Explore living, breathing UNESCO World Heritage Sites, a dozen of them visited on this 11-day Portugal private tour with an expert historical guide. Portugal’s World Heritage Sites are dreamy and distinctive, unusual and unconnected from what you will find elsewhere in Europe. A garrison town, a ceramic-inspired cobbled city, charming rows of vines, inimitable Gothic monasteries, Paleolithic art and you will only just be getting started.
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Lisbon – The Gregarious Welcome of the Historical City
Lisbon is always quick to showcase the inimitability of Portugal. Every neighborhood has a different feel, and every street is entirely distinctive, from the grand avenues near Baixa to the narrow cobbled lanes in Bairro Alto. Everywhere you turn, you will find history that comes into the present in a different way. You will be met at the airport, and it will be a short transfer to your boutique hotel in the heart of the city. The rest of the day will be at your leisure, and Lisbon is a delightful city to wander without a map. For a more complete insight into the neighborhoods, you can take the yellow tramcar 28 across the hills.
What's Included:
Day 2
Lisbon – Emblems of Belem: Jeronimos Monastery and Belem Tower
Day 3
Porto – Extravagant Gothic Architecture of Portugal
Day 4
Porto – The Historical Center of Oporto
Day 5
Porto – Exploring The City of Churches and Medieval Guimaraes
Day 6
Douro Wine Region – Charm and Seduction of the Douro River Landscape
Day 7
Douro Wine Region – Prehistoric Rock Art in the Coa Valley and More Enduring Douro Landscapes
Day 8
Tomar – World Heritage University of Coimbra and the Last Templar Town
Day 9
Cascais – Enchantment of Ancient Sintra and the Western Edge of Europe
Day 10
Lisbon – Day Trip to the Delights of Alentejo
Day 11
Lisbon – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Admire the grandeur of Belem, a Lisbon district where two World Heritage Sites stand evocatively against the Tagus River
- Discover Portugal’s decadent architecture, the monasteries of Batalha and Alcobaca among the inspiring stops at the beginning of this luxury tour
- Immerse yourself in the historical city centers of Portugal, with a couple of days in Porto and a visit to medieval Guumaraes
- Cruise through the Douro River valley region as you wind through the decadent vineyard slopes and the charms of the past with evenings spent at villages in the region
- Travel further back in time in the Coa Valley, where Paleolithic rock art illustrates the age of Europe
- Wander through the last Templar town, Tomar, and admire the beauty of one of the world’s oldest universities, Coimbra
- Traverse the enchanting valleys of Alentejo with a stop to discover the cobbled town of Evora and the old garrison town of Elvas, both UNESCO World Heritage sites
- Travel alongside a private guide, an expert in Portuguese history that will add exhaustive insight to the living World Heritage sites
Detailed Description
There are now more than a thousand World Heritage sites that are beacons of our planet’s illustrious and creative past. Few feel as alive as those in Portugal as dotted around the edge of the Iberian Peninsula, the Portuguese World Heritage sites are not museum pieces, but rather breathing parts of a country and a culture. You will be whisked away and into their atmosphere to be immersed in an old glory that continues to shape the present. Porto’s center, where footsteps echo beneath blue ceramic tiles and the scent of sweet wine emanates from the alleyways. Belem Tower, not merely a reminder of Vasco de Gama’s expedition but an inspiration for the city of Lisbon throughout its troubles and challenges. The Palace of the Town of Sintra, crafted before the Moors then elaborated by the Portuguese Crown, a symbol of centuries and styles blurring together.
Handpicking a dozen of the finest World Heritage sites in Portugal, this 11-day private tour celebrates the history of Portugal and its influence on the present. Travel alongside an expert local guide as you hop between the legacies, from historical towns on the hills to 18th-century vineyards in the Alto Douro, Paleolithic rock art to what the Templars left behind. Each of the sites comes from a different century, reflecting a national history that is full of complication and captivation, and by connecting such varied destinations, you will get a sense of why and how Portugal is so distinct from the rest of Europe.
Fly into Lisbon, a glorious capital city that is quick to provide a gregarious welcome. Your first World Heritage sites are Belem Tower and Jeronimos Monastery, some of the only remnants in the city to survive the 18th-century earthquake. Travel north a couple of days later to find extravagant Gothic architecture is the centerpiece of the towns you visit. You will have several nights in World Heritage Porto for a day dedicated to the architecture and the ambiance of the city and a day trip to the medieval charm that dominates the far north of the country.
Seductive and serene, the Douro Valley is the perfect interlude to exploration. Relax in the villages, go tasting at 18th-century vineyards, and lose yourself in the atmosphere of tradition. The Alto Douro Wine Region is a World Heritage site as is the Paleolithic rock art in the close by Cao Valley. Travel south next on an inland route past one of the world’s oldest university towns and the final Templar town in Portugal. Sintra’s cultural landscape of palaces and cobbles is your next destination, followed by the westernmost point of continental Europe and a regal seaside town from the 19th century. This will leave time to cross the barren and beautiful plains of Alentejo, where the World Heritage cities of Elvas and Evora are emblematic of Portugal as both are packed with soul and style. Begin planning your dream Portugal tour by connecting with one of our luxury Portugal travel agencies.
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.
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