9. From Faro: 8-Day Tour of Portugal
Experience the diversity of Portugal on this 8-day roundtrip from Faro. Your program: Day 1 (Wednesday): Arrival in Faro You will be picked up at the airport and transferred to your hotel. You can spend the rest of the day as you wish. For example, you can enjoy a stroll through Faro and explore the city or try local cuisine at a restaurant. Day 2 (Thursday): Faro – Lisbon Your journey begins on Thursday as you head to your first destination: Lisbon. Drive through the mountain range in the Algarve and the plains of Alentejo to the bridge over the Tagus River. From there you can admire the magnificent view over Lisbon. Upon arrival in Lisbon you will enjoy a panoramic tour through the historic part of the city and Alfama, the oldest district in Lisbon. Here you will visit the Jerónimos Monastery, famous for one of the most valuable cloisters in the world and a monument to the heyday of Portuguese history. Afterwards you will drive to Belém Tower, the landmark of the city on the Tagus River, as well as the Monument to the Discoveries. This was built in 1960 in memory of the Age of Discovery. Here you can see more than 30 statues in honor of the Portuguese navigators as well as the world map and the marble Compass Rose, a gift from the Republic of South Africa. Day 3 (Friday): Lisbon – Coimbra You will leave the capital city and drive to the quaint town of Óbidos, also known as the “Town of Queens”. Here you can enjoy a leisurely stroll through the picturesque town. The journey then continues on to the traditional fishing town of Nazaré, where you will visit the famous Monastery of Batalha. Continue on to Fátima, the largest place of pilgrimage in Portugal, which attracts 4 to 6 million pilgrims every year. The final stop on this busy day is Coimbra. Day 4 (Saturday): Coimbra – Porto In the historical university city of Coimbra you will visit the Baroque library, the center of the traditional university, with approximately 300,000 books and prints. Another must is St Michael's Chapel at the oldest university in Portugal, which was founded in 1291. Porto, the second largest city in Portugal, is your next destination. After a scenic drive through the city to the cathedral you will see the magnificent Palácio da Bolsa (Stock Exchange Palace) and visit a port winery to sample port wine. Day 5 (Sunday): Porto – Guarda Say goodbye to Porto and continue north to the green province of Minho. You will first stop at the birthplace of Portugal, Guimarães, where you can explore the wonderful old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue on through the breathtaking landscapes of the Douro Valley to the heart of the Port wine region of Régua. A short stop in the historical town of Lamego gives you the chance to admire the pilgrimage church Senhora dos Remédios with its monumental staircase. You will then head through the beautiful mountainous landscapes of inland Portugal to reach Guarda, at approximately 1,000 meters above sea level. Day 6 (Monday): Guarda – Évora Today’s destination is the unspoiled landscape of the province of Alentejo. Stroll through the beautiful town of Castelo de Vide and visit the medieval synagogue. Afterwards you will drive to the town of Estremoz, the marble capital of Portugal, where you can see many marble quarries. Day 7 (Tuesday): Évora – Faro Explore the city of Évora by foot and see the Roman Temple of Diana, the cathedral, Praça do Giraldo, and the Church of St. Francis with the famous Chapel of Bones. You will then have free time to explore the city as you wish. Afterwards you will journey back to Faro, with a stop along the way in Beja, where you can visit the castle. Day 8 (Wednesday): Departure from Faro Return to the airport in Faro.