Monument of the Discoveries in Lisbon Portugal

Historical and Cultural Tour of Portugal

Ratings of Zicasso's Service
Customizable Itinerary

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

Countries Visited

Portugal

Places Visited

Lisbon, Belem, Baixa, Belem Tower...

See all

Suggested Duration

11 Days

Portugal’s history is a canvas of legends and icons. Its culture is a patchwork of distinctive styles, medieval walled cities, and fado music. Discover Templar Knights, villages crafted from marble, and cities adorned in blue tiles. This 11-day in-depth tour celebrates all the heritage, using art, architecture, and atmosphere to narrate a 2,000-year-long tale. It includes three nights each in Lisbon and Porto, plus four nights discovering the idiosyncratic wonders of the backcountry.

Customizable Itinerary

Expand All

Trip Highlights

  • Trace the lines of Lisbon’s history with a private tour through the capital city where art and architecture narrate the story
  • Feel the atmosphere of a Fado music performance, Portugal’s national art form best experienced in the old Lisbon district of Alfama
  • Immerse yourself in the cities of the Old World, spending one night in 2,000-year-old Evora, and one in hilltop Marvao
  • Celebrate the unique architecture of Portugal, with expertly guided stops at iconic sites like Batalha Monastery, the castle in Tomar, and Coimbra University
  • Discover the many legends of the country’s history, including the Templar Knights and the mystique of Coimbra
  • Travel through the forgotten dames of Portugal’s proud tradition, including the marble towns of Alentejo and the wonderful walled village of Obidos
  • Relax in the beautiful World Heritage city of Porto, where three days offer plenty of time to soak up its style
  • Explore the distinctive style of Northern Portugal, from the old cities of Braga and Guimaraes to the vineyards of the Douro Valley.

Detailed Description

Every country’s history is rare and unusual. Portugal is more distinctive than most. From the order of the Templar Knights to Manueline architecture, and towns built from marble to ceramic mosaics that have survived the centuries. History and culture mingle seamlessly on this part of the Iberian Peninsula, and legendary tales are part of the storyline, whether at a palace in Sintra or a vineyard in the Douro Valley. Artistic forms provide a narrative in many destinations, like a fado performance in Lisbon’s Alfama district or the building style found in the Alentejo region. As you travel around Portugal on a handcrafted tour, you find that history and culture are not elements of the past, but immersive aspects of everyday life.

This is a country that lives and breathes tradition, a nation that makes heritage part of today. On this unique tour, you will follow the contrasting storylines, exploring the intrinsic link between Portuguese history and culture. Private guides aid the discovery, their expertise enabling you to uncover the contradiction that is so prevalent in every historical tale. Live performances allow you to experience traditional forms of culture, while the relatively relaxed pace gives plenty of time to feel what Portugal is all about.

Your 11-day route has been handcrafted to celebrate unique chapters in the country’s history and culture. It is also designed to mix leisurely time in the two major cities, Lisbon and Porto, with an expedition through the backcountry and the forgotten dames of Portugal’s past. You will travel with a number of different guides, their localized knowledge essential to your understanding. And you will experience culture through the everyday lives of the locals, each region having its own food, wine, ambiance, and art.

Lisbon is an easy starting point, a capital more relaxed than almost any other in Europe. Spend a day using art and architecture to trace the city’s history, then another day admiring the royal heritage and history of Sintra. A fado performance is an iconic expression of musical culture, perfect for completing your three days in the city. Over the next two days, you track the legends of the interior, living out the history in destinations like Evora, Elvas, Marvao, Tomar, Nazare, and Coimbra. You will journey to towns and villages that feel as though they have been untouched for centuries, particularly in the rural region of Alentejo.

Spend three nights in Porto, staying in the heart of a beautiful old city, with day excursions to the Douro Valley and the old northern cities of Braga and Guimaraes. Vineyards, cellars, ceramics, and churches, this northern Minho region is very different from Lisbon and Alentejo. The itinerary leaves time for a day along the coast, stopping at monasteries and walled villages on the edge of Europe. A final night in Obidos leaves you less than one hour from Lisbon for your departing flight.

Starting Price

$3,600 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.

Portugal Vacation Review: Lisbon, Douro Valley, Porto, Algarve,...
"I would recommend Zicasso and their travel agency to any...

Reviewed By Mary R.

Portugal Trip Review: Lisbon, Porto, Obidos, Braga, Sintra,...
“We had a wonderful 11 nt. trip to Portugal…”

Reviewed By Nancy H.

Spain, Portugal Tour Review: Madrid, Seville, Granada, Lisbon,...
"The Zicasso travel agent did a wonderful job! We would...

Reviewed By Kevin E.

Portugal Luxury Trip Review: Lisbon, Sintra, Évora, Braga,...
"As my wife and I found with two previous Zicasso adventures,...

Reviewed By Ted B.

Portugal Trip Review: Lisbon, Porto, Algarve, Sintra, Douro...
"Five stars isn’t a high enough rating! We found this travel...

Reviewed By Howard R.

Portugal Tour Review: Douro Valley, Lisbon, Algarve, Évora,...
"We couldn’t have asked for a better experience. I would...

Reviewed By April M.

Your Dream Vacation

in 3 simple steps

  1. 1

    Describe your dream trip

  2. 2

    Get matched with top travel specialists

  3. 3

    Book the trip

Free service - no credit card required