Stepping into Portugal’s Storied Past: Two Week Historical Tour

What to expect on this itinerary
This 2-week Portugal tour immerses you in the country’s cultural delights and storied past. While Portugal is not as widely known as Greece is for it’s history, Portugal is a country that is home to thousands of years of history and is often overlooked by travelers. Uncover the historical treasures of Obidos, follow in the footsteps of the Knights Templar, and attend an authentic fado performance.
Customizable Itinerary
Lisbon – Introductory Tour
When you arrive in Lisbon, a private driver will be waiting to greet and transfer you to your accommodation in the heart of the city. Upon your arrival, you will have some time to settle in and relax after the long flight before meeting your guide for a private tour of the city. Your tour will focus on the historical gems of the city, such as the Alfama district, Castelo de São Jorge, Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, and Torre de Belém. After your tour, you will have the remainder of the evening to spend at your leisure.
What's Included:
Sintra – The World of Sintra
Cascais – Morning in Estoril
Cascais – The Queluz National Palace
Obidos – Visit Mafra’s Palace
Obidos – Alcobaca & Batalha
Nazare – A Charming Fishing Village
Nazare – Morning Yoga Session
Fatima – The Chapel of the Apparitions
Tomar – The Knights Templar
Coimbra – The Origins of Coimbra
Porto – Attend a Fado Performance
Porto – Enjoy a Dinner Cruise
Porto – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Take a private tour of Lisbon’s historical highlights, including Castelo de São Jorge, the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, and the Torre de Belém
- Spend a day in the land of Sintra, perusing the Pena Palace and Sintra town
- Marvel at the treasures of Obidos, which is Portugal’s iconic medieval village
- Marvel at the Batalha Mosteiro de Santa Maria da Vitória and appreciate its impressive cloisters
- Visit Nazare and explore Portugal’s most charming fishing village
- Delve into the fascinating stories that surround the Virgin Mary and her past ties to the pilgrimage site of Fatima
- Follow in the footsteps of the Knights Templar on an exciting visit to Tomar
- Venture into Porto’s past on a private tour of its historical sites and attend an authentic fado performance
- Explore Coimbra and its wealth of history during a private tour
- Embark on a dinner cruise during a delightful evening in Porto
Detailed Description
This 14-day Portugal tour begins in Lisbon. Here, you will spend your first evening on a private tour of the city’s highlights, such as the Belem Tower. You will then make your way to Sintra, where you will have the opportunity to explore Pena Palace and Sintra town. Cascais will beckon to you on day three, and after spending the morning in Estoril, you will spend the evening along Cascais’ lovely streets. You will then journey to the Queluz National Palace for a private tour.
The following day, you will embark on a tour of Mafra, during which you will be afforded visits to its resident palace and medieval village of Obidos. The historical enclaves of Alcobaca and Batalha will host you the following day. Here, you can visit the Mosteiro de Santa Maria and the Mosteiro de Santa Maria da Vitória. You will then venture to Nazare, which is Portugal’s most famous fishing village. From Nazare, you will travel to the religious pilgrimage site of Fatima, where you will learn about the city’s ties to the Virgin Mary.
Tomar will be your next stop, and here, you will follow in the footsteps of the Knights Templar. You will then travel to Coimbra before continuing to Porto. In Porto, you will spend a day exploring the city’s iconic sites before attending an authentic fado performance. Your final full day in Portugal will be spent visiting Braga and Guimaraes.
Starting Price
$3,700 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
The starting price is based on travel during the low season for a minimum of two travelers staying in shared 3-star accommodations. Please inquire for a custom trip quote based on your travel preferences and travel dates.
Verified Traveler Reviews
Based on 365 reviews
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This was a wonderful, perfectly balanced experience, so well planned by Zicasso’s trip coordinator at the tour company! From the arrivals to the departures, every connection went smoothly. From being met by our excellent drivers and superb, knowledgeable guides, everything that we were able to pack in during our short, intense visit was a well-planned and interesting highlight!
To all of our drivers, thank you! To our guides in Lisbon, Sintra and Cascais, Coimbra, Porto, and Barcelona, much appreciation for your expertise and patience. And the hotels were superb too! We only wish we could repeat the very same mother-daughter trip with more time! We particularly enjoyed a rainy afternoon's sailboat ride on the Douro River with our hostess and the excellent captain.
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My wife and I have been lucky enough to travel to many places around the world, but our April 2025 journey organized by Zicasso's tour company was easily one of the best. Our agent and her team thought of every detail. All we had to do was show up and enjoy these two beautiful countries!
We went to Four cities: Lisbon, Porto, San Sebastián, and Barcelona. The itineraries were thoughtfully planned to give us great experiences without wearing us out too much. And the guides in each city were fun, knowledgeable, and engaging. The transportation was always easy and on time, and the hotels were top-notch.
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The travel agent from Zicasso's tour company planned for my family of four the most spectacular and luxurious two-week trip around Portugal. We traveled to and enjoyed the highlights of Lisbon, the romantic architecture in Sintra, the incredible history of Évora, the beautiful coastline of the Algarve, the laid-back atmosphere and gorgeous scenery of Madeira, the beautiful, historical, bustling city of Porto, and the stunning scenery of the Douro Valley.
The travel agent's suggestions and bookings were all perfectly aligned with what we envisioned and the accommodations booked were all beautifully appointed and family-oriented – five-star hotels that catered to the entire family, with indoor pools and kids greeted with backpacks and toys at the door, and nightly treats on pillows.
The tour guides booked were all very knowledgeable and kind. They were patient with my two- and four-year-olds, and taught us all so many new, amazing things.
Every day was a highlight, but I would say my girls really enjoyed the tile painting as well as the pastel de nata-making workshops.
My husband and I really enjoyed Évora and Sintra, and truly seeing the beauty and history of it all.
We absolutely fell in love with Portugal, the culture, and the food. My only regret is not having more time so we could’ve seen the Azores as well and stayed even longer.
We so look forward to this travel agent planning us another perfect vacation in the near future!
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