TOURS - SOUTH REGION
Discover the most beautiful beaches and sunny plains, on a private visit, or as a family
ÉVORA
The city of Évora is located in the heart of Alentejo, surrounded by endless plains cultivated with cereals, pastures, cork trees, olive trees, vineyards and cattle. The landscape is cut by the silhouette of medieval walls of this historic city in Alentejo.
Évora has a history of more than 2000 years, with a legacy left by the Romans and the Moors. The Roman Temple of Diana is the city's ex-libris and one of the most important monuments of Roman history in Portugal. There are other medieval remains that can be seen, such as the Cathedral, in Romanesque-Gothic style (the largest in the country), the Church of S. Francisco, the Bones Chapel, one of the biggest attractions in the city, Praça do Giraldo, the Walls and a walk through the Moorish area, with its very narrow streets and alleys.
Évora hosts the second oldest University in the country, just after Coimbra, receiving hundreds of students from all over the country, making this city more lively and youthful.
The Almendres Cromlech is located on Évora's outskirts, constituting the largest set of structured menhirs in the Iberian Peninsula.
SESIMBRA / ARRÁBIDA / SETÚBAL
Sesimbra
Fishing village, characterized by its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and the Sado river. With a strong connection to one of the biggest references concerning the Portuguese - the Fishing -, it has impressive landscapes from the Sesimbra's Castle, Espichel Cape, Lagoa de Albufeira and the various beaches that integrate the region.
Arrábida
The Arrábida mountain range is characterized by the beauty of the Arrábida Natural Park, a very special place, with special climatic conditions that led to the existence of its very unique fauna. On the way to Portinho da Arrábida, it is possible to admire the breathtaking views over Setúbal bay. It is also where the Fort of Santa Maria da Arrábida is located.
Setúbal
City closely linked to commerce and fishing, where you can enjoy the Sado estuary and the Atlantic Ocean, fresh fish, traditional fried cuttlefish, good wines and the famous Moscatel de Setúbal. The main monuments are the Church of the Convento de Jesus, the Fortress of S. Filipe, the Fort of Santiago do Outão and the Church of Santa Maria da Graça.
PALMELA / AZEITÃO
Palmela
This village, located in one of the foothills of the Arrábida Mountain, has attracted, over the centuries, several figures who have passed through the Iberian Peninsula. It owes its name to the Romans and the Arabs, and also for the construction of the castle at its highest point, from where the whole region that extends between the Sado and Tagus rivers was dominated, overlooking Lisbon and also the Hill of Sintra, which conferred an important defensive strategic point. Nowadays is one of the best viewpoints in the entire region, due to the elevated position.
Azeitão
The Azeitão area comprises several characteristic villages, in particular Vila Fresca and Vila Nogueira, which took the names of the farms around which they developed. In this area, you can find Quinta da Bacalhôa and Quinta da Nogueira, much appreciated for their famous wines and cellars and for traditional products such as Pies and Cheeses from Azeitão. There are also some artisan ateliers like the Azulejos São Simão and Faianças of Vila Fresca.
TRÓIA / COMPORTA / MELIDES
Tróia
The Tróia Peninsula is south of Lisbon, surrounded by other incredible places, such as the Natural Mountain of Arrábida, the Sado Estuary Nature Reserve and Comporta, with its white sands being the main point of interest. In the northern part of the Peninsula you can visit the Roman Ruins of Tróia and a vast fish salting complex, which remained active between the 1st and the 6th centuries. Two river piers ensure the shortest connection to the city of Setúbal, through a nice ferryboat.
Comporta
Comporta is famous for its high-quality beaches and mild climate during the summer. Comporta beach has white sand and a blue sea, giving it a paradisiacal landscape. It is integrated in the Sado Estuary Nature Reserve, providing the necessary conditions for the development of more than 200 bird species. It is also where the Rice Museum is located, due to the numerous rice fields that have existed in the region since 1830.
Melides
Fishing area, with a small number of people and known for its extensive sandy beach, a beautiful lagoon with small islands, vegetation and the Galé Cliffs. It is famous for the modesty that its areas offer, much appreciated by those who live there and who visit this purest and less explored area.
ESTREMOZ / BORBA / VILA VIÇOSA
Estremoz
Known as the “White City” of the Alentejo, for the white of its hillside houses and its pale marble deposits. Surrounded by two sets of walls, with a very rich and relevant history, from the Roman and Muslim occupations, Estremoz has an important architectural and cultural heritage, such as Vila Velha (or Largo Dom Dinis), the 13th century Castle keeped in light marble, the Royal Palace, the Chapel of the Holy Queen, and the Convent and Church of S. Francisco.
Borba
An ancient town, under Roman, Gothic and Arab rule, that was conquered in 1217 by the Christian Reconquest. It has important monuments such as the Mother Church, the Chapel of Senhor Jesus dos Aflitos, the Parish Church of S. Bartolomeu, or the Chapels of S. António and S. Sebastião. Borba's wines are among the most famous in the country, known for their quality.
Vila Viçosa
A beautiful Alentejo's town, with a rich history and an enviable heritage, known as the “Alentejo's Princess”. In the center, the medieval castle, with two turrets at opposite angles, which make it one of the jewels of Portuguese military architecture. Paço Ducal is one of the emblematic monuments, built in 1501, with 110 meters of Mannerist style façade, fully covered in marble from the region, which makes this magnificent royal palace a unique example.
