Portugal · 21 days · Private and tailor-made
All of Portugal, Then the Azores
Walk the crater rim above the twin lakes of Sete Cidades, São Miguel, with the Atlantic all around.
Suggested length
21 days
Price guide
From $21,294 per person, excl. international flights, based on two sharing. Family rates for 2+ children under 21.
Includes hotels, private guiding, experiences and transfers
When
April to June and September to October
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American precision with local expertise · Planned from Europe since 2002 · 17,000+ American travelers · Never cancelled a journey
Three weeks from Porto to the Algarve and out to the Azores, the whole of Portugal, tailored day by day.
- Walk from the tiled hall of São Bento station down to Porto’s riverfront
- Walk a family vineyard above the Douro, with a tasting if you wish
- Watch the Milky Way over the Alqueva lake from the walls of Monsaraz
- Sail along the Algarve cliffs to the Benagil sea cave
- Look down on the green and blue crater lakes of Sete Cidades
- Share Portuguese tapas on a Lisbon evening walk, then stay on for fado
“Hi from Europe. After planning luxury travel from Iberia since 2002, we have key relationships across our destinations and the judgment to tailor trips wisely for our discerning clients. Get our experience, relationships and insider savvy on your side. See our reviews and request a custom itinerary.”
Dan O’Beirne, American Founder · Iberia-Based Travel Specialist · Travel Leaders Network member. As featured in USA Today, & Euro Business News · Game of Thrones location consultant.
A Journey Designed Just for You
Our resident experts wrote this itinerary as a starting point, and your planner shapes every day around your interests, pace and travel style.
What do our American travelers say?
The 21-day Portugal itinerary at a glance
The route uses seven bases and 20 nights: five in Porto, two in the Douro Valley, one in Coimbra, three in Évora in the Alentejo, three on the Algarve coast, four in Lisbon and two in Ponta Delgada on São Miguel in the Azores. From Porto, day trips reach Braga and Guimarães, about 45 minutes north, and Aveiro, about an hour south. From Lisbon, Sintra sits about 30 minutes away by road. Thirteen of the 21 days carry no hotel change.
A licensed driver-guide drives every mainland leg by private vehicle. Porto to Peso da Régua in the Douro takes about 1 hour 15 minutes, the Douro to Coimbra about 2 hours, Coimbra to Évora about 3 hours, Évora to the Algarve about 2 hours 30 minutes, and the Algarve to Lisbon about 2 hours 40 minutes. One direct flight, Lisbon to Ponta Delgada, about 2 hours 30 minutes, carries the route out to the Atlantic.
April to June and September to October suit the route best. On IPMA’s 1981 to 2010 averages, Porto reaches a mean daily high of 22.6°C (about 73°F) in June and 23.4°C (about 74°F) in September, Lisbon 25.7°C (about 78°F) and 26.6°C (about 80°F), and Faro on the Algarve 26.4°C (about 80°F) and 26.6°C (about 80°F). Ponta Delgada, on the Instituto de Meteorologia’s 1961 to 1990 averages, runs milder at 21.8°C (about 71°F) in June and 24.7°C (about 76°F) in September. July and August bring about 28 to 29°C (82 to 84°F) on the Algarve, and our team plans summer touring around the cooler hours.
Licensed guides we work with on this route include Susana and Tania in Porto, Bruno in Coimbra, Elsa and Nuno in Évora, Luisa and Anabela in Lisbon, and Isabel in Sintra. Each is a highly educated local expert who cares about the people in their group. We request your guides by name, and your planner confirms who leads each day once your dates are set.
Why the route runs from Porto to the Azores
The route starts in the north because Porto’s airport sits about 11 kilometers from the center, and from there the journey runs south in one line without doubling back: the Minho, the Douro, Coimbra, the Alentejo plains and the Algarve cliffs, then Lisbon. Lisbon has the direct flights to Ponta Delgada, so the capital becomes the springboard to the islands rather than a stop you return to. São Miguel then closes the trip, and Azores Airlines flies nonstop from Ponta Delgada to Boston in about six hours.
