Tailor-made Portugal: Discover the real country

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.

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.

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, a perfect transition point in a well-paced Lisbon and Porto trip.

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.

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.

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. This region offers a rich snapshot of a cultural trip to Portugal, with tailor-made options like guided walks, wine tasting, or hands-on cooking classes to soak up Alentejo charm.

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.

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. 

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.