Best of Portugal
Experience Overview
This Best of Portugal tour 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.
Highlights
Dining Summary
- 4 Dinner (D)
- 10 Breakfast (B)
- 1 Lunch (L)
Be My Guest
- Panoias-Ourique: Visit a family ranch and learn about Portugal's Lusitano horse. Hear an ancenstral story of unrequited love that defined the character (and color) of the ranch before sitting down to a home-cooked lunch with Tiago and Vera in the heart of the Alentejo region.
Dive into Culture
- Lisbon: Visit the Hieronymite Monastery, a former monastery of the Order of Saint Jerome and exquisite example of Manueline architecture.
- Porto: Savor the flavors of Portugal's centuries-old Port heritage and gain insights into its local production at a tasting in a Port cellar.
Iconic Experience
- Lisbon: With your Local Specialist, visit the Belém Quarter to see the modern Monument to the Discoveries and the medieval Belém Tower.
- The Algarve: Explore the history of the Algarve in depth.
- Évora: Explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site with your Local Specialist and see the famous Roman Temple. Witness the fascinating cathedral and its mix of Romanesque and Gothic architecture.
- Castelo de Vide: See the traditional cobblestone streets and whitewashed homes of Castelo de Vide.
- Casa de Mateus: Admire the Baroque architecture of Mateus Palace and its gardens.
- Douro Valley: Marvel at the extensive terraced vineyards as you travel through the Douro Valley.
- Guimaraes: See Guimarães Castle and the Palace of Dukes before walking through the medieval squares of central Guimarães.
- Porto: See the Clérigos Tower, Avenida dos Aliados and the Palácio da Bolsa former stock exchange.
- Coimbra: With a Local Specialist, visit the University and witness the triumphal arches, painted ceilings, and walls of ancient tomes in the Joanina Library.
- Tomar: Dominating the town is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Templar Castle and the Convent of Christ. During your visit with a Local Specialist, see the Manueline Window and follow the story of the mysterious Knights Templar.
- Fátima: Join the faithful at one of the world's holiest sites and pay homage at the Chapel of the Apparitions or see the basilica.
- Batalha: Join a Local Specialist to see the Monastery of Batalha, with included entry to the cloisters and chapels.
- Nazaré: Enjoy time at leisure on Portugal's Costa de Prata.
- Obidos: Stroll along the cobblestone streets and view the traditional azulejos of medieval Óbidos, perhaps stopping in a local shop to try the regional cherry liqueur, Ginja.
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®
- Lisbon: Bid farewell to your Portuguese adventures at the award-winning organic vineyard Vale da Capucha which prides itself in producing organic and biodynamic wines. Your experience supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.
Must-see Highlights
- Explore Lisbon, Évora, Porto, Coimbra and Tomar
- Discover the Algarve, Lagos, Castelo de Vide, Viseu, Nazaré and Óbidos
- 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 and Batalha's Gothic Monastery
- View the Castle of Guimarães and the Shrine at Fátima
Trip Details
Product Code: 34394
Tour Type: Group Tour
Accommodation: Deluxe
Transport: Private
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Family, 55+
Tour Operator:
Trafalgar (CA)
Supplier Code: 38.112E
Starts: Lisbon, Portugal
Finishes: Lisbon, Portugal
Duration: 11 days
Departures: Not Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Easy
Includes
Whats Included
- An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
- Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
- All porterage and restaurant gratuities
- All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
- Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
- Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
- Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
- Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
- Optional Experiences and free time
- On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $3715 ($338 /day)
Itinerary
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 travelers and Travel Director for dinner and an orientation drive past some of the city's most iconic sights.
Accommodation: Olissippo Marquês de Sá
Meals: Dinner
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, see the shimmering white Monument to the Discoveries, the iconic suspension bridge spanning the Tagus, and Belém Tower, built as a fortress protecting the city of Lisbon. 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, before perhaps enjoying a traditional Portuguese dinner amidst the soulful and touching sounds of the Fado this evening.
Accommodation: Olissippo Marquês de Sá
Meals: Breakfast
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. Our Portugal trip itinerary continues further south, bound for the holiday paradise that is the Algarve – our home for the next two nights.
Accommodation: Água Hotels Riverside
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
The dramatic landscapes of the Sagres Peninsula provide a stunning backdrop for our morning drive. Admire spectacular views across Baleeira Beach, before continuing along the coast to Cape St. Vincent, the site of many sea battles centuries ago. Enjoy your free afternoon in the resort town Lagos – once the home of Henry the Navigator.
Accommodation: Água Hotels Riverside
Meals: Breakfast
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 medieval village of Monsaraz. This evening we dine at our hotel.
Accommodation: M'ar de Ar Muralhas
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
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, and see the 12th-century Sé, standing imposingly on a hill overlooking much of the city.
Accommodation: Grão Vasco
Meals: Breakfast
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 Rosé wine bottles. We continue via Guimar��es for views of its impressive 10th-century castle, before arriving in the riverside town of Porto where we will spend the next two nights.
