- 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
Highlights of Portugal
8 Days
Excluding Flights
8 Days
from
Culture
Activity Level
Easy & Moderate
See our Activity Level Guidelines to check if this holiday is right for you.
Comfort Level
Superior
Itinerary
Porto Lisbon
Fly to Porto
Fly to Porto; those arriving on the group flight will be collected by the leader on arrival and transferred to our hotel by private minibus. Our hotel is located in the Ribeirinha district, close to the city’s historical centre and on the banks of the scenic Douro River. Time permitting, we will familiarise ourselves with the hotel, and there will be an evening briefing.
Start Porto
This trip starts in Porto at our hotel in the Ribeirinha district, close to the historic centre and on the banks of the scenic Douro River. Time permitting, we will familiarise ourselves with the hotel, and there will be a welcome briefing in the evening at 530pm in the hotel reception.
Morning guided sightseeing in the Unesco-listed historic centre; port tasting; free time for optional activities and transfer to Douro Valley
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. We conclude our guided visit in Ribeirinha, the picturesque riverside area, where we enjoy a tour of the historic port wine cellars, ending with a short wine tasting.
The afternoon is free for individual sightseeing. City highlights include Porto Cathedral; Saint Francis Church; Livraria Lello (one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world) and Clérigos Church and Tower. Later, we transfer by private bus to the Douro Valley (approximately 90 minutes).
Optional Douro River cruise; enjoy lunch and wine tasting at a winery with river and vineyard views; transfer to Coimbra
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.
Visit Coimbra and its university; then to Batalha and its Unesco monastery.
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.
Head to Nazaré beach; transfer to Óbidos
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.
Transfer to Lisbon; orientation walk around the Belém district
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.
Guided sightseeing in Lisbon
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.
The trip ends in the morning
Those travelling on the group flight will be transferred to the airport for their return flight to London.
The trip ends in the morning
Our Highlights of Portugal 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.
Essential Info
Joining Instructions
Key information
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. There will be a welcome briefing in the evening at 530pm, but if you miss it the leader will update you separately
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.
Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.
Location start: Porto
Location end: Lisbon
Passport
Remember to check the expiration date of your passport if travelling internationally. Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after the date of your scheduled return.
Hotels
All hotels on this trip have been specially selected for their location, character and comfort. We stay mostly in modern buildings within or near the historic centres we visit. Some hotels have a pool.
List of hotels normally used:
- Porto: Hotel Vila Galé Porto Ribeira
- Douro Valley: Hotel Régua Douro or Hotel Douro Scala
- Coimbra: Hotel Dona Inês or Vila Cale Coimbra
- Batalha: Hotel Lis Batalha
- Óbidos: The Literary Man or Josefa de Óbidos Hotel
- Lisbon: Hotel Marquês de Pombal
Reviews
Add your own reviewObrigado 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 fast paced – however I feel that Exodus has really taken the time and effort to improve this trip in recent times as I felt very relaxed and had ample free time to explore on my own and with some friends I made in our group!
My personal highlights were Porto (worth an extension) and Batalha Monastery which no matter what camera lens you have, cannot actually describe the unique, intricate architecture and design – you have to see it to believe it!
Our guide Mariana was very cheerful, informative and very passionate about her country and sharing that with us was wonderful!
Prepare yourself for big portions of food (lots of cod) and ample Port Wine! If you are not into Port a good old Imperial “beer” also does the trick!
There is an optional “fado” dinner at a local’s house on the last night that was very interesting… Also expect big city life when you stay in Lisboa!
Overall I would recommend this trip to anyone who wants a overview of Portugal and all that it has to offer.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Very good!
Sample of the cities of Northern Portugal
This trip covered the cities with the most attractions and sights in Northern Portugal. Our guides Catarina and Marianna were wonderful and caring. Both spoke perfect English and shared a lot of historical information. Both were always available on WhatsApp during our free time. The tour allowed us to see many cities in just one week. We were kept on the move from city to city, but there was plenty of free time. The old towns were so interesting and unique. Strolling on the stone sidewalks and glancing at the tiled buildings is a memory I will never forget. Sintra’s palace and gardens were also a highlight. The wine tastings were very enjoyable. Portugal’s food is incredible and I tried many new dishes. I combined this trip with Walking Portugal’s Coasts and Beaches, which made a perfect holiday of historic sights and coastal beach scenery.
Most Inspirational Moment
Having lunch in the Duoro Valley in a winery staring at the vineyards and sampling wines
Thoughts on Group Leader
Marianna and Catarina are the two nicest guides I've ever had! They were extremely caring. Both were very knowledgeable about the sights & history. I do wish they were with us more often. I would have liked them to accompany us to dinner on more nights.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Wear comfortable walking shoes with good traction. There is the potential for a lot of walking in the cities during your free time. The polished stone sidewalks get slippery if it rains. Add on at least one day in Porto at the beginning and at the end in Lisbon. There is so much to see in both cities.
