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For those travellers who prefer to visit Portugal in an independent way we offer this Self Drive Itineraries.
These self-drive tours were designed based on our deep knowledge of our country and they have the purpose of being easy to explore by a first-time visitor to Portugal.
Keep in mind that reservations will be made and although you might change your route you will be expected at the selected overnight venue.
Day 1: Departure to Évora, Estremoz and Marvão
Start your day heading to Évora. After leaving Lisbon behind and crossing the modern Vasco da Gama bridge (one of the longest bridges in the world and the last one being built in Lisbon) you'll take the A6 highway, towards the region of Alentejo. As soon as you enter this southern area of Portugal
you'll confirm the diversity existing in this small country.
The landscape becomes warm and serene, with long fields cultivated with cereals interrupted only from time to time by an old holm oark. Évora will then appear to you as an oasis in the middle of the desert. Cosy Évora, still surrounded by its old city walls, will attract you for its medieval appearance
and it will be difficult to stop walking around the very narrow streets of its historical centre. Beside several other monuments to be visited (such as the Cathedral, Saint Francis church and the old University) it is also in Évora that is located one of the most significant traces of the roman
occupation in the Portuguese territory: Diana's temple.
Take the chance to have lunch here, since Évora - as any other genuine city in Alentejo - is well known for its fantastic traditional gastronomy. After Lunch, continue your way to Estremoz, a city surrounded by abundant marble quarries and famous for tits
handcrafted small charming clay figurines.
During your visit it will be worth to go up the hill of the old castle (which has in 1967 been transformed into a Pousada) and enjoy the view over the plains of Alentejo. Leave Estremoz, proceed to Marvão and you'll be amazed by its fabulous location. On the
top of high defensive rocks, this small town has always been a tactical point for locals to get protection from invaders and to defend their Portuguese nationality. You'll be forgiven for taking long enjoying the view from the old fortress!
Approximate distances and times:
Lisbon - Évora--- 135 Km (1 hour 20 minutes)
Évora - Estremoz --- 46 Km (30 minutes)
Estremoz - Marvão --- 76 Km (1 hour)
Accommodation in Marvão:
Level A Hotel: Pousada de Santa Maria (Pousada)
Level B Hotel: Albergaria El-Rei D. Manuel (3 stars)
Day 2: Departure to Castelo de Vide, Sortelha and Belmonte
When you step into Castelo de Vide, considered to be a national monument, you'll feel the temptation of crossing the harmonious historical district on the way to the castle wall. From there you'll enjoy a wonderful panorama overlooking the old Jewish quarter, where we are still able to find many
interesting architectonical vestiges of the old medieval town.
Continue to Belmonte and you'll arrive to one of the oldest Jewish redoubts in our nation. In a very strong secretism, it was here that remained along the centuries, one of the oldest Jewish Iberian communities, together with their original cult and ancestral
traditions. Have a walk in Belmonte town centre and see the different footprints left by these communities along our History.
Already in Belmonte, take the chance to have a look at Sortelha, one of the famous Portuguese historical villages which, being on the top of a hill and very close to the border with Spain, had in former a times a very important role in the defensive strategy of
our nation.
Approximate distances and times:
Marvão - Castelo de Vide --- 13 Km (10 minutes)
Castelo de Vide - Belmonte --- 159 Km (1 hour 45 minutes)
Belmonte - Sortelha - Belmonte --- 36 Km (40 minutes)
Accommodation in Belmonte or Fundão:
Level A Hotel (Belmonte): Pousada do Convento de Belmonte (Pousada)
Level B Hotel (Guarda): Hotel Lusitânia Parque (4 stars)
Day 3: Departure to Guarda, Viseu, Lamego and Amarante
Guarda will surprise you for its altitude, since it is considered to be the highest city in the country (1056 m high). On the slope of Estrela Mountain range, Guarda is well known for its natural surroundings and ancient History.
If you could take longer there, you would also confirm that modernity is leaving its mark in the commerce and industries of this region. But you should now head to Viseu, where a very wealthy medieval and baroque past is still visible in the mains streets. The
rich details of several house fronts are still impressive and embellish a nowadays busy commercial centre.
