Stay : Grand Tour of Portugal
Portuguese land is replete with hidden beauties that only fear at the cost of patience and curiosity. This is an idea of a route that, in three weeks, allows the country to be seen.
Summary of the stay
Best time to go
21 days
€€ - Charm and comfort
Detail of the stay : Grand Tour of Portugal - 21 days
Day 1: Lisbon visit
Steps: Lisbonne
The castle of São Jorge, Alfama, Baixa and Belém.
CASTELO SÃO JORGE
Day 2: Sintra and its surroundings
Steps: Cascais, Sintra, Setúbal, Cabo Da Roca
Take Marginal or railway line along the Tagus estuary to the Cascais coquette (see the Boca do Inferno pit), continue to the Cabo da Roca - the westernmost point of Europe. Crossing the beloved Serra de Sintra and visiting the fairy Sintra: Royal Palace, National Palace da Pena and promenade in Monserrate Park. Then relax on one of the beaches of the coast like Praia das Maças and its beautiful cove.
BOCA DO INFERNO / PALÁCIO NACIONAL DE SINTRA (OU PAÇO REAL) / PALÁCIO DA PENA - PARQUE DA PENA
Day 3: Mafra and Queluz
Steps: Mafra, Lisbonne, Ericeira
Directorate Mafra: visit of the Basilica and the remarkable palace, which houses a museum of sacred art and a sumptuous library. Lunch break in Ericeira, small fishing port where you can still see the dry fishing boats. Return to Lisbon and judgment in Queluz: visit of the beautiful royal palace Rococo and its gardens.
PALAIS DE MAFRA
Day 4: Palmela, Setúbal and Sesimbra
Steps: Setúbal, Elvas, Póvoa De Varzim, Palmela, Sesimbra, Cabo Espichel, Lagoa De Albufeira
Direction Setúbal (stopping in Palmela for a visit to the medieval castle and the São Pedro church). In Setúbal, visit São Filipe Castle, the Manueline Church of Jesus and the old districts. For relaxation, cruise on the Sado estuary to discover dolphins. Excursion through the Arrábida Natural Park, continuation to Sesimbra, a small fishing port with picturesque streets, the castle and the beach where fishermen go. Return to Lisbon via the mysterious Cabo Espichel, the magnificent Lagoa de Albufeira and the long beaches of Meco and Caparica.
Day 5: Direction Vila Nova de Alentejana (Coastal Alentejo)
Steps: Setúbal, Santiago Do Cacém, Porto Covo, Póvoa De Varzim, Odeceixe, Vila Nova De Milfontes, Porto
Take the ferry to Tróia and its magnificent Bird beach, a secret place of the escapades of the whole world, followed by the road in the pine forests of the peninsula towards Santiago do Cacém - visit the Roman ruins of Miróbriga. Continue to Vila Nova de Alentejana along the ocean to discover the magic beaches: on the side of Porto Côvo, Ilha do Pessegueiro and Odexeixe, for example.
Day 6: Directorate Lagos
Steps: Sagres, Serpa, Lagos, Zambujeira Do Mar
Crossing the beautiful and wild natural park of the Vicentine coast to the point of Sagres (via Zambujeira do Mar and its unforgettable landscapes): visit of the fortress and Cape Saint Vincent. Go to Lagos, charming city and Ponta da Piedade, marine site with caves and high cliffs.
Day 7: Faro
Steps: Faro, Póvoa De Varzim, Silves, Carvoeiro
Go to Silves. After the visit of the ancient capital capital of the Algarve. Continue to the Serra de Monchique. Return to the coast and swim at Carvoeiro beach. Join Faro by N 125: night visit of the dormant old town and strolling on the lagoon.
VIEILLE VILLE
Day 8: Natural Park and Vila Real de Santo António
Steps: Parc Naturel De La Ria Formosa, Tavira, Vila Real De Santo Antonio
Natural Park of Ria Formosa in Marim, continue to Tavira - picturesque tour of the city - follow towards Vila Real de Santo António.
