North of Portugal

Spend six days in the north of Portugal and explore its most enchanting cities by joining this fascinating cultural tour. Start your journey with a memorable religious pilgrimage. Visit the first Portuguese Gothic-style church in Alcobaca, admire the Monastery of Santa Maria da Vitoria, and attend the candle-lit procession at Marian Shrine in Fatima. Explore one of the world’s oldest universities in Coimbra and stroll the alleys of charming Alveiro. Continue with a memorable stopover in Oporto, an acclaimed UNESCO World Heritage site. Explore the Portuguese treasures by travelling through the vineyards and the mesmerizing landscapes of the Douro Valley, before returning to Lisbon.  

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Fatima: This impressive religious pilgrimage spot welcomes up to six million visitors a year. 

Oporto: Portugal’s second largest city is welcoming you with unforgettable landmarks and delicious local wine.

Braga: Kown as the “Portuguese Rome”, Braga offers emblematic places such as the Cathedral with several architectural styles, Roman Baths, Church of Populo, and the Monastery of Pius XII.

Lamego: Visit an ancient city, admire its beauty and climb the baroque staircase that takes you to the church of Nossa Senhora dos Remedios.

Tomar: Explore this fascinating Unesco World Heritage Site and let the Convent of Christ, located inside the 12th century Tomar Castle amaze your eyes.

Day 1: ARRIVAL LISBON – OBIDOS – ALCOBACA – NAZARE – BATALHA - FATIMA (195 km – 3 hrs)

Begin your adventure with a pick-up at Marques de Pombal Square in Lisbon, at 8:30 hrs (we recommend to arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes before the indicated time) to start the journey. Driving through landscapes rich in windmills and fruit trees, we arrive at Obidos, the beautiful city surrounded by medieval walls. Admire the harmony of the architecture, the diversity of the handicrafts and indulge in the famous “ginginha” (bitter cherry liqueur). Afterwards, visit fascinating Alcobaca and admire the first and largest gothic church in Portugal, hosting the tombs of the doomed lovers Pedro and Ines de Castro. Then, stop in Nazare, a typical fishing village and seaside resort immersed in tradition and legend. We continue to Batalha to visit the Monastery of Santa Maria da Vitoria, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture in Portugal. Here we find the tomb of Henry the Navigator, the mastermind behind Portugal’s era of maritime discoveries. Today´s adventure ends in mesmerising Fatima, where we have the opportunity to attend the candle-lit procession.

Overnight in Fatima area hotel on a bed-and-breakfast basis.

Day 2: FATIMA – COIMBRA – AVEIRO – OPORTO (225km – 2.45 hrs)

Enjoy a tasty breakfast at the hotel before heading towards Coimbra. Visit the University, one of the oldest in the world, with its magnificent baroque library and its unique atmosphere characterized by ancient traditions and customs such as the black student capes and the melancholic Fado music. Stop at Santa Clara Church, where you can find the tomb of Queen Santa Isabel, the protagonist of the “miracle of the roses”. In the city centre, there is a chance to admire Coimbra’s exclusive ceramics. In the afternoon, we continue to Aveiro, a city of charming canals, known as the “Venice of Portugal”, where you will have time to see the graceful “moliceiro” vessels and taste the local sweet delicacy “ovos moles”. Afterwards, drive to Oporto to check in and get ready for a new adventure. 

Overnight in Oporto area hotel on bed-and-breakfast basis.

Day 3: OPORTO – GUIMARAES – BRAGA – OPORTO (140km – 2 hrs)

Begin your day with a tasty breakfast at your hotel in Oporto, the second city of Portugal and a UNESCO classified World Heritage site. It is a charming living amphitheatre inviting us to make a morning visit to discover the riverside area, old houses, palaces, and churches that history has made eternal. Before starting a new adventure, indulge in a glass of the world famous Port wine. We continue to Minho, the northwest region of Portugal that offers natural green sceneries and sparkling Vinho Verde (green wine). Start in Guimaraes, the cradle of the Nation and birthplace of the first king of Portugal. Visit the Sacred Hill, crowned by the Castle, as well as the Palace of Dukes of Braganca with its original buildings dating back to the 15th century. Drive to Braga known as the “Portuguese Rome” for its concentration of religious architecture, including the oldest cathedral in the country and the Bom Jesus do Monte Sanctuary, with its famous baroque stairway and gardens. Then, return to Oporto to rest and prepare yourself for more surprises.

Overnight in Oporto area hotel on a bed-and-breakfast basis.

Day 4: OPORTO

Indulge in a delicious breakfast and spend the rest of the day free at leisure.

Overnight in Oporto area hotel on a bed-and-breakfast basis. 

Day 5: OPORTO – AMARANTE – VILA REAL – LAMEGO – URGEIRICA (235km – 3 hrs)

Have breakfast at the hotel and prepare yourself for another memorable day in Portugal. Depart to Amarante, a pretty town known for its fascinating natural features and mouthwatering sweets. In addition, the charming city is very proud of its St Goncalo, a famous promoter of love and marriage, celebrated on the first Saturday of June. Stroll the charming streets of Amarante, relax by the river, and explore the bustling market where you can find a diversity of local products. Afterwards, drive to tranquil Vila Real. Luxuriate in the peaceful vibe while visiting Vila Real´s main attractions. Let the gardens of the Mateus estate amaze your eyes with their beautiful facades still depicted on the well-known Portuguese rosé wine bottles. Continue your adventure driving through the vineyards and the breathtaking landscapes of the Douro Valley. Stop in Lamego and sample some of the local delicacies, including the local ham and the famous “Bola de Lamego”, a mouthwatering loaf baked in the oven with smoked ham. Continue through the mountainous hinterland to the centre of the Dao vineyards, arriving in Viseu, a city connected to Portugal’s oldest hero, Viriato, a well-known Lusitanian chief. In the shadow of the Cathedral, narrow streets and doorways with coats of arms carved in granite make up the ancient town of Viseu. We tour the centre, see its busy commercial zone, and leave for Urgeirica to check-in and rest.  

 Overnight in Urgeirica area hotel on a bed-and breakfast basis.

Day 6: URGEIRICA – BUSSACO – TOMAR – LISBON (310km – 3.5 hrs)

Delight in a tasty breakfast at the hotel. Then, drive through the heart of Portugal to beautiful Bussaco. This city is a breath of fresh air for all nature lovers. With its luxuriant forest hosting a selection of rare trees and plants of exotic beauty as well as a charming and romantic hotel that used to be a royal hunting lodge, Bussaco promises to impress you. After getting in touch with nature, we continue our tour, going to breathtaking Tomar. The development of this lovely place is closely interlinked with the Order of the Templars, which received these lands in 1159 as a reward for the assistance given to Dom Afonso Henriques (the first King of Portugal) in the Christian reconquers of the country. It was Dom Gualdim Pais, the first Grand Master of the Order in Portugal who founded the castle and the remarkable Convent of Christ inside. Enlarged and altered over the centuries and classified as a World Heritage site by UNESCO, the complex displays the influences of various architectural styles and it is the centrepiece of the city. We continue our journey to Lisbon to drop you off at the indicated location. 

Breakfast included 

Comfortable and light clothing is the most suitable for travelling in Portugal. Visitors should not wear sleeveless shirts, shorts, short skirts or skimpy clothing when visiting temples, religious or official buildings. Sun protection, sunglasses, a hat and mosquito repellent can be very useful during your stay.