Lisbon, Porto & Fatima Exploration

We meet at the designated point at 8:30 in the morning, with departures from selected hotels in Madrid as detailed in your travel documents. From there, we drive to Salamanca, where you have some free time to explore this World Heritage city, known for its historic university and remarkable architecture. Later, we cross the Portuguese border and continue to Porto, where you will check in to your hotel for the night.

After breakfast at the hotel, we explore the UNESCO-listed city of Porto on a panoramic sightseeing tour. Highlights include the Cathedral, the Stock Exchange building, and the Church of Santa Clara. We then enjoy a scenic cruise along the Douro River, offering a fresh perspective of the city’s historic waterfront. Later, we visit a renowned Port wine cellar for a tasting, gaining insight into this iconic local product. The remainder of the day is yours to relax and explore at your own pace. Overnight in Porto.

After a leisurely breakfast, we depart for Coimbra, home to one of Europe’s oldest universities and the birthplace of Fado music. You will have some free time to explore the city at your own pace before we continue to Fatima, a major Christian pilgrimage site. Here, we visit the impressive Basilica and the Cova da Iria, the site of the Virgin Mary’s apparitions. The Chapel of the Apparitions, the sanctuary’s focal point, contains the tombs of the three shepherd children—Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta—who witnessed the miracle. In the evening, weather permitting, you may choose to attend the candlelight procession. We stay overnight in Fatima.

After breakfast, we drive to Batalha Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site celebrated for its stunning Gothic and Manueline architecture. Next, we visit the charming fishing village of Nazaré, where you can enjoy some free time to soak up its authentic atmosphere. We then continue to Alcobaça, another World Heritage site, to explore its renowned 12th-century church and the tombs of Pedro and Inês de Castro. Finally, we travel to Lisbon, where you will check in to your hotel for the night.

After breakfast, we set off on a morning sightseeing tour of Lisbon, once known as Olissipo in Roman times. We will drive through the city’s main squares and avenues, taking in key landmarks such as Belém Tower, Jerónimos Monastery, the Coach Museum, the Monument to the Discoverers, Marquis of Pombal Square and Liberty Avenue. The afternoon is yours to explore at leisure—wander the charming, narrow streets of the Alfama Quarter, the city’s oldest district nestled beside the castle, where colourful houses and traditional taverns create an authentic atmosphere. Overnight in Lisbon.

After breakfast, we depart for Mérida, the capital of Extremadura. This city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is famed for its remarkable Roman remains, including the theatre, amphitheatre and Roman bridge. You will have some free time to explore these historic sites before we continue on to Madrid, where the tour concludes. Breakfast is included.