Comments from Dave and Mary
Good introduction to central Portugal. Moving on after one night at each location quite tiring. Extra time at each end of Porto and Lisbon necessary to give the cities justice. Could do with more time in Douro valley to enjoy the benefits of the hotel and location.
Most Inspirational Moment
Douro valley hotel and location was exceptional.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Excellent, although sometimes more information would be of benefit.
Advice for Potential Travellers
See summary.
Not Recommended
I had heard a lot of great things about Exodus. However, the local company in Portugal did not live up to expectations. This was a fast-moving tour. We were in a different city (sometimes 2) each day and the guides did not give us the best of each city. Instead, we spent an hour (of the precious 3 hours we had each day) in a a cafe! One can assume this is because THEY needed a break. There was so much to see and we wandered aimlessly. It became a joke that when they would tell us how beautiful something was in a particular city, that meant we were not going to see it. I mean, who is going to be back to visit anytime soon. Also, their knowledge was not up to par. When we were visiting the Monastery in Batalha, there were these portraits on the wall and I asked who they were and the response I received were “they are not significant.” REALLY? I’ve been in enough churches in Europe to know that EVERYTHING has significance! The knowledge of these guides was so awful, it was almost comical. I realize new people have to be trained, but they should not be trained at our expense, as this was an expensive trip. They should pay their dues as local guides, giving local tours so they can learn how to be guides. These women were absolutely terrible. I felt like a friend had offered to show me Portugal and given their limited knowledge, that would have been exactly what I got – limited knowledge. But, I paid for this trip. And so did others. And we paid handsomely. Also, the nightly meetings were stupid. Just post an itinerary. No one wants to be in a meeting after a long day. The trip to Sintra was a disaster. They left us without coming up there with us. They should have been with us. We had no idea where to go or what we were looking at – we needed a guide! Plus, the whole issue with having to pay 12..50 more for the bus was really stupid. We all felt very nickled and dimed. That should have been handled much differently. Do not use Exodus for this particular tour in Portugal. You will regret it. It is far too expensive for what you get. You would be better off going on your own. You would see more and learn much more. They also weren’t very good about keeping tabs on the group. They didn’t wear logo’d clothing or have a flag or anything. We mostly kept track of each other to be sure no one was left behind – isn’t that their job?? And most of the restaurant recommendations were horrible. Very unimpressed.
Most Inspirational Moment
NONE
Thoughts on Group Leader
Terrible, uninformed, ditzy
Advice for Potential Travellers
Do not book this particular tour with Exodus. Perhaps other local companies are better, but this one is not worth your hard earned money
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
Portugal at a glance
A very busy trip with not very much free time.
Most Inspirational Moment
I loved Porto even though it was very busy with tourists. The included lunch at the port winery overlooking the Douro and Teda rivers was excellent with plenty of vegetarian options and nice wines. The tour beforehand was entertaining.
Thoughts on Group Leader
We had Carlos Santos and Flavio as our leaders/drivers. They were both efficient, friendly, helpful and safe drivers. Carlos took me to a late night chemist when I needed some medication for a bad cough. He did this when we were actually settling into the restaurant for dinner - we still got back in time to eat! Flavio would always find out answers if he didn't know the answer immediately. We had a very enjoyable group dinner on Thursday with both of them as this was the last evening they would have been with us. The food was good - lots of veggie choices - Carlos played guitar and we all sang along. One small criticism is that some of the evening briefings were rather long.
Advice for Potential Travellers
I have raised this issue with Exodus already. The group flight home is very late. We were collected from our hotel in Lisbon at 5 p.m. on Saturday afternoon and I walked into my house at 1 a.m. on Sunday morning. Exhausting. I would have liked a bit more time to look round Obidos. We were there for two nights but went to Sintra to visit the Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle. Pena Palace was extremely busy, it took about an hour to get in and then you just had to shuffle round due to the amount of people inside.
Highlights of Portugal
Although described as a fast paced tour(which it was), it was a good introduction to visiting Portugal with many highlights as well as vising some lesser known parts. As someone who had not been to Portugal before and as it is so easy to get to from the UK, it was a taster for maybe visiting the country again and exploring other regions.
