GPS Self-Guided Roadtrip Vacations PORTUGAL HISTORIC TOUR (8D/7N)

Portugal Historic Tour - Day 1 Lisboa Arrival to Lisboa and pick up of the car. Accommodation at the hotel. In case you have time, don´t miss the opportunity to visit Lisboa´s baixa(downtown). Overnight in Lisboa.

Portugal Historic Tour - Day 2 Lisboa / Sintra / Lisboa We suggest a visit to Lisboa’s Belém district, the site of great, historic monuments.Don’t miss the Jerónimos Monastery, a pearl of the typically Portuguese Manueline style and a Unesco Heritage Site.Go for a stroll and discover the beauties of this area, the Belém Tower, the Discoveries Monument and , to your left, one of the city’s ex-libris, the 25 de Abril bridge.Rest in one of the many esplanades or have a cup of coffee at the Quadrante café inside Centro Cultural de Belém. In case you have a sweet tooth try the delicious Pastéis de Belém .The Museu dos Coches is also worth a visit. Alternatively, you can opt for a drive to Sintra through Cascais (on the Marginal road) and Parque Natural de Sintra-Cascais, stopping at Peninha Convent to enjoy the breathtaking view of the coast. Continue your trip to Sintra, a fairy-tale village set amidst the mountains. A Unesco Heritage Site, Sintra boasts sumptuous palaces and luxurious parks. Not to be missed: Sintra National Palace and Pena National Palace.Stroll along Sintra’s winding roads or go on a cart ride across the village. Overnight in Lisboa.

Portugal Historic Tour - Day 3 Lisboa / Óbidos / Alcobaça / Batalha / Coimbra Drive to Óbidos, a picturesque village enclosed by a castle. The Village’s Gate, with its beautiful 18th century azulejos (tiles), is a must.Continue to Alcobaça and pay a visit to the renowned Alcobaça Monastery, a Unesco Heritage Site. The Gothic church, with its baroque façade along with the cloister, make it one of the most beautiful pieces of Cistercian architecture in Portugal.Have a break in one of the terraces near the Monastery and try the local specialties in the restaurants around the square. After lunch, head for Batalha, where Batalha Monastery is well worth a visit.On your way to Coimbra we suggest a stop at Conímbriga, where the finest and best-preserved Roman ruins can be found.At the end of the day you will arrive at Coimbra, home to Portugal’s oldest University and one of the oldest in Europe. Overnight in Coimbra.

Portugal Historic Tour - Day 4 Coimbra / Aveiro / Porto Spend your morning discovering the riches of Coimbra, namely the site of the University with its Joanine Library and Capela de São Miguel. Other monuments should not be missed, such as Santa Cruz Church and the "New" Cathedral.While in Coimbra don’t miss the opportunity to have a cup of coffee at Café Santa Cruz where you will be surprised by the domed ceiling and the stained glass windows.Leave Coimbra in the direction of Aveiro. We suggest you stop at Buçaco, whose Neo-Manueline Palace invites one to have a romantic time and dream!In Aveiro don´t miss the Art Nouveau buildings, a boat trip on the moliceiro boats or simply stroll along the canals and lovely roads. By the end of the day head north towards Porto. Overnight in Porto.

Portugal Historic Tour - Day 5 Porto Begin your day by strolling through the Baixa area all the way down to the Ribeira district. Have breakfast at Café Majestic in Rua de Santa Catarina, walk down to São Bento Railway Station, whose decorative tiles are worth visiting.Along the way down to the riverfront, do not miss Misericórdia Church, Palácio da Bolsa, Porto’s Cathedral and São Francisco Church.Have lunch at the Ribeira waterfront.In the afternoon we suggest that you either visit the Porto Wine cellars at Vila Nova de Gaia or go on a boat trip along the river Douro. Overnight in Porto.

Portugal Historic Tour - Day 6 Porto / Guimarães / Braga / Ponte de Lima / Viana do Castelo / Porto Today we suggest that you go on a car trip around the Minho Region. Guimarães, whose historic centre is a Unesco World Heritage Centre, deserves a lengthy visit, not only for its famous monuments and sites - the Castle and the Palace of the Duques of Bragança – but also to roam around the picturesque roads and squares. Go to Braga, known as the “Portuguese Rome” for its concentration of religious arquitecture. Have lunch in Braga, visit some of its undoubted highlights.In the afternoon head for Porto, stopping at Ponte de Lima and Viana do Castelo, where you can climb up to Santa Luzia terrace and have a stunning view over the city and the river. Overnight in Porto.

Portugal Historic Tour - Day 7 Porto / Lisboa On your last day in Porto go to Serralves Museum, which hosts important contemporary art. Go down to the Foz district where you can have lunch before your departure to Lisboa. Overnight in Lisboa.

Portugal Historic Tour - Day 8 Departure If your flight is only in the afternoon spend your morning at the eastern part of Lisboa. Parque das Nações (the Park of Nations) hosts a wide variety of facilities, including cable car and a pleasant shopping centre in addition to extensive cultural and commercial zones.

ACCOMMODATION TO BE USED The ones described or similar:

In LISBON €Hotel Turim Lisboa , Hotel Fénix Garden , Hotel Roma €€Hotel Real Parque , Hotel Tivoli Jardim , Hotel Tivoli Tejo €€€Hotel Real Palácio , Pestana Palace , Hotel Tivoli Lisboa , Heritage Av Liberdade

In COIMBRA €€Hotel Tivoli Coimbra €€€Quinta das Lágrimas

In PORTO €Vila Galé Porto , Castelo de Santa Catarina , Hotel Fénix Tuela Porto , Hotel da Bolsa€€€Porto Palácio Congress Hotel & Spa , Hotel Infante Sagres , Pestana Porto , Pousada do Porto - Palácio do Freixo

€ Standard: A solution for the travellers who cannot afford to pay a high price but still expect a good quality tour. Our hand-picked basic accommodations to be used will be guest-houses or 3 star hotels. If you are seeking a good quality tour but could not be ready to pay a high cost, this is the best choice.

€€ Superior: Paying more than standard for better accommodation services having a comfortable trip. You will stay in very good accommodations (4 star hotels, very charming 3* or equivalent) except cities where this type of accommodations is not available.

€€€ Deluxe(Primera): Mostly first-class hotels, where travellers will receive utmost impeccable services with personal care (5 star hotels, very charming 4*, Pousada, very charming small rural accommodation) are applied for this grade. However, there may be some combination of first-class accommodations and hand-picked moderate accommodations in towns that do not have first class hotels. It is the perfect choice for those who wish value for money services.

RENT A CAR (Per Car)     LOW SEASON HIGH SEASON (1 Apr - 31 Oct)

ECONOMY NO AC                  €140                 €229
(KIA PICANTO or similar)

ECONOMY                              €171                 €283
(VW POLO 1.2 or similar)

COMPACT                              €214                  €332
(FORD FOCUS or similar)

STATION WAGON                 €243                  €341
(OPEL ASTRA 1.4 or similar)

VAN 7 PAX                             €486                  €731
(FORD GALAXY or similar)

AUTOMATIC                          €343                  €424
(OPEL ASTRA 1.4 or similar)

PREMIUM                              €786                   €827
(MERCEDES C220)