First time visitors to Portugal looking for an easy itinerary that combines the history and sites of a cosmopolitan city like Lisbon, with the more laid back and rustic sites of the quaint heartland of Portugal will enjoy this itinerary.
You will begin in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, which is located at the mouth of the Tagus River. It is one of the oldest cities in the world and the oldest in Western Europe. It has a rich history and offers visitors everything from historic castles, cathedrals and monasteries, to museums, to the largest indoor aquarium in all of Europe. And when the sun goes down, you can enjoy the other attractions that can be found by exploring the many popular neighborhoods known for their vibrant shopping, dining, and nightlife scene.
After spending a few days in the big city, you can take off on a road trip across the center of Portugal to explore the Alentejo region. The region is known for its vast rolling hills, cork production, and marble quarries, and will give you a glimpse into the Portugal of yesterday, as it remains fairly unchanged to this day.
The road trip begins in Estremoz, the easternmost city of the itinerary. Estremoz is the largest of the marble towns that dot the region, and is known for the charming clay figurines that are still handcrafted locally. The next stop is Arraiolos, a charming town nestled in the hills that is world renowned for the wool rugs that are still hand woven by local women using a needlepoint stich that is applied on canvas. After you have picked out your favorite rug and loaded up the car, a 30 minute drive will take you to Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Évora is known for having the best preserved Roman monuments on the Iberian Peninsula, along with a 12th C. cathedral, and a 14th C. aqueduct.
The drive back to Lisbon will only take about an hour and fifteen minutes. On your final night in this charming city, be sure to enjoy a fine meal at one of its many fine restaurants, and then stop by the Antiga Confeitaria de Belém for one last delicious Pastéis de Belém custard pastry before you fly home.
For more information on the towns, click on the hyperlinks.
- Day 1: Arrive in Lisbon in the morning; sightseeing in the afternoon
- Day 2: Sightseeing in Lisbon
- Day 3: Sightseeing in Lisbon
- Day 4: Leave in the morning and drive to Estremoz (170 km); sightseeing in Estremoz
- Day 5: After breakfast drive to Arraiolos (44 km); sightseeing in Arraiolos
- Day 6: After breakfast drive to Évora (23 km); sightseeing in Évora
- Day 7: Sightseeing in Évora in the morning, drive back to Lisbon in the afternoon (130 km)
- Day 8: Depart Lisbon to return home
Information on what to see and do, and where to eat in these cities can be found on our website. Simply search by city.
Book a private tour! You may want to consider booking a private tour with an English-speaking guide. Private tours are a great way to make the best use of the limited time you have in each city. Your English-speaking local guide will make sure you don’t miss any must-see sights, and will provide you with the history and insights behind the places you will visit. For more information on all of our Portugal tours, click here.
Photo credit: © Turismo de Lisboa • All rights reserved.
For assistance with your travel plans, including hotel and private tour reservations, click here.