Portugal is a destination worth visiting. With history, architecture, medieval castles, picturesque countryside, cities full of life, paradisiacal beaches, traditional and award-winning food, and unforgettable wines, it has become one of the most sought-after destinations by tourists. Today we bring you a distinctive guide to enjoy 14 days in Portugal, getting to know this wonderful country from North to South.
There is no better time to visit Portugal, we are more than ready to welcome tourists ready to fall in love with every corner. And, although all cities and towns have unmissable points to visit, some places are simply unmissable. This is a program for the discerning traveler, are you ready to experience a new level of luxury?
On your first day in Portugal, after all the formalities at the airport, your dream tour in Portugal will begin. The experience will begin at Altis Avenida Hotel, a 5-star hotel with a unique location in the center of Lisbon. Located in a building of historic interest, completely renovated, with an original façade and staircases, the hotel also has an interior decoration inspired by the 40s that recovers the memory of an Urban Chic soul with a touch of futurism and glamour. The Altis Avenida Hotel has 6 floors and panoramic balconies, and all rooms have sophisticated decor.
Dinner will be at the delightful Sommelier Lisbon Wine Restaurant, suitable for wine lovers and beyond. The restaurant will take you on a journey of flavors, tasting, and pairing. The menu features more than 80 wines and a wall of wines so you can choose your favorite. If you prefer to go for the pairing of the dish, the sequence starts with the lightest and freshest whites and ends with the Port wines to finish off a meal that It will delight any oenophile.
The second day in Portugal will be full of surprises, after breakfast at the hotel, a chauffeur will take you to some of the biggest cultural spots in the city. Lisbon is the capital city of Portugal and the oldest city in Western Europe. 300 years ago Lisbon was a gilded city at the center of a world empire until it was struck by disaster. It was destroyed by an earthquake followed by a tsunami. The city was reconstructed and found its way back to the top cities in the world. Today, Lisbon is one of the best travel destinations in the world and it's easy to understand why: great beaches nearby, the cathedrals and monuments, the labyrinth cobblestone-covered streets, the seven hills that provide unique views over the city, the Tagus river, the food and wine, the welcoming people...the list goes on and on.
After a busy morning discovering some of the biggest tourist attractions from downtown Pombalina, São Jorge Castle, The National Tile Museum, Avenida da Liberdade for a fashion break, Rua Augusta Arch, the Santa Justa Lift and Comércio Square…. Lunch will be at Solar dos Presuntos, a place where many well-known names will visit, from football players to actors, to businessmen. The restaurant was recently renovated, and opened a new chapter with its usual identity, with a work by street artist Vhils, and the menu continues iconic. Here you will have a traditional and luxurious dining experience. With rigor and a family atmosphere, the food is prepared with all the skill and professionalism, the menu is traditional Portuguese, and has a revelation, the safe room, where rare wines are kept, for customers and special occasions.
In the afternoon, you can enjoy a walk through the coastal area of Belém, one of the city's most emblematic icons and a symbol of the Age of Discovery. It was built in the 16th century and has been declared a World Heritage Monument by Unesco. Prepare to be dazzled by impressive monuments such as the Belém Tower, the Jeronimos Monastery, the Padrão dos Descobrimentos, and the coach museum, which contains a unique collection of richly adorned royal vehicles. The day ends like this, in a big way.
It's the third day in Portugal, and it's going to be a big one. The driver is waiting for you to take you on this journey to Sintra. The first stop, Adega de Colares, is located between the Serra de Sintra and the Atlantic Ocean, just two kilometers from the sea. Here you will have a unique wine experience, and understand the process, followed by a wine tasting. Lunch will be at the Incomum Restaurant, located in the heart of Sintra, and signed by Chef Luís Santos, this restaurant has an elegant and refined atmosphere. The menu is creative and tasting will be a pleasant experience.
In the afternoon you will continue your way to Sintra. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sintra needs no introduction. Fall in love with the wonderful Pena National Palace, one of the greatest highlights of Sintra (and Portugal), and the park around it are the ultimate exponent of romantic revival in the country. Located in Monte da Lua (MoonHill), right at the top of Serra de Sintra, it was born from the imagination of D. Fernando and became an authentic fairy tale palace, based on huge rocks. One of its most striking features is the mix of architectural styles, from Romanticism to Neo-Gothic, through Neo-Moorish and Neo-Manueline. Inside, the decoration to the taste of the kings of the time stands out, the Monk's Chapel, the royal apartments, and the beautiful murals.
