Undiscovered Portugal from Lisbon to the Algarve

Day 1 - Lisbon

Join your tour group at the hotel.

Hotel Mundial, Lisbon (4-star)

Day 2 - Lisbon

One of the oldest cities in the world, Lisbon’s wide boulevards and squares are dotted with rich architecture and grand monuments. Think pastel-coloured buildings, pretty squares and white-domed cathedrals. We’ll enjoy a guided tour with a local expert, taking in the highlights including the Old Town, built on the city’s terraced hillsides. The sprawling Praça do Comércio; the largest square in the city is lined by al fresco eateries with wonderful riverfront views. We head along the river to Belem to take in the Belem Tower, monastery and the Monument to the Discoveries. We’ll also stop to enjoy a tasting of some of the city’s favourite treats: pasteis de nata (custard tarts best served with a sprinkling of cinnamon and icing sugar) and ginjinha, a sweet liqueur made from berries.

Hotel Mundial, Lisbon (4-star)

Day 3 - Arrábida Natural Park - Azeitão

Today we journey south for a day of scenic delights in the lesser-known area of Arrábida. We’ll explore the one-time fishing village of Sesimbra, now a bustling whitewashed beach town set in the foothills of the Serra da Arrábida mountain range. Here, you can look up at the rugged Moorish castle and enjoy the beach that edges the town. We continue to the sleepy little village of Azeitão, known for its wine production. Here, we’ll sample some of the local moscatel wine at a famous wine cellar, before continuing our drive through the Arrábida Natural Park. This area reveals stunning natural beauty, rare indigenous plants and a towering mountain range. On the way back to our hotel, we’ll cross the seven-mile-long Vasco da Gama Bridge, providing views across one of the widest estuaries in the world. There’ll be the opportunity for you to enjoy a traditional Portuguese pastime today, too - the art of tile decorating. We’ll stop by a local manufacturer where you’ll learn about the tradition and have the opportunity to paint your own tile.

Hotel Mundial, Lisbon (4-star)

Day 4 - Alcácer do Sal - Beja

It's time to begin our journey towards Beja, stopping en route at idyllic Portuguese towns. The historical town of Alcácer do Sal along the bank of the Sado River, is a beautiful web of alleys and stairways leading to castles and churches. We’ll have some time here to wander and take in some of the highlights, including the Church of Santa Maria do Castelo and the Municipal Museum of Archaeology. We then head towards Grandola and on to Beja for a tasting of some local products in a ‘taberna’ (tavern). This evening we check into our pousada - a historical Portuguese hotel.

Pousada Convento de Beja (4-star)

Day 5 - Beja

Agriculture is deep-rooted in the culture of the area and we’ll visit the esteemed grape-producing estate of Vale da Rosa and a local wine producer for a tasting. We’ll also taste local cheeses in Serpa and visit the Clock Museum. White-walled buildings and terracotta topped roofs; Beja is the picture of a traditional Portuguese town. The walled centre holds some charming sights and quaint plazas and we’ll take in some of the best bits on a guided tour, including the castle, regional museum and lavish 15th-century Franciscan convent.

Pousada Convento de Beja (4-star)

Day 6 - Mértola - Santo Antonio

We head to the medieval town of Mértola which sits high above the Guadiana river. We’ll wander the quaint cobbled streets, and past a collection of white houses that surround the small but imposing castle. We'll discover that Mértola is an open-air museum bursting with history with Islamic influences that are still so prevalent, including the Igreja Matriz, a parish church which was once a 12th-century mosque. Mértola is also home to the rare black stork and we may be lucky to spot the nesting birds. We then head to our recently refurbished pousada in Santo Antonio.

Pousada Vila Real Santo Antonio (4-star)

Day 7 - Sao Bras de Alpotel - Faro - Tavira

We’ll enjoy the tranquillity of São Brás de Alportel, a quiet countryside town known for its cork production, before continuing to Faro, the Algarve’s capital. From a marina and attractive plazas, to the atmospheric Old Town, we’ll stroll the cobbled streets past the 13th-century cathedral and then have free time to wander. Our final stop is in picturesque Tavira. From bobbing fishing boats to pretty churches there’s a wealth of Renaissance and baroque finishes. The views from the ramparts of the medieval castle are superb.

Pousada Vila Real Santo Antonio (4-star)

Day 8 - Lagos - Sagres

One of the Algarve’s most historic port towns, Lagos saw many of Portugal’s greatest explorers set off for the New World. We’ll wander the pretty Old Town, learn about the infamous Mercado de Escravos the first slave market in Europe, and visit the golden Church of St Anthony. Lagos is also famed for gorgeous beaches and the Ponta da Piedade, a stunning group of rock formations that look out to sea. We head further west to the fishing port of Sagres and enjoy the scenery from the dramatic cliffs to the 15th-century fortress. We’ll also venture to the ‘end of the world’ at Cape St Vincent (the most south-western point of the European continent). We may even catch a glimpse of some of the birdlife in the area.

Pousada Vila Real Santo Antonio (4-star)

Day 9 - Santo Antonio

Today is free. You could stroll through the main square past the handsome whitewashed houses with terracotta roofs; visit the town’s only church with its famed stained-glass window; or enjoy the beach. If you’re feeling adventurous, maybe take the ferry across to Spain and the pretty, old town of Ayamonte - it has a lovely harbour to sit and watch fishing boats coming and going. This evening we’ll enjoy a farewell dinner.

Pousada Vila Real Santo Antonio (4-star)

Day 10 - Santo Antonio

Say goodbye to your tour group for your onward travel.

Santo Antonio