Enjoy the good local gastronomy in one of the well known restaurants of Viseu. After lunch carry on to Lamego, a true lovely countryside city. The tiny dimensions of its city centre contrasts with the elegance and wealthy of some traces left by a past very much
involved with the 18 th century Port wine production and trade. Dominated by the beautiful shrine in honour of Our Lady of "Remédios", the humble Lamego hardly reveals its heavy historical past, since the beginning of our Portuguese nationality.
In Peso da Régua, get prepared to enjoy one of the most wonderful landscapes in the world. You'll be crossing the Douro valley, where the terraced hill slopes hide one of the country's most valuable treasures: the beautiful vineyards from where the worldwide
famous Port wine is still nowadays produced.
In Régua you'll once more realize how the local everyday life is clearly linked to the wine production and traditions. Here you'll have the chance to visit a wine cellar and farm. And finally Amarante where, after accommodating yourself in Casa da Calçada, you
won't resist crossing the bucolic Tâmega river, towards S. Gonçalo monastery (16th century).
Take your evening walking around, exploring this small but lovelly historical centre. If you chose Level B accommodation, forward to Guimarães instead.
Approximate distances and times:
Belmonte - Guarda --- 26 Km (30 minutes)
Guarda - Viseu --- 73 Km (1 hour)
Viseu - Lamego --- 64 Km (40 minutes)
Lamego - Amarante --- 54 Km (1h 10 minutes)
Accommodation in Amarante or Régua:
Level A Hotel (Amarante): Casa da Calçada (Relaix & Chateaux Charming 4 stars)
Level B Hotel (Guimarães): Villa Hotel Guimarães (4 stars)
Day 4: Departure to Guimarães, Braga, Ponte de Lima and overnight in Viana do Castelo
In the city of Guimarães you will enjoy its beauty and simplicity. Here is definitely mandatory to have a look at the former Palace of the Dukes of Bragança. This monument is located right beside Guimarães castle, this one considered to be the birthplace for the Portuguese Nation.
Then, walk through the narrow streets of the historical centre, meet finally the beautiful square of Oliveira (classified as an Heritage Cultural UNESCO site) and you'll be tempted to stop for a cup of coffee in one of its street cafes.
Afterwards, Braga will show you one of the oldest cathedrals in the Iberian Peninsula, where the adjoined dependences work also as an interesting museum related to the old tradition of Catholicism in the city. In the city of the Archbishops, you'll also be
amazed by the busy commerce existing in the city centre.
Please proceed now to Viana do Castelo, never forgetting the stopover in the lovely scenic town of Ponte de Lima. Already in Viana, the capital of Minho region, you will be able to enjoy and unique gastronomy and the singular Green Wine.
Take also some time exploring its rich historical centre and have a look at the beautiful local embroideries.
Approximate distances and times:
Amarante - Guimarães --- 35 Km (50 minutes)
Guimarães - Braga --- 26 Km (25 minutes)
Braga - Ponte de Lima --- 43 Km (35 minutes)
Ponte de Lima - Viana do Castelo --- 29 Km (35 minutes)
Accommodation in Viana do Castelo:
Level A Hotel: Estalagem Melo Alvim (Relaix & Chateaux Charming 4 stars)
Level B Hotel: Quinta de São Sebastião (Charming Rural Hotel)
Day 5: Departure to Porto
You'll start your day taking the highway to Porto. As soon as you get there, you'll understand how diversified Portugal is, although being a quite small country.
Considered to be the second largest Portuguese city, Porto is completely different from Lisbon: in its size, colors, traditions and even in what concerns the local population. On the north bank of Douro river, the city of Porto is still one of the most
conservative and impressive Portuguese cities, having still nowadays a certain feeling of rivalry towards Lisbon.
The riverside quarter of Ribeira is delightful to be visited, with its narrow streets, typical houses and picturesque life-style: it has been recently restored, now including now some fashionable restaurants and bars.
Afterwards please head to the city centre, where you can have a look at some of the most significant monuments (Stock Exchange Palace, St. Francis Church and Clérigos Church and Bell Tower) and also go to the commercial and pedestrian street of St. Catherine.
On the other bank of Douro river (at Vila Nova de Gaia) you'll have the chance of visiting the Port Wine cellars, including some Port Wine tasting as well. In Porto you should definitely drive along the city until the mouth of the river and, on the way back to
the city centre, park your car and stroll across the historical centre and the World Heritage site (classified by UNESCO in 1996) Ribeira district.
