The Highlights of Portugal

This palace-like 18th-century estate is world-renowned for its beauty and the quality of its wines. At one point, it was acquired by King João V as a gift for Dona Maria, a lady of the court with whom he was madly in love. Explore the grounds and the gorgeous walled garden, learning the stories of the aristocrats that once spent hot summer afternoons here. Inside, the owner will invite you to enjoy a wine tasting and traditional lunch.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the ‘museum city’, Évora traces some 2000 years of history. On your private tour, start in the main square, Praça do Giraldo, the heart of the city where you can see the 16th Century St. Anton’s Church. Beyond, explore the Gothic and Manueline influenced Church of St. Francis and the Capela dos Ossos, the Chapel of Bones. Évora’s Cathedral, by far the most dominating site in the whole town and the largest cathedral in Portugal.

At the Herdade Da Mata farm, we’ll arrange a tour and a picnic lunch. The Swiss owners live on the grounds and are delighted to share life on a typical Alentejo farm, from breeding cattle horses and goats to running the equestrian school. You will have the opportunity to meet endangered Garvonesa cows, enjoy spectacular views and spot many different species of birds.

Your private tour will allows you to dig deeper into the history of Portugal’s capital. Visit the Castle of Saint Jorge and Alfama, Lisbon’s oldest quarter, before learning about the heroic deeds of the Portuguese maritime exploration in the 15th and 16th centuries. This was the Golden Era of Portugal, when Lisbon transformed into the opulent center of a vast empire. Monuments from this era can still be seen today.

In Sintra, hundreds of years of history and culture await. You’ll walk through the city centre and visit the 19th-century Pena Palace, the greatest expression of 19th-century romanticism in Portugal. Cascais is a coastal town, once a small fishing village, that became popular with artists and writers thanks to its idyllic scenery. You will also have time to explore the pretty seaside resort of Estoril.

Many Portuguese would argue that you can’t truly know their country without hearing and understanding the traditional music. Fado is the melancholic song of Portugal, usually performed in a dark tavern by a singer and a small band of guitars, violas and basses. Tonight, you will be welcomed into the soul of Portugal in one of Lisbon’s most emblematic fado locales for a traditional Portuguese meal and a show.

Venture out of Lisbon to visit Tomar, one of Portugal’s most historic cities. Its Templar Castle and Christ Convent became the national headquarters of the Templar Knights in the middle ages, and later was at the forefront of the Order of Christ. In Fatima, visit one of the most important catholic shrines in the world dedicated to the Virgin Mary, which welcomes millions of pilgrims and tourists from all over the world.