Sunny Portugal with Porto

What's Included

• Tour of Lisbon

  Tour Lisbon and take in views of the Tagus River.

• Visit to Obidos

  Walk through the medieval, whitewashed village of Obidos.

• Visit to Porto

  Venture to Porto and discover the Stock Exchange Palace and its beautiful Arab Room.

• Portuguese Gin Tasting

  Get a taste of Portuguese gin production at a local distillery.

• Cante Alentejano Music Experience

  Experience the exclusive Cante Alentejano music (UNESCO) in Evora.

• Cork Factory Visit

  Learn about the importance of cork to the Portuguese culture and economy at a family-owned cork factory.

• Port Wine Tasting

  Taste port wine and learn of its importance to the development of the northern city of Porto.

• Alentejo Wine Tasting

  Sip the wines of the Alentejo region during a locally sourced lunch.

• Algarve Petiscos Tasting

  Savor the flavors of Algarve with iconic local petiscos.

What's Not Included

• Optional Excursions

  Optional excursions such as the Algarve Coastal Cruise, a night of Fado in Lisbon, and a visit to Braga and Guimarães are not included.

• Independent Exploration

  Time for independent exploration in cities like Porto, Aveiro, and Lagos is not guided or included in the tour package.

Mode of Transport

Travel through Portugal with a combination of scenic drives and local transportation, including a scenic cruise along the Douro River and optional excursions to explore the Algarve's coastal scenery and Lisbon's vibrant streets.

Accommodation

Stay at the Turim Porto Hotel in Porto, the Hotel Baia in Porto, the Vila Galé Evora Hotel in Evora, and the Vila Galé Lagos in Lagos, offering comfortable accommodations throughout your journey in Portugal.

Experiences

• Get a taste of Portuguese gin production at a local distillery.
• Experience the exclusive Cante Alentejano music (UNESCO) in Evora.
• Learn about the importance of cork to the Portuguese culture and economy at a family-owned cork factory.

Options

Algarve: Algarve’s Coastal Cruise Set sail on the clear blue waters of the Bay of Lagos to experience the stunning Ponta da Piedade with some of the most beautiful and famous coastal scenery in Portugal, including pristine beaches and rocky cliffs that are simply breathtaking. Upon arrival at Ponta da Piedade transfer to smaller boats... then, it’s off to explore the magical grottoes! Take in the striking rock formations sculpted by the sea for thousands of years as you weave in and out of tiny inlets, serene grottoes and impressive caves. Duration approximately 2 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 10 passenger(s) is required to operate this option.

This excursion may not operate based on weather conditions. Also due to weather conditions, this excursion may operate in the afternoon.
Excursion will not be exclusive to Collette if our group does not fill the boat (boat accommodates a maximum of 33 guests).

Lisbon: A Night of Fado Fado: the perfect blend of voice and guitar. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Patrimony, it is a celebrated form of world music that captures what it is to be Portuguese. The word Fado comes from the Latin word "fatum," which means fate or destiny. It is a style of music that is about deep feelings: the disappointments of love, the ups and downs of life. No one knows quite how Fado first came into being, but to this day, Portugal's traditional music remains at the very heart of the country's culture. In one of Lisbon’s most popular Fado restaurants, professional performers entertain you while you enjoy a typical Portuguese three-course dinner with wine included. Duration approximately 4 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 8 passenger(s) is required to operate this option.




Porto: Braga & Guimarães, “The Cradle of Portugal" Start your day early with a scenic drive to Braga. Begin your visit with the iconic Bom Jesus do Monte Sanctuary and take the funicular to reach the top, where you'll be rewarded with stunning views. Wander through the historic center of Braga and enjoy leisurely free time for lunch. Head to Guimarães, known as the "birthplace of Portugal." Visit the impressive Palace of the Dukes of Braganza, a beautifully restored 15th-century palace with a fascinating collection of artifacts and period furniture. Take a leisurely walk through the charming streets of Guimarães, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Enjoy the picturesque squares, historic buildings, and vibrant atmosphere. Conclude your day with a relaxing journey back to Porto, reflecting on the rich history and culture you've experienced. Duration approximately 8 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 10 passenger(s) is required to operate this option.




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Culinaries

• Taste port wine and learn of its importance to the development of the northern city of Porto.
• Sip the wines of the Alentejo region during a locally sourced lunch.
• Savor the flavors of Algarve with iconic local petiscos.

Must See

• Tour Lisbon and take in views of the Tagus River.
• Walk through the medieval, whitewashed village of Obidos.
• Venture to Porto and discover the Stock Exchange Palace and its beautiful Arab Room.

Choice Highlights

Porto Porto, known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal, after Lisbon, and is located in northern Portugal. The city dates back to the 4th century. Porto’s city center is one of the oldest city centers in Europe. One of Portugal’s well known exports, port wine, is named for Porto since the metropolitan and surrounding area was responsible for the production and export of the fortified wine.

Stock Exchange Palace The Stock Exchange Palace, also called Palace of la Bolsa de Madrid, is a building located in Madrid, Spain that houses the stock exchange. The palace was founded in 1841 and is the largest of Spain’s four regional stock exchanges.