The angle is the whole country in one direction, at a pace three weeks allow. Five of the seven bases hold three nights or more, so Braga, Guimarães, Aveiro, Monsaraz, Sagres and Sintra all become day trips from a hotel you already know. Coimbra is the single one-night stop, placed between the Douro and the long drive south. The route as written is a starting point, and our team shapes it around your dates and interests.
Journey at a glance
Length
21 days
From
$21,294 per person, double occupancy
Family rates for 2+ children under 21
Route
Porto, Braga, Guimarães, Aveiro, Douro Valley, Coimbra, Évora, Alentejo, Algarve, Lisbon, Sintra, Cascais, São Miguel
Your planner adjusts every day to your dates.
Day One
Arrival in Porto: São Bento, Lello and the Ribeira
Your licensed driver-guide meets you at Porto airport. In the afternoon, start at São Bento station, where Jorge Colaço spent eleven years covering the hall with about 20,000 painted tiles. Our team books your entry to Livraria Lello, opened in 1906 with a forked staircase up to its gallery. The walk drops to the Ribeira under the iron arch of the Dom Luís I Bridge, designed by a former partner of Gustave Eiffel, with the port lodges across the river.
Day Two
Bolhão Market, a River Boat and the Port Lodges
Start at the Bolhão market, reopened in 2022 after years of restoration, among the calls of the stallholders and the smell of fresh bread. Late in the morning, a private boat takes you along the Douro under Porto's bridges. In the afternoon, cross to Vila Nova de Gaia for a tasting in a port lodge, or opt for Serralves, Álvaro Siza's museum of contemporary art in a park around an Art Deco villa.
Day Three
Braga and Guimarães
Braga sits on Roman foundations, and its cathedral, consecrated in 1089, holds the tombs of the parents of Portugal's first king. In the afternoon, continue to Guimarães, a UNESCO town tied to the birth of the country. The words Aqui nasceu Portugal, Portugal was born here, stand on a tower of the old wall, and the lanes climb past granite houses to a castle first fortified in the tenth century.
Day Four
A Chef's Table in Porto
Today runs at an easier pace. Where available, a chef cooks for your party in a private demonstration, with Portuguese dishes made in front of you and lunch to follow. Ask about tripeiros, tripe eaters, the nickname Porto still carries, and the legend of the city giving its best meat to Henry the Navigator's fleet in 1415. The rest of the day stays open for a walk along the river or a rest before dinner.
Day Five
Aveiro and the Striped Houses of Costa Nova
Painted moliceiro boats, once used to rake seaweed from the lagoon, now carry visitors along the canals of Aveiro past Art Nouveau façades. Try ovos moles, a sweet of egg yolk and sugar in thin wafer shells, from a recipe the local convents kept. Then head to Costa Nova, where wooden fishermen's houses wear bright stripes on white between the lagoon and the Atlantic. Your licensed driver-guide leaves time for the beach and a seafood lunch.
Day Six
Into the Douro Valley
Head east into the Alto Douro, a UNESCO wine region shaped by some 2,000 years of winemaking, past terraces of schist walls stepping up every slope. At Pinhão station, 24 tile panels from 1937 show grape treading and rabelo boats carrying wine downriver. The afternoon belongs to the valley, with a vineyard trail, a bicycle ride on the river roads or a river cruise, as the terraces turn gold in the late light.
Day Seven
A Quinta Visit and Lunch Among the Vines
Where available, your licensed driver-guide takes you to a family quinta for a walk through the vines and a look at the lodge where the wine ages in old wooden casks. Opt for a tasting of the estate's ports and table wines, or coffee on the terrace. Opt for lunch above the river, and the afternoon stays slow, with another vineyard walk or a rest at your hotel.
Day Eight
South to Coimbra
Drive south to Coimbra, whose university moved into the royal palace on the hill in 1537. Your licensed driver-guide walks you across the palace courtyard to the Biblioteca Joanina, finished in 1728, where a colony of bats eats the insects among the gilded shelves at night, and staff cover the tables with leather each evening. Where your dates allow, the evening brings Coimbra fado, sung by male voices with the Coimbra guitar.
Day Nine
Coimbra to Évora and the Alentejo
A longer road day takes you south to Évora, with a lunch stop on the way. The Roman Temple of Diana still stands at the top of this UNESCO town, and the lanes keep lime-washed houses with tiles and wrought-iron balconies. Beside the Church of St. Francis, the Chapel of Bones lines its walls with the bones of about 5,000 people. At dinner, opt for Alentejo cooking, such as black pork from the Iberian pig.
