Belem Tower in Lisbon, Portugal

In-Depth Exploration Tour of Portugal: History, Culture, and Discovery

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist

Countries Visited

Portugal

Places Visited

Lisbon, Redondo, Marvao, Tomar...

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Suggested Duration

19 Days

Portugal has style that has stretched through the centuries to include everything from frontier towns to Moorish fishing villages, Templar Knights to Manuelino facades and Baroque ceramics. You will be whisked away on a carpet of seduction and charm and into an atmosphere packed with tradition. With well over two weeks to travel, you will settle into the stylish rhythm of the country to explore the nuance as you hop between the untouched legends of the past. From Lisbon to Porto, this is a complete...

Customizable Itinerary

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Trip Highlights

  • Explore Lisbon in depth as you spend nearly a week in what has become one of the world’s most talked about city destinations
  • Discover some of Europe’s finest art with access to private collections and exhibitions that fill palace rooms
  • Immerse yourself in Portugal’s iconic middle age cities, where the atmosphere and architecture celebrate distant centuries
  • Engage with history as you visit most of Portugal’s World Heritage Sites, including monasteries, monuments, cities, palaces, university buildings and icons of a Christian past
  • Marvel at the architectural styles as you compare various versions of the Gothic style with a unique Manuelino style that is synonymous with the country
  • Traverse the empty plains to explore the ancient Iberian history found on both sides of the border as old-world cities like Evora, Elvas and Merida lend insight into the ambiance of yesteryear
  • Journey along the rugged Atlantic coast to explore Moorish villages and castles from past millennia
  • Connect with the legends such as the Templar Knights in Tomar and the elegiac sounds of Fado music
  • Conclude with World Heritage Porto with several nights spent enveloped by painted ceramic facades and the cobblestone beauty of yesteryear

Detailed Description

Portugal has always had distinct style. The cities and villages of the nation run to their own rhythm, sometimes rooted as far back as the 12th century, or one that has been enhanced by the creativity of tomorrow. The country has always been happy to let others in Southern Europe take the plaudits, so rather than chase tourism, Portugal has mostly sat back and waited for visitors who want to uncover its secrets and its style. Only recently has Portugal come to receive international acclaim, particularly the much-talked-about capital city of Lisbon as a city getaway. While tourism is increasing at a rapid rate, visitors tend to relax on the beaches of the south or follow relatively standard routes through the interior, leaving so much of Portugal off of the beaten track.

This handcrafted 19-day tour is a celebration of Portugal’s style and rhythm. Alongside your private guides, you will hop across the country with a pace that will suit the local ambiance. Start with nearly a week in Lisbon, which will be just about enough time to really get to know the city and its breathtaking collection of art, architecture, neighborhoods, and traditions. There will be time to discover Sintra and the royal palaces, as well as the private galleries, the colorful markets and much more. The next several days will bring an exploration of the Alentejo plains, where the UNESCO World Heritage cities have a frontier feel and a wonderful sense of remoteness. You will be surrounded by the garrison feeling of old-world Iberia, with a quick jaunt to neighboring Spain and a city that was once part of Portugal.

Travel north as you continue with the last Templar Knights town of Tomar your base for several nights. Travel to idyllic Moorish fishing villages and discover how Gothic styles morphed over the centuries, and whisper the name of legends that fill this piece of Portugal. Keep traveling north over the next two days to iconic destinations like Coimbra, Aveiro, and Guimaraes, and each will feel very different to the old cities of the south. Each has its own style and atmosphere, and all are stoically preserved from every turn. Completing this private tour are several nights in Porto in a hotel amid the UNESCO World Heritage center with incredible charm found around every alleyway.

Over this 19-day adventure, you will find that the Portuguese style is idiosyncratic to its regions and destinations. The best way to explore the historical and cultural narratives is with local guides. Their insider knowledge will bring a new dimension to your discovery, as well as gain you access to sites that are usually closed to the public. With so many days at hand, you will be able to visit a handful of exceptional monuments and sites every day but can travel at a pace that is in keeping with the style. When each day is done, you can sit back on the al fresco terraces and join the locals in watching the world go by.  Begin planning your dream Portugal tour by connecting with one of our luxury Portugal travel agents.

Starting Price

$6,200 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service

4.92 stars based on 1135 reviews.

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