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This Best of Portugal journey reveals a nation's proud history, warm-hearted locals and soul-warming cuisine. Starting in Lisbon, you'll travel north and south to explore a Templar stronghold, watch thoroughbreds perform at an Alentejo farm and visit the Algarve.
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A sea of pastel pinks, yellows and blues dot the seven hills of the romantic Portuguese capital, which you will have an opportunity to explore today before meeting your fellow travellers and Travel Director for a Welcome Reception and orientation drive past the city's most iconic sights.
Trip Summary Accomodation IconHotel - Turim Av Liberdade
Delve into Lisbon's centuries-old seafaring heritage today, paying tribute to the brave men who set off from these shores to discover the 'New World'. With our Local Specialist We'll see the shimmering white Monument to the Discoveries, the iconic suspension bridge spanning the Tagus, and Belém Tower, built to commemorate Vasco da Gama's expedition. We'll Dive Into Culture on a sightseeing tour of the UNESCO-listed Hieronymite Monastery, an exquisite testament to 16th-century Manueline architecture and art. There's time to join an Optional Experience to the historic towns of Cascais and Sintra. In the evening, perhaps enjoy a traditional Portuguese dinner amidst the heart-wrenching, haunting sounds of the fado.
Trip Summary Meals IconIncluded Meals - Breakfast
Optional Experience
Portuguese Fado Evening Of Music & Song With Dinner
Tonight enjoy a unique experience of traditional Lisbon nightlife. You’ll savour a typical meal with local aperitifs and wines and hear beautiful, traditional Fado singing, an expressive musical art more than 200 years old. Cancellation within 24 hours will incur a 50% cancellation fee.
Adult Price: €66.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Optional Experience
The Golden Triangle: Sintra, Cascais & The Estoril Coast
We'll venture outside Lisbon with our Local Specialist today. After passing through the fashionable resort of Estoril, we'll explore the picturesque fishing village of Cascais, with its beautiful array of mansions and exclusive residences. To complete the Golden Triangle, we'll visit one of the impressive Royal Palaces of Portugal.
Adult Price: €46.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Day 3
Journey to the Algarve Region
We journey across the Tagus this morning and drive south towards the Serra da Arrábida Mountains and to the golden pastures of the Alentejo. The hearty aroma of Portuguese chicken fills the air at our Be My Guest experience as we Connect With Locals over a traditional lunch at a stud ranch, where Lusitano horses were once reared at the pleasure of King João VI in the 18th century. Our journey continues further south, bound for the sun-kissed shores of the Algarve - our home for the next two nights.
Trip Summary Accomodation IconHotel - Real Bellavista
Trip Summary Meals IconIncluded Meals - Breakfast, Be My Guest
Day 4
Cliffs, Beaches and More in the Algarve
The dramatic cliffs and beautiful beaches of the Sagres Peninsula provide a stunning backdrop for our morning coastal drive. Admire spectacular views across Baleeira Beach, before continuing along the coast to Cape St. Vincent, the site of many sea battles centuries ago. We end our excursion with a visit to the resort town of Lagos - once the home of Henry the Navigator.
Trip Summary Meals IconIncluded Meals - Breakfast
Optional Experience
Faro And Almansil Excursion
With your Local Specialist you’ll head to Faro, the historical capital of the Algarve, to visit the old walled town and to have some time to explore. After having seen the marshes of Ria Formosa, we'll head to Almansil to visit one of the most impressive hidden gems of the Algarve: The Church of Saint Lawrence and its unique painted tiles.
Adult Price: €38.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Optional Experience
Algarve Dinner
Join us tonight for an authentic local dinner, where we’ll taste delicious dishes cooked in a traditional ‘Cataplana’, accompanied by other specialities and delicious Portuguese wines.
