Day 1 ARRIVE LISBON
On Arrival be transferred to your hotel- The Lisbon Marriott Hotel.
PENA PALACE AND SINTRA CABO DA ROCA in a HALF-DAY TOUR FROM LISBON
At 2 pm, discover the romance and charm of Sintra on a 5-hour tour from Lisbon, and wander among the fairytale palace and gardens of Pena Palace. Come and delight in the beauty of Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most romantic town in Portugal. The trip includes a guided tour of the Pena Palace, the finest and most notable example of Romantic architecture in Portugal. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2 FULL DAY FATIMA, OBIDOS, NAZARE, BATALHA & ALCOBAC
We depart first to encounter Obidos and meet its medieval walls, rustic white houses and the rich and varied local traditions of the town. We then leave Obidos for Alcobaca to take in the imposing monastery church (UNESCO world heritage), the first Gothic church to be built in Portugal and home to the tombs of the ill-starred lovers D. Pedro and D. Ines de Castro. We then head onto the picturesque and colorful fishing town of Nazare for lunch. Free time for luch. There's also the chance to find out something about the legends and traditions of this town. When possible, we go to Sitio, to marvel at its wonderful views out over Nazare and its beaches. We then move onto Batalha to visit the monastery church (also UNESCO world heritage), a Gothic masterpiece with the most finely worked stained-glass windows. Finally, we reach the Our Lady of Fatima Sanctuary, an altar of the Christian faith and site of world pilgrimage. There is also the Chapel of Apparitions with its portrayal of Our Lady of Fatima. Take the time also for the location of the Basilica with the tombs of the three witnesses, and the Church of the Holy Trinity, the fourth largest in the world by capacity. You have some free time to attend mass. Travelling through this colorful agricultural region, we return to Lisbon. Overnight at the Hotel in Lisbon
Day 3 A WALKING TOUR OF LISBON
This tour is a unique way to see all the major sites of central Lisbon. Insider guides give you a great insight into Lisbon's lifestyle, history and culture as well as useful tips. Visit the Rossio Square, the heart of both: old and new Lisbon. Learn how the old city of Lisbon was destroyed in the 18th century and then totally rebuilt to become the city of today. Learn about the favorite liqueur of many Portuguese and a typical drink in Lisbon - Ginjinha. Take a look at the Obelisk on the Restauradores Square, commemorating the Restoration of Portugal's independence from Spain in 1640. Marvel at the intricate Neo-Manueline architecture of the Rossio Central Station. Learn about the Carnation Revolution of 1974 as you visit the beautiful Carmo Square, at the place where Portugal's old dictatorial regime fell after 48 years. Walk through the elegant Chiado neighborhood, with its old cafes, boutiques, theatres and bookstores. Try a typical Portuguese pastry (the famous Pastel de Nata) and then enjoy a short trip on one of Lisbon's vintage trams. Wander through the old maze of small squares and narrow alleyways of the Moorish Alfama neighborhood. Learn about Fado, Portugal's own musical genre, as you go past the fado Museum. Stop for a wine and tasting at a wine bar and restaurant located in a medieval palace. Visit Lisbon's Cathedral. End your tour in Praca do Comercio, formerly the entrance hall of the city, one of Europe's largest and most beautiful squares. Evening free, overnight at the Hotel.
Day 4 LISBON TO PORTO
Morning free in Lisbon, evening transfer to the Lisboa Oriente Station for Your train to Porto at 1709, arrive Porto at 1944, and check into your hotel. Overnight at the Hotel Porto AS 1829
Day 5 PORTO CITY TOUR
In the morning today a tour of colourful tumbledown Porto, one of the most ancient and most beautiful cities in Europe. With its baroque churches, magnificent 19th century buildings and medieval centre, Porto is an architect’s dream, but it’s also home to a lively cultural scene, with music, art and theatre everywhere you look. This half-day tour will give you the chance to experience Porto’s unique architecture, ambiance and colour, with a guided tour of the medieval centre followed by a trip to a port cellar.
