Highlights of Portugal

Name: Highlights of Portugal
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 4.3 (12 reviews)

12 reviews

Activity

Culture

Overview

Journey from Porto to Lisbon via the Douro Valley and cultural highlights of Portugal

Once a powerful kingdom that dominated the world sea routes, Portugal today is one of the most welcoming and peaceful countries in Europe, though the legacy of its former wealth can still be found in its historic cities. Starting from colourful Porto, the second city and a Unesco site, our journey follows the verdant valleys and rolling hills of the Douro wine region, before heading to the lesser-known interior, where we visit Coimbra, the Unesco Batalha monastery, medieval Óbidos before reaching Lisbon, one of the most enchanting capital cities in the world.

Key Information

Trip Code: ADP
Ways to Travel: Guided Group
Countries: Portugal
Carbon Footprint: 18kg CO2e per person per day

What's Included

All breakfasts, one lunch, one dinner, one wine tasting, one port tasting
All accommodation
All transport and listed activities
Tour leader throughout
Group arrival and departure transfers available

Highlights

Discover the highlights of Portugal, from storied cities to picturesque countryside
Explore historic Porto, raising a glass together in a traditional port wine cellar
Visit an 18th-century winery above the Douro and Tedo rivers for lunch and a wine tasting
Discover medieval Óbidos and the old university city of Coimbra
End the adventure in Lisbon, exploring the enthralling capital with our expert guide

Itinerary

First Destination: Porto
Next Destination: Lisbon

Meals included:Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Porto
Next Destination: Lisbon

Our adventure begins in the historic city of Porto. Our hotel is in the Ribeirinha district, close to the historic centre and on the banks of the scenic Douro River.

Say olá to you your leader and fellow travellers around 6pm, where we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventure ahead.

Your leader will ensure a big welcome by arranging a group dinner at a local restaurant for your first taste of Portuguese hospitality.

Want to explore Porto further? Additional pre-tour hotel nights are bookable through your sales representative.

Accommodation: Hotel Vila Galé Porto Ribeira (or similar)
Upgrade to a river-view or terrace today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Meals included:Dinner

Today starts with a guided tour through the historic centre of Porto, a Unesco World Heritage site. As we amble along the ancient streets and medieval lanes, we visit important monuments, including São Bento Station, a neoclassic jewel. In the buzzing, colourful squares and traditional, unique cafes, we discover the authentic heart of the city. There will be some free time for individual sightseeing from about midday. City highlights include Porto Cathedral; Saint Francis Church; Livraria Lello (one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world) and Clérigos Church and Tower.

Around 3pm we’ll meet near Ribeirinha, the picturesque riverside area, where we enjoy a tour of the historic port wine cellars, ending with a short wine tasting. Afterwards, we transfer by private bus to the Douro Valley (approximately 90 minutes).

Accommodation: Hotel Régua Douro (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

Today we explore the heart of the Douro Valley, the first officially designated wine region in the world, renowned for excellent port wine and pretty landscapes of steeply terraced riverside vineyards. In the morning, you have the option to enjoy a leisurely boat cruise along the Douro River. Later, we enjoy a delicious lunch with an included wine tasting in an 18th-century estate surrounded by terraced vineyards that climb high above the dramatic confluence of the Douro and Tedo rivers.

In the afternoon, we transfer by private bus to Coimbra (approximately two hours) in the central region of Portugal.

Accommodation: Vila Galé Coimbra (or similar)
Upgrade to a river-view room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Known as the City of Students, Coimbra has a history closely linked to the Unesco-listed University of Coimbra, which was founded in 1290 and is the second oldest in Europe. The city is divided into two distinct areas, the baixa (downtown) by the river, where most of the commercial activity is concentrated, and the alta (upper town), home to the oldest and most important buildings, including Sé Velha (Old Cathedral), Sé Nova (New Cathedral) and the university.

