Ultimate Portugal: Porto, Lisbon, Évora & Lagos - 15 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Porto, Afternoon Culinary Tour

Welcome to Portugal! Upon arrival at Porto's airport, you will be met by your driver and transferred to your hotel in the city center. After settling in, get to know the city and its cuisine with a walking tour of the historic downtown. Guided by a local expert, this small-group excursion offers a first-hand look at the culinary renaissance Porto is experiencing, including the rebirth of specialty food shops and new restaurants that are adopting old methods.
 
You'll take part in several distinct tasting locations that harken back to an era of simple, quality products. Learn about these family-owned businesses and why they are integral to Porto's gastronomy. Along the way, you'll witness the revival of Portuguese cuisine while you explore local restaurants, cafés, and stores offering the best of Porto. End the evening with an introduction to the region's most famous export: port. Taste three different versions, including one vintage, as you learn about the history of this timeless drink.

Day 2: Explore Porto by Vintage Car & Port Wine Tasting

Today's glamorous tour—half on foot, half by vintage car—is one of the most memorable experiences that you can encounter in Porto. Discover the city's most important highlights and hidden corners in style, then take a drive toward the fishing village of S. Pedro da Afurada or head to the city's colorful Foz neighborhood to get a glimpse of local life, Porto-style. End the excursion with a visit to a port cellar to taste the area's famous fortified wine.

After lunch, you can explore some of Porto's characterful neighborhoods at your own pace. A good place to start is the Ribeira area, which sits alongside the Douro River and is one of the city's oldest parts. Famed for its narrow and colorfully-tiled dockside houses and views of the iconic double-decked Dom Luís I Bridge, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is simply a must-see. For a true taste of Porto, be sure to also explore the warren of winding streets behind the riverside. 

Day 5: Transfer to Lisbon via Coimbra

Today, after breakfast and check-out, you'll meet your driver for the transfer south to Lisbon. About halfway through the trip, stop to spend some time exploring Coimbra. This former medieval capital wears its weighty importance in Portuguese history with dignity and pride, witnessed by its multicolored collage of buildings that span nearly a millennium. The historic core cascades down a hillside to create a lovely setting along the east bank of the Rio Mondego.

Upon arrival, you'll meet with a local guide for a private tour of the city. The 13th-century University of Coimbra remains the star attraction, with a tremendous amount of history and knowledge accumulated within its walls. A must-see is the Baroque Library, home to an incredible collection of over 200,000 books stored in carved and gilded bookshelves. The Chapel of Saint Michael next door is also worth a visit, and make sure to take a stroll through the atmospheric medieval streets of the historical center before getting back on the road and continuing to Lisbon.

Day 7: Day Trip to Sintra, Cascais & Estoril

After breakfast, your private driver will pick you up to start today's adventure in Sintra. Located just half an hour east of the city, this resort town in the Sintra Mountains is known for its forested hills, upscale villas, and Moorish palaces. Start with a visit to the Palacio Nacional da Pena (Pena Palace). This 19th-century Romanticist castle mixes Moorish and Portuguese late-Gothic architectural styles with distinct features like gargoyles, ornate battlements, and colorful terraces. 

After touring the palace, you'll have a break for lunch, at which point you can also stroll through the historic village of Sintra and do some shopping and sightseeing. Then it's off to Sintra Cascais Natural Park. Some can't-miss locales in this area include the dramatic coastal cliffs of the Cabo de Roca, the wide and inviting Guincho Beach (a popular surf spot), and the glamorous towns of Cascais and Estoril. After the tour, a private transfer will take you back to your hotel in Lisbon.

Day 8: Explore Lisbon's Surroundings: Sesimbra, Óbidos & Arrábida Natural Park

If you've seen enough of the city and are anxious to explore other areas, you can pick up your rental car today and explore the capital's surroundings on a day trip. Stop at Sesimbra to stroll along the beach and explore the village's hilltop castle, while adorable Óbidos is a must-visit for its labyrinth of cobblestoned streets, riotous flowers, and whitewashed houses livened up with dashes of vivid yellow and blue paint. Heading inland, the villages of Constância and Tomar hold intriguing stories of the Knights Templar. 

For something more active, take a kayaking trip into Arrábida Natural Park and admire the gorgeous views from the water as you paddle through its tranquil river systems. You'll have the chance to discover numerous hidden caves and secluded beaches; bring along a packed lunch for a memorable picnic en route. At the end of your adventure, return to Lisbon for the evening.

Day 10: Free Day in Évora: Neolithic History, Hot-Air Balloon & Medieval Villages

Today is free for you to explore more of Évora and its surroundings at your leisure. Don't miss a trip into the surrounding countryside to discover some of Europe's most remarkable megalithic monuments. Dating back to the Neolithic period (5500-4500 BCE), these sites are located on the city's outskirts, where great river basins converged, and the last communities of hunter-gatherers thrived. Explore the mysterious stone circles, dolmens, and funerary monuments, including the great Cromeleque dos Almendres—constructed 2,000 years before Stonehenge.

For more of an adventure, take to the skies to see the great plains of the Alentejo from a hot air balloon—soaring over the magnificent city of Évora and getting a bird's eye view of the Templo Romano and Cromeleque dos Almendres. If you feel like visiting some of the region's famous hilltop villages, start with picture-perfect Monsaraz, located overlooking Europe's largest reservoir. Stroll the compact medieval center, then climb to the castle for panoramic views across the Alqueva Dam.

Day 11: Drive to Lagos & the Algarve

Days 12-13: Free Days in the Algarve

The next two days are free for you to discover the many wonders of the Algarve at your leisure. Spend some more time in the 16th-century city of Lagos for its cobblestone streets, inviting squares, and great restaurants. Near the city center are several dreamlike beaches, with plenty of watersports and boat excursions on offer. Pinhao is a peaceful cove known for its secluded setting, while Ponta da Piedade offers dramatic sandstone cliffs and bright turquoise water. Praia do Camilo is a gorgeous spot accessed by walking down 200 wooden steps to a sheltered sandy cove. 

You could also head farther east for more beautiful sights and attractions, ranging from bustling resort towns to whitewashed villages offering mouth-watering cuisine and exhilarating coastal scenery. Lovers of quiet should explore more of the massive Costa Vicentina Natural Park, which covers 182,857 acres (74,000 ha) of protected land, including beaches, cliffs, and marshland, with more than 750 species of flora and 200 species of birds. 

Day 14: Drive to Lisbon

Spend a final morning at the beach, then bid the Algarve farewell and get back on the road toward Lisbon. After returning your rental car and settling into your hotel, the rest of the afternoon is free. Catch any of the capital's highlights you might have missed earlier in the trip, or browse some local shops for souvenirs. As evening falls, toast your final night and savor some Portuguese specialties in one of the city's charming neighborhood restaurants.

Day 15: Depart Lisbon

It's time to say goodbye to Portugal! At the designated time, you will be picked up at your hotel and transferred to the airport for your departing flight. Safe travels and boa viagem!

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