8 Days Portugal Tour

A full day dedicated to exploring Porto, the second-largest city in Portugal. We’ll begin our tour at the Casa da Música, a monumental amphitheater with modern yet functional architecture, heading towards Matosinhos with its port and Foz, where the region’s upper-middle class resides.

In downtown Porto, along the Avenida dos Aliados, we’ll see the City Hall, the most emblematic building, as well as the statue of Dom Pedro I of Brazil, demonstrating his affection for the city, as he left his heart here.

The beautiful São Bento Station, where 20,000 tiles by Jorge Colaço will take us on a journey through Portuguese history and the traditions of the Douro and Minho regions—a true open book awaiting to show us the city’s authentic experiences.

Next, we’ll visit Porto’s busiest street, Rua de Santa Catarina, lined with national and international shops, with one of the main attractions being the Café Majestic, a luxurious café that tells the story of the city in the 1920s, its political intrigues, and the debate of ideas—the Porto of the “Belle Époque,” frequented by many writers and artists.

Our tour will then take us to one of the most famous and beautiful bookstores in the world, Livraria Lello, which inspired scenes in the Harry Potter films. This charming bookstore, with its wooden-like interior, will be followed by visits to the Porto Cathedral with its fantastic city views, the Palácio da Bolsa, the Church of São Francisco, among others.

Crossing the Dom Luís I Bridge to Gaia, we’ll visit one of the Porto wine cellars to learn about the entire production process of this unique wine. Nearby is the Serra do Pilar Monastery, offering a breathtaking view of the city of Porto and the Douro River estuary.

Discovering this region is about immersing yourself in Minho. In Guimarães, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2001, located on the sacred hill where a statue of King Afonso Henriques remains vigilant, we will explore the secrets of its castle and the founding of Portugal. You’ll visit the Church of São Miguel and the Palace of the Dukes of Bragança, stroll through streets that feel like they’re straight out of a medieval fable, and explore beautiful squares like São Tiago, Toural, and Oliveira. Don’t miss the chance to try a traditional Santa Clara pastry.

After lunch, we’ll head to Braga, a modern city with a rich history dating back to Roman times. We will visit its Cathedral, home to the cross used during the first mass celebrated in Brazil, admire its magnificent pipe organs, visit the high choir, and explore the burial chapels of some of Braga’s archbishops, where we’ll also find the tombs of the parents of Portugal’s first king, Dom Afonso Henriques.

Next, we’ll explore Bom Jesus Park, surrounded by a lush forest, featuring architecture from the 18th and 19th centuries in Baroque, Rococo, and Neoclassical styles, as well as several chapels depicting the Stations of the Cross and the Bom Jesus Church. Imagine being transported up the hill in a water-powered funicular, the oldest in the world, without a single accident. The upper car is filled with water, and the weight difference causes the other car to ascend the hill. Once it reaches the top, the water is emptied.

Our visit won’t be complete without a stop at the Episcopal Palace with its Santa Bárbara gardens, Largo and Church of the Cross, and the Republic Square, where you can feel the vibrant pulse of the city. There will still be time to spiritually immerse yourself in the chapels telling the story of the Stations of the Cross and relax in the lush gardens.

On the third day of our tour, we’ll leave our hotel in Porto, making our first stop in Amarante, where we’ll visit the famous church and convent dedicated to Saint Gonçalo, a well-known matchmaker. We’ll also see the 18th-century bridge that connects the banks of the Tâmega River, the largest tributary of the Douro River.

If you’re curious about Mateus Rosé wine, we’ll continue to Vila Real, more specifically to the parish of Mateus, where we can admire one of the most beautiful baroque palaces in Portugal, surrounded by gardens and steeped in history. It’s here, at the Mateus Palace, that the famous Mateus Rosé wine was born.

Our journey continues through the Upper Douro wine region, where we’ll take in breathtaking views from the Casal de Loivos viewpoint and visit the Pinhão train station, whose 24 tile panels depict the hard work involved in producing this precious nectar. This region was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2001.

Finally, we arrive at the heart of the Douro Valley for a visit to a vineyard estate, where we’ll learn all about the winemaking process, from cultivation and pruning to harvesting and bottling. By the end of the visit, we’ll all agree on one thing: the amount of effort that goes into producing each bottle of wine is remarkable. And of course, after all this talking, it’ll be time for a wine tasting!

Our fourth day begins with a visit to Lamego, specifically to the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios, with its iconic staircase built in the 18th century atop Mount Saint Stephen in honor of the city’s patron saint. The staircase, which stretches from the city center to the top of the mountain, is full of sacred sites and surprising corners, symbolizing the devotion to Our Lady of Remedies.