Day 9: Beja Beja
Walk along the banks of Guadiana, take the direction of Mértola (Alentejo) - visit the church church and museums. Take the direction of Serpa - stop in this white city. Continue to Beja, medieval town.
Day 10: Evora and Elvas
Steps: Serpa, Évora, Vila Viçosa, Évoramonte, Estremoz, Elvas
Visit of Evora, one of the most harmonious cities in Portugal: the cathedral, the regional museum, the convent of the Lóios, the fortifications and the Roman temple. Circuit of ancient megaliths. Go to Evoramonte and see his fortress, then Estremoz, marble town. Follow the direction of Elvas, fortress town, with a prior stop to Vila Viçosa - see his Paço Ducal.
Day 11: Castelo Branco
Steps: Portalegre, Castelo De Vide, Marvão, Castelo Branco
Stop in Portalegre: city of famous tapestries with beautiful seigneurial houses, visit of the Serra de São Mamede nearby, the defensive village of Marvão and the Jewish quarter of Castelo de Vide. Arrival at the end of the afternoon in Castelo Branco, old fortified city.
Day 12: Direction Guarda
Steps: Viseu, Serra Da Estrela, Guarda, Belmonte, Covilhã
By Covilhã: follow the road to Mount Torre, the highest in the country. Then, in the heart of the Serra d'Estrela, to Viseu, the birthplace of the Oficina da Viseu, an important painting school to be discovered at the Grão Vasco Museum. Join Guarda and its cathedral of Gothic origin. In the surroundings, Belmonte and its castle dating from the 13th and 14th centuries.
Day 13: Bragança
Stop to discover the archeological park of Vila Nova de Foz Côa. Join Bragança: visit of the medieval city and its main monuments and museums.
PARC ARCHÉOLOGIQUE DE FOZ CÔA
Day 14: Vila Real
Steps: Arraiolos, Vila Real, Chaves
Join Chaves along the Serra de Montezinho - visit the church of Mercy. Arrival in Vila Real. Visit of the Solar Mateus, a manor house dating from the early 18th century.
IGREJA DA MISERICORDIA
Day 15: Guimarães and Braga
Continue towards Guimarães to see its splendid medieval heart. Follow towards Guimarães: visit of the historic center, join Braga and its sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte.
Day 16: Lima and arrived in Porto
Steps: Faro, Viana Do Castelo, Ponte De Lima, Porto
Join Viana do Castelo, via Ponte de Lima known for its many seigneurial houses, along Lima to its mouth: visit of the old quarter and the municipal museum. Then, Porto the largest city in the north, on the other side of the Douro, and go to the cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia.
MUSEU MUNICIPAL
Day 17: Porto
Discovery of the historic centre classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the São Francisco Church and the Cathedral. Visit two eminent cultural sites: the Lello bookshop, one of the most extraordinary in the world, and the Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art with its park. Relaxation program: half-day relaxing cruise on the Douro River to Pinhão.
Day 18: Aveiro and Fado to Coimbra
Steps: Coimbra, MOntemOr-O-Velho, Aveiro, Ria De Aveiro
Stop in Aveiro to visit the dynamic "Portuguese Venice" and promenade on the Ria. Join Coimbra, one of Europe's oldest university cities, by Montemor-o-Velho and his castle. In the evening: Fado party in Coimbra.
Day 19: Coimbra
Steps: Coimbra, Conimbriga, Luso, Bussaco
City visit: the university, the cathedral and the national museum of Machado de Castro. In the surrounding area, beautiful walks in the thick forests of Bussaco (Luso) and Lousã. Then, discover the Roman town of Conímbriga.
MUSÉE NATIONAL MACHADO DE CASTRO
Day 20: Monuments classified by UNESCO
Steps: Tomar, Leiria, Alcobaça, Batalha
Direction Leiria. This area is rich in monuments; three of them are classified as World Heritage by UNESCO. Among the compulsory visits are: the monastery of Batalha, a Manueline masterpiece; Alcobaça and its imposing Cistercian abbey of Santa Maria; and the convent of Christ and its seven cloisters in Tomar, city of the Templars.
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