ARRAIOLOS / REGUENGOS DE MONSARAZ / ESPORÃO
Arraiolos
Arraiolos is known worldwide for its centuries-old handmade carpet industry, which is hand-embroidered, this art is being handed down from generation to generation. Some of the tapestries are authentic pieces of art and take months to produce. Some of these precious pieces can be seen in the Arraiolos Carpet Museum.
There is also the important Arraiolos Castle, one of the rare circular castles in the world.
Reguengos de Monsaraz
The typical village of Reguengos de Monsaraz, is located next to artifical lake of Alqueva, with magnificent landscapes of the Alentejo countryside and a very rich historical heritage, where the village of Monsaraz stands out with its castle. There is also a strong identity of the traditional uses and customs, especially in the region's gastronomy and wines, as well as in handicrafts, with special emphasis on São Pedro do Coval, the largest pottery center in the country.
Herdade do Esporão
One of the best and oldest wineries, with tasting of the different wines and oils produced here. With 600 hectares of planted vineyards, is around 750 years old, as it was in 1267 that its limits were fixed, remaining practically unchanged until today.
A visit to its exuberant cellars and to the production process is a must-watch, as well as the tasting of different wines, white and red, produced with different grape varieties, not forgetting the region's excellent olive oil.
COSTA VICENTINA
Designated as Costa Vicentina, the coastline between Odeceixe and Burgau is an area where the superb coastal landscapes, world-class waves for surfing and its beaches, need no introduction. They preserve much of their original beauty untouched by being in the protected area of the Natural Park.
This area is part of the Natural Park that begins further north in the southwest Alentejo and constitutes the largest stretch of Portuguese coast liable to protection.
The beaches follow one another, sometimes with extensive sands as far as the eye can see, or smaller ones framed by enormous cliffs of shale and limestone. There are idyllic sandy beaches embroidered with lush vegetation, earth-toned dunes and rolling rocks. There are dramatic cliffs, pointed capes, wild and deserted coves. There are small houses and fishing villages from bygone times, where the divine gastronomy of these places' reigns, combining the flavors of the mountains and the sea, and the unique hospitality of the people in Alentejo.
ALGARVE - BARLAVENTO
The western part of the Algarve is called the windward (Barlavento) and is located on the strip between Vila do Bispo and Albufeira and is the busiest area in the south region of the country. It starts in Sagres, passing by Praia da Luz, Ponta da Piedade, Lagos - a city that has the most beautiful beaches in the Algarve -, and Portimão.
Portimão is one of the biggest cities in the Algarve, with an area closer to the sea rich in tourism, but where the oldest center is located, parallel to the Arade river, is a more traditional area. Praia da Rocha is magnificent, imposing for its size and beauty.
Then, the fishing villages of Alvor and Ferragudo, for their authenticity and Arab influences, are a mandatory stop. Between Ferragudo and Albufeira, passing through Carvoeiro and Lagoa, the coast is extremely crafted, only revealing, from time to time, beaches that lie in the countless coves that the sea has designed there.
Albufeira is a city with a lot of life, although it was once a fishing village, where the famous Fishermans' Beach still exists, and is now one of the main tourist destinations. Albufeira's history goes back to Roman times around 2000 years ago, passing through the Arabs who called it Al-Buhar (=the castle at sea), when it became a city with links to North African commerce.
ALGARVE - SOTAVENTO
Leeward (Sotavento) is the easternmost part of the Algarve and possibly a little less known than the Barlavento Algarve. The cities of Vilamoura, Quarteira, Castro Marim, Faro, Loulé, Olhão, São Brás de Alportel, Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António are part of it.
Vilamoura is one of the most popular coastal towns in the Algarve. Its highlight are the marina, with its restaurants, hotels and casino. It also has several golf courses and numerous bars and clubs, which make this area the center of nightlife. Nearby, there is Vale do Lobo and Quinta do Lago, home to the most exclusive properties in the Algarve, some of the most luxurious hotels and many golf courses mixed with a rich and abundant vegetation.
Faro is the capital of the Algarve and the largest city in the region, it hasn't any beach area because across its seafront there is the Nature Reserve Park of Ria Formosa, but still has a rich heritage in its historic centre, a reflection of the passage of the Romans, Visigodos and Arabs.
Olhão, a city near Faro, is one of the largest fishing ports in the Algarve, being an important center for the production of sardines and canned tuna. It also has the interesting Olhão Market.
Tavira, a very interesting city due to the beauty of its historic centre, bathed by the Gilão river, its bridge of Roman origin, its 21 churches and its Arab castle, on top of a hill.
Vila Real de Santo António, built according to a project by the Marquês de Pombal in 1774, almost resembles downtown Lisbon, with symmetrical squared streets. It is an important fishing port in the Algarve and has on the opposite bank of the Guadiana river, Spain, which connection is made through a bridge, which connects the two countries.
- Service includes vehicle and driver;
- The Full Day tour considers 8 hours of service (typically from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm);
- The places to visit mentioned above can be changed or adapted according to the Clients interest;
- Entrances to monuments, museums, castles, churches and other events are not included;
- Meals, wine tasting, and other personal expenses are not included;
- The Tour starts and ends in Lisbon, unless otherwise agreed.