We’ll then head to another important Portuguese city, Viseu, known for its deep Portuguese spirit, full of sacred art and religious architecture, as evidenced by the churches that adorn its historic center, the Museum of Sacred Art, and the city’s cathedral, one of Viseu’s most iconic buildings. The Cathedral of Viseu, located in the Sé Square, is an excellent starting point for a city tour. Here, you’ll find not only the cathedral but also museums, the Church of Mercy, the pillory, and the Canon’s Walk.

From here, we’ll continue to Coimbra for an overnight stay.

We’ll begin our visit to Coimbra by exploring the University Palace, where the Joanina Library holds a prominent place. Construction of the library began in 1717 atop the old prison of the Royal Palace to house the university’s collection of books. It was completed in 1728, with frescoes on the ceiling by the renowned Masters António Ribeiro and Vicente Nunes, and a portrait of King Dom João V by Italian artist Domenico Dupra at the far end of the room.

IMPORTANT: If an interior visit to the university is essential for you during your 8-day Portugal tour, please inform us when booking. We will arrange the university entrance tickets (not included in the tour price) as the Joanina Library visit requires timed entry, and it’s nearly impossible to secure a visit on the spot. Once booked, the ticket fee (€11.5 per person) will be charged at the end of the tour, even if you cancel or are late.

After admiring the library, we’ll continue our visit to the University of Coimbra and explore other fascinating places, such as the Chapel of Saint Michael, the “Capelos” Hall, and the “Goat Tower.” Despite being built as part of a royal project to reform university studies, the Joanina Library is recognized as one of the most original and spectacular Baroque libraries in Europe.

In Coimbra, we’ll also visit the historic city center, known as the “Baixa,” where the nobility, clergy, and students lived. It contrasts with the “Baixa,” which was dominated by commerce, artisans, and riverfront neighborhoods. The area is perfect for exploring, with its narrow streets, beautiful alleyways, and squares full of cafés, pastry shops, and restaurants. The lower part of Coimbra is rich in culture and gastronomy, and this area has been the city’s commercial hub for hundreds, if not thousands, of years, retaining its genuine atmosphere and unique personality.

A visit to the 12th-century Romanesque-style Cathedral, the Almedina Arch, and the Church of Santa Cruz, where Portugal’s first king, Dom Afonso Henriques, is buried, is highly recommended. There will also be free time to explore the city center.

If you’re interested, you can enjoy lunch in Mealhada, famous for its roast suckling pig.

On this day of our 8-day Portugal itinerary, we leave our hotel in Coimbra and head towards Fátima, home to one of the most important Marian Shrines in the world. We will pay homage to Our Lady at the Cova da Iria by visiting the two basilicas located there: Our Lady of the Rosary and the Holy Trinity, and of course, the oldest, the Chapel of the Apparitions.

The Chapel of the Apparitions was the first to be built shortly after the apparitions of Our Lady. Located in the center of the Sanctuary, it is a must-see spot, not for its size but for its significance.

At one end is the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, built in 1928 with neo-Baroque architecture. Here you will find the tombs of the three shepherd children (Francisco and Jacinta) and now also the tomb of Sister Lucia, who passed away in 2005. At the other end is the imposing Basilica of the Holy Trinity, built in 2007 with more than 8,000 seats and 40,000 m² of space, designed by the Greek architect Alexandros Tombazis.

We will visit the homes where the children were born, located about three kilometers away in a place called Valinhos. These houses are extremely well-preserved, and the visit is free of charge.

Arrival in Óbidos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where we will travel back in time to the medieval period and explore the beautiful, narrow whitewashed streets that Óbidos has to offer.

Óbidos was part of the defensive pentagon of the five castles, originally managed by the Templars. Later, it was given as a wedding gift from King Dinis to his wife, Queen Isabel. The village became part of the Queens’ House, and most Portuguese queens in history were funded from here. They also left significant legacies, such as Queen Catherine, who ordered the construction of the aqueduct and fountains.

We will leave your hotel at the agreed-upon time to visit “New Lisbon,” the Parque das Nações, where Lisbon hosted Expo 98, inspired by the glorious moments of the Portuguese maritime expansion. Known for its bold yet functional architecture, you will also see the great work of Santiago Calatrava, the same architect who designed the Museum of Tomorrow in Brazil.

Modern Lisbon, with efficient public transportation, has greatly improved access to the city center, and it’s also home to the offices of many national and international companies.