Accommodation: Carris Ribeira, Turim Oporto
Meals: Breakfast
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 center of Porto admiring the azulejo-clad façades, or visit Livraria Lello, the city's oldest bookstore.
Accommodation: Carris Ribeira, Turim Oporto
Meals: Breakfast
Soak up the grand atmosphere of one of Europe's greatest and oldest universities with a Local Specialist, then stroll through the ancient streets and squares of Coimbra, before journeying to the Templar city of Tomar. We join a Local Specialist to visit the Convent of Christ, originally built as a Templar stronghold in the 12th century. Later, we arrive in the pilgrimage center of Fátima, visited by millions of Catholic pilgrims, where three young shepherds famously saw apparitions of the Virgin Mary.
Accommodation: Santa Maria , Fátima
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
En route to Lisbon, with a Local Specialist 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 streets. Celebrate our last evening in Portugal over dinner in a family-run vineyard, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Toast to an incredible journey over organic wine and locally sourced flavors.
Accommodation: Smy Lisboa, Olissippo Oriente
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Say a fond adeus to your fellow travelers at the end of an unforgettable Portuguese holiday.
Meals: Breakfast
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Tour Operator
Trafalgar (CA)
Family owned and run since 1920, The Travel Corporation (TTC) is the world leader in immersive travel experiences across an extensive range of travel categories. Each year TTC's 40 award winning hospitality and travel brands connect over 1 million happy travellers to the world. We give you access to the 12 DMC’s behind these brands, so you can build your business by capitalizing on the extensive experience, local expertise, and financial assurance of TTC. LOCAL EXPERTISE The world leaders in travel for over 100 years, we offer unparalleled local expertise with a global footprint. Our 12 DMCs, led by experienced in-destination teams, deliver experience rich travel solutions in more than 80 countries. Additionally, our market based teams are on hand to support across our 40 offices worldwide
In Business Since 1931
Reviews
Carlos Rangel - Traveled, June 2025
I thank the tour director *Personal information removed by Feefo* for sharing his knowledge and experience. It was a very good experience that included a lot of relevant information along with all the Optional Tours. This is a well-balanced tour that engulfs the highlights of Portugal.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/03/2025
Renee Abdow - Traveled, June 2025
Good services! First of all, our tour guide was excellent. He was very informative. Had a good personality. The tour itself was informative. The variety of places to visit or exceptionally good. The hotel accommodations were satisfactory. Our meals in the hotel where good.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/07/2025
Anonymous - Traveled, June 2025
Was sick with heat exhaustion and received the best care.. Thank you so much.. Was in bed for two days and *Personal information removed by Feefo* the tour guide made sure that I was well taking care of. A good view of the country.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/29/2025
Anonymous - Traveled, June 2025
This was our third trip with Trafgalgar and it has been a positive experience each time. We were very pleased with the itinerary, we were able to experience so much of the country, had a very knowledgeable tour guide and the schedule allowed enough "down time" to relax between locations. we loved the cultural experiences from the Fado singing, the wine tastings and the final meal with a local family at their vineyard as well as all the UNESCO sites. A special treat was experiencing the St. John's Festival in Porto! *Personal information removed by Feefo* (our guide) took very good care of his "family" and we felt very much like a family with our fellow tourists on this trip.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/10/2025
Isabel Plantada - Traveled, June 2025
Our Best of Portugal trip was very well planned. Our travel guide *Personal information removed by Feefo* was amazing. She was knowledgeable, organized, kind, and sweet, did not miss a beat. It makes a big difference in a trip to feel relaxed, and just enjoy. Our bus driver *Personal information removed by Feefo* was also amazing, great team! Hotels were great, spacious rooms, comfort, clean, our luggage was taken to room and picked up in the mornings, breakfast were great! The extra experiences were excellent, they felt very hands on, personalized to our group. The local guides were also very knowledgeable and friendly. Overall it was an amazing trip! It was perfect!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/07/2025
Lorraine Stevens - Traveled, June 2025
Tour Director *Personal information removed by Feefo* was Fantastic! *Personal information removed by Feefo* was best Driver!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/08/2025
Leanne Clowes - Traveled, June 2025
SERVICE WAS FINE. IT WAS ALL GREAT JUST MAYBE LESS PEOPLE IN GROUP WOULD MAKE IT MUCH BETTER THANKS.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/09/2025
George Condon III - Traveled, June 2025
This is my seventh tour with Trafalgar so I would say that speaks for itself! Always a first class organization. Had a fantastic time! *Personal information removed by Feefo* was an awesome Tour Guide. This tour covered so much of Portugal that I felt like I really got to know the country and its people.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/03/2025
Anonymous - Traveled, June 2025
Great fun, visited a lot of places a regular tourist won't have access too. Superbly organised. Absolute stress free travel.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/08/2025
Patricia Wilson - Traveled, June 2025
Trafalgar's service is first class. The team is experienced, friendly, and professional. This itinerary was perfectly planned and executed. Consideration was given to every possible need for the travelers. Accommodations were provided for all travelers regardless of their age and physical conditions. All needs were met so the travelers could relax and enjoy their vacations.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/07/2025
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