco da Gama, Magellan, and Prince Henry the Navigator. The city is full of authenticity, where old customs and ancient history intermix with cultural entertainment and hi-tech innovation.
Start your walking tour in the neighborhood of Baixa, with its hilly cobblestone streets. Here you'll taste the country's famous Pastel de Nata, a traditional custard pastry sprinkled with cinnamon. If you haven't had one before, you may very well become addicted to these little treats.
After fulfilling your sweet tooth, explore the area's three famous squares, including Rossio, Figueira, and Comércio. You'll find many of the city's monuments in these squares, as well as throughout the Chiado neighborhood which is known for its iconic cafes and shops. Cross over into the popular Alfama neighborhood, one of the oldest in the city known for its hip cafes and bars.
Snag some water views at the city's beloved Belém Tower before heading back to your hotel to relax. Tonight you'll enjoy a live performance of Portugal's Fado music at one of the most refined traditional restaurants.
Day 2: Visit the Seaside City of Setúbal and the Mercado do Livramento
After breakfast, you'll start your day-trip to one of the world's most famous fish markets, the Mercado do Livramento in the city of Setúbal. This prized market was built in 1930 and has a unique wall covered by 5,700 tiles, all depicting scenes from everyday life such as fishing or farming.
Enjoy seaside Setúbal by strolling its downtown, filled with narrow, stone streets lined with colorful buildings. Stop into the Church São Julião and meander the bustling port. Then meet your host for a delicious experience in a local Portuguese restaurant.
After lunch, you'll take a boat tour along the beautiful coastline of Arrábida Natural Park in an attempt to spot some dolphins. Stop for a swim in the famously warm, turquoise waters before heading back to Lisbon in time for dinner.
Day 3: Drive to Évora - Visit a Winery in Alentejo
This morning, you'll collect your rental car in Lisbon and drive through the beautiful Alentejo countryside to the rural area of Arraiolos. The drive will take about 1.5 hours, covering roughly 80 miles (130 km).
Along the way, you'll visit a very special wine estate, the producer of Alentejo wine which is one of the most popular types of Portuguese table wines. You'll enjoy a guided tour of the vineyards, the bottling line, and the cellars, plus a wine tasting and a visit to the impressive Carriage Museum.
After your tour, you'll have lunch at the winery before heading to your final destination, the historic town of Évora. After settling into your accommodation, take some time to explore this magnificent UNESCO Heritage Site with a Roman Empire legacy. The entire region has remains of human occupation since the prehistoric ages, plus significant importance during the Moorish occupation and the Portuguese Kingdom period. Enjoy a quiet dinner in one of the town's quaint cafes.
Day 4: Day Trip to Historic Olive Oil and Cork Farms
After a leisurely breakfast at your accommodation, you'll drive to a beautiful olive grove where you'll learn about Portuguese olive oil, which is amongst the best in the world.
The day will begin with a private tour of an organic olive grove with trees that are nearly 70 years old, planted by the grandfather of a small local producer. Discover the history of the estate, which has been run by the same family for three generations. You'll learn about the Galega olive tree (native to Portugal) and discover the incredible effort needed to produce a small quantity of high-quality olive oil. Your guide will invite you to taste the extra virgin Galega olive oil, savoring its qualities in the shade of an ancient tree.
You'll end this amazing experience with a typical lunch at the estate, tasting some of Alentejo’s traditional products. Then start the drive to your next destination in Redondo where you'll learn about cork production.
Cork is one of the most characteristic natural products of Portugal. It's a fascinating, eco-friendly raw material that's extracted from cork oaks without harming the development of the species or the tree itself. The tree continues to live and grow, reproducing new cork. Your host will show you how the extraction process works, followed the production process where you'll see some of the goods made by cork.
Return to Évora in the evening for dinner and a relaxed evening.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 5: Experience the Famous Schist Villages - Drive to Lousã
This morning, you'll drive to the central region of Portugal, more precisely to the small town of Lousã where you'll enjoy a typical Portuguese lunch.