Another of the points you will visit is the Monserrate Palace. Built-in 1856 to serve as a summer residence for Francis Cook, it is one of the most incredible creations of Romanticism. The interior reveals elegant and sumptuous spaces, such as the Gallery (corridor that connects the three towers of the palace), the music room, the dining room, or the library. Surrounding the palace, the Parque de Monserrate hosts a remarkable botanical collection with species from all over the world, which blend with the native vegetation over 50 hectares.
Quinta da Regaleira and its palace are probably the most enigmatic and mystical places in Sintra. Built in the early 20th century by millionaire António Carvalho Monteiro the building is an example of the romantic revivalist style that combines Gothic, Manueline, and Renaissance elements, but also a lot of esoteric symbolism. On the farm, covered in luxuriant vegetation, stand out the Chapel of the Santíssima Trindade and, above all, the famous enigmatic well, with its iconic spiral staircase.
Castelo dos Mouros, built on a rocky peak in the Serra de Sintra, possibly between the 8th and 9th centuries, this castle is a testament to the Islamic presence in the region. After the Christian reconquest, it was expanded and reinforced a few times.
Palácio de Seteais, built in the 18th century, it currently houses one of the most emblematic and stunning hotels in Sintra: the Tivoli Palácio de Seteais. Situated on the hillside, it offers incredible views, from the Pena Palace to the sea. The gardens that surround this five-star unit are also stunning and romantic, especially the labyrinthine gardens.
On the fourth day, you will discover the Setúbal Peninsula. The first stop is at the Quinta da Bacalhoa Palace and Museum, a building with over 500 years of history. Former property of the Portuguese Royal House, Quinta da Bacalhôa – considered the most beautiful farm of the first half of the 15th century – has already been the scene of photo essays by Vogue Paris, Look Magazine, and Vogue Korea. In addition to the beautiful, predominantly Renaissance architecture of the palace, you will certainly be enchanted by the gardens, the lake house, the vineyards as far as the eye can see and the Portuguese tiles from the 15th and 16th centuries scattered throughout the property. The Bacalhôa Palace, also known as Palácio dos Albuquerques, is located in a small village called Vila Fresca de Azeitão, only 36 km from Lisbon. The property is considered an artistic monument of the greatest importance for the country.
Lunch will be at Wine Corner by José Maria da Fonseca, a relaxed space that provides a complete experience, where visitors can try the entire wine portfolio, in an environment that reflects the company, accompanied by simple and regional dishes with a gastronomic twist.
Then, you will visit the José Maria da Fonseca winery, founded in 1834, José Maria da Fonseca is one of the leaders in the production and marketing of table and fortified wines, with its brands present in more than 70 countries. José Maria da Fonseca's portfolio includes more than thirty high-quality brands, representing the main national wine regions. Many of them are now cases of national and international popularity and authentic emblems of our country. Visit the House Museum and have a 3 Super Premium Wine Tasting.
New day, new region. After breakfast, you will check out of the wonderful hotel in the capital, on the way to Alentejo. You will follow a journey with a private driver to Évora, par excellence, the "example" of the Portuguese historic center, with visible repercussions in most of the overseas territory. It saw the birth and development of the first brilliant traces of Gothic, combined with the heritage (and the search for emulation) of the "Moorish" or Arab world in the so-called "Mudejar style", during the 15th and 16th centuries. These different moments made it a kind of heritage jewel, to which the centuries did not hesitate to adapt, but which maintains intact an atmosphere of authenticity and monumentality that transform it into a true “museum city”.
After discovering the best places in Évora, you will check-in at Convento do Espinheiro, where six centuries of history are shared with guests who choose the comfort of this hotel, born 15 years ago, where the old meets the modern.
To the right, “where everything happens”, are the monastery (the order of the monks of São Jerónimo who lived there until 1846) and the church (it took more than a century to be built, from 1458 to 1566), the bar (former dormitory ), the Manueline cloister, the wine cellar (former cistern), the library and, finally, the living room (it was the refectory, it still has the pulpit for prayer before the meal). To the left is the passage to the 21st century, with a wing built when it opened in 2005, plus another one added ten years ago.
Dinner will be served at the Divinus Restaurant, on the site of the convent's former cellar. The Chef interprets the region's cuisine with a great passion for the original recipes, taking it as the starting point of this cuisine and treating each delicacy as unique, challenging the imagination and creating his dishes inspired by the Alentejo.