We visit the most important areas and sites this morning during a guided tour. There will be free time in the afternoon for independent sightseeing before we transfer (approximately one hour) to the peaceful little town of Batalha, the setting of the most important battle in Portugal, the Batalha de Aljubarrota (1385). This battle secured Portuguese independence from Castile, and to honour it, King João I constructed the Mosteiro da Batalha, the finest monastery in Portugal. We visit this Portuguese gothic masterpiece that combines various influences from its lengthy construction, which lasted several reigns. We will have the opportunity to visit the outstanding interior, including the Founders’ Chapel with its fine stained-glass windows, cloisters, the Unfinished Chapels with their Manueline and Flemish gothic features and the Chapter House.

Accommodation: Hotel Lis Batalha (or similar)
Upgrade to a monastery-view room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Meals included:Breakfast

Our first stop today is the seaside town of Nazaré, home to some of the largest surfing waves in the world. There will be time for a stroll, lunch and free time to soak up the lovely atmosphere of this coastal village.

Then we move to Óbidos, our base for the night. This small, fortified village resembles a medieval film set. It has been carefully preserved by the inhabitants, who take pride in maintaining the architectural image of the village, characterised by narrow winding streets, whitewashed houses and impressive fort walls, perfect to enjoy after day-trippers have left. We stay overnight in Óbidos.

Accommodation: The Literary Man (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

Transfer (one hour) to Lisbon today, one of the most vibrant capital cities in the world. In the morning, we have an orientation walk around the Belém district, in which the guide will highlight the major landmarks, such as the vast Jerónimos Monastery and 16th-century Belém Tower. The remainder of the afternoon is free for relaxation or independent sightseeing in Belém before transferring to our hotel.

Accommodation: Hotel Marquês de Pombal (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

Continue to explore the second-oldest capital in Europe (after Athens) on a guided tour today. Lisbon was once home to the explorers Vasco da Gama, Magellan and Prince Henry the Navigator. Today, it is one of the most sought-after destinations, offering delicious food, ancient monuments, quirky cafes, and views over the Tejo river. Lisbon is known as the City of Seven Hills, so wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for a few steep climbs and steps during today’s walking tour.

We start with an optional ride on the Lisbon tram, which takes us to the elegant area of Graça. We then descend on foot through Alfama, one of the oldest districts in Lisbon, with its maze of colourful alleyways, old buildings and breath-taking viewpoints. We conclude our busy guided tour in Rossio, the heart of the city.

The rest of the day is free for further independent sightseeing. In the evening, you have the option of enjoying a fado experience, to learn more about this traditional musical style, which is thought to have originated in Lisbon itself.

Accommodation: Hotel Marquês de Pombal (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

Our trip ends after breakfast. However, with so much to see and do in Lisbon, we recommend adding some extra days after the tour to truly appreciate the many attractions this city offers. Speak to your sales representative to book.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

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Call us on 1 844 260 1517

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Accommodation

Hotels

We aim to secure locally owned accommodation that is well located, offers good value for money, and plenty of comfort. To help you find your ideal adventure, each trip is given a Comfort Level rating, which indicates the overall standard of accommodation. For more on our ratings, see our Comfort Level guidelines.

On this adventure we stay mostly in modern buildings within or near the historic centres we visit. Some hotels have a pool.

Upgrades are available on Day 1, 3 and Day 4 of the itinerary – speak to your sales representative for more details.

Tailor your trip: Extend your adventure by securing extra hotel nights before or after the main itinerary. Speak to your sales representative to book.

Private rooms: Like most tour operators, we room solo passengers together. If you’d prefer to have a private room, it’s normally possible to do this for a supplement. Speak to your sales representative to book.

Essential Information

This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate).For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.

This is a comprehensive, fast-paced itinerary that aims to showcase the highlights and lesser-visited sites of Portugal in eight days, taking in vibrant cities and ancient villages. All transfers are by private air-conditioned vehicle and none of the distances is particularly long. The itinerary is busy and there are some early starts to ensure we can fit in all visits on the itinerary. There is some free time to relax or sightsee at leisure.

