Discover Portugal

Arrive in Lisbon, Portugal's capital, where centuries of maritime history meet a vibrant contemporary culture. The day is for settling in. An evening arrival still allows for a quintessential Lisbon experience: dinner in one of the city's historic districts accompanied by a performance of fado, the region's traditional, melancholic folk music.

A short overland journey leads to Sintra, a 19th-century resort town whose cultural landscape is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The day's focus is the Pena Palace, a primary example of 19th-century Romanticism in Portugal, blending Moorish and Manueline architectural styles. After exploring the palace and its surrounding park, the afternoon is free to explore Lisbon's pastel-hued streets or ascend the historic Santa Justa Lift for panoramic city views.

The route heads east into the Alentejo region, arriving in the medieval city of Évora. The city's historical center is a dense collection of monuments, including two starkly different testaments to its past. The Capela dos Ossos, or Chapel of Bones, is a small 16th-century interior chapel built by Franciscan monks, its walls lined with human skulls and bones. Nearby stands the Templo Romano, one of the best-preserved Roman temples on the Iberian Peninsula, likely constructed in the 1st century AD.

The route traverses the rural Alentejo countryside, a region dominated by centuries-old cork forests. A visit to a traditional farm illuminates the delicate process of cork harvesting and production, which remains a cornerstone of the regional economy. This stop offers a traditional cork stripper's lunch, a rustic meal typical of the local farm workers. The journey then returns to Évora's UNESCO-listed city center. The afternoon is dedicated to exploring the historic core, characterized by whitewashed houses decorated with blue azulejo tiles and wrought-iron balconies, before overnighting at Vitoria Stone Evora.

The journey continues north, with a significant stop in Tomar to delve into the history of the Crusades in Portugal. Tomar served as the 14th-century headquarters for the Knights Templar. A guided walk explores the vast medieval complex of the Convent of Christ, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the Templar Castle, founded in 1160 by Gualdim Pais, the fourth grand master of the order. The day's travel concludes upon arrival in the university city of Coimbra.

The morning is dedicated to Portugal's most prestigious university, the University of Coimbra, founded in 1290 and now a UNESCO World Heritage site. The tour of the campus enters through the 10th-century Porta Férrea, the old gate to the city's citadel. Key sites include the magnificent baroque Joanina Library, the Chapel of São Miguel with its elaborate azulejo wall tiles, and the 18th-century Botanical Garden. In the afternoon, a train journey connects Coimbra with the coastal city of Porto.

Porto's identity is inextricably linked to the Douro River, or "river of gold." A river cruise on a traditional Rabelo boat, the flat-bottomed vessel historically used for transporting wine barrels, offers views of the six bridges connecting Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia. The focus then shifts to the port-making tradition itself, with a visit to a local wine cellar for a tour and tasting. The remainder of the day is open for exploring Porto's medieval Ribeira district, the baroque São Francisco Church, or the Palácio de Bolsa.

The route through Portugal concludes in Porto. The final morning is unscheduled, allowing for last-minute exploration or packing before departing. There are no planned activities, providing flexibility for onward travel arrangements.