InBound Portugal
Group Program

Grand Tour of Portugal — North to South

16 participants Ages 40-65 8 days

The definitive Portugal experience — eight days travelling from the medieval streets of Porto to the sun-baked plains of the Alentejo, covering every major region and landscape the country has to offer. This program is designed for first-time visitors to Portugal and for travellers who want a comprehensive understanding of the country: its history, gastronomy, wine, architecture, and people. The routing follows a south-bound arc — Porto and the Douro, Guimarães, Coimbra, Óbidos, Sintra, Lisbon, Évora — connecting the dots between UNESCO World Heritage sites, Atlantic coastline, river valleys, and ancient plains. Professionally paced for groups aged 40 to 65, with private ground logistics throughout.

01
Day 1
Arrival in Porto — The City of Bridges
10:00
Airport Meet & Greet — Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO)
InBound Portugal representative meets the group at the arrivals hall with personalised signage. Luggage coordination and group briefing. Private coach (16 pax) standing by at the dedicated group exit. 30-minute transfer to hotel in central Porto.
Transfer
10:45
Hotel Check-in — Porto Ribeira / Aliados area
Check-in at a 4-star hotel in central Porto — within walking distance of the Ribeira waterfront and the main squares. Rooms pre-blocked for early access. Group welcome pack and 8-day program booklet distributed at reception. Brief orientation by group leader.
Accommodation
12:30
Welcome Lunch — Cais da Ribeira waterfront
First meal in Porto at a traditional restaurant on the Ribeira waterfront overlooking the Douro River and the Dom Luís I Bridge. Menu: caldo verde (kale soup); grilled dourada or bacalhau com natas; house Douro wine; arroz doce as dessert. Duration: approx. 90 minutes.
Gastronomy
14:30
Porto City Walking Tour — Aliados · Clérigos · Lello · São Bento
Licensed Porto guide leads the group through the city centre. Key stops: Avenida dos Aliados and City Hall; Torre dos Clérigos exterior; Livraria Lello (timed entry included — one of the world most beautiful bookshops); Praça da Batalha; São Bento railway station interior azulejo panels depicting Portuguese history. Duration: 2 hours.
Sightseeing
17:00
Vila Nova de Gaia — Port Wine Cellar Visit
Walk or short transfer across Dom Luís I Bridge to Vila Nova de Gaia. Private guided visit to a historic Port wine lodge on the Cais de Gaia waterfront. Cellar tour: ageing barrels; classification system explained (Ruby; Tawny; LBV; Vintage). Tasting of 4 Ports. Duration: 90 minutes.
Gastronomy
19:00
Return to Hotel — Rest Period
Transfer back to hotel. 90-minute rest before dinner.
Personal Time
20:30
Welcome Dinner — Foz do Douro area
Dinner at a premium restaurant near the Foz do Douro neighbourhood where the river meets the Atlantic. Menu: amêijoas à Bulhão Pato; grilled robalo (sea bass); Douro DOC red wine; leite creme for dessert. Duration: approx. 2 hours.
Gastronomy
22:30
Return to Hotel
Private coach. 15-minute drive. End of Day 1.
Transfer
02
Day 2
Guimarães — Birthplace of Portugal
07:30
Breakfast at Hotel
Full buffet breakfast. Departure briefing at 09:00.
Gastronomy
09:00
Transfer to Guimarães
Private coach departs Porto. 50-minute drive northeast to Guimarães — the cradle of the Portuguese nation.
Transfer
10:00
Guimarães Castle & Palace of the Dukes of Braganza
Private guided visit to the Guimarães Castle (Castelo de Guimarães) — 10th-century fortress where Afonso Henriques
Cultural
11:45
Guimarães Historic Centre — UNESCO Walk
Guided walk through the UNESCO-classified historic centre: Largo da Oliveira (the square that was medieval Guimarães); Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira; Largo do Toural; the medieval streets of Rua de Santa Maria with their overhanging houses. Duration: 60 minutes.
Sightseeing
13:00
Lunch — Guimarães historic centre (Largo do Toural / Rua de Santa Maria area)
Lunch in a traditional Minho restaurant in the historic centre. Menu: bacalhau à Gomes de Sá (salt cod with potatoes and egg); rojões à minhota (fried pork with tripe and cumin — the regional speciality); Vinho Verde branco; toucinho do céu for dessert. Duration: 90 minutes.
