Tailor-made Portugal: Discover the real country

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Design your own trips to Portugal and turn curiosity into a deeply personal journey. Drive at your own pace to uncover small vineyards, coastal viewpoints, and centuries-old neighborhoods. Choose handpicked, locally run accommodations, arrange private guides for insider stories, and build an itinerary that reflects your interests.

Ready to create an authentic, tailor-made experience that feels uniquely yours? Start shaping your route and book a consultation to craft every meaningful detail.

Discovering Portugal trip highlights

  • Private Lisbon cultural immersion: Explore Lisbon's Alfama and hidden fado venues with a local guide.
  • Sintra palaces and secret gardens: Wander romantic palaces and secret gardens on a customizable day trip.
  • Douro Valley private wine cruise: Sip boutique wines aboard a private boat, tailored to your tastes.
  • Alentejo slow-food and village stays: Enjoy farm-to-table meals and bespoke homestays in Alentejo.
  • Coastal Algarve hidden beaches: Discover secluded coves and tailor-made coastal routes.
DayMorningAfternoonEvening
Day 1Arrive Lisbon; pick up car; explore Alfama and São JorgeBelém: Jerónimos Monastery, Maritime Monument, taste Pastéis de Belém 
Day 2Drive to Sintra; Palácio da Pena visit; Quinta da RegaleiraBoca do Inferno stop; Cascais and Estoril seaside exploration 
Day 3Self-drive via Obidos and Batalha to PortoLunch, guided medieval stroll, ginjinha tasting, Batalha monastery visitArrive Porto: relax, explore riverfront and local cuisine
Day 4Tailored morning walking tour: Lello Library, Porto Cathedral, Clerigos TowerDouro mini-cruise or port tasting in Vila Nova de Gaia 
Day 5Explore Coimbra historic center; Santa Clara Church; University library tourContinue journey to dramatic coastal town Nazaré 
Day 6Drive to Évora; wander UNESCO centre and climb Évora CathedralVisit Elvas fortifications; explore Évora historic centre 
Day 7Self-drive to Sagres and LagosStroll Lagos, browse boutiques, hike to Praia da LuzWatch sunset from lighthouse platform
Day 8Self-drive to Olhao and FaroFaro Old Town stroll; cathedral and museum visits; terrace coffee/wineTerrace relaxation with coffee or wine
Day 9Coffee and pastel de nata, waterfront stroll, quick market stopReturn car; coffee & pastel; waterfront stroll; quick market visit 

Places you'll visit

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Nazaré
NazaréEstremadura and Ribatejo
Porto
PortoPorto and the Rio Douro
See all Portugal places
Day01

Day 1: Lisbon arrival and walking tour

Arrive in Lisbon and pick up your rental car at the airport. Start your travel to Portugal with local recommendations, flexible timing, and authentic experiences to suit your interests.

Explore Alfama and the Castle of Saint George for panoramic city views, then stroll Avenida da Liberdade past the Marques de Pombal to Rossio and Baixa. Lunch at Praça do Comércio. Drive to Belém to visit the Hieronymus monastery and the Maritime Monument, and taste the iconic Pastéis de Belém.

Lisbon city at sunset
Lisbon, Portugal
Day02

Day 2: Sintra, Cascais and Estoril

After breakfast, drive to Sintra to admire the Palácio Nacional da Pena atop the Serra de Sintra. Visit the fairytale castle and wander the ornate rooms to feel 19th-century royal life. For a quieter pace explore Quinta da Regaleira with its gardens and underground tunnels, a magical, offbeat highlight.

On the return, stop at Boca do Inferno, then spend time in Cascais and Estoril. Wander the small fishing port, relax in cafés, and discover coastal views tailored to your tastes. Perfect for a Portugal trip focused on authentic local experiences.

Sintra, Portugal
Luis

Tips from Luis

Portugal Travel Expert

quotes

If you're visiting Óbidos, stay overnight. Most people come on day trips, so by late afternoon, the cobbled streets empty out and you get the medieval town almost to yourself. In Batalha, don’t just see the monastery, ask around for local pastry shops selling pão de ló. It’s a simple sponge cake, but the ones here are next level.