Portugal can be hot, reaching the high 30Cs (around 100F) in summer. Although this itinerary is mostly based on sightseeing, please be prepared for a reasonable amount of walking between sites. Walks involve some steep climbs to reach the sites and the ground can be uneven underfoot, with cobblestones commonplace in Portugal. The trip is suitable for everyone in good health and fitness.

Key information

Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. There will be a welcome briefing around 6pm.
Airport: Porto Airport (OPO)

Getting to the start hotel

The start hotel is approximately 15 to 20 minutes’ drive from the airport. Your options for this journey are:

Take an Exodus transfer

Exodus provides one group arrival transfer from the airport, which is timed to coincide with the arrival of a chosen flight from London, UK. You may join this transfer at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the group arrival transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.

Make your own way

You can reach the start hotel relatively easily by taxi. A cab from the airport costs €15-€18. On arrival at the hotel, please make the reception staff aware that you are part of an Exodus group and they will have more details on meeting with your leader and group.

If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.

Catching your return flight

There’s a group departure transfer to Lisbon Airport for customers who Exodus booked onto a chosen flight to London, UK. Please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer.

Portugal

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Portugal. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/portugal
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/portugal
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/portugal/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Portugal.html

Portugal is known for excellent wines and delicious regional cuisine that uses a lot of natural resources and produce. All meals have strong links to the land and sea, often prepared following old recipes.

We can try a variety of traditional specialities during the trip and the local leader can always recommend good restaurants. Portugal has some of the best fish in the world. Salt cod is a staple here, eaten all kinds of ways, from baked with cream and potatoes to grilled with salad.

The Douro and Alentejo regions are also well-known for an endless number of meat dishes, which include roasted goat with rice and potatoes, porco preto (black pork cooked confit-style), posta mirandesa (veal steak) and cozido à portuguesa (boiled meat, sausages and cabbage). Finally, we can’t leave Portugal without trying pastel de nata, the quintessential Portuguese custard tart originating in Lisbon.

Please note, vegetarian meals are available on request although options may be limited.

Portugal has a fairly mild climate, with the south generally slightly warmer than the north. It can be rainy and windy during autumn and winter, but spring and summer see temperatures hit 38C (104F) in the interior and 35C (95F) in the north. Departures in March, April and October have a higher chance of rain and cool temperatures, especially at night, so it is important to pack warm clothing and rainproof gear. Between May and September, chances of rain are slimmer and days will be long and hot.

I enjoyed the day at Douro Valley. It was relaxed with the boat excursion and the lunch at the winery, and the group had time to relax and interact.

Thoughts on Group Leader

I have been on other Exodus tours and also from other companies. Though she was very nice and caring, also the most bossy, disorganized, and frustrating. A view shared by other travelers - who actually stopped the tour and complained. She became irritated if things changed or were not as she planned. Very controlling to the point of ordering us dinner. Did not stick to the itinerary and we spent too much time wandering aimlessly.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you just want a quick run around Portugal - its a good introduction to then come back on another tour or on your own to places that seemed interesting. Be aware of a lot of travel by van, and ours was cramped.

Reply from Exodus

We’d like to thank Robert for his review. We’re sorry to read that the itinerary felt rather hectic and that at times he felt the tour leader was somewhat overbearing and at times disorganised. We do mention in our trip notes that this is a busy itinerary, with the aim being to cover a lot of ground and allow our groups to see a great deal of the country in a relatively short time. Generally we find this works well, although we realise it does mean some time spent in the bus; we have recently made an improvement to this aspect of the tour and moving forward larger vehicles will be provided, although I’m sorry this will have come a little late for Robert. Regarding the tour leader, the individual who led this trip is very experienced and generally gets fantastic feedback. We have reviewed the comments from others who travelled on this departure and have not noted that others stopped the tour to complain, and we have in fact seen some single out the leader for praise. We realise everyone is different and Robert’s views don’t line up, but we do feel this shows that, overall, she did a good job. Finally, we are aware there was a minor itinerary change on this trip; this was due to some construction works in Lisbon, which were unknown in advance, meaning that the tram ride was cut short. To replace this the tour leader arranged a short walking tour, which we understand was well received, although we regret if it was rather underwhelming for some. Danny Bell – Product Manager

