THE BEST OF PORTUGAL in 11 days
My Best of Portugal Tour provides a laid-back and worry-free experience while connecting the major destinations and landmarks in Portugal. There is a lot to see and do, but the travel distances are not far, the people are friendly, and the culture and ambiance are unmatched anywhere in Europe. We will visit the capital of Lisbon and connect its history with great explorers and navigators. Then we will get out into the countryside and seaside to learn about Portugal, its people, and its rich history that transformed the ancient world into the new world.
Your Adventure Starts Here!
| PRICE FROM | DATES | |
|---|---|---|
| $4459 + air | Apr 3-13, 2026 |  |
| $4459 + air | May 13-23, 2026 | |
| $4459 + air | Jun 9-19, 2026 | |
| $4459 + air | Sep 27-Oct 7, 2026 | |
Lisbon – 3 nights
Nazaré – 2 nights
Coimbra – 2 night
Duoro Valley – 1 night
Porto – 2 nights
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Single Room Additional Cost ~$910
ITINERARY
DAY 1: LISBON – We will get together in our hotel at 4:00 p.m. for greetings and introductions. Then, let’s get oriented with a walk around our neighborhood, followed by dinner together. Walking: moderate. Sleep for 3 nights in Lisbon. Dinner.
DAY 2: LISBON – After breakfast, join an extensive walking tour visiting three of Lisbon’s neighborhoods, including a jaw-dropping panoramic view from the Castle Sãn Jorge. You’ll have some time this afternoon to poke around on your own. Later, we will cap off our day with dinner and a performance of fado, the soulful traditional singing of ancient Portugal. Walking: strenuous. Dinner.
DAY 3: LISBON AND BELÉM – Just three miles from Lisbon, Belém holds a few essential sights from Portugal’s dynamic “Age of Discovery.” Enjoy a waterfront stroll past the gigantic Monument of Discoveries constructed in 1960 to commemorate Portugal’s famous explorer Prince Henry the Navigator. Nearby, the Belém Tower stands all bright and white, still welcoming sailors to the harbor as it has done for 600 years. Across the street, we will take a look at the impressive Monastery of Jerónimos, constructed by King Manuel in the 1500s commemorating Portugal’s early explorers. Then, for a sweet treat, we will pop into a nearby bakery to sample the famous pastries of Belém. Returning to Lisbon, you’ll have the remainder of the day and evening to explore more on your own. Walking: moderate.
DAY 4: NAZARÉ AND FÁTIMA – Leaving the city, we will head to the countryside to visit Fátima and laid-back Nazaré. In Fátima, a pilgrimage site, we will learn how three children shared a vision of the Virgin Mary in May 1917, calling for the end of WWI and world peace. Then we will head up the coast to the delightful seaside town of Nazaré where after a little orientation, you’ll have a chance to explore the city. We will meet tonight for dinner. Driving: 3 hours. Walking: moderate. Sleep for 2 nights in Nazaré. Dinner.
DAY 5: NAZARÉ – You’ll have the entire day to enjoy seaside Nazaré and Sitio, its hilltop neighbor. This is the perfect day to bask in the sun, enjoy a relaxed lunch and dinner and slow down and enjoy! Walking: your choice.
DAY 6: COIMBRA – Coimbra is a fun town loaded with a maze of cobbled streets, a 700-year-old university, and a famous library dating from the 18th century. We will begin with an orientation walking tour of the town, and then you’ll be cut loose to enjoy dinner and make more discoveries on your own. Sleep for 2 nights in Coimbra.
DAY 7: COIMBRA – Join a walk this morning to Coimbra’s old university, which has been sitting here for more than 700 years. The university library house 30,000 books from the 18th century! Enjoy the afternoon and evening on your own. We’ll meet late this evening for a fado performance in a unique style known only to Coimbra.
DAY 8: WINE AND THE DUORO VALLEY – We will drive to Portugal’s famous winemaking region and learn about the art of making port, the famous after-dinner wine from this region. You’ll have a chance to visit an old family estate, learn about growing vines and making port, and get to taste it, too! Later, we will arrive at our hotel to enjoy dinner together. Driving: 2 hours. Walking: moderate. Sleep 1 night in the Duoro Valley region. Dinner.
DAY 9: PORTO – After a lazy morning, we will travel through the lush terraced wine country to the rough and rugged port town of Porto. We will tour several neighborhoods, including the port and downtown. After setting up at our hotel, you’ll have the evening free on your own. Driving: 1 hour. Walking: moderate. Sleep in Porto for 2 nights.
