Northern Portugal Tour

Departure: 09h00 a.m. We will pick you up at your Hotel in Lisbon. Departing from the Capital, we will cross a landscape full of windmills and fruit trees and we will reach Obidos. This picturesque walled town is a step back in time. We will admire the harmony of the architecture, stroll through the winding cobblestone streets, enjoy the diversity of the handicrafts and taste the famous “ginjinha” (bitter cherry liqueur).

Then, we will proceed to Alcobaça, home of the largest gothic church in Portugal. We will make another stop in the friendly town of Nazare, a fishing village and seaside resort. Here, the Tradition is alive and its waves are renowned. We will continue to Batalha, where we will visit the Monastery of Santa Maria de Victoria, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. Afterwards, we will reach Fatima, where is placed the Sanctuary known worldwide. It is one of the most popular Catholic pilgrimage sites in the entire world and we will explore its magic atmosphere. Accommodation in Fátima.

On this day, we will travel to Coimbra, an historic city, once the Capital of Portugal, also known as the “Student’s City”. Here, we will visit the oldest University in Portugal, with its magnificent baroque library and unique atmosphere characterized by ancient customs like the black cape of the students and the melancholic “fado” music, singed by male students. We will also admire the St. Clara Monastery,  where the tomb of Queen St. Isabel – the protagonist of the “miracle of the roses” – lies. Then, we will keep driving through the center of Portugal.

Aveiro will be our next stop. It is considered the “Venice of Portugal”. The canals that cross this city and the wooden and colorful boats, named “moliceiros”, are a true must-see.  We will also have time to stroll through its beautiful streets and to taste the delicious “ovos moles” (a typical sweet made with eggs). Accommodation in Porto.

We will start this day with a visit to the emblematic city of Porto. Porto is the 2nd largest city of Portugal. It is considered an open-air museum, famous for its UNESCO monuments, Port Wine, Douro River and its lively artistic life. We will invite you to discover the riverside area, the old and colorful houses, the palaces, the churches, and the wine cellars. A true heritage known worldwide.

We will continue our trip to the Minho Region, the northwest region of Portugal, that offers natural green sceneries and the sparkling “Vinho Verde” (green wines). We will discover Guimarães, the “cradle” of the nation, the birthplace of the first king of Portugal, D. Afonso Henriques. Here, we will walk along the historic and medieval center, visit the Sacred Hill and the Palace of the Dukes of Bragança Dynasty. Our last stop will be Braga, also known as the “Portuguese Rome” and the religious capital of Portugal. We will stroll through the historic center and finest streets, explore the oldest Cathedral  of the country and the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus, with its famous baroque stairway and gardens. Accommodation in Porto.

This will be a free day for you to enjoy the wonderful city of Porto. Optional Tours are available.

Accommodation in Porto.

We will pick you up at the Hotel and we will drive through the countryside of Portugal. Our first stop will be the pretty, riverside town of Amarante, sited on a hill overlooking the bucolic Tamega River, a tributary of Douro River. We will explore its medieval streets and admire its lively bustling market. Then, we will drive to Vila Real and we will visit the the gardens of Mateus’ Manor. After this beautiful visit, we will travel through the Douro Region.

Along the bucolic roads, we will admire the vineyards and the breathtaking landscapes of Douro Region. We will stop in Lamego, city placed in the heart of this old demarcated wine regions. Here, we will explore the magnificent Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios that stands gracefully above the town. It is located on the hill of St. Stephen, flanked by twin bell towers and its baroque staircase is monumental. We will proceed to the mountainous hinterland to Viseu, center of the Dão Vineyards. This is a busy provincial city, full of artistic treasures, historic churches and strong culture of local crafts. We will discover its majestic Cathedral, narrow streets and doorways with coats of arms carved in granite. Accommodation in Urgeiriça.

On this last day, we will travel through the heart of Portugal till Bussaco, famous for its luxuriant forest, made up of a selection of rare trees and plants of exotic beauty. We will continue our journey to Tomar. The development of this city is closely linked to the Order of the Knights Templar, founded in 1119. This traditional and pretty town is placed in a large and beautiful valley, with ancient churches and attractive twisting medieval cobbled streets, and whose greatest expression is the Convent of Christ (listed as World Heritage by UNESCO), one of the masterpieces of the Portuguese Renaissance. And we will end our journey in Lisbon. End of our services (around 06h00 p.m.).