Most Inspirational Moment
With all these tours, it is difficult to highlight just one moment that was inspirational, especially on a short tour like this. Lisbon was very inspiring especially as we stayed on for an extra 3 days as was our short stay in the village of Ferraria de Sao Joao.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Goncalo was an excellent guide who always made sure we were away early to avoid the worst of the crowds. This was particularly important in the case of the Pena Palace in Sintra. He explained the history of the various sites very concisely which kept our interest and he would always try to accommodate any of our requests.
Advice for Potential Travellers
The Fado evening was very good indeed being in a small establishment in the Alfama district of Lisbon so was not only authentic but was a very pleasant farewell evening, Strongly recommended. Also, I would certainly recommend staying on in Lisbon for some extra days as there is so much to do and see and the atmosphere is very appealing.
Start
Finish
Availability
Land Only Trip Price
Optional Single Supplement
Saturday Saturday
05 Apr 2025 05 Apr 2025
Saturday Saturday
12 Apr 2025 12 Apr 2025
Availability Guaranteed (On Request) Only 3 spaces left!
Land Only Trip Price £ 1845 £ 1845
Optional Single Supplement +£ 370
Availability
This departure is guaranteed to go ahead but there are only 3 spaces left. Do not delay your booking!
View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
03 May 2025 03 May 2025
Saturday Saturday
10 May 2025 10 May 2025
Availability Guaranteed (Limited) Only 4 spaces left!
Land Only Trip Price £ 1895 £ 1895
Optional Single Supplement +£ 430
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
31 May 2025 31 May 2025
Saturday Saturday
07 Jun 2025 07 Jun 2025
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Land Only Trip Price £ 1945 £ 1945 Book with £ 486 deposit Book with £ 486 deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 430
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View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
14 Jun 2025 14 Jun 2025
Saturday Saturday
21 Jun 2025 21 Jun 2025
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Land Only Trip Price £ 1945 £ 1945 Book with £ 486 deposit Book with £ 486 deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 430
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
06 Sep 2025 06 Sep 2025
Saturday Saturday
13 Sep 2025 13 Sep 2025
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Optional Single Supplement +£ 430
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View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
20 Sep 2025 20 Sep 2025
Saturday Saturday
27 Sep 2025 27 Sep 2025
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Land Only Trip Price £ 1945 £ 1945 Book with £ 486 deposit Book with £ 486 deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 430
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View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
11 Oct 2025 11 Oct 2025
Saturday Saturday
18 Oct 2025 18 Oct 2025
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View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
25 Oct 2025 25 Oct 2025
Saturday Saturday
01 Nov 2025 01 Nov 2025
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View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
11 Apr 2026 11 Apr 2026
Saturday Saturday
18 Apr 2026 18 Apr 2026
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Land Only Trip Price £ 1895 £ 1895 Book with £ 473 deposit Book with £ 473 deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 410
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View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
02 May 2026 02 May 2026
Saturday Saturday
09 May 2026 09 May 2026
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Land Only Trip Price £ 2095 £ 2095 Book with £ 523 deposit Book with £ 523 deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 475
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View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
23 May 2026 23 May 2026
Saturday Saturday
30 May 2026 30 May 2026
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Land Only Trip Price £ 2095 £ 2095 Book with £ 523 deposit Book with £ 523 deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 475
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This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
13 Jun 2026 13 Jun 2026
Saturday Saturday
20 Jun 2026 20 Jun 2026
Availability Available
Land Only Trip Price £ 2095 £ 2095 Book with £ 523 deposit Book with £ 523 deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 475
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
05 Sep 2026 05 Sep 2026
Saturday Saturday
12 Sep 2026 12 Sep 2026
Availability Guaranteed (Available)
Land Only Trip Price £ 2095 £ 2095 Book with £ 523 deposit Book with £ 523 deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 475
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
19 Sep 2026 19 Sep 2026
Saturday Saturday
26 Sep 2026 26 Sep 2026
Availability Available
Land Only Trip Price £ 2095 £ 2095 Book with £ 523 deposit Book with £ 523 deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 475
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
10 Oct 2026 10 Oct 2026
Saturday Saturday
17 Oct 2026 17 Oct 2026
Availability Available
Land Only Trip Price £ 1895 £ 1895 Book with £ 473 deposit Book with £ 473 deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 410
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
07 Nov 2026 07 Nov 2026
Saturday Saturday
14 Nov 2026 14 Nov 2026
Availability Available
Land Only Trip Price £ 1845 £ 1845 Book with £ 461 deposit Book with £ 461 deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 410
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesWould you like to include flights with your booking?
- ATOL protected
- Competitive flight prices
- Full refunds in the event of FCDO cancellations or major disruption at your UK departure airport
- Specialist support to rearrange flights and transfers
- Regional flights available from many UK airports
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Highlights of Portugal
8 Days
Excluding Flights
8 Days
from