Compare Porto to Coimbra Cycling by Exodus Travels vs A Week In... Portugal 2024 by Tauck
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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4 | Great
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| Duration | 10 days | 8 days |
| Price From | $ 3,395 | $ 4,490 |
| Price Per Day | $ 340 | $ 561 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Premium |
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| Flights & Transport | No | No |
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| Meals Included | Portuguese cuisine is wholesome, hearty, and rarely fancy and relies heavily on the use of different herbs and spices due to its Moorish influence. Fish dishes are more predominant in the south, although northern regions often offer delicious freshwater fish dishes.The region is also famous for sticky desserts that use egg yolk. During the Golden Age (15C and 16C), the area was very rich because of all the treasures that were brought back from the discoveries of the New World. These riches paid for many convents. The nuns needed egg whites to starch their habits so they used the egg yolks in many gooey desserts that have curious names like monk’s breast and nun’s stomach.The Alentejo is also a highly respected wine region. The Romans were the first to start cultivating vines here. You’ll find a whole range of different vintages to try en route, the best known ones include Roupeiro, Rabo do Ovelha and Antão Vaz (white) and Periquita, Trincadeira and Aragonez (reds), although many small family run vineyards produce their own versions as well. The majority of the wines served in Portugal come from this region. If you enjoy a very young wine, try Vinho Verde from the North. Calcos do Tanha from the Douro region is a good red wine as are Cozinha Velha, Esporão and Ma Partilha from Terra do Sado. Try one of the many excellent ports as a digestif. | N/A |
| Description |
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Portugal may be small but it's big on vibrant culture, history, and natural beauty that invite intimate exploration. Discover the seafaring charms of the coast, the lush river valley vineyards, the hilltop castles and villages in its alpine interior and monuments to man-made achievements during stays in gracious palace hotels and pousadas. |
Day 1 Arrive in Porto
Arrive at your hotel in Porto. After a briefing with our agent you can enjoy dinner on the Douro riverfront. You stay at the Hotel Vila Gale (breakfast at the hotel, evening meal included in a local restaurant)
Day 2 At Porto
Today you could opt for a return cycle ride, taking you north of Porto and along both the Douro River and the ocean front, passing glorious beaches, the 16th century castle of Sao Joao da Foz, Matosinhos - with some great seafood restaurants - and the Boa Nova Tea House which belongs to the Portuguese Masterchef's Rui Paula. If you'd rather spend the day exploring Porto, why not enjoy a stroll along the riverfront, wander the narrow, winding streets or explore the historic Ribeira district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For dinner this evening you can choose from a number of fine local restaurants. You stay at the Hotel Vila Gale (breakfast included)
Day 3 Porto to Furadouro
This morning, enjoy a relaxed ride along the Douro River's south bank, full of brightly coloured rabelo boats. You could stop for a tasting in one of the famous port wine caves before following an idyllic waterfront path from the Natural Reserve of the Douro Estuary - a great spot for birdwatching - to the Atlantic coast. Heading onwards, you'll pass some beautiful sandy beaches - perhaps stop for lunch in one of the seafront restaurants and relax on Espinho's gorgeous golden sands - before following a cycle path through pine forest to your beachfront hotel in Furadouro. You stay at the Furadouro Boutique Hotel (breakfast included)
Day 4 Furadouro to Aveiro (Estarreja)
Head south from Furadouro along the protected Aveiro Lagoon, one of Europe's last pristine coastal marshes and a haven for many bird species including plover and sandpiper - you can discover more about the area by joining the canal and paying a visit to the BioRia Interpretation Centre. It's then on to Salreu where you'll take a short train journey (10 mins - pay locally) to Aveiro, your home for the next two nights. There are plenty of good fish restaurants to choose from for dinner, within easy reach of your luxury hotel. You stay at the Hotel Moliceiro (breakfast included)