Afterward, your private guide will meet you and explain today's adventure. You'll enjoy an afternoon of hiking along the green mountains of Serra da Lousã, following a path of both natural and historical importance. Like traveling back in time, you'll walk along the mountainous routes of the ancient villagers, crossing a castle and a chapel before making your way through two official Schist Villages nestled in the hills. These villages are tucked away in nature, sharing a common building material: the schist stone.
You'll find that the pace of life is a bit slower in these villages, but the local inhabitants are more than happy to welcome you and show you their home. In the afternoon, you'll participate in a jam workshop performed by one of the locals of the village.
Return to Lousã in time for a quiet evening meal.
Day 6: Explore the Historic Village of Marialva
In about two hours (roughly 105 miles (170 km)), you'll find yourself in one of Portugal's 12 Historical Villages: the town of Marialva, where a sustainable wine project flourishes.
After settling into your accommodation, you'll head to Casas do Côro, a sustainable, eco-friendly wine tourism project that grew from the recovery of 12 ruined houses in the historic village of Marialva. Here you'll learn all about the project—how it was started and how it's growing today—and participate in a culinary workshop. Carmen, one of the owners of the project, will share her wisdom and skills in a 2-hour cooking class that will result in a delicious, community-style lunch.
In the afternoon, you can enjoy the facilities at Casas do Côro, such as the swimming pool and the eco-friendly concept spa.
Head back to your accommodation for a little rest before enjoying a hosted dinner.
Day 7: Tour the Beautiful Douro River Valley and its Vineyards
After breakfast, enjoy a scenic, 1.5-hour drive towards the picturesque Douro River Valley. You'll visit one of the most exquisite wine estates in the region, a well-known producer of both port and Douro wines. Your guided tour will end with a gourmet, picnic-style lunch among the vineyards and river.
Continue onto Pinhão, where you'll settle into your accommodation. From the quay in Pinhão, you'll enjoy a 2-hour boat trip on Douro River in a 'rabelo' (a typical wooden boat used to carry port wine to the warehouses in Porto/Gaia). After the tour, you can enjoy the town of Pinhão and a relaxing dinner.
Day 8: Discover the Lively City of Porto with a Guided Tour
After breakfast, you'll drive to Porto, which is roughly 100 miles (160 km) or just over 2 hours from Pinhão. Here you'll return your rental car.
Upon arrival, you'll settle into your accommodation and meet your host for a guided walking tour of the city, starting in the UNESCO World Heritage historical center. Porto is an inviting city of contrasts, with countless museums and ancient churches, winning the title of Best European Destination more than once.
Explore the city's fascinating monuments, including the 12th-century Porto Cathedral, the Episcopal Palace, and the fortified walls of the medieval citadel. Then take the Lada Ribeira down to the unique Douro riverbanks, walking over to the Bolsa Palace. Walk up to the Vitoria scenic lookout for gorgeous views over the city. Along the tour, your guide will take you to local restaurants to try some of the city's beloved delicacies.
After a little rest and relaxation, you'll set off for yet another tour. You'll enjoy one of the most iconic experiences in Porto: a guided tour and tasting at an exquisite port wine cellar, where you'll learn all about the history, culture, and charm of Porto's famous port production.
For dinner, you'll experience Porto's famous Francesinha sandwich, which is smothered in a spicy sauce!
Day 9: Experience the Culture of Portuguese Fishing
Portugal’s history and legacy are deeply connected with the sea, particularly with the fishing industry. Today will begin by visiting a nearby beach, waiting for the traditional fishing boats to arrive with the catch of the day. Watch the frenzy of sellers and buyers on the shore, as well as at a quaint fish market.
Next, you'll visit a top-quality sardine canning factory, a typical Portuguese delicacy that is known all over the world. This factory has nearly 100 years of history, still utilizing a manual labor process that is a living legacy of tradition. At the end of the visit, you can taste some of the sardines.
The morning will end back at the market, where you can choose your own fresh fish directly from a traditional fish seller, which will then be prepared at a restaurant close to the market for lunch.
After your day with the sea, you'll have the afternoon to continue exploring the city, enjoying your final night in Portugal.
Day 10: Departure day
It's time to say goodbye to beautiful Portugal! Your private driver will transfer you to the Porto Airport in time to catch your flight home, or onto your next destination.
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