Day03

Day 3: Self-drive via Obidos and Batalha to Porto

Start your day with a scenic drive to Óbidos. Enjoy lunch and a stroll led by a local guide through medieval streets. Sample the famous Ginjinha de Óbidos served in a chocolate cup, and discover artisan shops and romantic stories that inspire tailor-made experiences.

Continue to Batalha to admire the 14th-century Gothic monastery and its intricate stonework. In the early evening, arrive in Porto to relax or explore the riverfront and local cuisine.

Obidos, Portugal
Day04

Day 4: Porto walking tour

After breakfast, dive into Porto with a tailored walking tour, an essential part of any well-rounded Portugal itinerary. Admire Baroque churches in the UNESCO-listed old town, visit the iconic Lello Bookshop, explore Porto Cathedral, and take in the blue-and-white tile hall at São Bento Station.

You'll also see Clérigos Tower, the neoclassical Palácio da Bolsa, and cross the Dom Luís I Bridge, designed by a student of Gustave Eiffel.

After lunch (not included), choose between a 50-minute Douro River mini-cruise aboard a traditional barco rabelo for sweeping city views, or enjoy a Port wine tasting at a historic cellar in Vila Nova de Gaia.

Porto, Portugal
Day05

Day 5: Coimbra and Nazaré

Explore Coimbra’s historic center, the Santa Clara Church, and the University of Coimbra, home to one of the world’s oldest libraries, filled with rare books, manuscripts, and a rich digital archive that brings centuries of Portuguese culture to life. Coimbra easily earns its place among the best places to visit in Portugal, where history and scholarship go hand in hand.

Enjoy lunch at Trovador Restaurant while listening to authentic Coimbra Fado, a local tradition that’s more intimate and haunting than its Lisbon counterpart. In the afternoon, continue your journey to the dramatic coastal town of Nazaré.

Coimbra, Portugal
Day06

Day 6: Évora, Albufeira and Elvas

Drive to Évora and Albufeira. Wander Évora's UNESCO historic center, discover the Roman Temple, the Church of São Francisco, and the evocative Chapel of Bones. Climb up to Évora Cathedral, a granite monument bridging Romanesque and Gothic styles since the 12th century.

Later visit Elvas and its remarkable fortifications, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Tailor-made options include a local guide, wine tasting, or a hands-on cooking class to personalize your Portugal trip and soak up Alentejo charm.

Evora, Portugal
Day07

Day 7: Sagres and Lagos

Drive along the coast to Cabo de São Vicente and Sagres. Stand beside the lighthouse perched on a 60-meter cliff at the edge of Europe, and take in the legacy of Prince Henry the Navigator’s maritime school in Sagres.

If you’re planning a trip to Portugal that mixes dramatic landscapes with history and local charm, this stretch of the Algarve delivers. Watch the sunset from the platform at Cabo de São Vicente, then head to Lagos to stroll past 15th-century fortifications, spot Igreja de Santo António from the outside, and browse the pedestrian-only shopping streets.

Hike the coastal trail to Praia da Luz, explore the sea caves and cliffs of Ponta de Piedade, enjoy lunch on the sand, and unwind under the Atlantic sun.

Sagres, Portugal
Day08

Day 8: Olhão and Faro

Drive to Olhão to browse the lively fish market, wander whitewashed streets, and climb the main church tower for rooftop views over the Ria Formosa, a peaceful nature reserve ideal for birdwatching and island hopping.

Continue to Faro, the Algarve capital, stroll the cobbled Old Town from Arco da Vila to Arco do Repouso, visit the 13th-century cathedral and the Municipal Museum, then relax on a terrace with coffee or wine. 

Church in the Algarve, Portugal
Day09

Day 9: Farewell to Portugal

Take a relaxed final drive and return your rental car at Lisbon or Faro airport. Fit in a last coffee and pastel de nata, a stroll along the waterfront, or a quick market stop to collect authentic memories from your Portugal trip.

Our tailor-made recommendations make car drop-off and transfers effortless. Até breve, and we look forward to planning your next authentic Portugal trip.

Algarve, Portugal