After breakfast at the hotel, you will discover Monte da Ravasqueira, inspired by the Napa Valley. Located in Arraiolos, it occupies a vast area typical of Alentejo. Endowed with excellent geological and climatic conditions to produce the best wine that the Alentejo can offer, Monte da Ravasqueira was the subject of a strong investment in the planting of the vineyard, as well as in oenological equipment and meteorological and phytosanitary installations. The 11 existing vineyards in Monte da Ravasqueira are in what the French call “terroir”, so they correspond to various areas of the property. In a guided tour you will be able to learn more about the raw material, going through the vineyards, and bottling line, at the end, you will enjoy Reserve wine tasting and a visit to the Carriage Driving Museum, one of the best carriage private collections in the country. After a morning of wine exploration, lunch will be at the Alpendre restaurant, a typical Alentejo house, with rustically decorated interiors, where the good service only helps to enhance the high-quality cuisine that is practiced here. The meats of the Alentejo's Montado (black pork, veal, and lamb) predominate on the menu, as well as migas, whether they are Alentejo, asparagus, cod, fava beans, tomato, or coriander.
After a delicious and traditional meal, you will head to Arraiolos. This is a very traditional village, located in the district of Évora, Arraiolos is known mainly for its typical embroideries that are passed from generation to generation. But talking about Arraiolos is talking about its traditional embroideries that carry the name of this village further afield. Although there are no certainties, studies confirm that the production of these “Arraiolos rugs”, an art that began with the Moors in the twelfth century, was very developed in the ways we know today in the fifteenth century, and reached its maximum splendor with the 18th century floral motifs. The Arraiolos Embroidery are rugs (or pillows) embroidered with wool in the most varied colors and tones on a jute or cotton canvas, with the most diverse patterns and designs, increasingly innovative, maintaining, however, the classic patterns.
At the end of the visit, you will end the day at Adega da Cartuxa. The winery is now part of the Eugênio de Almeida Foundation, an institution that maintains a beautiful work with some of the main historical, cultural, and architectural heritage of the city. The secular building where the visit takes place, known as Quinta de Valbom, was built between 1587 and 1598. Currently, the winery has more than 45,000 hectares planted in organic production, in addition to being responsible for several renowned labels, such as the EA, the Cartuxa, and the emblematic Pêra Manca – which, according to legend, was taken by Pedro Álvares Cabral on the expedition to discover Brazil. The guided tasting tour takes place inside the beautiful historic building from the 16th century. The journey takes approximately 1h30 and begins by placing the visitor on the historical panorama of the place. An expert accompanies the tour and presents installations that show the evolution of wine production – as they were produced in the past to the present day.
The seventh day is dedicated to Ceramics, Oil, and food. The driver will take you to São Pedro do Corval, known for its ancient tradition of pottery mastery, São Pedro do Corval is the land of Alentejo ceramics par excellence. If you want a true Portugal souvenir, this is the place to get it. At Olaria Patalim, each piece is made and baked right there and then painted by hand. In this pottery, you will learn about the history of clay, the ancestral techniques present in the hands of the people that give life to the typical clays of the region. And of course, there will be a workshop where you can make your clay.
The visit continues to São Lourenço do Barrocal, the five-star Alentejo hill. In the same family for over 200 years, São Lourenço Barrocal has its heart in an old Alentejo hill. Under the influence of Lagoa do Alqueva, the climate of São Lourenço do Barrocal alternates between hot, dry days and cool, humid nights. The cellar represents one of the crucial areas for the regeneration of the estate, producing wines under an exclusive brand, authored by the award-winning winemaker Susana Esteban. Grapes selected and hand-picked from 15 hectares of our vineyard are the basis of limited editions, the remaining grapes being carefully blended before starting the aging process.
Lunch will be served at Herdade do Esporão, recently recognized with a Michelin star and a Michelin Green star. Located in Reguengos de Monsaraz, headed by Carlos Teixeira, it presents a cuisine marked by seasonality, respect for the product and nature, and zero waste. Herdade do Esporão's restaurant uses products from an extensive garden area, it's animal production, as well as a protected forest area, from where they collect wild products. Composting, reducing the use of plastics and paper and a kitchen geared towards zero waste are other practices and commitments that the restaurant assumes.
The visit will continue to the Herdade that gives the restaurant its name, Herdade do Esporão. It is one of the most important wine companies in Portugal, where it produces wines as emblematic as Esporão Reserva and Monte Velho, as well as extra virgin olive oils.
