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12-Day Palaces and Castles of Portugal

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Overview

As the oldest country in Europe, Portugal is steeped in fascinating history that hides in places that might just surprise you.

Taking you from major cities like Lisbon and Porto to the surrounding small towns and villages, you'll find the more remote you go, the most robust and powerful the strongholds become. This trip takes you from monasteries to castles in Portugal, monasteries and churches on shorelines, in the middle of rivers and on the tallest mountains to experience slightly more off-the-beaten-path parts.
Culture & Arts
Sightseeing
Outdoors & Nature
Food & Drink

Itinerary

Day 1

Welcome to Lisbon

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Welcome to Lisbon

You'll be welcome at the airport and transferred to your hotel in the city. You'll have the rest of the day at leisure, your hotel is right in the heart of the city so exploring significant sites will only be a short distance away.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Heritage Avenida Liberdade Boutique Hotel4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Lisbon Portela Airport to Lisbon

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Lisbon

Day 2

Historical Lisbon

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Historical Lisbon

In the morning visit Saint George Castle, the oldest castle in Portugal from the 6th century, on the top of one of Lisbon's hills. We leave the downtown area to go to Belem to the Carriage Museum where the oldest carriage dates from the 16th century. After lunch, visit Jeronimos Monastery a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you have free time to taste the traditional Belem Pastry and after we continue to visit the Belem Tower and icon of the city and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Heritage Avenida Liberdade Boutique Hotel4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    São Jorge Castle

    National Coach Museum

    Jerónimos Monastery

    Pastéis de BelémOptional Activity

    Belém Tower

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Castelo de S. Jorge to Belém

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Lisbon

Day 3

Day Trip to Sintra to See the Best Castles in Portugal

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Day Trip to Sintra to See the Best Castles in Portugal

Sintra, a magical and romantic town, which seems to have come out of a fairytale. Visit “Moors” Castle on Sintra mountain where is possible to see the entire region in the clear days. You then continue to the breathtaking Pena National Palace, one of the most beautiful palaces in Portugal. We descend to the centre of the town for some free time for lunch. In the afternoon, visit the Sintra National Palace and the unique Quinta da Regaleira. Later in the day, we return to Lisbon.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Heritage Avenida Liberdade Boutique Hotel4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Palaces & Castle of Sintra

    Castelo dos Mouros

    Pena Palace

    Sintra National Palace

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Lisbon

    Sintra

Day 4

Azeitao and Evora

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Azeitao and Evora

Today we move to south, to arrive in a small but famous town in Portugal, Azeitão. We will visit the Bacalhoa Palace, a building that belongs to the Bacalhoa wine producer, to explore and have a wine tasting. Then, head to Évora, arriving we will have free time for lunch. In the afternoon, take a walking tour to visit the historical centre where you will visit the Roman temple, the cathedral from the 13th century, and the chapel of Bones that has as much of amazing as it as of creepy.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Pousada Convento de Évora4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Tour to Azeitão and Évora

    Bacalhoa Palace

    Chapel of Bones

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Lisbon

    Evora

    Setubal

Day 5

Half-Day Tour of Monsaraz

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Half-Day Tour of Monsaraz

We leave Évora for an half-day tour to Monsaraz a beautiful fortified medieval village in Alentejo where we will wander through the streets and learn more about the history of this location. Set on a hill, this sleepy little village is peaked by a stunning castle where you can see the extent of the village walls. You'll return to Evora in the afternoon.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Pousada Convento de Évora4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Monsaraz

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Evora

    Évora District

Day 6

Visit Mafra and Obidos

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Visit Mafra and Obidos

Trip to Mafra to visit it’s imposing palace from the 18th century that has one of the most beaufitul libraries of the world. From there, we continue north to Óbidos, a medieval village that is entirely walled. We'll arrive with some free time for lunch and then head out on a walking tour to visit the picturesque streets and the castle.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Pousada Castelo Óbidos4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Mafra National Palace

