Tapestry of Portugal Small Group Tour - 11 days/10 nights

Your adventure begins in Lisbon, the captivating capital where old-world charm meets contemporary style. Settle into your central boutique hotel for a three-night stay, perfectly located for exploring the city’s vibrant streets and historic neighborhoods. This evening, gather with your fellow travelers for a welcome drink and dinner at a local restaurant featuring regional cuisine and fine Portuguese wine, the perfect beginning to your journey through Portugal.

Meals: Breakfast and lunch on your own, dinner included

Accommodation: Overnight in Lisbon

Portugal’s capital offers an irresistible blend of ancient charm and contemporary life. Begin the day with a visit to the Belem district, an area filled with grand monuments and ornate churches that celebrate Portugal’s golden Age of Discovery. Visit two masterpieces of the Manueline style, the Jerónimos Monastery and the Belem Tower. The monastery, adorned with intricate carvings and delicate arches, now houses the Archaeology and Maritime Museums and serves as the resting place of Vasco da Gama. After lunch along the riverside, continue to the Alfama district, one of Lisbon’s oldest and most enchanting quarters. Stroll through its colorful squares and winding medieval streets where whitewashed houses climb the hillside toward the ancient fortress that crowns the skyline. Conclude the afternoon with visits to the Mercado da Ribeira and the National Tile Museum, home to five centuries of exquisite azulejos, the hand-painted tiles that define Portuguese artistry. The evening is yours to dine and explore romantic Lisbon at your own pace.

Meals: Breakfast and lunch included, dinner on your own

Accommodation: Overnight in Lisbon

This morning, travel to the enchanting town of Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage site celebrated for its palaces, gardens, and storybook beauty. Visit the colorful Pena Palace, a masterpiece of romantic architecture whose red and yellow towers rise above the forested hills. Inside, discover an opulent world of Victorian and Edwardian furnishings, ornate decorations, and intricate porcelain and paintings that bring Portugal’s royal past to life. After exploring Sintra, continue along the Portuguese coast to the charming fishing village of Cascais. Stroll its scenic promenade, lined with boutiques and seaside cafés, and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before returning to Lisbon. The evening is yours to wander at leisure, perhaps along the lively Rua Augusta with its open-air shops and inviting restaurants.

Meals: Breakfast included, lunch and dinner on your own

Accommodation: Overnight in Lisbon

Today’s journey leads you into the wine-growing region of Alentejo, a landscape of vineyards, cork oaks, olive groves, and ancient megalithic sites. Begin with a visit to the village of Arraiolos, renowned for its tradition of embroidered rugs and crowned by its circular medieval castle. Enjoy a cultural stop at a local cork workshop before continuing on for an included lunch with wine pairings at a family-owned restaurant, offering a taste of authentic Alentejo cuisine. In the afternoon, travel onward to Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Portugal’s most beautifully preserved towns. Settle in for two nights at your central hotel, with breakfast included. The rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy this timeless and welcoming place.

Meals: Breakfast and lunch included, dinner on your own

Accommodation: Overnight in Evora

The captivating city of Évora rose to prominence under the Romans and became a flourishing center of art and learning. Today, this UNESCO World Heritage site stands as one of Portugal’s most beautifully preserved towns, often described as a living museum. Discover the city’s ancient treasures with visits to the Roman Temple, the twelfth-century Cathedral, and the fascinating Chapel of Bones, connected by cobbled lanes and graceful wrought-iron balconies.

