Self-Guided Tour in Portugal – 8 Days from Lisbon to Porto

After a morning of shopping in Lisbon, the magical capital of Portugal, we will head out to Sintra – a town that seems to have been taken out of a fairytale, and the holiday town for kings and counts. Quinta da Regaleira´s palace and gardens (UNESCO World Heritage Site) are highly recommended and are worth a visit, as well as the various city´s souvenir-filled streets and alleyways.

This day will start with a visit in Cabo da Roca, Europe’s westerenmost point, and what was once considered to be the literal end of the world. From there we will continue towards the fishing town of Peniche and down to the docks, where we will head out sailing towards the Berlengas Islands, a protected archipelago, whose most residents are seagulls. We will head out on a hike towards a vantage point overlooking the island’s fortress and lighthouse. After sailing back to Peniche we will go on a visit to the town of Óbidos – picturesque medieval town surrounded by a well-preserved fortified wall.

A say filled with Portugal´s best monuments. After starting the day with a visit to the impressive Santa Maria da Vitória church at the town of Batalha, we will head towards the monestary in Alcobaça. Both of these buildings are classic examples of the Portuguese Manuellic Gothic architcture. Later on we will reach the ancient Synagogue in the town of Tomar, which was built during the middle ages and now functions as a museum. For design and architecture enthusiasts, there is the option of continuing to the Convento de Cristo Monestary in Tomar.

Today we will travel along the Alentejo region, which, as it being the region bordering Spain, is characterized by numerous forts built to protect Portugal´s borders. Driving through the area´s villages will take us to Mourão and its ancient castle overlooking the region, and later on, to Castelo de Vide. We will continue on to the Pedra Ferida waterfalls where a cool dip in the waters can be enjoyed.

Our day will kick off with a visit to Coímbra, world-renowned for its ancient university, founded in 1290. From here we will carry on to the Buçaco forest for a lovely short hike. There is an option of having a kayaking activity over the Mondego river, before continuing towards the famous Serra da Estrela – The Star Mountain Range.

The day will start with a visit to the small town of Belmonte, where a small Jewish community has been living clandestinely for over 500 years. We’ll visit the ancient synagogue and dive into the fascinating history of Portugal’s Jewery. Afterwards, we’ll head on towards one of the country’s gems – Serra da Estrela, the famous Star Mountain Range characterized by tall granite mountains, spectacular valleys, winding creeks and green forests. We will visit the Pego do Inferno waterfall, before carrying on the scenic route towards “Tower” Mountain, the highest peak in mainland Portugal. On the way there we’ll stop to view the statue of the local patron saint of the shepards, , carved into the granite rock.

We’ll make our way northwards along the winding roads descending from the park towards the first stop of the day – the medieval town of Trancoso. After a short stroll around the town’s emblematic sites, we will carry on towards the Douro Valley, where we will visit a local winery, specializing in the unique port wine.

Making our way along the Douro Valley, we will reach Porto, the second largest city in Portugal. We will stroll around the city and its magical sites. Before the offical end of our trip.

After a morning of shopping in Lisbon, the magical capital of Portugal, we will head out to Sintra – a town that seems to have been taken out of a fairytale, and the holiday town for kings and counts. Quinta da Regaleira´s palace and gardens (UNESCO World Heritage Site) are highly recommended and are worth a visit, as well as the various city´s souvenir-filled streets and alleyways.

This day will start with a visit in Cabo da Roca, Europe’s westerenmost point, and what was once considered to be the literal end of the world. From there we will continue towards the fishing town of Peniche and down to the docks, where we will head out sailing towards the Berlengas Islands, a protected archipelago, whose most residents are seagulls. We will head out on a hike towards a vantage point overlooking the island’s fortress and lighthouse. After sailing back to Peniche we will go on a visit to the town of Óbidos – picturesque medieval town surrounded by a well-preserved fortified wall.

A say filled with Portugal´s best monuments. After starting the day with a visit to the impressive Santa Maria da Vitória church at the town of Batalha, we will head towards the monestary in Alcobaça. Both of these buildings are classic examples of the Portuguese Manuellic Gothic architcture. Later on we will reach the ancient Synagogue in the town of Tomar, which was built during the middle ages and now functions as a museum. For design and architecture enthusiasts, there is the option of continuing to the Convento de Cristo Monestary in Tomar.

Today we will travel along the Alentejo region, which, as it being the region bordering Spain, is characterized by numerous forts built to protect Portugal´s borders. Driving through the area´s villages will take us to Mourão and its ancient castle overlooking the region, and later on, to Castelo de Vide. We will continue on to the Pedra Ferida waterfalls where a cool dip in the waters can be enjoyed.

Our day will kick off with a visit to Coímbra, world-renowned for its ancient university, founded in 1290. From here we will carry on to the Buçaco forest for a lovely short hike. There is an option of having a kayaking activity over the Mondego river, before continuing towards the famous Serra da Estrela – The Star Mountain Range.

The day will start with a visit to the small town of Belmonte, where a small Jewish community has been living clandestinely for over 500 years. We’ll visit the ancient synagogue and dive into the fascinating history of Portugal’s Jewery. Afterwards, we’ll head on towards one of the country’s gems – Serra da Estrela, the famous Star Mountain Range characterized by tall granite mountains, spectacular valleys, winding creeks and green forests. We will visit the Pego do Inferno waterfall, before carrying on the scenic route towards “Tower” Mountain, the highest peak in mainland Portugal. On the way there we’ll stop to view the statue of the local patron saint of the shepards, , carved into the granite rock.

We’ll make our way northwards along the winding roads descending from the park towards the first stop of the day – the medieval town of Trancoso. After a short stroll around the town’s emblematic sites, we will carry on towards the Douro Valley, where we will visit a local winery, specializing in the unique port wine.

Making our way along the Douro Valley, we will reach Porto, the second largest city in Portugal. We will stroll around the city and its magical sites. Before the offical end of our trip.