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A Journey Through Portugal
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Samantha Weninger
Cumming, GA Travel Agent
Selby Travel Design LLC, an independent agent with Travel Leaders Maple Grove, MN
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DESTINATIONS VISITED:Portugal
PLACES VISITED:Algarve, Evora, Lisbon, Porto, Sintra
SUGGESTED DURATION:10 Days
Portugal is one of Europe's most richly layered destinations. A country where ancient Moorish castles rise above Atlantic-battered cliffs, where fado drifts through narrow cobbled laneways after dark, and where the world's finest port wine matures in cool riverside lodges. This ten-day itinerary moves from the luminous, hilly capital of Lisbon southward to the sun-scorched plains of the Alentejo, then north through the dramatic vine-terraced gorges of the Douro Valley before arriving in Porto, its more industrial, blue-tiled, deeply romantic northern counterpart. Along the way you'll taste custard tarts still warm from the oven, ride century-old trams, sail the Tagus at sunset, and sleep within earshot of the Atlantic.
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DAY1
Lisbon
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Alfama and Fado
Start the afternoon at Castelo de São Jorge, a hilltop Moorish castle offering sweeping views over the city's terracotta rooftops and the shimmering Tagus below. As the day winds down, wander into the Alfama Quarter. A labyrinth of medieval lanes lined with azulejo-tiled facades, leading past the city's oldest cathedral, the Sé de Lisboa. Make your way to Miradouro das Portas do Sol just in time for sunset, where golden light dissolves over the river from one of Lisbon's most beloved viewpoints. End the evening by settling into a local tasca in Alfama for grilled fish, red wine, and live fado; the mournful, beautiful soul music of Portugal.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Castelo de São Jorge
DAY2
Lisbon
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Belém, Pastéis and the Waterfront
Begin the morning at the Jerónimos Monastery, where the staggering Manueline stonework of this 16th-century UNESCO World Heritage site stands as Portugal's greatest architectural triumph. Just a short walk away, join the queue at Pastéis de Belém. The original bakery that has been crafting the iconic pastel de nata since 1837, serving them warm, custard-filled, and dusted with cinnamon. At noon, stroll along the riverfront to the Torre de Belém, a Manueline gem that once stood guard over the mouth of the Tagus. Spend the afternoon at LX Factory, a vibrant reimagined industrial complex brimming with independent shops, creative studios, and exceptional restaurants.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Pastéis de Belém
DAY3
Sintra
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Palaces in the Mist on the hillside of Sintra
Start the morning at Pena Palace, a brightly coloured Romantic palace painted in yellow and red, set high on the hillsides above Sintra. From there, head to the Moorish Castle, where the 9th-century ramparts offer wide views over Sintra village and the Atlantic coast. In the afternoon, visit Quinta da Regaleira, an interesting estate featuring spiral wells, underground tunnels, and Templar symbolism throughout. End the day at Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of continental Europe, where the land meets the Atlantic Ocean.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Pena Palace
DAY4
Evora
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Roman Ruins and Alentejo Plains
Start the morning at the Roman Temple of Évora, a well-preserved 1st-century structure with Corinthian columns in the center of the city. From there, visit the Chapel of Bones, a Franciscan chapel where the walls are lined with the skulls and bones of over 5,000 monks. In the afternoon, head to the Cathedral of Évora, Portugal's largest medieval cathedral, where the rooftop offers views over the Alentejo plains. End the day with dinner featuring slow-roasted black pork and a glass of local Alentejo red wine.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Cathedral of Évora
DAY5
Portugal
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Arriving in Douro
Head north in the morning through Portugal's interior, where the landscape gradually shifts from Alentejo cork trees to the schist terraces and steep river gorges of the Douro Valley. In the afternoon, stop at Quinta da Crasto, one of the valley's most scenic wine estates, for a tour of the terraced vineyards and a tasting of local Douro reds. As the day winds down, make your way to Miradouro de São Leonardo de Galafura, a hilltop viewpoint with wide views over the valley. End the evening with dinner on the banks of the Douro, with grilled bacalhau and a glass of local wine as the valley quiets down for the night.
HIGHLIGHTS:
The drive along the N222 from Régua to Pinhão is frequently voted Europe's most scenic road.
DAY6
Portugal
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Douro by Boat and Vintage Quinta
Start the morning with a cruise along the river on a traditional rabelo boat, the same flat-bottomed vessels that were once used to carry port wine barrels down to Porto. At midday, sit down for a four-course harvest-table lunch at Quinta do Crasto, with the terraced vineyards and the river laid out below. In the afternoon, tour a historic quinta to see the granite pressing lagares up close and taste the difference between a tawny and a late-bottled vintage port. End the day in Pinhão village, where the train station platform is covered in azulejo tiles depicting grape harvest scenes.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Rabelo boat cruise
DAY7
Porto
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Ribeira and the Cellars
Begin the morning with a walk through Porto's Ribeira district, the UNESCO-listed medieval waterfront with its worn facades, laundry lines, and river light. From there, stop into Livraria Lello, a neo-Gothic bookshop known for its crimson staircase and stained glass ceiling. In the afternoon, cross the Dom Luís I Bridge on foot to Vila Nova de Gaia, where port lodges like Graham's and Taylor's offer cellar tours and tastings of aged tawnies. End the day back at Cais da Ribeira with a glass of white port and tonic on a terrace overlooking the bridge as the evening light settles over the river.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Livraria Lello
DAY8
Porto
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Tiles, Towers and Tastes
Start the morning by climbing the 240 steps of the Clérigos Tower, a baroque granite tower with views over Porto's tiled rooftops and the Douro below. A short walk away, São Bento Station is worth a look inside, where the entrance hall walls are covered in 20,000 azulejo tiles depicting scenes from Portuguese history. Spend the afternoon wandering through the Bonfim and Baixa neighborhoods, where you'll find street art, independent bakeries, and streets lined with weathered tile facades. End the evening with dinner and a francesinha, Porto's signature dish of a thick meat and cheese sandwich smothered in a spiced beer and tomato sauce.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Clérigos Tower
DAY9
Algarve
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Cliffs and Seas
Start the day by flying from Porto to Faro, a short one-hour flight, or for those with more time, take the scenic drive south through the Alentejo. In the afternoon, head to Ponta da Piedade in Lagos, where a clifftop path winds above golden sea stacks and some of the most striking coastline in Western Europe. From there, make your way down to Praia de Dona Ana, a sheltered sandy cove framed by ochre limestone cliffs, for a late afternoon swim in the clear Atlantic. End the evening in Lagos old town, where the whitewashed lanes are a good spot for dinner with grilled sea bass and percebes.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Ponta da Piedade in Lagos
DAY10
Algarve
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Sagres, Sunset and Farewells
Start the morning at Sagres Fortress, a windswept promontory where Henry the Navigator once planned the voyages of the Age of Discovery. Around midday, head to Praia do Martinhal for a relaxed few hours on one of the Algarve's most unspoilt beaches, with clear turquoise water and few crowds. In the afternoon, make your way to Cabo de São Vicente, Europe's most south-westerly point, where the cliffs drop down to the Atlantic below. End the trip by watching the sun set into the Atlantic from Sagres before heading to Faro for your flight home.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Sagres Fortress
FINAL THOUGHTS
Portugal has a way of staying with you long after you've left. It's not a country that dazzles with relentless spectacle.. its magic is quieter, slower to reveal itself.