Gastronomy
14:45
Penha Hill — Cable Car & Sanctuary
Cable car (teleférico) from the city centre to the Penha hilltop sanctuary (617m). Panoramic views over Guimarães and the Minho valley. Visit to the Santuário de Nossa Senhora da Penha. Short walk through the granite boulder landscape. Duration: 60 minutes. Cable car tickets included.
Sightseeing
16:00
Transfer back to Porto
Private coach returns to Porto. 50-minute drive.
Transfer
17:00
Porto — Bolhão Market & Afternoon Free Time
Brief stop at the restored Mercado do Bolhão — Porto iconic covered market (1914). Walk through fresh produce stalls and artisan vendors. Free time in central Porto for shopping and independent exploration. Guide available.
Personal Time
18:30
Return to Hotel — Rest Period
Return to hotel. 90-minute rest before dinner.
Personal Time
20:00
Dinner — Porto Bonfim / Campanhã area (traditional tascas)
Dinner in a neighbourhood tasca away from the tourist centre — the authentic Porto dining experience. Menu: francesinha (Porto signature sandwich in spiced tomato and beer sauce — the most iconic dish in the city); tripas à moda do Porto for the adventurous; Douro tinto; fruit and cheese for dessert. Duration: 2 hours.
Gastronomy
22:00
Return to Hotel
Private coach. End of Day 2.
Transfer
03
Day 3
Douro Valley — Vineyards · River · Quintas
07:00
Breakfast at Hotel — Checkout Preparation
Early breakfast. Luggage outside rooms by 08:00. Full checkout — coach carries all luggage for onward journey south via Douro.
Gastronomy
08:30
Transfer Porto to Douro Valley — Pinhão
Private coach departs Porto hotel eastward via A4/IP4 into the Douro Valley. Distance: approx. 120km; journey time: 90 minutes. Guide provides commentary as the landscape shifts from city to terraced vineyards. Arrival in Pinhão — the heart of the Port wine production zone.
Transfer
10:00
Pinhão Railway Station — Azulejo Panels
Brief stop at Pinhão station — the platforms are decorated with 24 azulejo panels depicting the wine harvest and river scenes of the Douro. One of the most photographed railway stations in the world. 20-minute stop.
Sightseeing
10:30
Quinta Visit — Douro wine estate (Pinhão / Sabrosa area)
Private guided visit to a Douro quinta. Vineyard walk: terraced schist slopes; explanation of the DOC classifications. Winery tour: lagares; barrel ageing. Structured tasting of 4 wines: 1 Douro white; 2 Douro reds; 1 Vintage Port. Terrace views over the valley. Duration: 90 minutes.
Sightseeing
12:15
Douro River Cruise — Pinhão to Peso da Régua
Private rabelo boat (traditional Douro vessel) cruise from Pinhão downstream to Peso da Régua. Approx. 75 minutes on the river. Passing through the UNESCO-classified terraced landscape. Guide on board with narrative. Wine and water served on deck.
Sightseeing
14:00
Lunch — Peso da Régua riverside (Cais de Régua area)
Lunch at a riverside restaurant in Peso da Régua with Douro views. Menu: presunto and local cheese board; roasted kid (cabrito assado); Douro DOC red; toucinho do céu for dessert. Duration: 90 minutes.
Gastronomy
15:45
Scenic Drive South — N222 Douro Riverside Road
Coach departs Régua southward via the N222 — the celebrated riverside road along the south bank of the Douro
Transfer
18:30
Hotel Check-in — Coimbra historic centre
Check-in at a 4-star hotel in or adjacent to Coimbra historic centre. Rooms pre-assigned. Group leader briefs on Coimbra program.
Accommodation
19:30
Evening Stroll — Coimbra riverside (Rua da Sofia / Largo da Portagem area)
Informal walk along the Mondego riverside and through the lower town. Guide points out key landmarks for the following morning. The university lights on the hill visible from the river are a distinctive Coimbra sight. Duration: 45 minutes.