Porto Wine Cellars

Fatima Whatever your beliefs, you can’t help but be impressed by the vast reserves of faith that every year lead as many as 6 million people to the glade where, on May 13, 1917, the Virgin Mary is said to have first appeared to three awestruck peasant children. Where sheep once grazed there are now two huge churches on opposite ends of a vast 1km-long esplanade. For Catholic pilgrims, Fátima has a magnetic appeal like few places on earth, and a trip here will provide any visitor with new insights into Portugal’s religious facet.

Portuguese Riviera The Riviera stretches from Lisbon and Cascais. The coastline has become a place where the elite vacation between September and October, and a popular tourist destination for its chic look. Removed from the city, the Lisbon coastline is easy access to all the culture that Lisbon offers. It has become a major hotspot for major international celebrities from the world of fashion, sport, and entertainment. The Riviera is also known for is world class conditions for surfing.

Cascais As Portugal is a small country, Cascais is a resort retreat just a half hour west of the city of Lisboa. When settlers first came to Cascais, the beaches were covered with shells in which its current name has derived. Cascais is a quaint coastal town and previously a fishing village until it gained a substantial reputation as the royal family of Portugal chose the town to be its summer residence in the 19th century. Located just off of the Tagus River, one of Portugal’s most noteworthy rivers, Cascais sits just past its mouth where the Atlantic Ocean begins. The coastal town emanates beauty, peace and tranquility while delving into above par seafood and wine.

Obidos Obidos is a small town located on the Atlantic Coast of Portugal. The town’s origins can be traced back to an early Roman settlement. The area of the town is located on a hilltop, surrounded by a fortified wall. From its streets, squares, fortified wall and castle, the town remains as a well preserved example of medieval architecture. It is because of this that the town is a popular tourist destination.

Sintra With its rippling mountains, dewy forests thick with ferns and lichen, exotic gardens and glittering palaces, Sintra is like a page torn from a fairy tale. Its Unesco World Heritage–listed centre, Sintra-Vila, is dotted with pastel-hued manors folded into luxuriant hills that roll down to the blue Atlantic. The jewel on the crown lording ominously over the picturesque town center is the National Palace, once the summer retreat of the Portuguese monarchy.

Cork Factory Visit a local cork factory, where you’ll learn about the product’s importance to the local economy. Harvested from the cork oak, or sobreiro as it’s known in Portuguese, cork is transformed into hundreds of different products.

Evora One of Portugal’s most beautifully preserved medieval towns, Évora is an enchanting place to delve into the past. Inside the 14th-century walls, Évora’s narrow, winding lanes lead to striking architectural works: an elaborate medieval cathedral and cloisters; the cinematic columns of the Templo Romano (near the intriguing Roman baths); and a picturesque town square, once the site of some rather gruesome episodes courtesy of the Inquisition. Aside from its historic and aesthetic virtues, Évora is also a lively university town, and its many attractive restaurants serve up hearty Alentejan cuisine.

Alentejo Travel across the famous Alentejo region of southern Portugal, known for three things; pottery, wine, and cork. Sparsely populated, the Alentejo region is rolling green hills, orchards of sobreiro trees, and vineyards.

Lagos The town lies along the bank of the Rio Bensafrim, with 16th-century walls enclosing the old town’s pretty, cobbled streets and picturesque plazas and churches. Beyond these lies a modern, but not overly unattractive, modern sprawl. The town’s good restaurants and range of fabulous beaches nearby add to the allure. With every activity under the sun (literally) on offer, plus a pumping nightlife, it’s not surprising that people of all ages are drawn here. Aside from its hedonistic appeal, Lagos has historical clout, having launched many naval excursions during Portugal’s extraordinary Age of Discoveries.

Algarve The Algarve is alluring. Coastal Algarve receives much exposure for its breathtaking cliffs, golden beaches, scalloped bays and sandy islands. But the letter 'S' (for sun, surf and sand) is only one letter in the Algarvian alphabet: activities, beach bars (and discos), castles (both sandy and real), diving, entertainment, fun. Coastal Algarve is not all there is to the region. The enchanting inner Algarve boasts pretty castle towns and historic villages, cork tree– and flower-covered hillsides, and birdlife.

Picnic Lunch in Monchique

Lisbon Spread across steep hillsides that overlook the Rio Tejo, Lisbon offers all the delights you’d expect of Portugal’s star attraction, yet with half the fuss of other European capitals. Gothic cathedrals, majestic monasteries and quaint museums are all part of the colorful cityscape, but the real delights of discovery lie in wandering the narrow lanes of Lisbon’s lovely backstreets. The Lisbon experience encompasses so many things, from enjoying a fresh pastry and bica (espresso) on a petite leafy plaza to window-shopping in elegant Chiado. It’s mingling with Lisboêtas at a neighborhood festival or watching the sunset from the old Moorish castle.

Belém Standing proudly on the bank of the Targus river in Lisbon is Belém Tower, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This 16th-century tower was where explorers from the Age of Discovery set out towards the New World, across the Atlantic.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites Heritage is the legacy of the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations. A World Heritage Site is a place of special cultural or physical significance and is selected by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). To be nominated a site must meet at least one of the 10 cultural and natural criteria. UNESCO World Heritage sites included on your tour are Jerónimos Monastery, Tower of Belém, Evora, and Sintra.

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