Highlights
- Kick off the trip with an evening gastronomy experience around Lisbon
- Tour the capital's best monuments and districts during a half-day tour
- Visit the enchanting, pastel-hued village of Sintra overlooking forested hills
- Spend an afternoon exploring Évora's best-preserved medieval sites
- Kayak past the Algarve's prettiest beaches to Benagil Cave and near Lagos
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Lisbon, Culinary Excursion | Lisbon |
| Day 2 | Half-Day Tour of Lisbon, Evening of Fado | Lisbon |
| Day 3 | Day Trip to Sintra, Cascais & Estoril, Sunset River Cruise | Lisbon |
| Day 4 | Transfer to Évora, Private Tour | Évora |
| Day 5 | Return to Lisbon, Train to Lagos, Bike Tour | Lagos |
| Day 6 | Kayak to Benagil Cave, Beach Time | Lagos |
| Day 7 | Dolphin Watching Tour, Transfer to Lisbon & Depart |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Lisbon, Culinary Excursion
Olá, and welcome to Portugal! Upon arrival at Lisbon's airport, you'll be met by a driver who will transfer you to your hotel. Once you've checked in, use the rest of the day to explore at your pace. The afternoon is the perfect time to see the LX Factory, one of Lisbon's coolest destinations. A former cloth and textile factory has been transformed into a buzzing district filled with small shops, restaurants, and bars.
But don't linger too long. When evening hits, you'll join a gourmet food tour and get to know the rich flavors of Portuguese food. Follow your English-speaking guide through winding alleys to explore Portuguese gastronomy in the local neighborhood of Campo de Ourique. Over four hours, you'll visit seven spots that brilliantly link tradition with modernity. Experience ways that locals have reinvented restaurant concepts, including a market and hotel school, while getting a taste of culinary recipes that have become world-famous.
Day 2: Half-Day Tour of Lisbon, Evening of Fado
After breakfast, your private guide will pick you up at your hotel for an excursion around Lisbon. Your first stop is the beautiful area of Belém, an ode to the superb age of the Portuguese Discoveries—the numerous territories and maritime routes discovered by the Portuguese during the 15th and 16th centuries. Here you'll visit the Torre de Belém and the Monument to the Discoveries, followed by the magnificent Jerónimos Monastery, considered one of the most stunning monuments of Portugal. While here, taste the delicious and sweet pastel de Belém, a traditional pastry.
Next, you'll proceed to the charismatic Alfama district, home of traditional fado music, with twisting streets that wind up to an imposing castle on one of the city's highest hills. With whitewashed houses, flower-laden balconies, and terracotta-tiled roofs, Alfama is a perfect mix of historical landmarks and charming residences. You will also discover one of the most important squares in the city and the famous Liberdade Avenue. After the tour, choose between some of the city's best fado restaurants for a memorable evening of traditional cuisine and music.
Day 3: Day Trip to Sintra, Cascais & Estoril, Sunset River Cruise
Today you'll be transported to another world: Sintra. Just half an hour from the city, this village is packed with history and fantasy, described as a "glorious Eden" by the British poet Lord Byron in the 18th century. Explore palaces and enjoy free time for lunch before swapping the mountain for the coast. Pull up at Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of Portugal and mainland Europe. Enjoy gorgeous views across the Atlantic Ocean as waves crash onto the shore before winding along coastal roads to Cascais, the former summer residence of the Portuguese royals.
Continue along the coast, back to Lisbon, passing by upmarket Estoril, known for its casino (the largest in Europe), seaside mansions, and attractive gardens. Board a sailing boat or catamaran and cruise around with a glass of wine in hand as you spot Lisbon's famous landmarks and skyline at sunset. You'll pass by Praça do Comércio, São Jorge Castle, Alfama, National Pantheon, Santa Apolónia Station, Cacilhas, Cristo Rei, 25th of April Bridge, MAAT, the Palace of Ajuda, and more.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 4: Transfer to Évora, Private Tour
Today you're destined for Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the cultural and gastronomic capital of the Alentejo region. After breakfast at your hotel, you'll be picked up for the 90-minute private transfer. After a hearty lunch in town, feasting on the rich, local cuisine, you'll join a private guided tour and wander the compact, historic center and explore a city founded 2,000 years ago.
Discover the most impressive treasures, including Roman ruins, medieval churches, and the chilling 17th-century bone chapel, Capela dos Ossos. Your guide will cover Évora's main monuments, including those pertaining to the golden age of Portuguese maritime discoveries, while answering questions along the way. This tour is especially ideal for visitors wishing to get an overview of the city's major events, which have always been linked to the most significant moments in Portugal's history. In the evening, you'll have the free time to explore Évora on your own.
Day 5: Return to Lisbon, Train to Lagos, Bike Tour
This morning, you'll return to Lisbon to catch a train to the southern Algarve coast. Your final destination is Lagos, a charming town at the western end of the Algarve. On arrival at Lagos Railway Station, make your way to the hotel for check-in. Lagos is known for its charming inner-walled Old Town, pretty harbor, dramatic sandstone cliffs, beautiful beaches, as well as authentic restaurants, and buzzing nightlife.
This afternoon, jump on a beach cruiser bike for a leisurely scenic ride. Your private guide has designed a relaxed coastal tour that avoids any uphill climbs—ideal! Meet downtown and make your way to the cliffs overlooking the ocean, stopping to take in the views by the lighthouse. Continue through natural landscapes and into the Old Town. You'll hear about the medieval slave cemetery, ride along the castle walls, explore cobblestone streets, views churches, and see the former slave trade market and a fort from the Age of Discovery.
Day 6: Kayak to Benagil Cave, Beach Time
Start exploring the Algarve's soaring cliffs and curious coastal formations today when you kayak to the world-famous Benagil Cave. Getting there is an adventure as you paddle past an extraordinary section of the coast full of fantastic geological features, such as natural rock arches and rock stacks. Paddle inside and land on the sandy beach within Benagil Cave, a cathedral cave with a hole in the roof that lets in a warm sunbeam of light. For the return journey, you'll get to relax on a catamaran's twin sunbathing nets and enjoy the gentle breeze as you return to shore.
Spend the rest of today discovering some of the Algarve's spectacular beaches at your own pace. Praia Dona Ana is the Algarve's most photographed beach, a 534-foot (160 m) sandy stretch flanked by rugged rock formations, while Ponta da Piedade is hidden behind tall cliffs, brimming with crystal-clear water. Head to Praia do Pinhão for a tranquil, wilder beach hidden behind tall ocher cliffs, or opt for one of the most iconic Algarve beaches at Praia do Camilo, where a dramatic staircase winds down to a small patch of sand where you can explore grottoes and rocky outcroppings.
Day 7: Dolphin Watching Tour, Transfer to Lisbon & Depart
On your final day in Portugal, you'll get up close to nature on a dolphin-watching tour. Depart from Marina de Lagos, venturing into the open seas to maximize your chances of spotting various cetaceans and other fascinating marine creatures. Brace yourself for surprises as each trip holds the potential for encounters with common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, minke whales, sea turtles, and more.
Return to dry land, grab your bags, and take a three-hour private transfer to Lisbon airport for your flight home or departure onward. Safe travels!
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