Complete Portugal Guide

Portugal stretches across an 850 km strip between the lush Minho in the north and the limestone Algarve in the south, yet this compact size belies a genuine diversity of landscapes and cultures. Based in Lisbon, our agency designs itineraries that blend the terraced vineyards of the Douro, the granite villages of the Serra da Estrela, the cork-oak plains of the Alentejo and the ochre cliffs of the Vicentine coast.

Two distinctive features structure the Portuguese experience. First, the sea: the Atlantic sets the rhythm, with grilled fish tables in Sesimbra or Nazaré, surf spots in Peniche and Ericeira, and ferries to Madeira and the volcanic Azores. Then the architecture: the blue azulejos of Porto, the Manueline style of Belém, the historic villages of Monsanto and Marvão, and a dense network of pousadas housed in former convents.

For a first trip, allow ten to twelve days between Lisbon, Sintra, Évora and the Douro. If you have three weeks, add the interior Alentejo, the still-unspoiled Alentejo coast and a stopover in the Azores. The country lends itself well to self-drive touring: the roads are good, distances reasonable, and charming accommodations abound outside the major cities.