Best of Portugal's Endearing Charm Tour

Light floods into Évora’s town squares, where friendly folk from around the neighborhood gather to catch up or settle down for a cup of coffee. An atmospheric presence exudes from the delightful city, which is typical of the endearing local lifestyle. Fortified within a colossal outer wall, Évora spreads across a gently sloping hill that rises above the Alentejo plain, a landscape you will catch an unparalleled view of from the terrace of a local wine estate. Here, you will sip on delectable wines presented by your professional host and come to discern the nuances of Portugal’s viticulture.

Besides Évora’s beauty, Alentejo presents several picturesque destinations across its sprawling expanse. Today, you will travel these distances to breathtaking points of interest. In Monsaraz, a civil parish is perched on the bucolic countryside, and medieval character is preserved within castle-peppered districts. The road you will continue on leads to Estremoz, which is a pyramid-shaped settlement wedged between the dramatic golden vineyards of Alentejo. As you cruise closer to Elvas, noble buildings will come into view, and you will soon find yourselves embracing the tales enwreathed in Évora’s history.

You will transfer to Belmonte as the sun rises and veils the landscape in a golden glimmer, passing through Castelo de Vide and Marvão en route. In Castelo de Vide, a medieval castle’s towers battlements that loom over the cascading cityscape. It is from these battlements that you will capture 360-degree images of the Alentejo region. By continuing to Marvão, you will grasp scenes of a town that seemingly floats on a lush blanket of forest. You will enter the walled town stationed on the crest of the Serra de São Mamede to explore its Moorish origins.

Before discovering what lies beyond Belmonte’s borders, you will spend the morning tracing the city’s significant Jewish heritage in the Bet Eliahu synagogue. After which, you will follow the roads that wind toward the austere hilltop castle, which is Belmonte’s beacon of the past. Your afternoon will bring scenes of Monsanto, which is a fascinating town composed of houses that were built between granite boulders across a craggy cliff. You will also be able to spend some time in Sortelha, a town riddled with ancient castles that once bordered the ancient Iberian civilization’s homeland.

Today will mark the beginning of your adventures in the unprecedented Douro Valley, a region that boasts far-reaching forests and an immense ribbon of streaming water. The town of Trancoso is the final frontier between you and Douro, and stopping here will prove to be a delight in itself as you revel in the rich Jewish heritage there. Stone houses and narrow streets reminiscent of Portugal’s Moorish ancestry dominate the settlement and will transport you back in time to the medieval era. By strolling through the spirited town, you will swoon over aromas of delectable Portuguese dishes that pour through the cobbled walkways in addition to images of pink flowers that bloom beneath charming buildings’ windows.

The Douro Valley’s unending allure can be pinpointed by the spectacles of staggering schist mountains that trail the bewitching Douro River and the prospects of Portugal’s coveted viridian vineyards. Beyond providing picture-perfect panoramas, these vineyards are the source of the country’s finest ports and wines. Today, you will escape to an elite wine estate in the hills, where world-class vintages are produced by the barrel. Here, you will savor each full-bodied sip of wondrous wines and delight in the saccharine piquancy of perfectly crafted ports alongside a backdrop of the vast valley.

Rich agricultural lands and breathtaking natural wonders surround the city of Amarante, which is a gateway destination beyond the Douro Valley that will guide you to Porto. A halcyon atmosphere resonates within the city, which has deep Roman roots that you will come to admire on an immersive heritage tour. The often cloud-carpeted Serra do Marão mountain, and the boundless Tâmega River tributary of the Douro River serves as the destination's key environmental highlights, expressing the sheer expansivity of Portugal’s unspoiled topography.

Porto’s eccentric charm is embodied by the quirky locals who dwell here. Everything about the famous Portuguese city speaks volumes of the artistic ingenuity of the creative minds who have stamped the cityscape with their indelible works. São Bento Station displays the finest azulejo, a Portuguese and Spanish architectural feature that utilizes glazed ceramic tiles. Lello bookshop is laden with towering shelves that have been positioned in a flawlessly decorated building and elicit awe as soon as you enter. These are but a few momentous stops on your riveting heritage tour around Porto.

This morning, you will transfer to Lisbon but will stop in Aveiro, Nazaré, and Óbidos. Each enchanting town offers distinct features for which they are revered. Aveiro is regarded as Portugal’s Venice, bragging an intricate web of canals that flow through the cityscape; Nazaré is home to one of the world’s greatest big waves that are coveted by the surf community; Óbidos is a romantic town that is full of cultural character. Obidos is spotlighted by the spellbinding colorful homes and fragrant window-sill bougainvillea displays.

In Lisbon, vibrant red, orange, purple, and blue houses paint a surreal picture of the cityscape that needs to be seen to be properly appreciated. The scenes are something of dreams: narrow cobbled alleyways host trams that appear to almost scrape against the buildings and detailed murals that command the attention of passersby. You will wander through Lisbon and witness it all. The iconic environmental detail has inspired the work of some of the world’s greatest artists, writers, and photographers.

Nestled at the foothills of a mountain of the same name, Sintra is a portal into the Romantic period. Today, you will be besotted as you make your way here to delve into this intriguing moment in time. Looking up toward the summit of Sintra Mountain, you will behold the majestic Pena Palace. You can traverse the mountainside and stop at phenomenal viewpoints until you are standing beneath the elaborate works of art throughout the palace. A magnificent meal accompanied by Fado melodies, traditional Portuguese music, will culminate the day off on a high note.

You will continue your exploration of Lisbon’s surrounding destinations today. Your first stop of Fátima is a city of astonishing cultural significance that became an iconic center for the Cult of the Virgin Mary in Portugal. The city’s sacred grounds are sanctified by the Catholic Church, and there is a wealth of spiritual discoveries to unfold as you visit fabled heritage sites within its borders. You will then visit Batalha, a city with great historical significance that you will unravel as you tour the Gothic masterpiece of the Monastery of Batalha and the Monastery of Santa Maria de Vitória.

With a day to explore as you please, you may spend these moments creating memories in one of the world’s most mesmerizing cities. Whether you opt to peruse the streets, tuck into delectable Portuguese cuisine, or seek solace in the sacred halls of the city’s commemorated Catholic churches, you will completely enjoy your time in Lisbon. In the evening, you may retreat to comfortable seats below crystal chandeliers in the dining hall of a Michelin-starred restaurant for an exquisite multi-course meal.

Today, you can escape and embrace the wonderful wildlife scenery that encompasses the Arrábida Natural Park. As you explore the luxuriant forests of the park, you will hear the sounds of birds singing from the roof of the leafy paths and spot endemic creatures behind the dense shamrock foliage. You will return to Lisbon later this evening to partake in an outstanding culinary class led by an esteemed local chef, during which you will learn the tricks of the trade behind Portugal’s iconic traditional dishes.

Lisbon will come to life the moment light breaks over the horizon and the golden sunshine pours over the cobbled streets, filtering between the buildings and reflecting off the decorated cathedrals. It will be your final morning in Portugal, and you may make the most of it by savoring the decadent flavors of the finest breakfasts and pastries at a beloved eatery away from the busy main roads. Here, you can slowly sip on flawlessly brewed cups of coffee as you reflect on your captivating adventures before transferring to Lisbon Portela International Airport for your flight home.