Lisbon and the Treasures of Northern Portugal

This holiday can start on any date you request with arrival to Lisbon or Porto.

Day One - Arrive Lisbon and transfer to your hotel for 2 nights

Lisbon is one of the least visited of the ancient European capitals. A fascinating city which lays itself out like a map, tracing the indelible marks left by its colourful and diverse history and cultural influences. Much remains of this Golden Age with castles, monasteries, towers and palaces defining the skyline but the real joy of Lisbon is in soaking up its laid back feel, loosing yourself in the cobbled village-like streets, taking a ride on yellow trams and dining in a pretty shaded square.

Day Two - Morning walking tour of the Alfama quarter

This morning you will meet with a guide for a fascinating tour around the medieval Alfama quarter. Hear the tales and legends of the Visigoths, Romans, Moors, crusaders and Kings as you wander past whitewashed houses and Fado taverns in the narrow streets, stairways and viewpoints. The tour will finish with Pasteis de Belem (custard tart) in a traditional café.

In the afternoon you will be free to explore deeper into the barrios or visit some of Lisbon’s new “niche museums” particularly the awe-inspiring collection at the Museu Gulbenkian.

Day Three - Collect your hire car in the morning and transfer to Marvao for 1 night

Today you will leave behind the cosmopolitan city and head east into the sun-baked, agricultural landscape of the Alentejo region. Birds of Prey and Black Storks soar on the thermals above remote fortified villages, and monasteries and castles dot the landscape of vast olive and cork plantations. It is a land where time has stood still with many of the estates having been handed down since Roman times. The medieval town of Marvao is set on a rocky outcrop that was once part of the chain of fortresses along the Spanish border.

Day Four - Transfer to Viseu for 1 night

Today head north and pass in to the historic mountain provinces of Beira Alta and Beira Baixa. Quintessentially Portuguese, many age old traditions live on in these regions and rural life is as beautifully preserved as the mighty castles and walled towns.

The city of Viseu, a hilltop city at the centre of the famous Dao wine producing region has been noted for its full bodied red wines since the 12th Century. Viseu was also the birthplace of Grao Vasco; Portugal’s most famous artist and the museum dedicated to him is housed in a former bishop’s palace.

Day Five - Transfer to Porto for 2 nights through the valley of the Douro river

Today you turn West towards Porto following the valley of the Rio Douro. This is one of the great car journeys of Europe as the road twists and turns majestically, hugging the terraced hillsides that cascade down to the wide flowing river below. Just over the river is the town of Vila Nova de Gaia, where since the 18th century Port wine has been aged and stored before being exported around the world, it offers the stunning view back to Porto captured in many postcards.

Day Six - A day in Porto with a private guided tour of the city and bodega visit

A colourful and rambling dramatically situated city, Porto is experiencing somewhat of a renaissance with art galleries, fine restaurants and the refurbishment of much of the cities priceless architecture all breathing new life in to the “invincible city” of the north. The perfect place to wander and lose yourself in the labyrinth of cobbled streets, lined with brightly coloured, patchwork houses clinging to the riverbank.

For today you will have a private tour of Porto including the cathedral, typical Bolhao market and the Clerigos Tower. You will be able to see typical life in Porto at the Liberty Square, Lello Bookshop and the UNESCO classified neighborhoods.

Your tour will end in Ribeira the typical barrio for Port Wine Cellars with a tour and tasting.

Day Seven - Transfer south along the Atlantic coast to Obidos for 1 night

As you depart Porto, your journey south will first take you past miles and miles of white sand Atlantic beaches with smaller roads that you can take to get closer to the lagoons, bird-life and the sea. Finally reaching Oibidos; a small medieval town where your base for the night will be within the walls of a towered castle. Entering the town through the ancient southern gate the picturesque medieval labyrinth of cobbled streets flanked with white houses adorned with bougainvillea lead up to Moorish castle. Obidos is home to the traditional sour cherry liqueur served in edible chocolate cups.

Day Eight - Transfer to Lisbon to deposit your hire car and say farewell to Portugal!