Day Ten
Standing Stones, Monsaraz and the Night Sky
West of Évora, the Almendres Cromlech gathers about 95 granite standing stones, the first raised in the sixth millennium BC. East of town, the walled village of Monsaraz looks over Alqueva, the largest artificial lake in Western Europe. The Dark Sky Alqueva reserve became the first Starlight Tourism Destination in the world, and where available, the evening ends with telescopes and the Milky Way overhead on clear nights.
Day Eleven
An Alentejo Estate: Cork, Olive Oil, Wine and Horses
Portugal produces about half the world's cork, most of it in the Alentejo, where harvesters strip the bark about every nine years and the tree keeps growing. Where available, visit a family estate for a walk under the cork oaks and a taste of green, peppery olive oil on bread, with the estate's reds on request. Opt for a horseback ride or a hike in the morning, and a lunch of regional cooking.
Day Twelve
South to the Algarve Cliffs and Benagil
Drive south to the Algarve. The Seven Hanging Valleys trail follows the clifftops above coves of green and blue water, and your licensed driver-guide sets you on it for as long a walk as you like, with the scent of the pines. Where sea conditions suit, a licensed boat trip runs along the coast to the Benagil sea cave, where sunlight falls through a hole in the roof onto the sand inside.
Day Thirteen
Sagres and Cape St. Vincent
Head west through coastal villages to Cape St. Vincent, the southwesternmost point of mainland Europe, where a lighthouse from 1846 stands above the Atlantic breaking on the cliffs. At lunch, try clams cooked in a cataplana, the copper pan of the Algarve, which closes like two hinged clamshells. Where it suits your party, opt for a private yacht, a coastal trail or a mountain bike route in the afternoon.
Day Fourteen
Dolphins, Monchique and the Algarve at Your Pace
Shape the day around the options you choose. Licensed boats leave Portimão and Lagos to watch common and bottlenose dolphins, and a bird-watching trip along the coast suits early risers. Inland, the Serra de Monchique rises to its summit at Fóia, and the spa town of Caldas de Monchique, known since Roman times for its warm springs, offers a quiet afternoon. Golfers opt for a round on one of the region's courses.
Day Fifteen
North to Lisbon and Belém
Head north to Lisbon. In the afternoon, where your dates allow, Luisa, one of our licensed guides in Lisbon and Sintra, meets you in Belém at the Jerónimos Monastery, begun in 1502, and the Belém Tower, which marks the voyage of Vasco da Gama. The bakery beside the monastery has made pastéis de nata from the monks' recipe since 1837, warm custard tarts with a dusting of cinnamon.
Day Sixteen
Sintra, Cabo da Roca and Cascais with Luisa
Where your dates allow, Luisa leads the day. Above Sintra, King Ferdinand II finished the red and yellow Pena Palace in 1854, and in the old town, Piriquita has baked travesseiros, pillows of puff pastry around an egg and almond cream, since the 1940s. The road runs on to Azenhas do Mar, a village on a cliff above a seawater pool, and to the lighthouse at Cabo da Roca. End in Cascais, once the summer home of King Luís I.
Day Seventeen
Alfama, the Castle and an Evening of Petiscos and Fado
Where your dates allow, Luisa walks you up through the lanes of the Alfama, which came through the earthquake of 1755, to São Jorge Castle, taken from the Moors in 1147. Then cross to the Bairro Alto. In the evening, a guided walk brings petiscos, Portuguese tapas, such as clams with garlic, coriander and white wine. Stay on for fado, a solo voice with the twelve-string Portuguese guitar.
Day Eighteen
The Tile Museum and a Sunset Sail on the Tagus
The morning stays open for the National Tile Museum, in a convent Queen Leonor founded in 1509, with five centuries of Portuguese tiles under one roof, or another collection of your choice. In the early evening, a private boat sails under the 25 de Abril Bridge, painted the same International Orange as the Golden Gate, as the city turns gold in the setting sun. Our team recommends a table for dinner.
