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Portugal Upgraded
8 days, Lisbon to Porto
Itinerary
Day 1Lisbon
Arrive at any time. Bring your appetite for this evening’s traditional Portuguese dinner in one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Lisbon. Enjoy delicious food while listening to a fado performance by local folk singers.
To ensure you are able to join the group for dinner, please arrive in Lisbon by 6pm at the latest.
For trips departing April 2020 onwards: If you wish to explore Lisbon before your tour begins, consider booking pre-tour accommodation with us. Please speak to a G Adventures representative about booking accommodations in Lisbon before Day 1 of this itinerary.
Arrival Day and Welcome Meeting
The adventure begins tonight. Feel free to explore before your welcome meeting, but make sure you’re back in time to meet the group. Check for the meeting time on the welcome note at the hotel. After introductions, your CEO will review the details of your tour. Please note that normal check-in times apply at our start hotels, but you can usually store your luggage for the day if you arrive early.
Your Foodie Moment: Fado Night with Traditional Portuguese Meal
Sit down to a traditional meal and lend your ears to the sound of a performance by Portuguese folk music artists.
Meals included:
DinnerDay 2Lisbon
Visit the 19th-century resort town of Sintra, also a UNESCO World Heritage site. Set your eyes upon a landscape that inspired the English poet Lord Byron. Then, spend the afternoon as you wish to discover more of Lisbon’s lively atmosphere. Maybe decide to be a daredevil and take the Santa Justa lift to the highest point in Portugal.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Pena Palace and Park Guided Visit
Situated in the hills of Sintra, Pena Palace and its surrounding park are one of the greatest expressions of 19th-century romanticism in Portugal. With clear Manueline influence and Moorish architectural styles, the palace is built in a such a way as to be visible from any point in the park. Tour the Palace and park and learn about the Palace's origins and influences throughout Portuguese history.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Optional Activities - Day 2 HideShow
Sao Jorge Castle
15EUR per personClimb up to this Moorish castle for a wander around the impressive grounds on a guided tour, and a great view over Lisbon and Tagus River.
Rossio Square
FreeStop in this lively square to get a taste of the local hustle and bustle.
Santa Justa Lift
6EUR per personTake a ride up 147ft from the lowest to highest points of Portugal. Sit back and enjoy the views.
Alfama District Visit
FreeExplore Lisbon’s past in Alfama, one of the city’s oldest quarters. Wander along narrow medieval streets lined with typical tile-covered façades and take a step back in time; the area largely survived the great earthquake of 1755, and still retains much of its original layout. Listen for Portugal's traditional music, fado, gracing the streets at night.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 3Lisbon/Évora
Be prepared to witness something you may have never seen before as you travel to medieval Évora home to the haunting Chapel of Bones. Yes, that’s right bones. This chapel was built in the 16th-century and the walls are covered with human skeletons, but for a worthy reason. Afterwards, you’ll visit ancient Diana’s Temple which is very well preserved for its age.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Diana Roman Temple
Take a visit to the best preserved Roman structure on the Iberian Peninsula, assumed to have been constructed in 1 AD.
Chapel of Bones Visit
Visit the most famous sight in Évora, the Capela dos Ossos, or Chapel of Bones. Take care if squeamish – built in the 1500s by a Franciscan monk, the walls are covered with human skeletons as a reminder to fellow monks that life is fleeting.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 4Évora
Travel into the Montemor-o-Novo countryside to a traditional farm and learn about cork harvesting from an expert. Afterwards, sit down to a traditional lunch at a local restaurant. Once you return to the city centre, explore more on your own, taking some time to walk around. Maybe head to the Clock Museum to take a peek at watches from different eras, or visit the Cathedral of Évora, which is considered the most important local monument.
Cork Farm Visit Montemor-o-Novo
Since this is the region where most of Portugal's cork is grown you'll learn about cork harvesting and production from a local expert at a traditional cork farm in the Montemor-o-Novo countryside, home to centuries-old cork forests and about 30 minutes from Évora. After the guided walk of the farm sit down for a traditional cork stripper's lunch at a local restaurant in town.
Optional Activities - Day 4 HideShow
Clock Museum
A remarkable collection of watches on display from different eras, this family run watch museum will take you back in time.
Évora Cathedral
Visit one of Évora's oldest and most important local monument. Located at the highest point of the city, the Cathedral of Évora is a Roman Catholic church with an elaborate interior including white mortar on the bare high walls, pillars and vaults.
Meals included:
Breakfast | LunchDay 5Évora/Coimbra
It’s on to Tomar today to learn about the Crusades era in Portugal. A local expert will take you on a guided walk through the Convent of Christ and Templar Castle, teaching you a bit of the history as you go. Then you'll arrive in the riverfront city of Coimbra in the evening.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Knights Templar Historic Tour
In Tomar, 14th-century Portugal’s headquarters for the Knights Templar Order, take an expert-led walk to learn about the country during the time of the Crusades. Visit the impressive Templar Castle and Convent of Christ, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 6Coimbra/Porto
Tour the centuries-old University of Coimbra in the morning, entering through the Porta Férra. You’ll stop at the Joanina Library, the Chapel of São Miguel, and the Botanical Garden before catching the train to Porto.
Local Train
Climb aboard, take your seat, and get around like the locals do.
University of Coimbra Visit
Portugal's most prestigious university, the University of Coimbra is a must see landmark. Explore the World Heritage Site as you enter through the Porta Férra, the old entrance to the citadel of Coimbra constructed in the 10th century. Walk through the campus along mosaic cobblestone paths, explore it's botanical gardens and Chapel of S. Miguel and opt to visit the ornate Joanina Library.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 7Porto
Porto has a lot to offer, but first and foremost let’s have a drink. Hop aboard a boat and cruise down Portugal’s “river of gold”, which also happens to be the ancient trade route for port wine. You’ll learn about this rich tradition at a local wine cellar and finish the tour with a tasting of this delicious vino. For the rest of the day explore Porto’s Ribeira district and admire the architecture and atmosphere of this coastal city.
Porto Ribeira Cruise
Board a boat down Portugal's Douro River, or "river of gold". Float along this ancient route used for centuries as a port wine shipper's route.
Your Hands-On Moment: Port Wine Cellar Visit
Finish off the day with a tour of the cellars of the region's famed export - Port wine. Learn about the art of Port making and the processes that render its rich taste. Indulge in a tasting and raise a glass to a day well spent. Saúde!
Free Time
Enjoy all the gems of this coastal city. Visit the medieval Ribeira district with its narrowed cobbled stone streets. Marvel in the baroque architecture of São Francisco Church and discover the palatial 19th century Palácio de Bolsa, formerly a stock market, built to impress potential European investors. But most importantly, make sure to try a glass of port wine.
Optional Activities - Day 7 HideShow
Sao Bento Railway Station
FreeThe blue painted tiles on the inside of São Bento railway station makes it one of the most beautiful train stations in the world. See for yourself.
Lello Bookstore
8EUR per personTake a wander around this incredible, and beautifully ornate bookstore built in 1906.
Ribeira Square
FreeTake some time to walk around this charming square and get in with the local hustle and bustle.
Palacio da Bolsa
12EUR per personJoin a half-hour guided tour of this neoclassical monument.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 8Porto
Depart at any time.