DAYS 2 and 3

• Visit the oldest neighborhood of Lisbon - Alfama.

  • The steep streets of Alfama are lined with shops selling traditional crafts and cafes.

  • Castelo de São Jorge - a medieval castle sits atop the neighborhood and offers
    great city views. <Location>

  • Miradouro da Graça - a well-known spot for dramatic city views.

    • Location: Calçada da Graça, 1100-265 Lisboa.

    • Castelo de São Jorge and Miradouro da Graca are a 10-minute walk apart.

  • Miradouro de Santa Luzia and Miradouro das Portas do Sol – these two viewpoints are next to each other and are best visited
    late afternoon or early evening, when the sun lights up Lisbon’s orange rooftops.

  • Fado Museum – learn about the evolution of this melancholy type of music that Portugal is famous for.

• Electric Bike tours - a fun way to see the city. The e-bikes make the many hills easy.

• Walking tours - a guided, informative walking tour of Lisbon that usually takes about half a day. Note: Lisbon is a hilly city.

  • Lisbon Urban Adventures and Inside Lisbon Tours are two recommended companies.

• Visit Sintra - a fairy tale town known for its many historic palaces and castles. An excellent day trip.

  • Getting there: an easy 40-minute train ride from Lisbon.
    We strongly discourage driving to Sintra, as there are heavy traffic jams and very limited car parking.

    • Direct rail services run from Rossio Station in the Baixa district to Sintra Station. 

    • <Learn more about the Train network>

  • Within Sintra, highlights include:

    • Stroll the historic center of Sintra along the narrow alleys, past shops selling regional products.

      • Sintra’s historic center is about a 20-minute walk from the Sintra train station.

    • Palácio Nacional da Pena -a colorful, beautiful palace and a famous example of Romantic architecture in Europe. It’s also
      a key symbol of Portugal’s national identity.

    • Sintra National Palace - it is one of the best-preserved medieval royal houses. The palace was built in the Moorish period.

    • Quinta da Regaleira - is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a must-see in Sintra. This Neo-Manueline mansion blends
      Gothic and Renaissance styles, with carved stone, colorful stained glass, and lavish decoration. Its vast, enchanted gardens
      make it unique.

• Overnight: Lisbon

• Distance: Lisbon —> Sintra, 40 minutes.

DAY 4

• Embark to Coimbra with stops in Obibos, Nazarre and Fatima.

• Obidos is a charming Portuguese town with old walls, cobbled streets, bright houses, and a large medieval castle — all可seen in half a day.

• The best activity in Obidos is to Walk the Castle Wall.

  • The walk is about 1.5 km and gives great views of the old town and the nearby countryside.

  • Be advised: The Wall Walk has no railings and is uneven in some spots.

• Óbidos is renowned for a popular Portuguese liqueur (cherry brandy) called ginjinha. Ginjinha bars are popular in Óbidos.

• Next stop is Nazarre—a popular seaside resort on the western coastline.

  • Possibly Portugal’s most famous fishing town, known for some of the world’s
    biggest waves (up to 30 m), mainly in winter.

  • Take the funicular to Sitio da Nazare (the top of Monte Sitio) for superb views.

• Afterward, journey to Fatima.

• Fatima - a major Catholic shrine to the Virgin Mary. Its sanctuary draws millions of pilgrims worldwide.

• Continue to Coimbra.

• Overnight: Coimbra (1 night)

• Driving distance:

  • Lisbon to Obidos, 1 hr. 15 min. 85 km

  • Obidos to Nazaree, 40 min. 40 km

  • Nazarre to Fatima, 1 hr. 60 km

  • Fatima to Coimbra, 1 hr. 80 km

DAY 6

• Discover the Pinhao to Regu region.

  —The best approach to see the region is with a Guided Walk Tour. Highly recommended.

  —The renowned Douro Wine region is one of the oldest wine areas in the world. 

  —The landscape is beautiful with lush green hills and small, quaint villages. The drive is beautiful and perfect for taking photos. 

• Wine Tasting.

