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Worldwide Escorted Bus Tours & River Cruises
Portugal In Depth
This vacation shows you all of Portugal without any rush, thanks to the well-planned 2-night stopovers in Lisbon, Oporto, and the Algarve. Start and end in Lisbon, and see the interior and almost the entire coastline of Portugal. Guided sightseeing tours in Lisbon, Oporto, and Evora allow you to see many of the must-see sights, including Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon. Built in 1502 and now regarded as Lisbon’s most important landmark, it was traditional for Portuguese seafarers to pray in the chapel before their departure to the unknown. In Evora, visit the Ossuary Chapel, with its walls covered with thousands of human bones and skulls. Enjoy the Roman ruins of Conimbriga, tour the excavations, view the well-preserved mosaics, and visit the excellent museum. Spend time in the Algarve, Portugal’s most popular vacation area, where you can relax and explore this beautiful resort at your own pace. For those interested in food and wine, you’ll have an opportunity to enjoy an olive oil tasting in Belmonte and a wine tasting at a port wine cellar in Oporto.All of this and much more await you on this wonderful vacation to Portugal—a trip of a lifetime!At Globus, we design our journeys around the stories that they will tell. What story will you discover next?
Highlights:
Itinerary:
| Day #1 |
Arrive in Lisbon, Portugal. Free time to rest or start exploring the Portuguese capital. At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D) |
| Day #2 |
Lisbon. Lisbon was the center of Europe’s longest-lived overseas empire. Portugal’s imperial ambitions date back to Prince Henry the Navigator’s 15th-century discoveries in West Africa. Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide features a drive through the Baxia quarter’s main squares. Then, enjoy a walk through the cobbled alleys of quaint ALFAMA, the quarter of the seamen. Drive past the Bull Ring to Pombal Statue and along the grand Avenida da Liberdade. Stop for pictures of Belem Tower, guarding the mouth of the Tagus, and visit JERONIMOS MONASTERY with the tomb of Vasco da Gama. Afternoon and evening at leisure. Exciting optional excursions to the royal palace of Sintra and dinner at a typical taverna with Fado-style entertainment are available. (B) |
| Day #3 |
Lisbon–Obidos–Alcobaça–Nazaré–Fatima–Tomar. First stop on your northbound journey is medieval Obidos. Go back in time as you pass the main gate in the impressive perimeter wall and walk along the narrow streets. Continue to Alcobaça to visit the CHURCH OF SANTA MARIA MONASTERY, built in the 12th century for 999 Cistercian monks. See the elaborate tombs of King Pedro I and his Castilian lover, Inês de Castro, and hear how she was murdered at the order of Pedro’s father. The fishing harbor of Nazaré is the perfect place for a leisurely lunch break. In the afternoon, mix with the pilgrims at the country’s hallowed national shrine, Fatima’s SANCTUARY OF OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY. Overnight in Tomar, the historic seat of the mighty Order of the Knights of Christ. (B,D) |
| Day #4 |
Tomar–Conimbriga–Coimbra–Oporto. Visit the hilltop CONVENT OF CHRIST with its famous Manueline Window. Further north, the ROMAN RUINS OF CONIMBRIGA are eloquent testimony to centuries of Roman influence. Tour the excavations, view the well-preserved mosaics, and visit the excellent MUSEUM. Continue to Coimbra, strategically situated on a hill overlooking the Mondego River. After a visit to the gilded baroque LIBRARY of its 700-year-old university, drive through the ancient BUÇACO FOREST on your way to Oporto, Portugal’s second-largest city. Tonight, why not join an optional dinner at one of Oporto’s fine restaurants? (B) |
| Day #5 |
Oporto. Sightseeing with a Local Guide includes a panoramic drive to the mouth of the Douro River, the soaring cathedral, the richly decorated CHURCH OF SAO FRANCISCO, and the STOCK EXCHANGE with its contemporary ARABIAN HALL inspired by Granada’s Alhambra. Next, visit a PORT WINE CELLAR where the famous wine produced from grapes of the Douro Valley is aged in huge vats. Afternoon at leisure. (B,D) |
| Day #6 |
Oporto–Vila Real–Viseu. Head inland to Guimaraes, often referred to as the “Cradle of Portugal” because of its association with the country’s first king, Alfonso Henriques. Next is Vila Real, former capital of Portugal’s northeastern region of Trás-os-Montes. Just outside the town, visit the splendid park and manor of PALACIO DE MATEUS, whose picture graces the label of the excellent Mateus rosé wine. From here, a scenic road through the Port wine vineyards leads to Viseu, believed to have been the home of Lusitanian leader Viriate, who resisted the Roman conquest. (B,D) |
| Day #7 |
Viseu–Belmonte–Evora. This morning, your first stop is in Belmonte, today a symbol of Jewish awakening, and visit the JEWISH MUSEUM. Also enjoy an OLIVE OIL TASTING. Afternoon break in Castelo de Vide, an enchanting small town. Time to walk through the Jewish Quarter with its white-washed houses and to take pictures of the 14th-century castle. Continue to Evora, the cultural center of southern Portugal and a former royal residence. (B,D) |
| Day #8 |
Evora–Algarve. A massive wall surrounds Evora’s medieval center, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Follow your Local Guide on a walking tour through its narrow alleys to the Roman Temple, the early gothic CATHEDRAL, Portas de Moura Fountain, and SAO FRANCISCO CHURCH. Visit the OSSUARY CHAPEL, whose walls are covered with thousands of human bones and skulls. Next, proceed across the arid Alentejo plain to the Algarve, Portugal’s most popular vacation area. Tonight, why not try one of the seafood restaurants for which the Algarve is famous? (B) |
| Day #9 |
Algarve Excursion. Today you may prefer to relax, explore this beautiful resort at your own pace, or join the included excursion along the enchanting southern coastline. History comes alive as you reach the wind-swept PROMONTORY OF SAGRES, where Henry the Navigator lived and planned his overseas expansion. Only a few miles away is Cape St. Vincent, the southwestern corner of continental Europe, a dramatic cliff defying the waves of an ever-angry Atlantic Ocean. Time in pretty Lagos before returning to your hotel. (B,D) |
| Day #10 |
Algarve–Lisbon. Take the scenic route over the Serra da Arrábida and savor sweeping views of the Tróia Peninsula. Catch glimpses of the castle at Sesimbra, which recall fierce medieval battles between Christians and Moors. After crossing the Bridge of April 25th, you’re back in Lisbon for the last evening of an exciting touring adventure. (B) |
| Day #11 |
Lisbon. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B) |
Hotels:
Lisbon Mundial (F), Tomar Dos Templarios (F), Oporto Dom Henrique (F), Viseu Grao Vasco (F), Evora Albergaria Vitoria (F), Algarve Tivoli Carvoeiro (F) at Carvoeiro
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Pricing Options:
| Depart US | Land-Only |
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| 03/22/2011 | $1,539.00 | | 04/05/2011 | $1,549.00 | | 04/19/2011 | $1,549.00 | | 05/03/2011 | $1,549.00 | | 05/17/2011 | $1,549.00 | | 05/31/2011 | $1,569.00 | | 06/14/2011 | $1,569.00 | | 07/05/2011 | $1,549.00 | | 07/19/2011 | $1,529.00 | | 08/02/2011 | $1,529.00 | | 08/16/2011 | $1,549.00 | | 08/30/2011 | $1,569.00 | | 09/13/2011 | $1,569.00 | | 09/27/2011 | $1,549.00 | | 10/11/2011 | $1,539.00 |
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