Garden Tour of Portugal

(9 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Porto & Douro Valley, Sintra, Lisbon

This private tour features some of Portugal’s most beautiful gardens as well as private cultural touring with your own guide and driver in the country’s top destinations.

Begin in Porto, the capital of Port wine and a city with a fascinating mix of architectural styles, including Roman, medieval, Baroque and contemporary. Stay in a luxurious hotel on a hillside overlooking wine cellars and the Douro River. During private touring, explore the historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See highlights such as the Palacio da Bolsa (Stock Exchange), the Se do Porto (Porto Cathedral) and the Livraria Lello, a historic bookstore with ornate woodwork. Browse specialty shops selling porcelain and Portuguese design products, and perhaps opt to visit additional places such as the Serralves Museum, the Casa da Musica, attractions with beautiful Portuguese tiles, or the riverside neighborhood of Ribeira. Artisans of Leisure will also arrange a private tour and Port tasting at one of the city’s most renowned cellars.

One day, take a private excursion to the beautiful Douro Valley, a hilly wine region along the Douro River. Visit beautiful local gardens and enjoy wine tasting at a local quinta (wine estate). Also take an exclusive private river cruise in a traditional rabelo boat, and enjoy spectacular views of hills covered with terraced vineyards.

Next, you will be privately transferred to Sintra. En route, stop at favorite locations, such as picturesque villages with buildings covered in colorful tiles, important religious sites, historic towns or  fascinating UNESCO World Heritage sites. Stay in Sintra, an aristocratic town of fairy-tale palaces and gardens among forested hills. During private touring in this UNESCO World Heritage Site, visit the romantic National Palace of Pena, the spectacular National Palace of Sintra and the narrow streets in the historic center of the town, including the former Jewish quarter. Also visit Quinta da Regaleira and other spectacular palaces and gardens. If desired, also visit the upscale seaside town of Cascais.

Finally, experience Lisbon as an insider during private touring with an expert local guide. Tour the historic Alfama district, the sophisticated Bairro Alto and Lapa districts and the riverside Belem district. See St. George’s Castle, Mosteiro dos Jeronimos monastery, Belem Tower and other impressive monuments of Moorish and Manueline architecture. Browse select shops offering Portuguese specialties such as azulejo tiles, embroidered linens, Indo-Portuguese furniture, gold jewelry, Portuguese design products and antiques. Sample local food specialties such as pasteis de nata custard tarts. Also tour museums according to your interests, including options such as the National Tile Museum, the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, the National Coach Museum and the Museum of Folk Art. Other touring options include vibrant food markets, botanical gardens, scenic viewpoints overlooking the city and a private appointment to visit the Ricardo do Espirito Santo Silva Foundation, which is dedicated to the preservation and reproduction of traditional Portuguese design and decorative art. One evening, enjoy a memorable fado music performance at a local club. Upon request, Artisans of Leisure can arrange dinner reservations at Lisbon's best restaurants.

This tour can easily be extended to include Madeira, a volcanic island off the coast of Africa with year-round balmy weather, to tour its many gardens, local markets, wineries, embroidery studios and other highlights.