Day Nineteen
Flight to São Miguel and Sete Cidades
Fly to São Miguel, the largest island of the Azores, known as the Green Island. In the afternoon, your licensed driver-guide takes you west to the caldera of Sete Cidades, where Lagoa Verde and Lagoa Azul share one body of water under a narrow bridge. Legend says a princess and a shepherd wept the two lakes, green for her eyes and blue for his. For dinner, try lapas, limpets sizzling in garlic butter.
Day Twenty
Lagoa do Fogo and a Free Afternoon
Where the weather suits, your licensed driver-guide takes you up in the morning to Lagoa do Fogo, a lake in the crater of a volcano, with the view running across the water to the ocean. The afternoon is yours, at the hotel or in Ponta Delgada, by the three arches of the city gate on the harbor square. Try São Miguel pineapple, grown in glass greenhouses, smaller and sweeter than tropical kinds.
Day Twenty One
Departure from Ponta Delgada
A midday flight leaves the morning free for a last coffee by the harbor. Azores Airlines flies nonstop from Ponta Delgada to Boston in about six hours, and connections through Lisbon serve other gateways. VIP fast-track assistance at the airport is available on request, and your licensed driver-guide collects you at a time set around your flight.
Getting around
- Day 1: Porto airport to your hotel with your licensed driver-guide, then an afternoon walk.
- Days 2 and 4: Full days in Porto, no hotel change.
- Day 3: Porto to Braga, about 45 minutes, then Guimarães and back to Porto.
- Day 5: Porto to Aveiro, about 1 hour each way, back to Porto for the night.
- Day 6: Porto to the Douro, about 1 hour 15 minutes to Peso da Régua.
- Day 7: A day inside the valley, no hotel change.
- Day 8: The Douro to Coimbra, about 2 hours.
- Day 9: Coimbra to Évora, about 3 hours, with a lunch stop.
- Day 10: Évora to Monsaraz, about 50 minutes each way, with a stop at the Almendres Cromlech.
- Day 11: A day in the Alentejo countryside, back to your hotel in Évora.
- Day 12: Évora to the Algarve, about 2 hours 30 minutes.
- Day 13: West to Sagres and Cape St. Vincent, back to the same hotel.
- Day 14: A day on the Algarve, no hotel change.
- Day 15: The Algarve to Lisbon, about 2 hours 40 minutes.
- Day 16: Lisbon to Sintra, about 30 minutes, then along the coast to Cascais and back.
- Days 17 and 18: Lisbon on foot and by car, no hotel change.
- Day 19: Lisbon to Ponta Delgada by direct flight, about 2 hours 30 minutes.
- Day 20: A morning on São Miguel by road, then a free afternoon.
- Day 21: Hotel to Ponta Delgada airport, a short drive.
- A licensed driver-guide travels with you on the mainland and on São Miguel. In Lisbon and Sintra, Luisa guides with a licensed driver.
What does a 3 week Portugal itinerary look like?
A 3 week Portugal itinerary covers the whole mainland from the Minho to the Algarve and still leaves two nights for an island. This one spends five nights in Porto with day trips to Braga, Guimarães and Aveiro, two in the Douro Valley, one in Coimbra, three in Évora, three on the Algarve and four in Lisbon, then flies to São Miguel in the Azores for two more. Seven bases, 20 nights, one flight, and 13 days with no hotel change.
How do you add the Azores to a Portugal trip?
Add the Azores at the end, from Lisbon, with a direct flight of about 2 hours 30 minutes to Ponta Delgada on São Miguel, and give the island at least two nights. Two nights cover the Sete Cidades caldera and Lagoa do Fogo with time to rest. Ending on the island also shapes the flight home, because Azores Airlines flies nonstop from Ponta Delgada to Boston. American travelers who want several islands choose our 14-day Portugal tour with four Azores islands instead.
Is three weeks enough to see all of Portugal?
Three weeks is enough for every mainland region and one Azores island at an unhurried pace. This route reaches the Minho, the Douro, Coimbra and Aveiro in the center, the Alentejo, the Algarve, Lisbon and Sintra, and São Miguel. It leaves out Madeira, the other Azores islands and the mountains of the far northeast, each of which needs several more days. Our team adds any of them by trading nights rather than adding hotels.
