Gardens in Guimaraes, Portugal

7-Day Portugal History & Culture Itinerary

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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, Evora, Obidos, Alcobaca...

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Suggested Duration

7 Days

History breathes along Portugal’s cobbled streets, and secrets whisper from ancient city walls, telling of the Knights Templar and old explorers. Traditional districts immerse you in medieval eras while an old-world culture lives on in places like Obidos, Alcobaca, Guimaraes, and Batalha. Handcrafted to include all of Portugal’s most important and historic sites and cities, this seven-day tour is a celebration of the country’s past, taking you on a one-way journey from Lisbon to Porto.

Customizable Itinerary

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Trip Highlights

  • Explore 2,000 years of legacies during a day in Evora where a Roman temple juxtaposes the Chapel of Bones
  • Discover the grandeur of old-world Lisbon, including Belem and the palaces of Sintra
  • Marvel at the incredible monasteries of Alcobaca and Batalha
  • Surround yourself with azulejo tiles in the blue city of Porto
  • See what remains of the final Templar Knights town with a trip to Tomar
  • Wander the cobblestone streets of Obidos and listen to its fortress tales
  • Experience the haunting beauty of a Fado performance
  • Partake in a journey to Portugal’s origins by exploring Braga and Guimaraes

Detailed Description

Skeletons create a spooky atmosphere in Evora’s Chapel of Bones. Tales of the Knights Templar fill Tomar’s Convent of Christ. Magnificent azulejo tiles create mosaics inside Porto’s famous old buildings. Imposing UNESCO World Heritage monasteries stand proudly in Alcobaca and Batalha. Welcome to Portugal, a country that is studded with spectacular sights, and a place that leads you from the sublime to the surreal. Yet, for all the architectural and artistic grandeur, the highlight of Portugal does not just lie in the sights. This is a country where the historical cities have preserved both their appearance and atmosphere, so you will not go on a historical tour to see the sights, you will go on a tour that lives out the history.

Connecting Portugal’s most important old cities, this seven-day tour focuses on local history and culture. You will see the country’s origins, its querulous past, and its grand collection of monasteries, markets, castles, and churches. However, most impressively, you will see how the sights are never standalone. In every city you are transported back in time, feeling what it must have been like in the 12th or 17th centuries. By staying inside the old-world areas you will be away from vehicles and modernity, living and dining on the past. Expert guides ensure you hear tales that whisper from the walls with their local specialism to ensure that nothing is missed.

Most of Portugal’s history is found in the northern half of the country between Lisbon and Porto. The country’s origins are actually north of Porto, in the Minho region, which is saved for the final day of this private tour. Although this seven day includes 13 different destinations, the distances are relatively short as you follow a route that is not much different from the ones that were taken by explorers during the 15th century. By connecting different regions, you will get a feel for the country’s local nuance in addition to the local ambiance that rests along the streets. During these seven days, you will find Portugal to be a country where so much of the history must be experienced rather than read about. While history is not as well known as neighboring Spain, it is one you can really feel.

You will begin with two nights in Lisbon where a Fado performance will provide a cultural welcome on the evening of day one. Connect the hills with a private tour of Lisbon on day two, from the grandeur of Belem through bohemian Alfama, and then out to the palaces of Sintra. Travel into the Alentejo region on day three where the old city of Evora takes you on a journey from Roman roots to a Chapel of Bones and Portugal’s most impressive cathedral. Like each night on this tour, you will find the city’s central square to be a relaxed place to spend the evening, immersing you in another time.

Days four and five are busy, hopping between old cities in the heart of Portugal. Wander the cobblestone streets of Obidos before exploring the vast monastery complexes of Alcobaca and Batalha. Check out the peculiar atmosphere in Fatima before getting to know the last city of the Templar Knights: Tomar. Early medieval grandeur is the highlight of Coimbra while in Porto you will find beauty in everything. On day six, you explore the best of Porto while on day seven you take a short trip to Braga and Guimaraes, which are the country’s oldest cities. There will be no need to retrace your steps back to Lisbon as Porto has an international airport for your outbound flight. Make sure your perfect Portugal vacation is an unforgettable one by seeing additional Portugal travel ideas.

Starting Price

$1,815 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

4.93 stars based on 1022 reviews.

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

Reviewed By Nancy H.

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"I loved everything, from planning my trip to the great...

Reviewed By NANCY G.

Portugal Tour Review: Lisbon, Sintra, Porto, Obidos, Tomar,...
"The travel agency was fantastic."

Reviewed By Neil O.

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

Reviewed By April M.

Portugal Luxury Trip Review: Lisbon, Porto, Douro River...
"I would rate this as one of our best family vacations –...

Reviewed By George T.

Portugal Tour Review: Porto, Lisbon, Algarve, Tomar, Obidos,...
"Thank you Filomena for the best trip."

Reviewed By Gayle L.

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