10-day Portugal Highlights Itinerary

When you arrive at the airport, you will take a taxi or the metro to your city hotel, located in the heart of the centre of Porto. You’ll sleep in a small-scale boutique hotel that’s only about a 10-minute walk from the old town. The rooms are tastefully decorated, and the owners have preserved many of the original details. They’ll make you feel very welcome and are happy to provide tips on what is best to see in the city.

Today you’ll head out on a tour to a world-renowned winery, learning about the local delicacy and of course getting to have taste. The winery has been run by the same family for centuries and the wonderful smell of wood and yeast welcomes you when you enter. Once you have learnt all about the production and aging process and viewed the rows of barrels, you’ll get to enjoy a good glass of port in the adjacent garden. Afterwards, walk up the hill to the lookout point to find a nice view over Porto as the river winds through the city centre.

Today you’ll drive from Porto to the Douro valley in around two hours, where some of the country’s best wine (and views) come from. Green wine terraces are found along the Douro River and the rolling hilly landscape is dotted with villages that are centuries old. You’ll sleep in a small winery with a swimming pool, where you can relax at the end of the day. Take a walk through the vines and learn more about the wine-making process with an audio tour.

As you arrive in Coimbra, you’ll be welcomed by music and a pleasant atmosphere. This was once the capital of Portugal, nowadays one of the oldest university cities in Europe. You will stay in a boutique bed & breakfast within walking distance of the centre, allowing you to spend the afternoon strolling through alleys past local shops and restaurants.

Today it’s time to hit the road through Coimbra to visit the Santa Cruz Church, where the first two kings of Portugal are buried. Stroll through the park and have lunch on a riverside terrace, before visiting the Royal Cemetery and discovering its beautiful gardens. You’ll spend the evening having dinner in Baixa, the lower town, tasting local dishes and enjoying a musical evening full of live fado. The songs are about lost loves so let yourself be carried away by the sounds of the twelve-string Coimbra guitar and the intense emotions of the singers.

Arrive in the Portuguese countryside, where you will experience what it is like to be a real Portuguese farmer. You’ll sleep in a colourfully house decorated with flowers and can relax on the terrace this evening with a view over the beautiful landscape of Sintra. Everywhere you look there are yellow fields of corn and whitewashed houses looming in the distance. The following day you are free to do as you please, but a visit to the palace of Sintra is highly recommended. It is a mix of different colours, architectural styles and towers. The halls inside have a fairytale atmosphere, thanks to the beautiful chandeliers, frescoes and the porcelain tile walls. After visiting the palace, take a scenic walk through the cornfields and sleepy villages or relax on one of the beaches and take a refreshing dip in the sea.

Today you’ll arrive in Lisbon and stay in a central hotel the historic centre that is within walking distance from an array of sights. Winding streets, large squares and old trams adorn the streetscape of this district, but because the centre is quite compact, it is best to discover the sights on foot. You can view the traditional architecture and have a nice drink in one of the squares framed with local bars.

Start the following day with a nice breakfast to make sure you’re ready for a busy day exploring the sights, sounds and tastes of Lisbon. You will meet your guide and be taken to hidden places where only locals go, walking together through narrow streets discovering lesser visited areas. In the afternoon you can decide what you are going to do. Dive into the seafarers’ past in Belém, on the banks of the Tagus, or head to the Alfama district, with its centuries-old buildings.