Portugal Treasures

We meet at Marquês de Pombal Square in Lisbon at 08:30 – we recommend arriving 15 minutes earlier – and drive through landscapes dotted with windmills and fruit trees to reach Óbidos, encircled by medieval walls, where we admire its harmonious architecture, browse handicrafts and sample ginjinha. We continue to Alcobaça to visit the first and largest Gothic church in the country, home to the tombs of Pedro and Inês de Castro, then pause in Nazaré, a traditional fishing village. We head on to Batalha to visit the Monastery of Santa Maria da Vitória and see the tomb of Henry the Navigator. Our day ends in Fátima, where you have the opportunity to join the candlelit procession. Overnight in Fátima.

After breakfast we travel to Coimbra to visit its historic University with its magnificent baroque library and absorb traditions such as the black student capes and melancholic Fado. We stop at Santa Clara Church to see the tomb of Queen Santa Isabel, famed for the miracle of the roses, and we pause in the centre to admire Coimbra’s distinctive ceramics. In the afternoon we continue to Aveiro – the so‑called Venice of the country – where you have time to view the elegant moliceiro boats and taste ovos moles. We then drive to Porto to check in and relax. Overnight in the Porto area on a bed and breakfast basis.

Following breakfast we explore Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage city, discovering the riverside quarters, historic houses, palaces and churches that time has preserved, and we pause for a glass of Port wine. We journey on to the Minho region, celebrated for verdant scenery and Vinho Verde, beginning in Guimarães – cradle of the nation – to visit the Sacred Hill crowned by the Castle and the Palace of the Dukes of Bragança, with buildings dating to the 15th century. We continue to Braga, the Portuguese Rome, to see the country’s oldest cathedral and the Bom Jesus do Monte Sanctuary with its famed baroque stairway and gardens, before returning to Porto. Overnight in the Porto area on a bed and breakfast basis.

After a leisurely breakfast you have the day free in Porto – explore at your own pace, relax by the river or seek out local flavours. Overnight in the Porto area on a bed and breakfast basis.

After breakfast we depart for Amarante, a pretty town known for its scenic setting, tempting sweets and devotion to St Gonçalo, celebrated as a promoter of love and marriage on the first Saturday in June. We stroll its charming streets, linger by the river and explore the lively market. We then continue to tranquil Vila Real and visit the gardens of the Mateus estate, admiring the noble façades long featured on rosé wine labels. Our route winds through Douro Valley vineyards and dramatic viewpoints to Lamego, where we sample local delicacies including cured ham and the famed Bola de Lamego. Crossing the mountainous hinterland into the Dão vineyards, we arrive in Viseu, linked to the Lusitanian leader Viriato, and wander its historic centre of narrow lanes and granite doorways with carved coats of arms. We then head to Urgeiriça to check in and rest. Overnight in the Urgeiriça area on a bed and breakfast basis.

After breakfast we drive through the heart of the country to Bussaco, a haven for nature lovers with a luxuriant forest of rare trees and plants and a romantic former royal hunting lodge. We continue to Tomar, whose history is intertwined with the Order of the Templars – granted these lands in 1159 for aiding Dom Afonso Henriques – where Dom Gualdim Pais founded the castle and the remarkable Convent of Christ, a UNESCO World Heritage complex shaped by many architectural styles. We then travel on to Lisbon. Overnight in the Lisbon area on a bed and breakfast basis.

After breakfast we leave Lisbon for enchanting Sintra to visit the Palace of Sintra and wander its atmospheric streets, then continue to Cabo da Roca – the westernmost point of mainland Europe – for sweeping ocean views. We follow the coast past one of the country’s most celebrated surfing beaches, pause at the dramatic Hell’s Mouth, and pass cosmopolitan Cascais and the gardens of Estoril Casino before returning to Lisbon for a relaxing evening. Overnight in the Lisbon area on a bed and breakfast basis.

After breakfast we cross the Tagus by bridge and drive through a bucolic landscape of olive groves, cork oak and vineyards to reach marvellous Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage city. We step back in time along narrow streets to visit the Roman Temple, the Romanesque–Gothic Cathedral, St Francis Church with its Chapel of Bones and the University. We browse the local market to appreciate the produce that underpins regional cuisine and admire authentic handicrafts in cork, ceramics and copper. We enjoy lunch, and you then have free time – you may wish to sample fine local wines, cheeses and olive oil. Overnight in the Évora area on a bed and breakfast basis.

After a hearty breakfast you can relax or explore Évora at your own pace before we drive to Beja to view the soaring tower of its medieval castle – the tallest of its kind in the country. Crossing the low mountain range, we enter the Algarve, passing vast orange groves before stopping in beautiful Silves, noted for its history, former cork industry and imposing red sandstone castle of Moorish origin. We continue to Lagos to check in, leaving the rest of the day for you to unwind or wander the surroundings. Overnight in the Lagos area on a bed and breakfast basis.

After breakfast we head to Ponta da Piedade for magnificent views over the Atlantic and sea‑carved cliffs. We continue to Sagres, a fishing port, to visit the fortress long associated with the legendary navigation school and Prince Henry the Navigator, then proceed along the cliffs to Cabo de São Vicente, the most south western point of mainland Europe. Back in Lagos – a cosmopolitan town with a marina and fishing port – we note local specialities such as fish and shellfish cooked in a cataplana copper pan and sweets of marzipan, almond and fig. We return to the hotel and you have the afternoon at leisure – perhaps take a refreshing swim in the sea. Overnight in the Lagos area on a bed and breakfast basis.

After breakfast we bid farewell to the Algarve and journey to Lisbon via Setúbal, a major port and industrial centre on the north bank of the Sado estuary. We continue along a scenic route over the Arrábida Mountain Range, glimpsing the Natural Park and its views towards the Tróia Peninsula, then cross the Tagus River bridge to arrive in Lisbon, where we drop you at the indicated location.