Sightseeing
20:30
Dinner — Coimbra (Rua das Azeiteiras / Baixa area)
Dinner in a traditional Coimbra restaurant in the lower town. Menu: chanfana (slow-cooked goat in red wine — the regional Beira speciality); arroz de lampreia if in season (lamprey rice — a Coimbra delicacy); Bairrada red wine; pastel de Tentúgal for dessert. Duration: approx. 2 hours.
Gastronomy
22:30
Return to Hotel
Short walk or private coach. End of Day 3.
Transfer
04
Day 4
Coimbra — University · Fado · Conimbriga
07:30
Breakfast at Hotel
Full buffet breakfast. Departure briefing at 09:00.
Gastronomy
09:00
University of Coimbra — Private Guided Visit
Private guided visit to the University of Coimbra — one of the oldest universities in the world (founded 1290); UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013. Key stops: Paço das Escolas courtyard; Via Latina; Royal Palace; Biblioteca Joanina (one of the most extraordinary Baroque libraries in existence — painted ceilings; gilded shelving; resident bat colony that protects the books); Chapel of São Miguel. Timed entry to Joanina Library included. Duration: 90 minutes.
Sightseeing
11:00
Coimbra Cathedral (Sé Velha) — Romanesque Interior
Visit to the Sé Velha — one of the best-preserved Romanesque cathedrals in Portugal (12th century); built during the Reconquista; extraordinary Gothic altarpiece in gilded wood. Duration: 30 minutes. Entry included.
Sightseeing
11:45
Transfer to Conimbriga
Private coach departs Coimbra for Conimbriga (16km south). 25-minute drive.
Transfer
12:15
Conimbriga — Roman Ruins
Private guided visit to Conimbriga — the largest and best-preserved Roman settlement in Portugal (1st to 4th century AD). Extraordinary mosaic floors; forum; baths; domestic houses with intact hypocaust heating systems; city walls. On-site museum included. Duration: 90 minutes. Entry fees included.
Sightseeing
14:00
Lunch — Condeixa-a-Nova (adjacent to Conimbriga)
Lunch in a traditional restaurant in Condeixa-a-Nova village adjacent to the ruins. Menu: leitão da Bairrada (suckling pig roasted on a spit — the most celebrated dish in the Beira Litoral); regional Bairrada sparkling wine or tinto; orange and cinnamon dessert. Duration: 90 minutes.
Gastronomy
16:00
Return to Coimbra — Free Afternoon
Return to Coimbra. Free time in the Baixa and Chiado areas of the lower town. Optional: Jardim Botânico da Universidade (Botanical Garden — founded 1772; one of the finest in Portugal). Guide available.
Personal Time
18:30
Return to Hotel — Rest Period
Return to hotel. Rest before evening Fado program.
Personal Time
20:00
Coimbra Fado Evening — Casa de Fado
Alta Universitária
Dinner
22:30
Return to Hotel
Private coach. End of Day 4.
Transfer
05
Day 5
Óbidos · Nazaré · Batalha · Fátima
07:00
Breakfast at Hotel — Checkout
Early breakfast. Luggage outside rooms by 08:00. Full checkout — coach carries luggage south.
Gastronomy
08:30
Transfer to Óbidos
Private coach departs Coimbra southward via A1. 90-minute drive to Óbidos.
Transfer
10:00
Óbidos — Medieval Walled Village
Private guided visit to Óbidos — one of the best-preserved medieval villages in Europe; entirely enclosed within 13th-century walls; whitewashed houses with bougainvillea; cobblestone streets. Walk the full circuit of the castle walls (1.5km); Igreja de Santa Maria interior; visit to a traditional ginja de Óbidos (sour cherry liqueur) shop — tasting in the traditional chocolate cup. Duration: 75 minutes.
Sightseeing
11:30
Transfer to Nazaré
30-minute drive west to the Atlantic coast.
Transfer
12:00
Nazaré — Fishing Village & Sítio Viewpoint
Visit to Nazaré — the most photogenic Atlantic fishing village in Portugal. Cable car (ascensor) to the Sítio — the clifftop upper village with panoramic views of the ocean and the beach below. Visit to the Ermida da Memória chapel (Romanesque; connected to a miraculous legend). The Praia da Nazaré beach visible below — site of the world record big wave surfing. Duration: 60 minutes.
