Portugal Explorer: Porto to Algarve





From north to south, savour the best of Portugal
Begin your 8-day Portuguese adventure in the UNESCO-listed city of Porto. Follow a local guide on a tasting tour of the city’s namesake wine and seafood specialties, then head south to Aveiro – Portugal’s very own Venice. Continue to Lisbon to explore its historic neighbourhoods, cobbled streets and castles – and don’t forget to try a pastel de nata (or three)! Then make your way to Evora to meet local cork producers and winemakers. Wrap up in the coastal city of Olhao with beach time, boat trips and those famous Algarve sunsets.
Start: Porto, Portugal
End: Lagos, Portugal
- Duration
- 8 days
- Group size
- 1 to 12
- Minimum age
- 15 years old
- Style
Basix: Simple accommodation, local transport and lots of free time
Original: Tourist-class hotels, some meals included and a great mix of included activities and free time
Comfort: Comfortable accommodation, with a relaxed pace of travel and many included meals and activities
Premium: Our best accommodation, exclusive inclusions and our most experienced leaders
- Comfort
- Theme
Our themes categorise trips based on a common interest or activity, while showcasing the highlights of a destination.
- Explorer
- Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Why you'll love this trip
- Journey north to south across the best of Portugal’s cities, beaches and countryside with stops in Porto, Aveiro, Lisbon, Evora and Olhao.
- Taste the best of Porto on a locally guided tasting tour, sampling port wine, traditional Portuguese salt cod fritters and more.
- Explore the port city of Aveiro, maybe taking a wander along its saltwater canals lined with colourful Moliceiro boats that were once used to farm seaweed.
- Learn about the traditional crafts of the Alentejo region during a visit to a cork farm and a winery – complete with a wine-paired lunch.
- Feel the wind in your hair on a boat trip through Ria Formosa Natural Park. Explore marshlands, look out for wild dolphins and stop at islands that separate the Atlantic from the lagoon.
Itinerary
Ola! Welcome to Portugal. Your adventure begins in Porto – a colourful coastal city famous for its fortified port wine. If you arrive early, maybe explore the city’s historic buildings like the baroque Torre dos Clérigos or take in the views from the Dom Luis I Bridge. You’ll meet your local leader and fellow travellers at a welcome meeting at 6 pm. After, get to know each other at a welcome dinner at a local Portuguese restaurant – just ask your leader if you need any dish recommendations.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Dinner
- Porto - Welcome Dinner
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.
Porto might be famous for its wine, but it’s also a hotspot for foodies. Sample the best of both on a tasting tour with a local guide. You’ll dig into a number of local favourites including pastel de nata (egg custard tart), bolinho de bacalhau (codfish croquettes), broa de avintes (bittersweet bread) and, of course, a glass or two of port wine. The afternoon is free to enjoy Porto at your leisure. Perhaps visit Livraria Lello – considered one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world – or take in the sunset from Vila Nova de Gaia with another glass of the city’s famous export.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Porto - Walking tour and Port Wine tasting with local guide
- Porto - Clerigos Tower - EUR8
- Porto - Bolhao Market - Free
- Porto - Livraria Lello - EUR8
- Porto - Serralves Foundation - EUR24
- Porto - Tile-Painting Workshop - EUR45
- Porto - Matosinhos day trip - EUR4
Take a train to Lisbon today, stopping in Aveiro where you’ll have free time to explore (your bags will be stored at the station). Built on the Rio de Aveiro lagoon and connected via canals, the brightly painted Moliceiro boats here resemble Venetian gondolas and were once used to harvest seaweed. Maybe try some grilled seafood or traditional eel stew for lunch before heading back to the station to board an early afternoon train to Lisbon. On arrival, you might like to freshen up, then find a spot for dinner and drinks to get a feel for Portugal's capital.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Aveiro - Leader led walk
Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.
Start the day with a leader-led orientation walk. Much of Lisbon’s character lies in its grand boulevards, castles, churches and cobbled streets lined with restaurants, bakeries and bars. The rest of the day is free to explore your way. Maybe catch a tram to the Belem district to explore the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Jeronimos Monastery, visit the Lisbon Cathedral or wander the medieval citadel of Sao Jorge Castle which sits on the highest point of Old Town. Or if you’re feeling a more relaxed vibe, grab a table at a tavern for some petiscos (share plates) or watch the world go by at a rooftop bar.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Lisbon - Orientation walk - Leader led
- Lisbon - Oceanarium - EUR25
- Lisbon - Naval Museum - EUR7
- Lisbon - Puppet Museum - EUR5
- Lisbon - Folk Art Museum - EUR5
- Sintra - Return Train Ticket - EUR10
- Lisbon - Traditional Boat Tour - EUR15
- Lisbon - Canned Fish Tasting - EUR7
- Lisbon - Ginginha Tasting - EUR2
- Lisbon - National Art Museum - EUR8
- Lisbon - Gulbenkian Museum - EUR10
Head to Alentejo today – a region known for its cork and olive farms. Here, you’ll do a guided tour of a cork and holm oak forest. Learn about the centuries-old trees and harvest methods as you explore the grounds with a cork expert. Continue to Évora, the capital of the Alentejo region. This city dates back to Roman times, as seen in the centrally located Roman Temple. Take a break for lunch and ask your leader where the most authentic eats are. After, join your group for an orientation walk. There’s loads to see in a city this old, including one of the oldest cathedrals in Portugal and the Chapel of Bones – earning its name from its wall of human skulls and bones. This evening, maybe head out for an optional dinner with your group.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Alentejo - Guided tour in the cork forest
- Evora - Orientation walk in Evora including the Bones Chapel - leader led
- Evora - Roman Temple Entrance - Free
- Evora - Evora Museum - EUR4
- Evora - Evora University - Free
- Evora - Great Dolmen of Zambujeiro - Free
Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.
