Romantic Portugal

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

This comprehensive private tour features the very best of Portugal, including fascinating touring and top luxury resorts in beautiful locations.

Begin in the Algarve, Portugal’s sunny southern coast, and stay at a luxury beach resort. One day, enjoy a private tour of the local historic and scenic highlights, including towns such as Tavira and Silves, and see beautiful landscapes such as Cabo San Vicente. Upon request, Artisans of Leisure can arrange golf, private yacht charters, hiking or biking in the Monchique Mountains, and more. During leisure time, enjoy your resort’s private beach, swimming pool, spa and acclaimed restaurant.

En route to Lisbon, enjoy a private tour of fascinating Evora, a beautiful city and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore narrow streets lined with whitewashed houses, and see ancient Roman ruins and Moorish architecture. Also walk through the historic Jewish quarter, and tour the city’s Chapel of Bones. A lunch reservation will be made at one of the leading wine estates in the area. If desired, also visit the Cromlech and Menhir of Almendres, Neolithic ruins in a dense cork forest.

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   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.

One day, enjoy a private excursion to Sintra, an aristocratic town of fairy-tale palaces and gardens among forested hills. During private touring in this UNESCO World Heritage Site, visit highlights including 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. If desired, also visit the upscale seaside town of Cascais.

Next, you will be privately transferred to the Douro Valley. 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.

While in the beautiful Douro Valley, a hilly wine region along the Douro River, stay at a quinta (wine estate) converted into a luxurious resort among terraced vineyards. During private touring, enjoy private wine tasting at the best local wine estates and take an exclusive river cruise in a traditional rabelo boat. Upon request, Artisans of Leisure can also arrange cooking classes, walks through villages, bird watching, kayaking, mountain biking and other activities in the region. Artisans of Leisure can also assist with spa and dining reservations.

Continue to 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.

Daily touring can be fully customized to suit your interests. Artisans of Leisure will also assist with advance dining reservations at Portugal’s top restaurants.