Approximate distances and times:
Viana do Castelo - Porto --- 76 Km (1 hour)
Accommodation in Porto:
Level A Hotel: Pestana Porto Hotel (Charming 4 stars)
Level B Hotel: Hotel Eurostars das Artes (4 stars)
Day 6: Departure to Aveiro and Coimbra
On the next day drive all the way to Aveiro. Take A1 (one of the countrys main highways) towards south and you'll arrive to a city by the Atlantic, crossed by Vouga river and its waterways.
This riverside location, and all the coloured Moliceiros (traditional local boats) we can see while walking along the canals, gives Aveiro an unique atmosphere. But that's not everything; Aveiro has also some quite interesting museums and other cultural
attraction to be visited, such as the Museum of Aveiro (worth to be visited even just for its location in the old convent of Princess Saint Joana) and Vista Alegre china Factory and Museum (one of the oldest in Portugal and worldwide renown).
Visiting this city you'll also taste a calm everyday life, although the city is one of the biggest in the country, and recently quite much developed due to the new University. It's compulsory to stop for lunchtime and try the local fresh fish and, as a desert,
the delicious Ovos Moles.
You should now return to A1 in the direction of Coimbra. Entering the city you'll still find several traces of the past. Nevertheless there's still a blow of youthfulness with the big student community arriving every year to the old University.
This monument should indeed be one of the highlights of your visit. Please, do not miss the University chapel and its baroque library, or you'll regret it forever! In its city centre you'll wander among old roman ruins, Romanesque cathedrals and Manueline
churches at the same time you stroll across its commercial busy area.
It is not easy to distinguish here the limit between the old metropolis and the modern city.
Approximate distances and times:
Porto - Aveiro --- 73 Km (1 hour)
Aveiro - Coimbra --- 59 Km (45 minutes)
Accommodation in Coimbra:
Level A Hotel: Quinta das Lágrimas (Relaix & Chateaux Charming 4 stars)
Level B Hotel: Hotel Tivoli Coimbra (4 stars)
Day 7: Departure to Fatima, Batalha, Alcobaça, Nazaré and Óbidos, before returning to Lisbon
In order to get to Fatima you must go south along A1. Arriving to the "Altar of the World", where our Lady is said to have appeared to three young shepherds, go across the central square visiting the most significant spots (such as the original chapel of the apparitions and the main basilica).
You can also have a look at the old countryside homes where Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta (the three little shepherds of Fátima) were born in the early 20th century. On the way out of Fatima, please proceed to Batalha, where there won't be any chance to avoid
the well known monastery; besides being a World Heritage site since 1983, this construction overpowers the small town for its dimensions and exquisite late Gothic decoration.
As soon as you complete the visit, you'll start following the direction of Alcobaça. Here you can choose from visiting the interior of the big 12 th century abbey and monastery (also classified by UNESCO in 1985) and strolling across the lovely town centre,
between both water streams which long time ago named the area: Alcoa and Baça. Afterwards, it is now mandatory to pass by Nazaré, a very genuine fishermen's town, where still nowadays many elder local women hang around in their traditional costume: the famous skirt of Nazaré and its 6 petticoats.
Go to Sítio (top of the cliff leaned over the beach) and enjoy the most adorable panorama over the small town and the coast. Don't leave before finding out every detail about the local picturesque Legend. Continuing your way to Óbidos, you'll have to take now
the highway A8 towards Lisbon.
As soon as you leave the highway you'll find a beautiful small medieval town, still surrounded by the old city walls. Óbidos is famous for its very well preserved atmosphere of a traditional portuguese town, where all the whitewashed house are very carefully
decorated with lovely coloured flowerbeds. Return to Lisbon, again along the A8.
Approximate distances and times:
Coimbra - Fatima --- 85 Km (1 hour)
Fatima - Batalha --- 19 Km (20 minutes)
Batalha - Alcobaça --- 20 Km (25 minutes)
Alcobaça - Nazaré --- 14 Km (20 minutes)
Nazaré - Óbidos --- 39 Km (30 minutes)
Óbidos - Lisbon --- 86 Km (1 hour)
Accommodation in Lisbon:
Level A Hotel: Pestana Palace (5 stars Deluxe)
Level B Hotel: Hotel Açores Lisboa (4 stars)
End of Self-Drive Tour
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