On the eighth day, you will begin your ascent to the North. After breakfast at the hotel, you will check out of the hotel. On the way to the Douro Valley, you will pass through Coimbra, a Portuguese city that was once the country's capital, located in central Portugal, on the banks of the Mondego River. The old medieval city has as its main highlight the preserved and historic University of Coimbra. Walking through the city, it is common to see a series of historic buildings of beautiful architecture, monuments, and Roman ruins.
You will continue on your way to the Douro Valley, where you will check-in at Quinta Do Vallado, a paradise trip to this dream destination. This boutique wine hotel was founded in 1716. It is one of the oldest and most famous estates in the Douro Valley, with five rooms in an original 18th-century manor house and eight more in a new wing designed by the architect Francisco Vieira de Campos. Some of the rooms have a balcony with great views over the vineyards.
Douro Valley is one of Man's greatest creations. The day starts at Quinta do Crasto, located between Régua and Pinhão, with more than 135 hectares of total area and a unique view. Taking advantage of the excellent conditions provided by the Cima Corgo region, where it is located in a privileged way, to produce Douro and Porto wines, from some of the oldest and most historic vineyards in the Douro. It was named the fourth-best wine estate in the world by The World’s Best Vineyards of the International Wine Challenge. Visit the vineyards, including the famous old vineyards of Quinta do Crasto, a winery, and a barrel cellar. After the visit, you will have a tasting of 5 wines, duly presented by the manager of Quinta do Crasto.
Lunch will be served at Terraçus Restaurant, at Quinta Nova Winery House, with a terrace, accompanied by silence and vineyard landscape in front. The idea is for people to feel at home and to take back memories, the wines from the estate carry the theme for the menu and are the accompaniment.
You will then visit the Quinta Nova Luxury Winery House, it is an example of the highest exponent in national and international luxury wine tourism! The true quality of life! And what about the swimming pool situated between the vineyards? But this true wine hotel goes much further and does not exhaust its offer in accommodation, guests and tourists passing through can visit the winery, participate in a wine tasting, eat some tapas, buy wines in the shop, as well as undertake multiple occasional and seasonal activities such as wine courses, participate in the harvest or become a winemaker for a day. We can also take walks around the property through slopes winding through vineyards, one of my favorite activities associated with these stays. You will visit in detail all production of wines, vineyard, the winery of 1764, underground wine cellar, and end with a Reserve wine tasting.
On the tenth day of the tour, get ready to have a unique day, between the banks of the Douro Valley. Onboard, 10.5 meters from the Libertu's 34 ft boat. The trip continues to the DOC Restaurant, where lunch will be waiting for you. Signed by Michelin chef Rui Paula, it is a window to the Douro and promises to be an unforgettable gastronomic journey.
After the wonderful lunch, you can enjoy a break to discover the city of Lamego, with the driver. Lamego is a Portuguese city in the District of Viseu, located on the south bank of the Douro River, and which was part of the traditional province of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro. Lamego is full of history and, therefore, it is worth a long tour of this magnificent land. You will pass the Cathedral of Lamego, founded in 1129, a Gothic one, which maintains the structure of the original vertical cathedral, although the remaining structure of the church was transformed in the 16th and 18th centuries, including a Renaissance cloister. Another sacred place to visit in Lamego is the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios, located in the parish of Sé, at the top of the Santo Estêvão hill. Since 1984, the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios, including the staircase and park, has been classified as a Property of Public Interest. It features, a temple on its facade, traces of the Baroque and Roco style, much appreciated for their beauty and elegance.
It's a new day, and the theme is Douro delights. In the morning you will visit Quinta das Carvalhas, a property of great beauty and spectacularity, with a predominant position on the slope of the left bank of the Douro River in Pinhão, which extends along the slopes of the right bank of the Rio Torto tributary. This magnificent property covers an area of 600 hectares, which includes 120 hectares of vineyards interspersed with views of forests, Mediterranean scrubland, and century-old olive groves. Its privileged location provides stunning views of the region, still available from a private road, with access to the top of the mountain, where the famous Casa Redonda is located. You will enjoy the Vintage Visit, a unique experience, with a personalized visit to Quinta das Carvalhas. Direct contact with nature – Enjoy the vineyard, the Mediterranean forest, and the gardens – and the history of wine in the lives of the people who work there. A visit to get a closer look at the life of the region through a detailed explanation of all the scenery that the Quinta offers you, including the knowledge of the soils and plants that you will find along the way.
Lunch will be served at Quinta de Ventozelo's restaurant, where you can taste the best of local cuisine at Cantina de Ventozelo. A place where formerly meals were served to workers, dishes designed by Miguel Castro e Silva are now served, who bet on regional recipes and a “zero kilometer” offer, that is, how menus adapt to what nature provides. The menu served at the chef's table stands out, which is made exclusively over the fire. But there's a lot more to it than good food.