This evening, enjoy a Secret Italia Signature Travel as a Local Experience with dinner in the home of our dear friend Sofia, who will welcome you into her kitchen for a hands-on cooking class. Prepare and share traditional Portuguese dishes together, an experience filled with warmth, laughter, and authentic hospitality.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included, lunch on your own

Accommodation: Overnight in Evora

The road north unfolds through the heart of Portugal, leading first to the enchanting walled town of Óbidos. Wander its cobbled lanes lined with whitewashed houses and flowering balconies, and take in the view of the medieval fortress that crowns the hilltop. Continue to Coimbra, a city celebrated for its centuries of scholarship and home to one of the oldest universities in the world. Explore the thirteenth-century campus and its UNESCO-listed library, where thousands of ancient volumes fill gilded halls beneath painted ceilings. Later in the day, travel onward to the Douro Valley, where you will spend the next two nights at a central hotel. Dinner this evening is included at a restaurant featuring regional specialties.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included, lunch on your own

Accommodation: Overnight in Guimaraes

Journey through the heart of the Porto wine region, where the Douro Valley’s terraced vineyards create one of the most captivating landscapes in the world. Begin with a visit to the elegant Mateus Palace, an eighteenth-century masterpiece designed by the Italian architect Nicolau Nazoni. Surrounded by manicured gardens, shaded paths, and graceful sculptures, the palace remains privately owned by its founding family. Continue to a traditional Portuguese quinta, or country estate, for lunch paired with local wines and the warmth of genuine hospitality. In the afternoon, relax aboard a private rabelo boat for a scenic cruise along the Douro River, sailing past vine-covered hills and peaceful villages reflected in the water. The day concludes in Guimaraes, where the evening is yours to explore at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast and lunch included, dinner on your own

Accommodation: Overnight in Guimaraes

Begin the day in Guimarães, the first capital of Portugal and the birthplace of its founding king. This captivating city, often called the cradle of the nation, invites you to wander its beautifully preserved medieval streets and squares, each corner echoing centuries of history. Visit the impressive Guimarães Castle, an imposing medieval stronghold that rises 92 feet above the city and remains one of Portugal’s most iconic monuments. After time at leisure for lunch, continue to Braga to visit the magnificent Bom Jesus Sanctuary, a masterpiece of Baroque design. Its monumental stairway, adorned with fountains, statues, and intricate chapels, leads to sweeping views over the surrounding countryside. In the evening, travel south to Porto, where you will settle in for the next three nights at a central hotel.

Meals: Breakfast included, lunch and dinner on your own

Accommodation: Overnight in Porto

This morning, discover one of Portugal’s hidden gems, the seaside town of Aveiro, often called the “Venice of Portugal.” Glide through its canal-lined streets aboard a colorful moliceiro boat and admire the pastel façades that mirror the water’s calm reflections. Continue to the nearby Praia da Costa Nova, known for its charming striped beach houses and sweeping views of the Atlantic. Return to Porto for a leisurely afternoon, with time to stroll the riverside promenade or relax in one of the city’s elegant cafés. In the evening, experience one of the three Fs that define Portuguese culture, Fado, Fátima, and Futebol, with an intimate live Fado performance. The soulful melodies of this traditional music capture the longing and passion that lie at the heart of Portugal.

Meals: Breakfast included, lunch and dinner on your own

Accommodation: Overnight in Porto

Set out on a guided walking tour of Porto, Portugal’s captivating second city, celebrated for its riverfront beauty and world-renowned Port wine. Stroll through the historic Ribeira district, where colorful houses line the Douro River, and visit architectural treasures such as the Stock Exchange Palace and the richly gilded Church of São Francisco. Continue across the river to Vila Nova de Gaia for a visit and tasting at one of the city’s traditional Port wine cellars. The afternoon is yours to explore Porto at leisure. Wander through the lively Mercado do Bolhão, browse the elegant bookshop of Livraria Lello, or simply enjoy the city’s vibrant charm. This evening, gather with your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner accompanied by fine local wine, celebrating the unforgettable journey through Portugal.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included, lunch on your own

Accommodation: Overnight in Porto

After breakfast, it is time to bid farewell to Portugal, a country that has shared its beauty, traditions, and generous spirit at every turn. Transfers are provided to the Porto airport or train station for your journey home. As you leave the cobbled streets, vineyards, and golden shores behind, carry with you the memories of a land rich in history and heart, and the promise of returning again one day.