Day 01 - Arrival Porto
11:45 Arrive Porto Airport. Meet in the arrivals hall for private transfer to the hotel. Once you have gone through immigration/customs and collected luggage from the baggage carousel, you then enter into the arrivals hall. Please look out for a sign with your name on it to recognize the private transfer driver waiting to meet you.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 02 - HD Private Porto Historical Walking Tour
09:00 Meet at the hotel to begin half-day morning Porto Historical Walking Tour. Tour guide, English-speaking, half-day morning, 09:00-12:00. Skip-the-line Lello Bookshop tickets.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 03 - HD Quinta da Aveleda Tour
10:15 Meet at the hotel with the private English-speaking tourism driver and depart to Quinta da Aveleda, Portugal's largest Vinho Verde exporter. The history of this wine estate is lost in time, but there are records of it after the 16th century. The first bottled wine sale records date back to 1870.
A trip to Quinta da Aveleda is more than a visit to the beautiful vineyards which produce one of the best sold Vinhos Verdes worldwide. To enter is to journey back in time to the traditional Minho families who lived in the region's typical manor houses. In the gardens one can enjoy rich and exotic flora and, in the area devoted to agriculture, the old kitchen, the coach house and threshing floor are the most important constructions. There are also romantic style buildings among which stand out the House of Reboleira (whose window is a National Monument), the Tea House and the Four Sisters Fountain.
A visit into the cellar allows one to witness the Aveleda bottling process. The tour ends with a wine tasting and tasting of cheese produced in the artisanal cheese dairy of the farm, and a lunch in the property. End of day with arrival back to the hotel in Porto around 16:30-17:00.
A/c tour vehicle with English-speaking tourism-driver for the transfers to & from Quinta da Aveleda. Shared visit with green wine tasting (2 wines) pairing with cheeses + 3-course menu lunch with 3-wine pairings at Quinta da Aveleda.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 04 - Free day at leisure in Porto
Breakfast at the hotel with the day & evening free at leisure to relax / explore around on your own.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 05 - Transfer Porto-Coimbra-Lisbon + guided visit of Coimbra
09:00 Meet at the hotel with the private English-speaking tourism driver and depart to Coimbra, famous for its University, the oldest in Portugal and one of the oldest in Europe, which over time has shaped its image to become "the city of students".
On arrival meet with the private guide and begin visit of the university founded in the XIII Century and which UNESCO has placed on its list of World Heritage sites. There is much to see: the Pátio das Escolas courtyard; the Sala dos Capelos hall where the most important ceremonies are held; the Chapel of São Miguel with an imposing Baroque organ and the Joanine Library, which has more than 300,000 works dating from the 16th to 18th centuries arranged in gilt-covered bookcases. The buildings occupy the place of the Palace where the first Kings of Portugal lived, when they made the city the capital of the kingdom.
Several monuments from those times display the splendor of Romanesque art. In the shopping area and area of historic cafés in the city centre, visitors must see the Monastery of Santa Cruz, which houses the tomb of the first King of Portugal, Afonso Henriques, and on the other bank, the Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha, recovered and rescued from the waters of the river that invaded it over the centuries. The Old Cathedral, too, on whose steps the monumental serenade takes place in which students dressed in black capes sing the Coimbra Fado with heartfelt emotion.
After the visit, transfer from Coimbra on to the hotel in Lisbon. Check-in with evening free at leisure.
A/c tour vehicle with English-speaking tourism-driver for the transport from Porto to Lisbon via Coimbra. On-site local English-speaking tour guide to the visit of Coimbra including the University. Coimbra University entrance fee.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 06 - FD Private Lisbon Tour with Gulbenkian & Tile Museum
09:00 Meet at the hotel with your private guide & driver and begin your tour of Lisbon. See the monument to the fallen of WW1 in Liberty Avenue and take it to Restauradores Square, dedicated to the restoration of the independence of Portugal in 1640. Visit the heart of the city, Rossio Square, then spend some time in Alfama, the Old Quarter.
See the Lisbon Cathedral, with history dating back to the 12th century, admire views of St. George's Castle, a Moorish fortification, while catching a stunning panorama over the city from the Miradouro da Senhora do Monte lookout. You will then depart to Belém, the city's most monumental and historical area where you will visit the Patrimony of Mankind Jerónimos Monastery, and Belém Tower. Visit the Monument to the Discoveries, celebrating the Portuguese who took part in the Age of Discovery.
End of the day tour approx 17:00 with arrival back to the hotel, evening is free at leisure.
A/c tour vehicle with English-speaking tourism-driver for the noted sightseeing route, full day. English-speaking tour guide, full day. Entrance fees for Gulbenkian and Tile Museum.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 07 - FD Private Templar Tomar Tour
09:00 Meet at the hotel with your private guide & driver and embark on an extraordinary journey through time and discover the spellbinding history of the Knights Templar. Head to the quaint and charming villages of Constância and Tomar where you will delve into the legacy of the holy order of warrior monks. Prepare to explore a treasure trove of historic castles and convents that have withstood the test of time.
