Heart of Portugal in 8 Days Tour

You'll get at least 16 group sightseeing events — at no extra cost!

Plus you'll get all this, too.

• A small, friendly group of 24–28 people — half the size of most tour groups
• Full-time services of a professional Rick Steves guide and local experts who will make the fascinating history, art, and culture of Portugal come alive for you
• All group transportation from Porto to Lisbon
• 7 nights' accommodations in memorable, centrally located hotels
• All breakfasts and half your dinners
• All tips for guides and driver
• A tour kit including a guidebook and a moneybelt
• Guaranteed tour price, locked in the moment you make your deposit
• Tour alum discount of $50 for each tour you've taken with us
• Flexibility should you need to transfer or cancel your tour

Fine print: You are responsible for the cost of your drinks and free-time sightseeing. See our Tour Conditions for important details regarding everything listed above.

Group sightseeing events subject to change.

Day 1: Welcome to Portugal

We'll meet at our Porto hotel at 3 p.m. for a short meeting, then head out for an orientation walk through our neighborhood and the nearby Bolhão Market, a vibrant community hub featuring fresh, local products. This evening, we'll get acquainted with one another over a "Welcome to Portugal" group dinner.

Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. No bus. Sleep in Porto.

Day 2: Proud Porto

After breakfast, a local guide will take us on a walking tour of compact, historic Porto. We'll wander the riverfront Ribeira district, explore the lavish rooms of the Stock Exchange Palace, and enjoy a relaxing cruise on the Douro River — before learning about (and tasting) Portugal's most famous beverage, port wine. Your afternoon and evening are free to continue exploring this rustic, Portuguese San Francisco.

Strenuous walking: 2–8 miles throughout the day with lots of hills, stairs, and uneven terrain. No bus. Sleep in Porto.

Day 3: Day Trip to Guimarães

Today we'll board our comfy bus and drive to nearby Guimarães — the birthplace of Portugal. We'll tour the historic city center, visit the tapestry-filled Palace of the Dukes of Braganza, and enjoy free time to grab lunch and wander the town's medieval lanes. Then we'll return to Porto, where the rest of your day is free to climb the striking Clérigos Church Tower, taste-test your way through the delectable and diverse local cuisine scene (tripe, anyone?) or just get lost among the atmospheric lanes of Portugal's salty second city.

Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. Bus: 2 hours. Sleep in Porto.

Day 4: The Coast and Nazaré

We'll say goodbye to Porto this morning and head south along the coast, stopping in canal-laced Aveiro — where you'll have free time to ride a traditional moliceiro boat or visit the salt ponds (season permitting). Then we'll taste some sweet, shell-shaped ovos moles pastries among the colorfully striped houses of beachfront Costa Nova before arriving in the fishing village-turned-surfing mecca of Nazaré. After a walk through town, we'll sit down for a delicious seafood feast together.

Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. Bus: 2 hours. Sleep in Nazaré.

Day 5: Alcobaça and Lisbon's Belém District

This morning, we'll head to Lisbon with a stop along the way at the austere, soaring Alcobaça Monastery, Portugal's largest church and home to its saddest love. On our way into the city, we'll visit Lisbon's seafaring Belém District to tour its 16th-century waterfront fortress and learn about Portugal's golden age of exploration at the Monument to the Discoveries and Monastery of Jerónimos. After settling into our Lisbon hotel, your guide will set you free to explore the neighborhood and find dinner on your own.

Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. Bus: 1½ hours. Sleep in Lisbon.

Day 6: Neighborhood Lisbon

Today, a local guide we'll take us on a walking tour through Lisbon's colorful downtown neighborhoods — the Bairro Alto, the Alfama, and the Baixa. We'll learn about "village" Lisbon's neighborhood life, dive into its layers of history, and taste some of the local specialties. Then the rest of the day is all yours to visit Lisbon's fine museums — celebrating fado, tiles, ancient art, and more — explore its evocative churches, or simply perch yourself at a café and take in the scene as trolleys, taxis, and tuk-tuks rattle across cobbled lanes.

Strenuous walking: 2–8 miles throughout the day with lots of hills, stairs, and uneven terrain. No Bus. Sleep in Lisbon.

Day 7: Lisbon's Art and Soul

This morning we'll ride the metro to the Gulbenkian museum, where a local guide will take us through its impressive collection spanning 5,000 years — from ancient Egypt to Impressionism to Art Nouveau. Afterward, we'll set you free to wander the lanes of your favorite Lisbon neighborhood or zigzag your way up to São Jorge Castle for a stunning view of the city. We'll regroup to enjoy a soulful fado performance and our final group dinner together, toasting to new friends and travel memories. Saúde!

Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. No bus. Sleep in Lisbon.

Day 8: Tour Over After Breakfast

Breakfast is provided, but there are no group activities today. For those heading home, Lisbon's airport is an easy metro or taxi ride away — and for those eager for more Portuguese adventures, trains and buses fan out to the Algarve, Tomar, Évora, or your choice of other destinations. Adeus!

Itinerary specifics subject to change.

Our tours are physically active! It's an essential part of the Rick Steves tour experience. On our Heart of Portugal in 8 Days tour — among other things — you'll need to happily…

1. Carry/roll your luggage over uneven pavement (possibly several blocks) and up stairways to reach your hotel, then up several flights of stairs to reach your room.
2. Be on your feet, walking and standing, for up to four hours, indoors and outdoors, in all weather conditions.
3. Sleep with street noise and no (or weak) air conditioning.
4. After orientation and transportation lessons, be able to navigate towns and cities on your own.

Any time between April and June and from September through October are good times to visit Portugal. However, the months of April, May, September, and October are best for offering good weather, long days, fewer crowds, and the full range of tourist fun.

Portugal / Lisbon

Tour Hotels

In case you wish to book pre- or post-tour hotel accommodations, the contact information for the tour's first and last hotels is included in your tour confirmation email as well as in the Itinerary section of your tour account. One month prior to the tour departure, you'll find the directions to your first tour hotel and a complete list of hotels where we'll be staying while on tour in the Documents section of your tour account.

Flights

Our tours don't include airfare, so your flight arrangements and transfers are completely up to you.

Most tour members arrange to fly into Porto (OPO) and out of Lisbon (LIS) — choose "multicity" on flight-booking websites. Booking round-trip to one city will require a connecting flight, train trip, or additional overnight stay in Portugal.

We suggest arriving a day or two before your tour begins to allow ample time to get over jet lag and be well-rested for the first few days of your tour. For more information about transportation options for getting to and from your tour, see your Rick Steves Portugal guidebook.