Paris Zinn

Added September 2024

Obrigado Portugal!

A really good introduction to Portugal indeed! When I booked this trip, naturally the first thing I did was read the reviews like we all do! The trip starts in Porto and ends in Lisbon - with many unique small town overnights in-between. Most people mentioned that it was very...

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very good!

Valerie Merges

Do not book this particular tour with Exodus. Perhaps other local companies are better, but this one is not worth your hard earned money

Suggestions

No.

Reply from Exodus

We would like to thank Stacey for taking the time to leave a review, although we are very sorry to read of her disappointment with several aspects of her trip to Portugal. At Exodus we take the roles of our tour leaders very seriously and provide each one with comprehensive training before they are assigned to lead our tours; for this departure, Stacey’s group was led by our experienced leader Carlos, who receives very positive feedback from our clients, as well as Catarina, who has led alongside him on past trips with success. While they were accompanied by a trainee leader who was shadowing this trip to gain experience, we have not found on previous departures that similar arrangements have detracted from our clients’ experience, as our regular leaders guide these trips as normal. We would note, having reviewed the feedback forms from clients on Stacey’s departure, that the majority of respondents rated both the itinerary of the tour and their overall trip experience as being either ‘Good’ or ‘Excellent’. Further, the general feedback we received from the group about Carlos praised him as helpful and knowledgeable, and mentioned that Catarina was a personable and enthusiastic leader. We do, of course, continually monitor all our leaders’ performances to ensure they meet our high standards, but from the feedback we have received on this occasion we are confident that Carlos and Catarina led this trip effectively. However, we understand that this does not reflect Stacey’s experience, which we very much regret. We are further apologetic that Stacey did not appreciate the free day in Sintra; we find from experience that our clients often like to explore this location at their own pace, and from previous feedback we have obtained about this tour we find that this excursion is generally very well received. However, we understand that some other group members from Stacey’s departure mention in feedback they have submitted that they would have preferred some guidance on-site in Sintra in addition to information provided by our leaders beforehand, and we are considering making a change in this regard to improve customer experience. While we feel confident that this trip provides an enjoyable and insightful tour of Portugal for our customers based on the feedback we continue to receive from our groups, we would once again like to express our regret that Stacey was left disappointed, and will of course closely bear her comments in mind going forward. - Emma Cambers, Exodus Product Manager

Read all reviews

Highlights of Portugal

Activity Level

Comfort Level

Activity

Overview

Journey from Porto to Lisbon via the Douro Valley and cultural highlights of Portugal

Key Information

What's Included

Highlights

Itinerary

Dates & Prices

Skip the hassle: We’ll handle your trip from start to finish, with competitive flight prices, dates that suit you, 24-hour support, loyalty discounts, and peace of mind for delays or disruption.

Book Your Flights With Us

Accommodation

Hotels

Essential Information

Key information

Getting to the start hotel

Catching your return flight

Portugal

Reviews

Discovering the Heart of Portugal with Carla

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

A wonderful week

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Highlights of Portugal - September 2025

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Great trip -met all my expectations

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Does exactly what it says. Many wonderful varied sights visited

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

A hectic overview

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Reply from Exodus

Obrigado Portugal!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sample of the cities of Northern Portugal

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Suggestions

Comments from Dave and Mary

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Not Recommended

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Suggestions

Reply from Exodus

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