DAY 10: PORTO – Enjoy a scenic cruise on the Duoro River this morning. After lunch, we will take a walk around the riverfront district, including a look at the Stock Exchange Palace and the Church of Santa Clara. We will meet tonight for a grand farewell feast, capped off with a bit of Port. Walking: light. Dinner.
DAY 11: TOUR OVER AFTER BREAKFAST – Your tour guide will be happy to assist in making transportation connections to the airport or train station. Enjoy your journey!
Itinerary specifics are subject to change.
INCLUSIONS
Transportation by coach and/or minibus from your first hotel in Lisbon to your final hotel in Porto.
10 nights’ accommodation in traditional hotels, guesthouses, and B&Bs. All rooms have private en-suite baths.
All tips and gratuities to guides, drivers, restaurants, and hotel staff.
A guaranteed Small Group consisting of 6-18 participants.
All breakfasts and five of your dinners.
Traditional dining experiences at some of David’s personal favorite restaurants. Eating well is a priority and you’ll enjoy fine regional fare featuring the best the locale has to offer.
Water is included with all meals. Soda, beer, wine, spirits, coffee, and tea are your responsibility.
All tours and admissions at no extra cost: Comprehensive walking tour in Lisbon, two Fado music experiences, Belém walking tour, Monastery of Jerónimos entrance, Fátima orientation walk, Nazaré orientation walk, Coimbra orientation walk, Duoro Wine Valley driving tour, Wine tasting, Porto walking tour, Duoro River cruise, and much more!
A full-time Exploring Europe guide and local experts dedicated to bringing to life the art, history, and culture of the tour destinations.
David’s tour handouts are delivered electronically and detail each day’s historical and cultural experiences.
Free luggage tags and David’s custom-designed drawstring backpacks.
Our Unconditional Tour Price Guarantee, once locked in, will never change.
$50 Tour Alumni discount for each David McGuffin tour you’ve taken prior to this travel year.
EXCLUSIONS
Comprehensive Trip insurance. We strongly recommend comprehensive insurance for tour.
Fee for passports.
Beer, wine, spirits, and soda during the tour.
Laundry, phone, internet, and personal items
Extras and optional activities.
Anything not mentioned in the itinerary.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
CANCELLATION POLICY
CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS:
Deposits- Deposits for tours are fully refundable for 30 days from your initial application and deposit date, unless otherwise noted. If you book a tour less than 90 days before its departure date, full payment is due immediately, and the entire tour cost becomes non-refundable after seven days. After these dates, deposits are not refundable and will be forfeited if you cancel your tour reservation.
Payments- Tour payments are due in full 90 days before your tour departure date. If you find you must cancel between 90-0 days before your tour departure, please contact us immediately. We will work with you to transfer your payments to another tour departing within 18 months. We strongly recommend that everyone purchase comprehensive travel insurance that covers tour cancellations, emergency medical, and other unexpected events.
Cancellations will be effective when the written notification is received at David McGuffin›s Exploring Europe by mail, e-mail, or fax.
SIGN UP BY EMAIL OR POST
If you do not want to sign up online:
You may download a tour application and send it to us with payment.
-OR-
You may return it by:
- FAX 1-800-570-1351
- Email – info@davidmcguffin.com
- email – take a photo of the form with your smartphone and attach it to an email
- TXT – take a photo with your smartphone and TXT to 904-612-8149
KEY TO WALKING & ACTIVITY
Walking and Physical Activity: We have planned this trip to provide maximum tour experiences. The basic nature of Europe does require some degree of physical activity to get out and see the sights, especially in the big cities. To help you plan, we’ve included a daily projection of physical activity. Here is the key for our walking activity ratings:
Light – Walking done on level surfaces with some hills and elevation gains. Two miles or less of required walking during the day.
Moderate – Walking done on paved and gravel paths and cobbled city sidewalks. To enjoy the full tour experience, some uphill and downhill walking is expected, as is standing while viewing sights or museums. Four to six miles of walking per day.
Strenuous – Walking done on rugged and rocky paths and city-cobbled sidewalks. There will be steps and stairs. Up to three hours standing in museums or experience sites. Up to eight miles of walking per day.
Your Choice – No matter what your walking ability, we will help you find alternative ways to enjoy and experience all Europe has to offer. To get the most out of our tours, you should be able to operate at the light level every day with spurts of moderate and strenuous.
PRE-TOUR RESOURCES
Now that you’ve decided to join this tour, we are sure you’ll have some questions. Don’t worry. We are here to help you through each aspect of your tour from start to finish.
DAVID’S 60 SECONDS DESTINATION VIDEOS
Join David as he shares impromptu moments from his travels in the United Kingdom. Watching these short 60-second segments are a great way to experience David’s travel style and adventures. Watch David Explores France here.