Adult Price: €49.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Day 5
Onwards to Elegant Évora
Journeying north, we travel to the ancient Alentejo city of Évora. Join your Local Specialist for a visit to the elaborate cathedral, Roman temple and the Chapel of Bones. Then, spend the rest of your day delving into the medieval history of this enchanting city. Trace centuries of history along its city walls, kick back with a bica and bolo in Praça do Giraldo or perhaps join an Optional Experience to the village of Monsaraz. This evening we dine at our hotel in Évora.
Trip Summary Accomodation IconHotel - M'ar de Ar Muralhas
Follow your Local Specialist through the vineyards and groves of cork oaks to charming Monsaraz, one of the most famous and beautiful villages of the Alentejo. Inhabited since prehistory, Monsaraz has beautiful white-washed houses and a 14th century Castle, which overlooks Spain. We'll also see the largest artificial lake in Europe before tasting typical local refreshments.
Adult Price: €34.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Day 6
Venture Past Mountains to Viseu
Our first stop today is in the quaint hilltop town of Castelo de Vide with its charming white façades, narrow alleys and fascinating Jewish Quarter. Travel north towards the Serra de Estrela mountains and arrive later in Viseu, set high on a plateau near the famous Dão vineyards. Explore the city's rich art and architectural history, seeing the 12th-century Sé, standing imposingly on a hill overlooking much of the city.
Trip Summary Accomodation IconHotel - Grão Vasco
Trip Summary Meals IconIncluded Meals - Breakfast
Optional Experience
Ínsua Manor - Food And Wine Pairing Experience
Situated in the heart of the famous wine region, join us on a short drive to the spectacular Ínsua Manor, an 18th century manor house and estate, where you'll enjoy a gourmet experience matching local food with different local wines.
Adult Price: €54.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Optional Experience
Beira Dinner in a Dão Wine Cellar
Today we drive into the heart of the well-known region of Dão Wine, to find out how the wines are produced and enjoy our Beira Dinner in a Wine Cellar producing some of the best wines of this region.
Adult Price: €49.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Day 7
Through the Douro Valley to Porto
Vineyard-clad hills provide an enchanting backdrop for our journey today through the Douro Valley, where Port wine is produced. We explore the magnificent gardens at the Baroque-style Palácio de Mateus, depicted on the label of the distinctive Mateus wine bottles. We continue via Guimarães for views of its impressive 10th-century castle, before arriving in the riverside town of Porto where we will spend the next two nights.
Enjoy a relaxing and leisurely cruise along the Douro River. You'll have a chance to see two medieval "world heritage" cities plus five impressive bridges, one of them the famous UNESCO-listed Eiffel bridge. Afterwards, savour a typical meal in the Medieval Ribeira Quarter
Adult Price: €60.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Day 8
Explore Vibrant Porto
Join a Local Specialist today for a sightseeing tour in Porto, which takes you past Baroque churches and along the winding cobblestone lanes that tumble down towards the Douro River. See the remarkable bridges that span the river and the Gothic Church of St. Francis. Visit the Stock Exchange Palace with its splendid Arabian Hall inspired by Granada's Alhambra, then Dive Into Culture and into the centuries-old tradition of local port production at a tasting in a port cellar. Spend the rest of the afternoon strolling through the historic centre of Porto and admiring the azulejo-clad façades, or visit Livraria Lello, the city's oldest bookstore.
Trip Summary Meals IconIncluded Meals - Breakfast
Optional Experience
Old Town Braga and Bom Jesus Sanctuary
Spend the afternoon with our Local Specialist travelling through the lush green Minho, Portugal's most northerly province, stopping at its capital, Braga. See Europe's largest and most magnificent sculpted Baroque staircase which ascends the forested hillside to the 'Bom Jesus' sanctuary, a UNESCO heritage site. We'll arrive using a unique 19th-Century water-powered funicular. Finally, a walk through Braga's historic centre brings to life this ancient and innovative city.
Adult Price: €36.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Optional Experience
Seafood Dinner by the Atlantic Ocean
Join us for an outstanding dinner next to the beaches of the northwestern Portuguese Atlantic coast. Taste the local seafood and other delicacies with fantastic Portuguese wines while the ocean waves crush against the shore.