Three weeks with the Azores, or a shorter Portugal route?
Three weeks suits travelers who want the full length of Portugal in one trip and an island at the end. A shorter or different route serves you better in four cases. With under two weeks, the 10-day Portugal Signature journey keeps the same mainland spine of Porto, Braga, Guimarães, the Douro, Lisbon, Évora and the Algarve, and leaves out Aveiro, Coimbra and the Azores.
If an island matters more than the north, the 14-day Portugal tour with Madeira runs from Porto to the Algarve and ends in Funchal instead of Ponta Delgada. If the Azores are the point of the trip, the 14-day Portugal and Azores tour spends two nights in Lisbon and the rest on Terceira, Faial, São Jorge and São Miguel.
If you want Spain too, the 30-day Spain and Portugal tour starts on São Miguel and runs through Porto, Lisbon and the Algarve into Andalusia, Madrid and Barcelona, and passes by Braga, Guimarães and Coimbra. Every Portugal route sits on our Portugal destination page.
Who this journey suits
Travelers with three weeks of leave who want to see all of Portugal once, properly, and fly home from an island.
Retired couples and returning visitors who already know Lisbon and want the Minho, the Alentejo and the Azores at a slow pace.
Food and wine travelers, with port in Gaia and the Douro, a chef’s table in Porto, Alentejo reds and olive oil, cataplana on the Algarve and petiscos in Lisbon.
Families with teenage or adult children, since the days mix castles, boats, beaches, stargazing and crater lakes, and most bases hold three nights or more.
Active travelers, with vineyard trails in the Douro, a ride or hike in the Alentejo, the clifftop trail above Benagil and the walk up to Lagoa do Fogo.
The people behind the route
Luisa, one of our licensed guides in Lisbon and Sintra, leads the four Lisbon days where your dates allow. She works alongside a licensed driver, so the walks start where the car drops you, from Belém and Alfama to the old town of Sintra and the cliffs of Cabo da Roca. She knows the order of palaces, viewpoints and pastry shops to suit the day and the season. Across the rest of Portugal, from Porto to the Algarve and on São Miguel, a licensed driver-guide looks after you, one person holding both licenses who drives the car and leads the visits.
What the 21-day journey costs and what it includes
This 21-day journey starts from $21,294 per person, double occupancy. The from-price covers 20 nights in deluxe four-star properties selected for comfort, location and service. Five-star luxury properties are available by request. It also covers licensed guides and driver-guides on touring days, private vehicles for every transfer and excursion, and the planning and in-country support of our team.
What moves the price: travel dates and season, hotel category, the size of your party, single rooms, and added private experiences such as the river boat in Porto, the chef’s table, a night at a Douro quinta, the stargazing session at Monsaraz, a private yacht or dolphin trip on the Algarve, a round of golf, the sunset sail on the Tagus, or an extra night or island in the Azores. Our team prices each journey to your dates and party.
When three weeks across Portugal and out to the Azores sounds like the trip you have in mind, speak with our team about your dates, your party and the pace you want.
Questions about the 21-day Portugal and Azores itinerary
How many days do you need for Portugal and the Azores?
Plan at least 14 days for the mainland and two or three nights for one Azores island. This route uses 21 days: five nights in Porto, two in the Douro Valley, one in Coimbra, three in Évora, three on the Algarve, four in Lisbon and two on São Miguel. The mainland portion alone runs 18 days, and the flight from Lisbon to Ponta Delgada takes about 2 hours 30 minutes. With fewer days, the first thing to trim is the Porto stay, which holds three day trips, or the third Algarve night. With more days, a third night on São Miguel adds the Furnas valley on the east of the island, and a second island such as Terceira or Faial adds two or three nights more. Our team builds the island portion around the flights of your dates.
Should the Azores come at the start or the end of the trip?
This route places the Azores at the end, for two reasons. The mainland legs run in one line from Porto to Lisbon, and Lisbon has the direct flights to Ponta Delgada, so the island follows without a backtrack. Ending on São Miguel also suits the flight home, because Azores Airlines flies nonstop from Ponta Delgada to Boston in about six hours, and connections through Lisbon serve other gateways. Starting on the island works too, and our 30-day Spain and Portugal route opens on São Miguel before a flight to Porto. A start in the Azores gives a quiet first two days after the overnight flight, and an ending there gives a slow close after three weeks of touring. Our team matches the direction to your flights. For the mainland gateway, our note on flying into Lisbon or Porto weighs the two airports in more detail.