In Alfama, we will explore the oldest part of Lisbon, with its narrow streets and alleys. This old Arab medina was transferred to another hill after the Christian reconquest in the 12th century, which gave birth to the Mouraria neighborhood. To discover Alfama is to dive into the authenticity of being Portuguese. Fado, the most typical and charismatic Portuguese music, was born here, a strange melancholy that the Portuguese call “saudade.”

Next, we will reach São Jorge Castle, one of the few remaining physical traces of the Arab civilization in Portugal. After visiting, we’ll head towards Baixa, but not before marveling at Lisbon Cathedral, with its Romanesque architecture, built in the 12th century. Here, if time allows, we will visit the birthplace of St. Anthony, the “matchmaking saint” of Portuguese origin.

In Baixa, the area most devastated by the Great Earthquake of 1755, we’ll take time to understand the importance of Pombaline architecture. The buildings were reconstructed in a completely different way, with wider streets and squares, incorporating anti-seismic techniques from the 18th century. The Marquis of Pombal was the statesman responsible for the reconstruction of Lisbon, as well as all the economic and social changes that followed the earthquake.

Crossing Avenida da Liberdade, we’ll arrive at Marquês de Pombal Square, where we will stop by Eduardo VII Park and learn about the relationship and treaties between Portugal and England, as well as their importance for the future of Brazil. You’ll also enjoy a fantastic view from here.

After lunch, we will continue to Belém, an open book of Portuguese maritime expansion. This was the location of the old shipyards and ports of Lisbon, where courageous Portuguese explorers set sail in the 15th century to discover sea routes to India, Africa, and Brazil. Celebrating this glorious past, financed by the vast wealth that flowed into Portugal from the colonies, we will visit three important monuments: the Belém Tower, Jerónimos Monastery, and the Monument to the Discoveries. The final stop will be at the famous Pastéis de Belém bakery to taste this fabulous conventual sweet, which attracts millions of visitors every year.

On the last day of our 8-day Portugal itinerary, we will visit Sintra, starting with the Palace of Queluz (optional visit). This palace housed the Portuguese Royal Family during the French invasion, which “forced” them to move the capital to Brazil. Curiously, it was here that Dom Pedro IV of Portugal (who was also Dom Pedro I of Brazil) was both born and died.

Its Rococo style is highlighted by its fantastic uneven gardens, cleverly disguised by a sequence of terraces and galleries with Tuscan columns, topped by a monumental staircase. The strong statuary decoration, clearly inspired by classical and allegorical mythology, blends the geometric beauty of boxwood hedges and polychrome tiles with the stone and bronze of many of its statues.

Next, we’ll have time to enjoy Sintra’s center, with its narrow streets and alleyways, where you’ll find numerous Portuguese craft shops and the famous “Travesseiro de Sintra” pastry at Piriquita Bakery. Free time to explore this wonderful location.

Sintra boasts a great concentration of historical monuments and very interesting tourist attractions. There are more than 10 national monuments here, including opulent palaces, ancient ruins, and decorative manor houses scattered across the region’s different hills, accessible through some quite challenging pedestrian paths.

Your guide will help you choose which palace to visit (we recommend a maximum of two) from among the Pena Palace, Monserrate Palace, Quinta da Regaleira (with its Initiation Well), or, if you’re interested in something more medieval, perhaps the Moorish Castle. The choice is yours, depending on your interests or curiosities.

We will then continue through the always-beautiful Serra de Sintra towards Cascais via Colares, with a mandatory stop to visit Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of mainland Europe. As Luís de Camões wrote in The Lusiads, “where the land ends and the sea begins.”

The imposing lighthouse, standing 165 meters high and built in 1772, reveals the “power” of the Atlantic Ocean and is one of the most emblematic places in Portugal, playing a crucial role during the era of maritime expansion.

Arriving at the village of Cascais, with its beautiful bay, now a pleasant place to live or spend a short vacation, you’ll see small fishing boats dotting the water. You’ll have free time to explore this charming village, which attracts thousands of visitors every year.

Between Cascais Bay and the Sintra Mountains, Cascais was chosen as the holiday destination of the Portuguese royal family in the 19th century, which in turn attracted the nobility. In Largo de Camões, in the historic center, you’ll find many shops and restaurants.

Estoril, the stage of espionage during World War II and the home of Ian Fleming, the renowned writer behind the James Bond 007 series, is where you can marvel at the grand properties and visit the Estoril Casino, considered the largest in Europe.