Say goodbye to the Alentejo region and take a private transfer to Olhao in the Algarve. On the way, stop at a local winery where you’ll learn about the production of a local wine variety called Amphora, which is made with techniques that date back to the Roman era. Finish the tour with a wine-paired lunch of local favourites, then continue to Olhao in time to catch the sunset. Maybe kick back along the waterfront with a cold drink, or head out on an optional sunset boat trip through Ria Formosa Natural Park.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Alentejo - Guided visit of local winery, amphora wine tasting and lunch
- Orientation walk in Olhao
- Faro or Olhao - Ria Formosa Sunset boat tour - EUR30
Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.
You’ll explore Ria Formosa Natural Park on a boat trip this morning. Cruising past small islands, fishing villages and marshes, you’ll learn about the park’s unique ecosystem and maybe spot seabirds or wild dolphins if you're lucky. The rest of the afternoon is free to spend as you like – how about unwinding on the beach or taking a stroll through the city’s traditional fisherman’s quarter? Tonight, you might like to gather your group for a farewell dinner and raise a toast to your Portugal adventure.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Olhao - Morning Ria Formosa Boat Tour
There are no activities planned for today, and your trip comes to an end. If you’d like to extend your time in Portugal, reach out to your booking agent ahead of time.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
Inclusions and activities
7 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
Train, Private vehicle
Hotel (7 nights)
- Porto - Welcome Dinner
- Porto - Walking tour and Port Wine tasting with local guide
- Aveiro - Leader led walk
- Lisbon - Orientation walk - Leader led
- Alentejo - Guided tour in the cork forest
- Evora - Orientation walk in Evora including the Bones Chapel - leader led
- Alentejo - Guided visit of local winery, amphora wine tasting and lunch
- Orientation walk in Olhao
- Olhao - Morning Ria Formosa Boat Tour
- Porto - Clerigos Tower - EUR8
- Porto - Bolhao Market - Free
- Porto - Livraria Lello - EUR8
- Porto - Serralves Foundation - EUR24
- Porto - Tile-Painting Workshop - EUR45
- Porto - Matosinhos day trip - EUR4
- Lisbon - Oceanarium - EUR25
- Lisbon - Naval Museum - EUR7
- Lisbon - Puppet Museum - EUR5
- Lisbon - Folk Art Museum - EUR5
- Sintra - Return Train Ticket - EUR10
- Lisbon - Traditional Boat Tour - EUR15
- Lisbon - Canned Fish Tasting - EUR7
- Lisbon - Ginginha Tasting - EUR2
- Lisbon - National Art Museum - EUR8
- Lisbon - Gulbenkian Museum - EUR10
- Evora - Roman Temple Entrance - Free
- Evora - Evora Museum - EUR4
- Evora - Evora University - Free
- Evora - Great Dolmen of Zambujeiro - Free
- Faro or Olhao - Ria Formosa Sunset boat tour - EUR30
We’re in the process of figuring out how much CO2-e this trip generates. In the meantime, learn more about our climate commitment.
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Before you book you should know
- Don’t let the heat keep you from exploring the world! Summer temperatures can be extreme in Portugal (over 40°C), which can be uncomfortable. It’s important to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat and drink plenty of water. Please carefully consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season.
- There will be some train transportation on this trip. Trains are a fast way to cross long distances, allowing you to avoid traffic jams and arrive right in the city centre. They are comfortable and all have toilets; however, they can sometimes be quite busy. Please note that you'll have to carry your own luggage on and off the train, so make sure it doesn’t exceed our weight and size recommendations. You can find specifics under ‘Packing’ in the ‘Essential Trip Information’ section.
- Hotels in Europe often don't have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together/apart.
- On this trip, it is recommended to travel light. You will be expected to carry your own bag and although you won't be required to walk long distances with your luggage (max 20 minutes), we strongly recommend keeping the weight under 15kg / 33lb as Portugal is known to have steep streets, cobblestone walkways, steps and uneven terrain.
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.
TWIN SHARE BASIS
Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multishare basis. We pair up solo travellers with another traveller of the same gender as per the gender marker on each of their passports. Please note there may be times where facilities will be shared rather than ensuite and rare occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on different Intrepid trips than your own.
CHECK-IN TIME
Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.
PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.
FACILITIES
Your accommodation may not always have private en suite facilities or air-conditioning. European hotels generally don't provide kettles or fridges.
Fontinha Hotel Porto
R. da Fontinha 87 91, 4000-243 Porto, Portugal
Porto
PORTUGAL
Phone: +351 229761050
Alternate joining point
For trips departing on the following dates, use this joining point.
26 Apr 2026 (ZMKP260426), 10 May 2026 (ZMKP260510), 24 May 2026 (ZMKP260524), 21 Jun 2026 (ZMKP260621), 19 Jul 2026 (ZMKP260719), 16 Aug 2026 (ZMKP260816), 06 Sep 2026 (ZMKP260906), 20 Sep 2026 (ZMKP260920), 04 Oct 2026 (ZMKP261004), 18 Oct 2026 (ZMKP261018), 25 Apr 2027 (ZMKP270425), 09 May 2027 (ZMKP270509), 23 May 2027 (ZMKP270523), 20 Jun 2027 (ZMKP270620), 18 Jul 2027 (ZMKP270718), 15 Aug 2027 (ZMKP270815), 05 Sep 2027 (ZMKP270905), 19 Sep 2027 (ZMKP270919), 03 Oct 2027 (ZMKP271003), 17 Oct 2027 (ZMKP271017)
Porto
Porto
PORTUGAL
Dates and prices
Important notes
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
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