What is the best time of year for a 21-day Portugal trip?
April to June and September to October suit this route best. On IPMA’s 1981 to 2010 averages, Porto reaches a mean daily high of 17.6°C (about 64°F) in April and 23.4°C (about 74°F) in September, Lisbon 19.8°C (about 68°F) and 26.6°C (about 80°F), and Faro 20.4°C (about 69°F) and 26.6°C (about 80°F). Ponta Delgada runs milder on the Instituto de Meteorologia’s 1961 to 1990 averages, at 18.1°C (about 65°F) in April and 24.7°C (about 76°F) in September. July and August bring 28 to 29°C (82 to 84°F) on the Algarve and in Lisbon, and our team schedules the walking hours early and late in the day. September and early October fall in the Douro harvest, and Ponta Delgada stays mild through September.
Who guides and drives us on the 21-day tour?
Across most of Portugal, from Porto, Braga and the Douro through Coimbra, Évora and the Algarve to São Miguel, a licensed driver-guide looks after you, one person holding both licenses who drives the car and leads the visits. In Lisbon and Sintra, where your dates allow, Luisa, one of our licensed guides, leads the touring days and works alongside a licensed driver, two separate people. Every transfer runs by private vehicle for your own party, from the Porto airport pickup to the Ponta Delgada airport drop-off. Our team plans the whole route, books the site entries such as Livraria Lello, and stays in contact through the three weeks.
Which days involve long drives?
Day nine carries the longest drive, about three hours from Coimbra to Évora, with a lunch stop on the way. Day fifteen runs about 2 hours 40 minutes from the Algarve to Lisbon, and day twelve about 2 hours 30 minutes from Évora to the Algarve. The Douro to Coimbra takes about 2 hours on day eight, and Porto to the Douro about 1 hour 15 minutes on day six. Every other day either stays in one base or makes a day trip of under an hour each way, such as Braga, Aveiro, Monsaraz or Sintra. Your luggage stays in the car on every road day, and the licensed driver-guide sets the stops to suit your party. The only flight inside the trip links Lisbon to Ponta Delgada, about 2 hours 30 minutes.
Why does the route spend only one night in Coimbra?
Coimbra sits between the Douro Valley and the Alentejo, so one night there splits the drive south into two shorter legs: about 2 hours from the Douro on day eight and about 3 hours to Évora on day nine. The single night still gives you an afternoon at the university and the Biblioteca Joanina and an evening of Coimbra fado, where your dates allow. Travelers who want more of central Portugal add a second Coimbra night and a morning at the Roman ruins of Conímbriga or the convent town of Tomar, and our team adjusts the following days to keep the total at 21 or extends the trip by a day.
How do we add a second Azores island?
Add nights. This route gives São Miguel two nights, enough for Sete Cidades, Lagoa do Fogo and a free afternoon in Ponta Delgada. A third night adds the Furnas valley on the east of the island, with its hot springs and gardens. A second island such as Terceira or Faial needs two or three more nights and an inter-island flight. For an island-first trip, our 14-day Portugal and Azores tour spends two nights in Lisbon and then visits Terceira, Faial, São Jorge and São Miguel. Our team times the island legs to the flight schedule of your dates and adjusts the mainland nights to suit.
How much walking does the itinerary involve?
Several quarters on this route sit on hills with cobbled lanes and steps, including the Ribeira in Porto, the upper town of Coimbra, Alfama and the castle hill in Lisbon and the old town of Sintra. Your driver drops you at the top of a quarter where the roads allow, so most walks run downhill, and your guide sets the pace to your party. Some options involve longer walks, such as the 5.6-kilometer Seven Hanging Valleys trail on the Algarve, the vineyard trails of the Douro and the viewpoints above Lagoa do Fogo, and each one stays optional. Boat days in Porto, on the Algarve and on the Tagus involve little walking. Your guide is glad to advise on suitability before booking.
Is the 21-day route fixed?
