Portugal In-Depth

Tour highlights

Experience the full beauty of Portugal with the Explorer tour’s ‘Portugal In-Depth’ package! Spanning 14 days, this package takes you across 17 destinations in Europe, beginning and ending in Porto and Lisbon respectively.

Tour itinerary

Day 1 Arrival
A trip to Porto awaits. You will be welcomed at the airport and guided to your accommodation. For your inaugural dinner, you’ll be taken to a local restaurant and introduced to your tour guide.

Day 2 Capital of Culture Porto
Take a journey through the beautiful city on an unforgettable city tour. You will be captivated by the sights of the old commercial center, with its winding alleyways (listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site) and extravagant architecture such as the Stock Exchange Palace (Incl.) and cathedral (exterior tour). As you take in these stunning views, make sure to stop by Clérigos Tower (exterior tour), an iconic image for Portugal. After admiring your surroundings, you can sample Portuguese port wine in a rustic port wine cellar amongst wooden barrels for a unique experience. From there you can take a leisurely boat ride along Douro River that lasts approximately 45 minutes before taking some time to discover the city independently and end your evening at one of the restaurants conveniently located near your hotel.(F)

Day 3 Santiago de Compostela
Ready to explore, your next destination is the stunning city of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia. Here, discover the impressive cathedral, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and acts as a pilgrimage point for many. Make sure to spend at least one night here so that can take in all its wonders before continuing on your journey. (B/A)

Day 4 Bom Jesus and Guimarães
This day will take you from Santiago de Compostela to the Portuguese city of Braga. There you can find the pilgrimage church of Bom Jesus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site situated on a hill and reachable via an 18th century baroque staircase. Afterward, visit Guimarães, known as the “Cradle of the Nation” for its unique charm. Take a leisurely walk through the medieval alleys located at Castle Hill – also a UNESCO World Heritage Site – before staying for one night in Lousada or Guimarães. (F)

Day 5 Vila Real and wine tasting
This afternoon, you will be journeying to Vila Real, a beautiful community tucked away in the Sierra do Marão mountain landscape. A highlight of your visit, is the awe-inspiring 18th century manor known as Palácio de Mateus and its baroque facade. You’ll spend time taking in the gardens before heading to Régua for an exclusive tour of a winery estate and a delightful wine tasting experience. Lastly, your journey culminates with 1 night spent in Coimbra.(F)

Day 6 Coimbra, Tomar and Batalha
UNESCO World Heritage Sites can be found throughout the cities of Batalha, Coimbra, Tomar and Alcobaça. Begin your journey at the ancient university of Coimbra which is among the most important landmarks within the country. Proceed to Tomar where you will find a city heavily influenced by the Knights Templar and their Monastery of Christ (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Move onto Batalha and witness its awe-inspiring late Gothic Dominican monastery of Santa Maria da Vitoria before heading towards Alcobaça for one night’s rest (B/A).

Day 7 Alcobaça and Évora
Discover one of the most remarkable Cistercian monasteries in Europe when you arrive at Alcobaça. Marvel at its exterior and visit the monastery church to explore further. Journey on to Óbidos, an ancient town surrounded by fortified walls and embrace its culture with picturesque alleys that have stood for centuries. Finally, come to Évora, a charming town in the Alentejo region. Get up close and personal with traditional cork processing at a factory there before visiting The Bone Chapel (included) and exploring its UNESCO World Heritage Site historic center. Stay at Évora for 1 night before continuing your adventures tomorrow! (F)

Day 8 Southeastern Algarve: Faro and Ria Formosa
A short drive south from Évora will bring you to the Algarve and the tranquil provincial capital of Faro. Take a few moments there to explore, then continue on to Ria Formosa Nature Park, one of Europe’s most impressive lagoon landscapes. You can spend 45 minutes taking a walk through its lagoons, sandbanks and green islands – with luck, you may even spy some flamingos!

Day 9 Southwestern Algarve: Lagos and Silves
On this journey, you’ll explore Lagos and the remarkable bays of the Algarve. Featuring dramatic limestone formations – carved by wind and water into strange shapes – you can expect to find gorgeous sandy beaches and tranquil turquoise seas. Depending on conditions, you’ll be able to take a dip in this idyllic landscape before stopping at various lookouts for the perfect photo opportunity. After admiring Cabo Sao Vicente – Portugal’s southwesternmost point – visit Sagres fortress (incl.) during the day trip. (B/A)

Day 10 Off to Lisbon
A visit to Lisbon wouldn’t be complete without a stop at the tile factory in Azeitao. From there, take in the breathtaking view of the Atlantic coast at the Arrabida Nature Park. Afterwards, explore Portugal’s modern architecture and experience its vibrancy by strolling through “Park of Nations,” which was set up after EXPO. Spare 4 nights for your stay here in Lisbon! (F)

Day 11 Lisbon
Explore the majestic city of Lisbon in one unforgettable day! Start out by learning about Portugal’s history at the Rossio Square, after which you can take in the sights and sounds of the financial district, Baix; then explore the old town with its meandering streets and stunning vista. In the afternoon, journey to Belém for an exterior visit of both the Jerónimo Monastery (which is part of UNESCO World Heritage Site) and its famous Manueline architecture as well as Belém Tower.

Day 12 The Portuguese Riviera and the Palaces of Sintra
A visit to the Portuguese Riviera is not complete without a journey to Cabo da Roca, mainland Europe’s westernmost point with its stunning view of the Atlantic Ocean. A panoramic tour of Estoril and Cascais follows then, towns that were once inhabited by Portugal’s nobility. Sintra stands out due to its centuries-old palaces, which are now UNESCO World Heritage Sites; you will be able to visit Palacio de Vila, former summer residence of the Portuguese kings. (F)

Day 13 Free time in Lisbon
At present, you have the freedom to use your free time however you like. Once nightfall arrives, everyone will reconvene at the hotel for dinner. (B/A)

Day 14 Adeus Portugal!
Transfer to the airport
and return flight to Germany. (F)

What’s included

Accommodation
Transfer from Porto airport to the hotel and back from Lisbon, waiting time at the airport possible.
13 nights in a double room (DZ) with bath or shower/WC
International Flights
Outbound flight:
Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) – Porto Airport (OPO)
Return flight:
Lisboa Airport (LIS) – Frankfurt International Airport (FRA)
Flight (economy) to Porto (OPO) and back from Lisbon (LIS), subject to availability
Attention: Due to fluctuating airfares, prices may currently vary. Our team will be happy to provide you with a final offer.

Guide
small group with max. 16 guests
guaranteed from 6 guests
German-speaking, local tour guide and
additional guest guide in Santiago de Compostela

Meals
Mahlzeiten lt. Programm

Additional Services
Programme as described including entrance fees

Transport
Transports in air-conditioned vehicles

What’s not included

Insurance
This tour does not include travel insurance. Please make sure you are adequately covered. You can arrange travel insurance with your preferred provider, or check here to see what our Travel Experts recommend.

Optional

Additional Services
No insurances included in the travel price. We recommend taking out travel cancellation insurance.
Tips and personal expenses
Tourist tax per person/night: approx. 2 € each in Lisbon and Porto and 1 € in Coimbra (payable locally)