Adult Price: €49.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Day 9
On to Coimbra and Pilgrimage to Fátima
Soak up the grand atmosphere of one of Europe's greatest and oldest universities and stroll through the ancient streets and squares of Coimbra, before journeying to the Templar city of Tomar to visit the Convent of Christ, originally built as a Templar stronghold in the 12th century. We arrive in the pilgrimage centre of Fátima, where we rub shoulders with millions of Catholic pilgrims who have journeyed to this pilgrimage site, where three young shepherds famously saw apparitions of the Virgin Mary.
En route to Lisbon, we stop at the imposing monastery of Batalha - a UNESCO World Heritage site and the best example of late Gothic architecture in Portugal. Our next stop is the fishing village of Nazaré, before we visit the medieval walled city of Óbidos with its whitewashed houses and cobblestone roads. Our last night in Portugal together sees us toast to an incredible journey at a Farewell Dinner with wine.
Say a fond adeus to your fellow travellers at the end of an unforgettable Portuguese holiday.
Trip Summary Meals IconIncluded Meals - Breakfast
All optional experiences for this trip
Book with your travel director when you travel
Available on day 2
Portuguese Fado Evening Of Music & Song With Dinner
Tonight enjoy a unique experience of traditional Lisbon nightlife. You’ll savour a typical meal with local aperitifs and wines and hear beautiful, traditional Fado singing, an expressive musical art more than 200 years old. Cancellation within 24 hours will incur a 50% cancellation fee.
Adult Price: €66.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Available on day 2
The Golden Triangle: Sintra, Cascais & The Estoril Coast
We'll venture outside Lisbon with our Local Specialist today. After passing through the fashionable resort of Estoril, we'll explore the picturesque fishing village of Cascais, with its beautiful array of mansions and exclusive residences. To complete the Golden Triangle, we'll visit one of the impressive Royal Palaces of Portugal.
Adult Price: €46.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Available on day 4
Faro And Almansil Excursion
With your Local Specialist you’ll head to Faro, the historical capital of the Algarve, to visit the old walled town and to have some time to explore. After having seen the marshes of Ria Formosa, we'll head to Almansil to visit one of the most impressive hidden gems of the Algarve: The Church of Saint Lawrence and its unique painted tiles.
Adult Price: €38.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Available on day 4
Algarve Dinner
Join us tonight for an authentic local dinner, where we’ll taste delicious dishes cooked in a traditional ‘Cataplana’, accompanied by other specialities and delicious Portuguese wines.
Adult Price: €49.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Available on day 5
Monsaraz And The Deep Alentejo Drive
Follow your Local Specialist through the vineyards and groves of cork oaks to charming Monsaraz, one of the most famous and beautiful villages of the Alentejo. Inhabited since prehistory, Monsaraz has beautiful white-washed houses and a 14th century Castle, which overlooks Spain. We'll also see the largest artificial lake in Europe before tasting typical local refreshments.
Adult Price: €34.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Available on day 6
Ínsua Manor - Food And Wine Pairing Experience
Situated in the heart of the famous wine region, join us on a short drive to the spectacular Ínsua Manor, an 18th century manor house and estate, where you'll enjoy a gourmet experience matching local food with different local wines.
Adult Price: €54.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Available on day 6
Beira Dinner in a Dão Wine Cellar
Today we drive into the heart of the well-known region of Dão Wine, to find out how the wines are produced and enjoy our Beira Dinner in a Wine Cellar producing some of the best wines of this region.
Adult Price: €49.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Available on day 7
Douro Cruise And Dinner
Enjoy a relaxing and leisurely cruise along the Douro River. You'll have a chance to see two medieval "world heritage" cities plus five impressive bridges, one of them the famous UNESCO-listed Eiffel bridge. Afterwards, savour a typical meal in the Medieval Ribeira Quarter
Adult Price: €60.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Available on day 8
Old Town Braga and Bom Jesus Sanctuary
Spend the afternoon with our Local Specialist travelling through the lush green Minho, Portugal's most northerly province, stopping at its capital, Braga. See Europe's largest and most magnificent sculpted Baroque staircase which ascends the forested hillside to the 'Bom Jesus' sanctuary, a UNESCO heritage site. We'll arrive using a unique 19th-Century water-powered funicular. Finally, a walk through Braga's historic centre brings to life this ancient and innovative city.