The route as written shows one balanced order of bases, and our team shortens, extends or reorders it around your dates, interests and pace. Common changes include running it from Lisbon north to Porto, adding a third night on São Miguel, swapping the Azores for Madeira, adding a second Coimbra night, or turning one Algarve day into a free day at the beach. Each change keeps the same principle of few hotel changes and no more than one long road day in a row. Guides, drivers and site entries all move with the change, so you receive a revised day-by-day plan and price before you commit.
Who do we contact if something goes wrong or we want a change?
Your planner designs your journey with you and stays in touch after you land. For the fastest response at any hour, message your private WhatsApp group, where our 24/7 support team works alongside Rachel or Dan. Because we begin no more than five journeys per country each week, peak spring and fall dates fill early, and that limit is what lets us stay this close to every trip.
We keep a list of vetted four- and five-star hotels, well located and enjoyed by our past travelers and by our own team.
Examples for each overnight stop on this route. Choose a deluxe boutique hotel or a five-star stay, and your travel advisor matches each night to your wishes, the season and availability.
Porto
Boutique: Torel 1884. An 1884 palace near São Bento station, with rooms themed on Portugal’s voyages of discovery.
Five-star: The Yeatman. Terraced into the Gaia hillside among the port lodges, every room with a terrace facing Porto.
Douro Valley
Boutique: Quinta do Vallado Wine Hotel. An 18th-century house once owned by Dona Antónia Ferreira, plus a modern schist building among vineyards.
Five-star: Six Senses Douro Valley. A restored 19th-century manor near Lamego, above Douro vine terraces, with a large spa.
Coimbra
Boutique: Sapientia Boutique Hotel. A boutique hotel on Rua José Falcão, next to the old university, with a rooftop terrace.
Five-star: Quinta das Lágrimas. An 18th-century palace in large gardens tied to the story of Pedro and Inês.
Évora and the Alentejo
Boutique: Albergaria do Calvário. A 16th-century olive-oil mill inside Évora’s old walls, now a 22-room boutique hotel.
Five-star: Convento do Espinheiro. A restored 15th-century convent near Évora, with arched patios and an underground wine cellar.
Algarve
Boutique: Octant Praia Verde. A hotel in the pine woods of the eastern Algarve, with a boardwalk to Praia Verde beach.
Five-star: Vila Vita Parc. A clifftop resort at Porches on more than 50 acres of gardens, with its own beach below.
Lisbon
Boutique: Memmo Alfama. A design hotel on an Alfama lane, with a pool beside its wine-bar terrace over the Tagus.
Five-star: Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon. A 1959 landmark beside Eduardo VII Park, filled with mid-century Portuguese art and tapestries.
São Miguel, Azores
Boutique: Senhora da Rosa, Tradition & Nature Hotel. An 18th-century farm estate at the edge of Ponta Delgada, with an outdoor pool and spa.
Five-star: Octant Ponta Delgada. A modern seafront hotel near Ponta Delgada’s port, with a seventh-floor pool and bar over the Atlantic.
What's Included
A personalized itinerary, built around you and your schedule
Hand-picked luxury and boutique hotels
Insider experiences, inspiring sightseeing and magical upgrades
Private touring with your own personal expert guide
Private luxury transfers from airports and train stations
Full breakfasts, plus food and wine tasting options
Your choice of activities on “Design Your Days”®
Expert advice, restaurant ideas and reservations
24/7 support and concierge service from Spain, Portugal and Morocco
Magical is an award-winning luxury travel agency
Private journeys with soul & stories
Excellent independent reviews
Your private WhatsApp group with our 24/7 team and Rachel or Dan
Hidden gems, insider fun & vetted hotels
Your private guide, deluxe vehicle & flexible pace
24/7 concierge-style support
Life is short, vacation memorably
American Precision, Local Soul
Our Unforgettable Trips Are Tailored Just For You
Hi from Europe,
Along with our local partners across Portugal, Spain, Morocco and beyond we believe that our clients deserve the truly tailor-made private luxury trips, not generic "one-size-fits-all" plans.
Get inspired with our sample trips then get in touch about an expert-made personalized custom luxury itinerary, just for you.
Kind regards,
Dan O'Beirne & the MPT team
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