Day 5 At Aveiro
Aveiro is known as 'Portugal's Venice', with a picturesque network of canals weaving their way through the city, lined with grand buildings and former fishermen's houses and filled with gondola-style boats making their way leisurely along the water. Charming alleyways are lined with churrasquerias for lunch, while a bustling fish market takes place every day. Visit the impressive Jesus Monastery and Aveiro Museum, along with the beautiful cathedral which dominates the town square. You stay at the Hotel Moliceiro (breakfast included)
Day 6 Aveiro to Praia De Mira
Cycle southwards today and visit the factory and museum of Vista Alegre, Portugal's oldest fine porcelain producer, based in Ilhavo, before crossing the Aveiro Lagoon to meet the ocean again in Vagueira. From here you head north to Costa Nova, home to a lovely sandy beach lined by colourful candy-striped houses, before cycling back to Vagueira and along the coast. Turning inland, you'll make your way to your 4 star beachfront hotel at Praia de Mira, passing fields of pears, lemons and strawberries en route. You stay at the Macarico Beach Hotel (breakfast at the hotel, evening meal in a local restaurant)
Day 7 At Praia de Mira
Perhaps take it easy today and enjoy a day at a beach, relaxing on Praia de Mira's silky sands dotted with brightly coloured fishing boats and several beach cafes. Alternatively, follow a trail eastwards into lagoons and acacia forest, crossing the canals over New England-style bridges. This is a lovely route lined by iris and bright cistus and you're likely to spot kingfisher and blue heron, along with several good picnic spots! You stay at the Macarico Beach Hotel (breakfast at the hotel, evening meal in a local restaurant)
Day 8 Praia de Mira to Curia
Leave the coast behind and follow a cycle path inland through acacia forest, before passing farms and small villages on your way to the vineyards of the Bairrada region. Stop for a spot of wine tasting at the Quinta do Encontro before a short ride brings you to Curia and your 'Palace Hotel' set in 14 acres of gardens and parkland. You stay at the Curia Palace (breakfast and evening meal)
Day 9 Curia to Coimbra
Your final day takes you through vineyards to the Mondego River Valley. You'll cycle alongside farms and rice fields, following the river, with a final stretch through the Choupal Forest to arrive in Coimbra. There's so much to discover in this beautiful riverfront city, including the historic university with its spectacular Baroque library, the Museo de Castro, whose art collection in the Bishop's Palace is one of the finest in Portugal, not to mention the interest-packed streets and leafy plazas just perfect for exploring. We recommend spending extra nights here so you can enjoy the city to the full, including the markets, restaurants and lively fado bars! You stay at the Hotel Vila Gale Coimbra (breakfast included)
Day 10 Leave Coimbra
The tour ends after breakfast in Coimbra.
Day 1 Arrive Porto
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Hotel Infante Sagres. A transfer is included from Porto Int'l Airport to Hotel Infante Sagres in the city's historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Please join us tonight for a welcome reception followed by dinner at the hotel.
MEALS : D
LODGING : Hotel Infante Sagres
PORTOFCALL : Porto, Portugal
Day 2 Painted Tiles & Port Wines in Porto
Colorful, eclectic Porto rises on staggered hills beside the Douro River where the river empties into the Atlantic. Port wine originated here in the 17th century and is still the region's mainstay product, brought down from the vineyards of the Douro River Valley. Begin the day with a guided tour of Porto's historic district and its beguiling architecture, from medieval to Baroque to Beaux-Arts, winding alleyways, miradouros (lookout points), opulent palaces and churches. Public art is everywhere in the boldly colored painted tiles (azulejos) that adorn city buildings, including the historic São Bento train station. A guided ride aboard a traditional rabelo boat along the Douro River precedes a visit a port wine cellar for a tour and tasting before lunch at a local restaurant overlooking the Douro. Return to your newly restored hotel in Porto's historic district to relax and spend the rest of the afternoon and evening as you please.
