9 days of Portugal

Portugal in 9 days

day 1. :   ZAGREB – LISBON

• at 07.50h flight to Lisbon. The flight duration is about 3 hours.
• upon arrival in Lisbon purchase of Viva Viagem transport card
• departure by metro to the city,  walk to the apartment, accommodation in an apartment,
• afternoon sightseeing on foot to Miradouro da Nossa Senhora do Monte, Igreja da São Vicente de Fora, National Pantheon, departure to Castelo de S.Jorge and sightseeing of the fort
• a walk through the alleys of Alafa, a visit to the church of St. Anthony, and a tour of the Cathedral of Se de Lisbon
• dinner in a restaurant

day 2. : LISBON – SINTRA/PENA – CABO DA ROCA – CASCAIS

• around 8h departure to Rossio station, purchase of a train ticket
• 9.01h train ride to Sintra (until 9.41h), in front of the station boarding the local bus no. 434 (goes every 15 minutes) to Pena Palace
• from 10.30h sightseeing of the Pena Palace and the park until 13h, return by bus 434 to Sintra
• 13.30h walk to Quinto da Regaleira – see a well in the park, return to Sintra
• at 15.10h or 15.40h on bus no. 403 to Cascais (about 35 minutes drive)
• 15.50h or 16.20h arrival in Cabo da Roca, sightseeing, on the bus at 16.50h or 17.20h
• after about 25 minutes arrival in Cascais, sightseeing of the town, walking by the sea for 15 min to Boca do Inferno
• 19.34h return by train to Lisbon, 20.14h arrival at the station Cais do Sodre
• visit to Mercado da Ribeira – market, possibly dinner

day 3. : LISABON

• at 9h departure to Praca do Comercio square, sightseeing of Arco Triunfal da Rua Augusta
• around 10h boarding tram 15 and ride to the Belem district, a tour of the monastery of St. Jerome
• visit the most famous Lisbon patisserie Pasteis de Belem from 1837.
• walk to the Belem Cultural Center and the Discovery Monument, view the Bridge the April 25th, and the statue of Jesus across the river
• on foot along the banks of the river Tejo to the Tower of Belem and Oceanearo
• around 14h return to the centre by tram to Cais do Sodre, there take the metro to Avenida da Liberdade the most far point, slowly walk down to the centre
• stroll through the Baixa district with its characteristic streets, a ride on the famous St. Just elevator
• arrival at Bairro Alto, at the Miradouro de Sao Pedro de Alcantara lookout,
• sightseeing of the Convent of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the Museum of Sao Roque, and the Sacred Art Museum
• easy walk around the neighbourhood with cafes and restaurants until dinner

day 4. : FATIMA – BATALHA – ALCOBACA – NAZARE – OBIDOS

• the minibus picks us up at the apartment at 8h. Drive to Fatima, next to Lourdes, the most famous Marian shrine in Europe. Tour of the sanctuary: the basilica, the promenade with the Chapel of the Apparitions
• followed by a visit to the distinctive, unfinished Gothic monastery and church of Santa Maria da Vitoria in Batalha, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• lunch in a local restaurant in Batalha
• continue to the Monastery of Alcobaça also part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, sightseeing, must see the kitchen complex in a monastery
• next to Nazare (Nazareth) on the coast, go to the top of the gorge for a view of the beach and the ocean.
• finally, visit Obidos, a picturesque town known for its monumental fortress, which has always been the subject of interest of Portuguese kings due to its strategic position. A tour of the town and tasting the famous local speciality ginja – a liqueur that is drunk from chocolate cups, which are eaten after drinking.

day 5. : LISABON  – COIMBRA – PORTO

• at 8h leaving the apartment, take the metro to the train station Oriente (architect Calatrava)
• 9.39h we take the train to Coimbra, the old town with one of the first universities in Europe
• we arrive at 11.32h, then take the local train (approx. 5 min) to the centre
• on foot to “Gowalksportugal” Rua Visconde da Luz, nr 75, where we leave our suitcases
• from 12.30h sightseeing: Santa Cruz Monastery, Romanesque Cathedral, University
• around 16.30h for suitcases, departure to Coimbra B station
• 17.33h train to Porto
• 18.46h arrival in Porto, on foot or by metro 1 station to the apartment

day 6. :  PORTO

• going on a tour of the city whose district of Ribeira was in 1996. declared a UNESCO World Heritage,  
• site: Liberdade Square with City Hall, Church of St. Francis, Ribeira Square along the Douro River with the Stock Exchange building and a view of the Dom Luis Bridge,
• lunch by the river: calamari and tripe (Portugal’s speciality), up with the cable car
• evening: Casa da Musica – attending the fado concert of Maria Anna Babbone

day 7. :  GUIMARAES – BRAGA

• train from Porto to Braga, the capital of the region of the same name. Braga boasts a history of two thousand years and the name “Portuguese Rome”
• take a bus to Bom Jesus do Monte, up the stairs (very many) or by old elevator, back to the centre
• a short tour of the city: Se, the Archbishop’s Palace, Rua do Souto, Arco da Porta Nova…
• lunch: famous Francesinha sandwich
• after lunch drive by bus to nearby Guimaraes, the ancient stone city where the kingdom of Portugal originated
• a tour of the well-preserved medieval buildings of the city, the old granite walls, Romanesque fortress, Braganza Palace, then Oliviera Square, Toural Square, the Church of Our Lady of Consolation…
• sangria and beer

day 8. : PORTO

• whole day walk around Porto, famous book cafe (written Harry Potter), Sao Bento Railway Station, the Cathedral, buy souvenirs
• over the Dom Luis Bridge to the other side of river Duro, winemakers, lunch

day 9. : PORTO – LISABON

• check out from the apartment and go to Campanha train station
• at 8.45h train to Lisbon, 11.52h arrival at the train station Oriente in Lisbon
• on the other side visit the big shopping centre Vasco da Gamma
• a nearby visit Park of Nations, in 1998. EXPO was held
• walking and taking the cable car to Oceaneario
• view of the longest bridge in Europe Vasco da Gamma,
• 15.30h take Metro to the airport