  —Surrounded by wineries, you can take a formal wine tour or simply visit when you see an “open” sign.

• Walk Along the Banks of the Douro.

  —Route of Walk—Leave the town of Pinhão, cross the bridge over the River Pinhão, and walk along the banks of the River Douro. Pass the Restaurante Cais da Foz, head upwards towards Quinta de La Rosa, and continue in the direction of Chanceleiros. Venture through the Douro terraces.

  • Enjoy the hillside and the river below. Feel the peace and beauty of this special place. Distance: 10 km round-trip, 3 hours.

• Take a ride on the Historic Douro Train.

  • The trip goes from Pinhão to Tua. The train offers a calm, timeless ride with lovely views of the Douro River.

• Enjoy a 1 or 2-hour traditional Rabelo boat tour on a breathtaking stretch of the Douro River.

  • Just like the train, the round-trip boat goes from Pinhão to Tua. The tour is offered by either
    Companhia Turistica do Douro or Magnifico Douro.

    • Tickets can be purchased at the jetty in Pinhão at The Vintage House Hotel.

• If you have extra time, visit a couple of picturesque villages.

  • Provesende - is a charming village. Explore the village on foot, as it is a very quiet and almost untouched town.

  • Another village further away is Aramante. <video>

• Visit the Mateus Palace. This palace, set in lovely gardens on a large estate, is one of Portugal’s finest examples of Baroque civil architecture.

• Food lovers—Douro Valley is known for its various gastronomic specialties, such as roast kid (goat) and carne maronesa (the meat from a special kind of cattle only found in this area of Portugal), and doces cristas de Galo (pastries in the shape of a rooster´s comb).

• Overnight: Pinhao

• Driving distance:

  • Pinhao ---> Provesende, 20 min.

  • Pinhao ---> Mateus Palace, 45 min.

  • Regua ---> Pinhao, 30 min.

DAY 7

• Continue to tour the Douro River Valley as described on Day 6.

• Afterward, journey to Porto via the N-222 road.

  • One of the world's best scenic roads is the N-222 from Pinhao to Peso de Regua.

    • Details: 27 km, 93 bends, and views of the Douro Valley.

• Porto is a seaside city famous for its beautiful bridges, scenic waterfront, and lively culture with many art galleries, theaters, and music spots.

• Porto is the birthplace of port wine production. Port wine is usually sweeter, stronger, thicker, and has more alcohol than regular wine.

• Some of Europe's best food is here. Gourmet steakhouses, brunch cafes, and food markets.

• Overnight: Porto, (3 nights)

• Driving distance: Pinhao ---> Porto, 1.5 hr. / 130 km

DAYS 8 and 9

• Discover the medieval Ribeira (riverside) district of Porto with its cobbled streets, shops, and cafés. The riverside is a pretty square where locals and tourists meet. There are
  bars and restaurants around every corner.

• Explore the Ribeira by take a one (1) hour cruise. Your guide will explain Porto's history, main landmarks, and the bridges you'll see.

  • The Six Bridges Cruise is particularly popular among tourists.

• Discover the Bolhão Market, a famous market in the city, where products such as vegetables, fruits, and others are sold.

• Book a Walking Tour. Porto combines Portuguese charm and history. Its compact
  historic center is best explored on foot.

• Walk the Dom Luis I Bridge. An industrial icon of Porto, this double-decker arched bridge opened in 1886. Its upper deck has a pedestrian walkway. It spans the Douro and rises nearly 45 meters.

• Hop on the Gaia Cable car for great views, which connects the upper deck of the Luís I Bridge and the Pier of the city of Gaia.

  • <Learn more> <Tickets>

• Head over to the Foz do Douro - Porto’s seafront and finest neighborhood. Facing the Atlantic, you will get to enjoy great sunset views. Getting there: taxi, 10 minutes, and inexpensive.

• Overnight: Porto.

DAY 10 

• Depart from Porto airport for your flight home.

Portugal Gallery

🎬 Video

Sources: Tapooz Travel, wikipedia.org

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