The view will go to you, and it will always be for your heart and memory. You will also be able to enjoy a visit and tasting at Quinta de Ventozelo, located on the left bank of the Douro, the Quinta is one of the largest and oldest in the region. Legend has it that during the Middle Ages, the land in Ervedosa do Douro (São João da Pesqueira) was cultivated by the monks of the Cistercian Order, founders of the famous Port wine. It was after a lot of jumping from hand to hand that the 400-hectare property – of which 200 are vineyards – came to belong to the Gran Cruz family, the largest exporter of Port wine in Portugal. You will enjoy an audio-guide visit to the center of the Quinta. It includes visits to the interpretive center, cellar, warehouse, chapel, still, cereal store, fruit shop, and vegetable garden. At the end of the visit 3 wine tastings.
It's the day to get to know the wonderful, architectural, historic, and unforgettable city of Porto. Porto has a different charm, with fog in the morning, spectacular late afternoons on the banks of the Douro River, and colorful streets, with tiled houses, which make any walk through the historic center even more pleasant.
You will start the day with the driver taking you to some of the most important points in the city, Torre dos Clérigos, one of the most important tourist spots in Porto. The construction of more than 75 meters in length was ready in 1763 to be a bell tower, but throughout history, it ended up guiding navigators and also served as a strategic point for military combats. Nearby you will marvel at Livraria Lello, famously named, and one of the most famous bookstores in the world. With more than a century of history, it contains a neo-Gothic façade, an interior with walls lined with books, stained glass windows, and a beautiful winding red staircase. Going down to Aliados, you will continue to São Bento station. Porto's central station is one of the city's postcards. Completed in 1915, the building's lobby is covered with more than 20,000 tiles, with paintings that revisit important passages in the history of Portugal.
You will also visit Palácio da Bolsa, classified as a World Heritage Site by Unesco, Palácio da Bolsa is one of the most beautiful and preserved buildings in Porto. There, important decisions concerning the Portuguese economy were taken over the last century. Today, Palácio da Bolsa is the headquarters of the Porto Commercial Association. After a morning of exploration, lunch will be served at the Traça restaurant. Opened in June 2011 in Largo de S. Domingos, next to Palácio das Artes and in the heart of Porto's historic center, Traça is housed in an old building in the city. Completely refurbished, it sought to maintain the memory of a building that dates back to the 17th century, through the materials used, objects, and decoration, such as the floor imitating old tiles, the iron pieces, and the slate board where you can read the suggestions. from the menu.
You will check-in at the Hotel Porto Bay Flores, an old palace with 500 years of history converted into a five-star hotel. The fusion between the classic and the contemporary was the formula found to preserve the identity of this old palace that has 500 years of history. On the façade, the large wooden doors, the large windows surmounted by triangular pediments, the wrought-iron balconies, and the stone ashlars bearing the 16th-century coat of arms remain. The old stables of the mansion gave way to the hotel entrance, where the emblematic staircase remains renovated.
On the thirteenth day, you will discover the best Port wine cellars in the city. The day begins at Taylor’s Cellars, created more than three centuries ago in 1692, Taylor’s is one of the oldest Port wine trading houses. It is exclusively dedicated to the production of Port wine and, especially, to its best styles. This tour will provide you with all you need to know about our Port lodge and cellars as well as the production of Taylor's Port. In the end, visitors move to the tasting room and enjoy a Signature tasting with a selection of Portuguese cheeses.
Lunch will be served at Barão Fladgate, a restaurant overlooking Porto. Located in the upper part of Vila Nova de Gaia, inside Taylor’s cellars, this restaurant offers a complete gastronomic experience. With a refined atmosphere and a rustic and sophisticated touch, the gastronomic interpretation is contemporary with traditional cuisine, using fresh local ingredients.
The surprising last stop of the day is Cockburn’s Lodge. located in Vila Nova de Gaia, on the other side of the Douro River, opposite the city of Porto, and have a Cockburn’s tasting in the exclusive John Smithes room. In this room, portraits of John Smithes in the Douro vineyards are displayed on the walls, alongside testimonies that reflect the enormous contribution he made to the study of Douro grape varieties. You will visit and enjoy a Premium wine tasting with chocolate pairing.
On the last day of the trip, after breakfast, you will check out and be transported by the driver to the airport! Did you like the tour but want to customize and design it to your liking? Talk to our travel advisors.