Adult Price: €36.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Available on day 8
Seafood Dinner by the Atlantic Ocean
Join us for an outstanding dinner next to the beaches of the northwestern Portuguese Atlantic coast. Taste the local seafood and other delicacies with fantastic Portuguese wines while the ocean waves crush against the shore.
Adult Price: €49.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
All Optional Experiences
The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Saddle up for a superb stud farm visit, the tragic story of unrequited love and a traditional home-cooked meal during a Be My Guest lunch with Tiago and Vera in Portugal's beautiful Alentejo. (Day 3)
Dive into Culture
Visit the Hieronymite Monastery, a former monastery of the Order of Saint Jerome and exquisite example of Manueline architecture. (Day 2) Sample the Douro Valley's delicious Port wine-making tradition at one of the local Port wine lodges. (Day 8)
Sightseeing highlights
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Explore Lisbon, Évora and Porto with a Local Specialist
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Discover the Algarve, Lagos, Castelo de Vide, Viseu, Coimbra, Tomar, Nazaré and Óbidos
Experience Ti Filled Icon
Visit the Hieronymite Monastery in Lisbon, the cathedral in Évora, the Palace Gardens at Palacio de Mateus, the Stock Exchange Palace, Arabian Hall and a local port wine cellar in Porto, the University Library of Coimbra, the Convent of Christ in Tomar, the Shrine at Fátima, the Gothic Monastery at Batalha and the medieval village of Óbidos
Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
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Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
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Optional Experiences and free time
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All porterage and restaurant gratuities
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Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
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An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
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All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
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Handcrafted Highlights
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Best of Portugal Trip Reviews
Our guests are at the heart of everything we do, their feedback fuels our innovation, inspiring us to improve continuously and craft Simply The Best vacations. That's why we ask each of our guests to leave a third-party verified, independent review after every trip. As testament to our commitment we have been given the Trusted Service Award from Feefo, recognising we deliver exceptional experiences as rated by real guests.
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The Wonders of a Trafalgar Tour...
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5
Everything was spelled out, and then some. We saw sites we'd never have ventured to on our own. Ten days wasn't enough. We'd recommend longer with Trafalgar, when possible.
The places visited and our travel guru, Sr. Racle, were excellent. The services were, as always, top notch. I don't believe royalty could be handled any better. We look forward to our next Trafalgar tour.
Our Tour Guide was amazing. Jorge was friendly & made my daughter & feel at home. He was very knowledgeable & provided much background info. The trip was very well planned, as Trafalgar Tours always are.
Special Rate Solo Rooming: Departures 24 March, 2 July, 25 August and 20 October 2021 include 20 - 100% discount on our standard single supplement.
Drinking Water: Tap water is safe to drink in all of the destinations on this trip. Please remember to bring a water bottle.
Unless otherwise stated, trip prices are per person, land only, based on double occupancy and reflect applicable discount. Discounts are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice.
Trip prices are correct at the time of the products going live, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking. All trip information is correct at time of trips going live, however are subject to change - please confirm all details at time of booking.
Twin-share option not available for trips to South America, Costa Rica, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, South Africa, Kenya & Tanzania, Botswana, Zambia or for any holiday & cruise combination, or in Asia and Eastern Mediterranean except Highlights of Turkey (without cruise) & Best of Turkey. It's also not available on Small Group trips. Guided Vacations included in this restriction are Newfoundland and Labrador (DNLA). Does not apply to trips operated by Inspiring Journeys & our Mini-stays.
For trips that are part of our Guaranteed Room Share, please note that there is a no smoking policy in all shared rooms. Solo travel is not accepted on guided Family Experiences holidays unless travelling as part of a family group.
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