Sightseeing
13:15
Lunch — Nazaré seafront (Avenida Manuel Remígio area)
Lunch at a seafood restaurant on the Nazaré seafront. Menu: caldeirada de peixe (fish stew with Atlantic catch); grilled sardines if in season; regional Oeste white wine; traditional dessert. Duration: 90 minutes.
Gastronomy
15:00
Mosteiro da Batalha — UNESCO World Heritage
Private guided visit to the Mosteiro da Batalha (Battle Abbey) — one of the greatest Gothic buildings in Portugal; built to commemorate the Battle of Aljubarrota (1385); UNESCO World Heritage Site. Key stops: Founder's Chapel with the tombs of King João I and Queen Filipa of Lancaster; Royal Cloister; Unfinished Chapels (one of the most dramatic architectural fragments in Europe — vaulted ambulatory open to the sky). Entry fees included. Duration: 75 minutes.
Sightseeing
17:00
Fátima — Sanctuary Visit
Transfer to Fátima (20 minutes from Batalha). Guided visit to the Sanctuary of Fátima — one of the most visited Catholic pilgrimage sites in the world. Guide explains the history of the 1917 apparitions and the theological significance of the site. Visit to the Capelinha das Aparições; the Basílica de Nossa Senhora do Rosário; the Basílica da Santíssima Trindade (capacity 9.000; completed 2007). Duration: 60 minutes.
Sightseeing
18:30
Transfer to Sintra
Private coach from Fátima to Sintra. Approx. 90-minute drive south.
Transfer
20:00
Hotel Check-in — Sintra / Cascais area
Check-in at a 4-star hotel in the Sintra or Cascais area. Rooms pre-assigned. Group leader briefs on Day 6 program.
Accommodation
20:45
Dinner — Sintra village or Cascais town centre
Dinner in a traditional restaurant in Sintra village or Cascais. Menu: sopa de peixe; bacalhau à brás; regional Colares or Setúbal wine; queijadas de Sintra for dessert. Duration: approx. 2 hours.
Gastronomy
22:45
Return to Hotel
Private coach. End of Day 5.
Transfer
06
Day 6
Sintra · Cabo da Roca · Cascais · Lisbon
00:00
Return to Hotel
Private coach from Mouraria to hotel. End of Day 6.
Transfer
07:30
Breakfast at Hotel
Full buffet breakfast. Departure briefing at 09:00.
Gastronomy
09:00
Sintra — Palácio Nacional & Quinta da Regaleira
Private guided morning in Sintra. Visit 1: Palácio Nacional de Sintra interior (best-preserved medieval royal palace in Portugal; twin chimneys; azulejo-lined rooms). Visit 2: Quinta da Regaleira (early 20th-century romantic estate; neo-Manueline architecture; initiation well descending 27 metres; symbolic gardens). Entry fees included for both. Duration: 2 hours.
Sightseeing
11:30
Cabo da Roca — Westernmost Point of Continental Europe
15-minute transfer from Sintra. Clifftop stop at 140m above the Atlantic. 30-minute visit. Guide provides geographic and historical context.
Sightseeing
12:15
Cascais — Coastal Town & Lunch (Rua Frederico Arouca area)
Transfer to Cascais town centre (25 minutes). Brief orientation walk through the old town and fishing harbour. Lunch at a traditional seafood restaurant. Menu: grilled catch of the day; razor clams; regional white wine; seasonal dessert. Duration: 90 minutes.
Gastronomy
14:15
Transfer to Lisbon — Hotel Check-in
Private coach from Cascais to Lisbon via the Marginal coastal road. 45-minute scenic drive. Hotel check-in in the Avenida da Liberdade / Chiado area. Luggage delivered to rooms.
Accommodation
16:00
Lisbon — Alfama Private Walking Tour
Licensed Lisbon guide leads the group through Alfama. Key stops: Portas do Sol viewpoint; São Vicente de Fora church and cloister; Sé Cathedral exterior; Santa Luzia viewpoint. Duration: 90 minutes. Comfortable footwear essential.
Sightseeing
18:00
Free Time — Chiado & Baixa
Group disperses in the Chiado area. Optional: Bertrand Bookshop; Largo do Carmo terrace. Guide available. Return to hotel at own pace.