Begin with a tour of the tiny cobblestone alleys of the Bairro da Sé, the medieval heart of Porto, where flapping sheets are hung out to dry between the buildings, and the locals sit in the shade in village-style plazas. Here the beauty and age of the buildings, as well as the Roman archaeological remains, have won the area Unesco World Heritage Status. Don’t miss Porto Cathedral, the Romanesque icon of the city.
No trip to Porto would be complete without a chance to sample the city’s most famous export: port wine. At the end of your visit you’ll cross the lazy river Douro to visit the famous port cellars of Caves Croft, in Vila Nova de Gaia. The huge barrels of port are carefully aged to perfection in the cool stone cellars before being exported all over the world, and there’s plenty of opportunities to stock up on your favourites before returning to your hotel.
You are free in the evening till 1930, when you venture out for Fado, an invitation to feel the soul of the Portuguese people and because fado is not only of Lisbon and Coimbra, an invite to trip to the ancient and renowned fado houses of Porto, and a walk through the invicta's night light. When leaving the restaurant, on the way back to your hotel there will be a Porto city sightseeing to show you to the most emblematic monuments of the city by night. Overnight at the Hotel.
Day 6 AVEIRO
Morning free, at 9am embark on a visit the charming city of Aveiro, nicknamed the Portuguese Venice for its old buildings, canals and moliceiros boats. This stunning city is packed with cathedrals, winding streets and beautiful beaches, as well as excellent shopping opportunities.
Take a mini-cruise through the small canals on a traditional painted moliceiros boat. Beautifully handcrafted from wood with distinctive upturned prows, these boats resemble the Venetian gondolas but actually have humble local origins: they were initially used to harvest seaweed, one of Aveiro’s greatest exports in historical times.
Then enjoy some free time to explore. Don’t miss the famous local ‘ovos moles’ pastries. These delicate seashell-shaped treats are concocted solely from egg yolks and sugar, and are well known all over Portugal. Finally take a stroll along the beaches of the Costa Nova and admire the traditional fishermen’s houses that line the shore. Brightly painted in stripes of blue, red and green, the houses command perfect panoramic views of the ocean. Rest of the day free.Overnight at the Hotel.
Day 7 MINHO AND GUIMARAES
This morning journey into the cradle of the Portuguese nation with this spiritual pilgrimage to the majestic Minho region. Visit glorious Guimaraes, brilliant Braga and beautiful Barcelos during this full day guided tour, which features awe-inspiring architecture, lush landscapes of verdant valleys and a rather special cultural icon.
Enjoy a tour through the centre of Guimaraes, which is known in Portugal as the ‘Berço da Nação’, the cradle of the nation, due to its importance in the development of Portuguese national identity. As such, it holds a special place in the people’s hearts. It is a city steeped in history with a well-preserved 10th century castle and the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza, the last royal family of Portugal and Brazil. The old town is has a Unesco World Heritage Site.
Continue to Braga, the capital of the Minho region, and discover the city’s spellbinding religious architecture. Admire the cathedral, which is Gothic at the base and baroque at the top, the three stunning sanctuaries – the stairway of Bom Jesus do Monte is mesmerising – and a sensational collection of churches. The tiled façade of the baroque Raio Palace is a sight to behold. Enjoy a traditional lunch in Braga to refuel for the afternoon.
Make the short trip to Barcelos on the banks of the River Cavado. This picturesque medieval town is the origin of the Cock of Barcelos, the multicoloured rooster who became a national icon and is the source of a popular legend. Return back to Porto, Overnight at Porto
Day 8 PORTO TO FARO
Depart in the Morning for Faro on the Algarve coast. on arrival transfer to your hotel – Hotel Faro. Rest of the day free, overnight at the Hotel
Day 9 BEACH ACTIVITIES
Day free for Beach Activities
Day 10 DEPARTURE
Departure - Back home.