Tomar, once the capital of the Templars in Portugal and Spain, was considered one of the most significant cities in the medieval world. The Tomar Convent, a UNESCO World Heritage site, will leave you breathless with its enchanting beauty. The castle area, including the awe-inspiring Convent of Christ, beckons you with exquisite examples of the Manueline style.
Just a short distance away from Tomar, lies the legendary Almourol Castle. This emblematic monument, once under the control of the Knights Templar, is a small fortress situated in the middle of an island in the river Tagus. The Almourol Castle and the city of Tomar offer a perfect opportunity to understand the mystique of the Templars, revered as Warrior Knights and monks, living under rigorous military discipline, but with an unwavering dedication to their spiritual lives.
The Tomar Synagogue is a very rare example of a medieval Jewish temple and of pre-Renaissance Portuguese art, and is the only one of its kind from this period to have been fully preserved in Portugal. It was built in the mid-15th century specifically for religious purposes, evidence of the financial resources of the resident Jewish community and its power and prosperity.
Finally, visit the Templar Interpretation Center in Barquinha. This fascinating museum will provide further insights into the captivating history of the Knights Templar. Your journey ends approx 17:00 with arrival back to the hotel in Lisbon, evening free at leisure.
A/c tour vehicle with English-speaking tourism-driver for the noted sightseeing route, full day. English-speaking tour guide, full day. Entrance fees for Convent of Christ + Almourol Castle + Tomar Synagogue + Templar Interpretation Center.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 08 - FD Private Sintra, Cabo da Roca and Cascais Tour
09:00 Meet at the hotel with your private guide & driver and depart on a scenic coastal drive, spotting several sandy beaches hidden within the cliffs, protected by the 17th century fortresses along the coast.
Arrive to the resort town of Estoril, famous as the home of the Casino Estoril and Hotel Palácio, known rendezvous points for WWII spies and their handlers, while Portugal remained politically neutral. Take a stroll on the Tamariz Beach promenade, admiring the 17th century Forte da Cruz castle, set behind a backdrop of palm trees.
Continue on to Cascais, a small fishing village turned luxurious resort town on the Portugal Riviera. Passing through its animated town center you'll find a cosmopolitan life side by side with stunning Atlantic beaches.
Afterwards, head to Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of continental Europe, where you can gaze out over the Atlantic from the end of the world. Sintra, where hundreds of years of history and culture await, surrounded by lush vegetation. After a short walk in the old city center, find yourself surrounded by the old houses that are now converted into small quaint handicraft shops and traditional pastry shops.
Your day ends approx 16:30 with arrival back to the hotel in Lisbon, evening free at leisure.
A/c tour vehicle with English-speaking tourism-driver for the noted sightseeing route, full day. English-speaking tour guide, full day. Entrance fee for Sintra National Palace.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 09 - HD WWII Tour / Market & Cooking Class
09:00 Meet at the hotel with the English-speaking driver: One traveler will be dropped off first for the Market & Cooking Class activity; the other will continue for the half-day WWII tour. At the end of the WWII tour, travelers will reunite to have lunch together (the meal prepared during the cooking activity).
Market & Cooking Tour: In the company of the chef, visit one of the main markets with emphasis on fish and seafood, without forgetting the quality and freshness of the vegetables. You have complete freedom to choose the menu and its ingredients. You are entitled to a short break for a drink and taste some local delicacies. On the return to the food studio, the chef will explain all about traditional and/or modern recipes, where you will be the main cook. Have a meal full of freshness and flavor, accompanied by great wines. Don't just feast on Portugal's famed cuisine. Learn to cook it during a cooking class that offers deeper insight in local ingredients and culinary culture. Experience the best of Portuguese cuisine during a cooking class!
WWII Tour: Portugal remained neutral in WWII and Lisbon became a rendezvous spot for spies, taking advantage of the city's strategic Atlantic connections. This tour is more about stories about a true "nest of spies", rather than visiting monuments or museums, or bombed quarter (there weren't). During this City of Spies tour, visit a series of places where spies passed through and learn about: The spies' favorite hotels in Lisbon; Refugees and Europe's new fashions; Aristides de Sousa Mendes' solitary combat in Bordeaux; Jewish gold and tungsten smuggling; the most important double spy: Garbo/Arabel and the story of the real James Bond.
A/C tour vehicle with English-speaking tourism-driver. English-speaking tour guide, half day - approx 2.5hrs. Private cooking class.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 10 - Free day at leisure in Lisbon
Breakfast at the hotel with the day & evening free at leisure to relax / explore around on your own.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 11 - Free day at leisure in Lisbon
Breakfast at the hotel with the day & evening free at leisure to relax / explore around on your own.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 12 - Departure from Lisbon
Pickup from the hotel lobby for private transfer to Lisbon Airport and depart on an outbound international flight.