Personal Time
19:30
Return to Hotel — Rest Period
Return to hotel. 90-minute rest before Fado evening.
Personal Time
21:00
Fado Evening — Casa de Fado
Mouraria neighbourhood
Transfer
07
Day 7
Lisbon — Belém · Tiles · Tagus
07:30
Breakfast at Hotel
Full buffet breakfast. Departure briefing at 09:00.
Gastronomy
09:00
Mosteiro dos Jerónimos & Torre de Belém
Private coach to Belém (20 minutes). Private guided visit of the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (UNESCO) — cloisters; church; tombs of Vasco da Gama and Luís de Camões. Exterior visit to Torre de Belém on the riverfront. Entry fees included. Duration: 90 minutes.
Sightseeing
11:00
Museu Nacional do Azulejo — National Tile Museum
Private coach to the National Tile Museum in the Santa Apolónia area (25 minutes). Private guided visit to the most comprehensive collection of Portuguese azulejo tiles in the world — from 15th-century Moorish geometric patterns to 20th-century narrative panels; the extraordinary 1700 panoramic tile panel of pre-earthquake Lisbon (23 metres long). Duration: 75 minutes. Entry fees included.
Sightseeing
12:45
Lunch — Alfama / Santa Apolónia area
Lunch in a traditional restaurant near the waterfront. Menu: petiscos sharing board; bacalhau com grão e couve (salt cod with chickpeas and kale); Setúbal Moscatel as aperitif; Alentejo red; pastel de nata for dessert. Duration: 90 minutes.
Gastronomy
14:30
Tagus River Cruise — Lisbon waterfront
Private sailing or catamaran cruise on the Tagus estuary. Departs from the Cais do Sodré or Belém marina. Views of the Lisbon waterfront; Cristo Rei statue; 25 de Abril Bridge (resembles Golden Gate Bridge). Guide on board with narrative. Duration: 90 minutes.
Sightseeing
16:30
LX Factory — Urban Culture & Shopping
Transfer to LX Factory in Alcântara — a former 19th-century industrial complex converted into a creative hub: independent shops; design studios; food vendors; street art. Free exploration. Duration: 60 minutes.
Personal Time
18:00
Return to Hotel — Rest Period
Return to hotel. Rest before gala dinner.
Personal Time
20:00
Gala Farewell Dinner — Lisbon (Cais do Sodré / Santos area)
Private gala dinner at a premium Lisbon venue with Tagus views. Menu: oysters from Setúbal; grilled whole Atlantic turbot or lobster; Alentejo reserve red; cheese and charcuterie board; Port wine with dessert; farewell toast by group leader. Dress code: smart casual. Duration: approx. 2.5 hours.
Gastronomy
22:30
Return to Hotel
Private coach. End of Day 7.
Transfer
08
Day 8
Departure Day — Évora Optional Extension
07:00
Breakfast at Hotel — Checkout Preparation
Early breakfast. Luggage outside rooms by 08:00. Checkout completed. Luggage loaded onto coach.
Gastronomy
08:30
Transfer to Évora — Morning Excursion
Private coach departs Lisbon for Évora. 90-minute drive via A6. Option for groups with afternoon or evening flights: full Évora morning before airport transfer.
Transfer
10:00
Évora — Roman Temple & Chapel of Bones
Private guided visit to Évora UNESCO World Heritage historic centre. Key stops: Roman Temple of Diana (1st-2nd century AD); Igreja de São Francisco and the extraordinary Chapel of Bones (bones and skulls of approximately 5.000 monks lining walls and ceiling); Praça do Giraldo. Duration: 90 minutes. Entry fees included.
Sightseeing
12:00
Farewell Lunch — Évora historic centre (Rua 5 de Outubro / Praça do Giraldo area)
Final lunch of the Grand Tour. Menu: carne de porco à alentejana (clams and pork — the emblematic Alentejo dish); Alentejo DOC red wine; Dom Rodrigo confection for dessert; farewell toast. Duration: approx. 2 hours.
Gastronomy
14:15
Transfer to Lisbon Airport — Program End
Private coach from Évora to Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS). Distance: approx. 130km; journey time: approx. 90 minutes. InBound Portugal representative accompanies group to check-in. Luggage offloaded and tagged. End of Grand Tour of Portugal.
Transfer
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