MEALS : B, L
LODGING : Hotel Infante Sagres
PORTOFCALL : Porto, Portugal
Day 3 Explore Coimbra and Batalha
This morning travel to Coimbra, located on the Mondego River in central Portugal, for a guided tour of one of the oldest universities in the world. The University of Coimbra was actually founded in Lisbon in 1290 but relocated here in 1308. Visit its 18th-century library, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is home to some 56,000 volumes, many of which date from the 16th to 18th centuries. Travel to Batalha for a visit to the Monastery of Batalha; it is the site of João d'Avis' tomb, along with those of his wife and four of their children (notably including Henry the Navigator). The monastery offers a mix of Gothic and Manueline architecture and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue on to the seaside Praia D'EI Rey Marriott Golf & Beach Resort near Óbidos for an overnight stay.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Praia D'El Rey Marriott Golf and Beach Resort
PORTOFCALL : Coimbra Portugal
Day 4 Óbidos & Alentejo Wine Country
Spend the morning exploring on your own in the hilltop walled town of Óbidos, described by Condé Nast Traveler as "a medieval town that looks like it was lifted from the pages of a fairy tale." Enjoy time to wander along its cobbled streets that meander up to the ramparts, passing picturesque whitewashed houses charming with cascading bougainvillea and painted doors of every color. According to a popular legend, ever since King Dinis gifted this pretty town to his beloved Queen Isabel de Aragon in the 13th century, princes have offered it to their brides too. Lunch today is at a traditional estate in the Tejo wine region (formerly Ribatejo). This evening, check into your luxury hotel, a restored 15th-century convent outside of town, where dinner offers a choice of Alentejo specialties.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Convento do Espinheiro
PORTOFCALL : Evora, Portugal
Day 5 Medieval Évora
Start your day with a walking tour of Évora's historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, including its beautiful botanical gardens. The city's history reaches back 2,000 years; Portuguese kings resided here during the country's Golden Age, and you'll see royal palaces with a rich variety of architectural styles as your local guide peels back Évora's layers of history with stories about its Roman roots, its Moorish influences, and its glory years in the Middle Ages as a seat of learning and the arts. After lunch at a local restaurant, return to your hotel in Évora and spend the rest of the day and evening as you wish.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Convento do Espinheiro
PORTOFCALL : Evora, Portugal
Day 6 Explore Lisbon
Depart Évora and head for Portugal's colorful capital city of Lisbon; upon arrival, enjoy a guided visit to the Maritime Museum (Museu de Marinha) – a "world of discoveries" that takes you from the great adventure of the Discoveries to the evolution of the commercial and war navies within an impressive collection of 23,000 pieces. Next, enjoy a guided tour of the Belem district, where you can see the Monument to the Discoveries, and Jeronimos Monastery, where Vasco da Gama and Portugal's kings are buried (subject to availability). Following a lunch of local specialties, check into your landmark Lisbon hotel on the luxurious Avenida da Liberdade, and spend the evening as you please in this historic city.
MEALS : B, L
LODGING : Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Lisboa
PORTOFCALL : Lisbon, Portugal
Day 7 Sintra, Cascais & a farewell evening
Today, visit Sintra – a romantic city of castles, monuments, and palatial estates, where your morning includes a tour of the National Palace of Pena, a romantic, 19th-century retreat crowning a mountain peak, and resplendent with yellow and pink painted buildings, crenellated turrets, and a medley of architectural styles; it was inspired by castles on the Rhine. After some free time to explore as you wish in Sintra, meander through picturesque landscapes to the beach town of Cascais on the Portuguese Riviera; return to Lisbon for an afternoon spent as you please. Then join us this evening for a private dinner at 18th-century Palacio de Queluz as your 8-day journey throughout Portugal journey comes to a close.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Lisboa
PORTOFCALL : Cascais Portugal
Day 8 Journey home
Tour ends: Lisbon. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Lisboa to Lisbon Airport. You should allow a minimum of 3½ hours for flight check-in.
MEALS : B
PORTOFCALL : Lisbon, Portugal