    Obidos

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Evora to Óbidos

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Evora

    Mafra

    Óbidos Municipality

Day 7

Alcobaca and Batalha Monasteries

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Alcobaca and Batalha Monasteries

After the amazing stay in Óbidos, we continue to Alcobaça to visit the amazing Monastery of Alcobaça from the 12th century. We continue to Batalha to visit the Batalha Monastery one of the most famous monuments of Portugal and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The next stop will be to visit the Almourol Castle a unique monument in the middle of the Tejo River that we can only access by boat.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel dos Templários4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Tour of Alcobaça and Batalha

    Batalha Monastery

    Almourol Castle

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Óbidos Municipality

    Tomar

    Batalha

    Praia do Ribatejo

Day 8

Half-Day Tomar Tour

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Half-Day Tomar Tour

Tomar, the Templar city was the headquarters of the Templar Knights in Portugal, because of this, the region is full of history and myths. We will visit the Christian Convent from the 13th century and a UNESCO World Heritage Site which acted as the main location of the activities of the Knights of Templar and the historical centre where the oldest synagogue in Portugal is.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel dos Templários4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Half-Day Tomar Tour

    Synagoge of Tomar

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Tomar

Day 9

Coimbra Half-Day Tour

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Coimbra Half-Day Tour

We leave Tomar and drive to Coimbra the city of knowledge where the oldest university of Portugal is located, it's one of the oldest in Europe. In the morning, we will visit the university which is in an ancient palace, home to the Joanine Library that is considered one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. You'll then walk to the historical centre to see the old cathedral from the 13th century and the doors of the ancient castle walls.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Vila Galé Coimbra4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Half-Day Tour in Coimbra

    Universidade de Coimbra

    Sé Velha - Coimbra

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Tomar to Coimbra

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Tomar

    Coimbra

Day 10

Discover the Stunning City of Porto

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Discover the Stunning City of Porto

Our trip today is to Porto, the second-biggest city in Portugal, where we will visit the cathedral, São Bento Train Station with its beautiful tile walls in the centre of the city, the Stock Exchange Palace, an amazing building from the 19th century and the Ribeira district that is the most traditional area of the city. In the afternoon we will head to the port wine cellars for a tour and tasting. Late afternoon, we move out of the city to Guimarães.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Pousada Mosteiro de Guimarães4.5 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Explore Porto

    São Bento train station

    Sé do Porto

    Ferreira Port Wine cellars

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Coimbra to Porto

    Private Driver from Porto to Guimaraes

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Coimbra

    Porto

    Vila Nova de Gaia

    Guimaraes

Day 11

Braga and Guimaraes

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Braga and Guimaraes

Start the day by visiting the amazing city of Guimarães which was the birthplace of Portugal, where we will visit the Braganza Dukes Palace and the historical centre that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the afternoon, we drive to Braga for a visit, the first stop is in the Bom Jesus do Monte Sanctuary, located at the top of a hill near the city with breathtaking views. After we visit the historical centre and the oldest cathedral in Portugal from the 12th century.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Pousada Mosteiro de Guimarães4.5 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Full-Day Guimarães and Braga Tour

    Castle of Guimarães and the Palace of the Dukes of Bragança

    Bom Jesus do Monte

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Guimaraes

    Braga

Day 12

Depart from Porto

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Depart from Porto

After breakfast, we'll leave the Pousada in Guimaraes and make our way to Porto airport for your departure.

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Guimaraes to Porto

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Guimaraes

Included in Price

  • 11 nights accommodation
  • 29 activities
  • 11 breakfasts
  • Airport transfer
  • Entrance fees
  • Ground transportation
  • Licensed English speaking guides

Not Included in Price

  • Alcohol beverages
  • Domestic flights
  • Entry visas / airport departure tax
  • Gratuities
  • International flights
  • Laundry
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Trekking permits
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