David’s TRAVEL TALK TUESDAY almost-weekly broadcast and Video Series Blog.
Every week, when David is not traveling in Europe, he presents a LIVE broadcast on Zoom and Facebook. Check it out on Tuesdays at 7:30 PM Eastern Time.
Each Travel Talk Tuesday session is recorded. Watch them here.
DAVID’S BLOG ARTICLES
David and his team have answered many travel-related questions, and they are all tucked away on his blog. But, no need to go there. Just type in a keyword in the search box at the top or bottom of this page (it’s the gray rectangle with a small magnifying glass icon), and you will get results for your query.
PLEASE SEND US AN EMAIL OR GIVE US A CALL.
We are happy to answer your travel questions and give advice and suggestions. tours@davidmcguffin.com or 800-570-1351.
Testimonials & Reviews of our Tours
I’m quite pleased with my first experience with David McGuffin tour company. The itinerary was spot on - from sites (expected tourist highlights to less known treasures) to hotels (especially Barr Na Straide) & restaurants (Rinuccini❣️) to planned time balanced with free time. And our guide David Grey was THE BEST! David is respectful, thorough, flexible, & a wealth of knowledge and all the while just being plain fun. As my late mother would say, “he’s a keeper.”
We were a family of 5 with three adults and two children 7 and 9. In London we had great food, site seeing and special moments like tea at Harrods, seeing Wicked live and a trip to Harry Potter WB studio experience as well as a trip to Abbey Road for a photo moment. We rode The Eye, boats, busses and the subway. John and Audra guided us expertly . On to Paris via train and more wonderful sites and food. We absolutely loved the Eiffel Tower both from the top and from the river. Spectacular experience of seeing the lights coming on at dusk. Took a cooking class and it was fantastic. The macarons were delicious. Lots of walking. This hotel was convenient to transportation but room too small for a family. All the hotels had delicious breakfasts. Flew to Rome and the hotel there was very nice. Very hot here but enjoyed all the sites and food. No water in Trevi Fountain but lots of other things to enjoy. Had a wonderful memorable time. Came home exhausted but with lots of lasting memories. Thanks to David, Leslie John and Audra for a trip of a lifetime.
The trip to Ireland was just GREAT. David McGuffin Exploring Europe really provides a very nice itinerary and very comfortable everything, very nice hotels, great food, highlighted places and experiences. The part I liked best was David the personal full time tour guide, he was exceptional. The company took care of all of the details like where to go, where to stay, all attraction payments, the beautiful motorcoach. All we had to do is relax and enjoy. And what a great group of people. It couldn't have been better!
My wife and I traveled to Italy last month for David’s “Essence of Italy” tour and we had a great time. Traveling with David and Charlotte was so much easier not having to worry about our hotel, food, and transportation arrangements.
Due to the Jubilee and the Pope’s death, Rome was extremely crowded. We missed the Sistine Chapel and Saint Peter’s Basilica because of the Conclave. We plan on returning to Rome with David to see these sites.
The train ride to Cinque Terre was fun with a lot to see. Once there, we were able to visit a few of the five villages using local trains. The views of the mountain villages next to the ocean were fantastic.
Our next stop was to the hilltown of Volterra in Tuscany. Now I know why David calls Volterra one of his favorite places. It’s really beautiful and has a lot of history. We would never have thought of visiting some of the locations David took us.
We finished our trip visiting Siena and Florence. The museums, Cathedrals, and famous historical sites were great to see.
Traveling with David, Charlotte and our group was very enjoyable. We have already booked our next trip with David in 2026.
Essence of Italy 10 days our first David McGuffin Tour and we were thankful to have David and Charlotte with us on this tour. Rome was quite the experience 2 full days of site seeing with the Vatican, Spanish Steps, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain to name a few all so beautiful, but a little over whelming with the crowds.
Our hotels in every location were quaint and lovely! Not having A/C is some of them was an adjustment , I definitely recommend you bring the portable fan that David mentions to bring we used it.
We really enjoyed our small group 10 people including our guides it was perfect. We had so much fun at our group dinners having a guide for the restaurants was definitely a plus, as well as what food to order.
Cinque Terre- Monterosso was my favorite village and Volterra the Tuscany area was also a favorite of ours! The tour guides in Rome (Guilai was amazing) and Volterra were informative and enjoyable as well as David and Charlottes information on each area.
We packed just like David suggested and we didn’t have any issues or problems handling our own luggage but we did do laundry once while there. David’s tour prep instructions were spot on.
We had the most enjoyable time making new friends and seeing beautiful Italy our next adventure is hopefully Greece!
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