Routes

To discover the best in Portugal, from north to south, from the interior to the coastal region, each corner, each piece of our History, the Pousadas helped to build, we suggest you plan your journey for 3 nights and 4 days of unforgettable stays. Route pricing information available at the bottom of this page.

Castles in Alentejo

For this journey plan, we suggest you stay at Castelo de Alcácer for the first night, a Historical Design Pousada, where the new and the old meet together. You must visit the archaeological museum of the Pousada and you enjoy the panoramic view facing the River Sado.

On the second day we invite you to visit and have lunch at Castelo do Alvito, a building from the 15th century with very beautiful gardens. After that, go and discover Alentejo. You will reach Estremoz where you will have dinner and sleep at the magnificent Castle of Estremoz, one of the most emblematic Pousadas by its historical and cultural abundance and decoration. It is a truly Museum Pousada.

On the third day we suggest to visit the Castelo de Palmela, where you can have a delicious dinner and stay overnight.

The next day, enjoy yourself with a trip through Serra da Arrábida, by the typical Vila Nogueira de Azeitão, with its regional cheeses and sweets, following on to the Pousada de Setúbal where whilst having lunch, you can enjoy the panoramic view.

Minho: the birthplace of the Nation

We suggest visiting the Pousada de Condeixa-a-Nova or Pousada do Porto , then have dinner and sleep the night at Pousada de Viana do Castelo, enjoying one of the most emblematic views the Pousadas have, where you can see the city, the countryside and the sea.

The next day, after visiting the city, we suggest you to go on a trip through Alto Minho, stopping at Pousada de Valença do Minho to have lunch, passing through the historical centre of Braga and finishing at Pousada de Amares, a result of the refurbishment of a Cistercians’ Monastery from the 12th century, designed by the Architect Souto Moura. This Pousada is well known for its typical gastronomy.

On the following day make a trip through Gerês and have lunch at Pousada de Gerês/Caniçada. The day will end at the Pousada de Guimarães Santa-Marinha. The Pousada is part of the Agostinhos’ Monastery, from the 12th century.

The next day, you will visit the Monastery and make a long walk through the beautiful gardens of the Pousada, where you may see several granite fountains and the rich decorative panel tiles. You will also visit the historical centre and the Castle. After all, this is the birthplace of the nation!

From the Templo de Diana to the Paço Ducal

Go and find the Convents of Alentejo and stay for the first night at Pousada de Arraiolos, a Convent from the 16th century that was converted into a Historical Design Pousada.

The next day, discover Évora, patrimony of UNESCO, and do not forget the Templo de Diana. Visit and have lunch at the Pousada de Évora, then go to Pousada do Crato. A Castle, a Convent and a Ducal Palace, all of them built in different times, together originated an eclectic architecture construction, with an incomparable harmony of beauty.

The following day, go and visit the medieval village of Marvão, whose ramparts were built in the 13th century and where you can have lunch at the Pousada of Marvao. After that, you will visit Castelo de Vide before you come down to Vila Viçosa, to have dinner and sleep the night at Pousada de Vila Viçosa, the Real Convento das Chagas de Cristo, one of the Pousadas having more legends and tales to be told.

The last day, after visiting the Ducal Palace, we suggest you take a walk to visit a typical Alentejo house, where the first Pousada was born – Pousada of Elvas. Here, you may enjoy the most typical delicacies of the region, the “bacalhau dourado” or the “pézinhos de coentrada”, before returning home.

Serras (mountains) and typical food from Beiras

In the region of Beiras you will find the best connection between landscapes and gastronomy. The first stop will be at the Serra do Açor, at the Pousada de Vila Pouca da Beira, placed at Convento do Desagravo, one of the most emblematic Pousadas and well¬known by its hospitality and gastronomy.

The next day, we suggest you take a quiet trip through the typical villages around, such as Dez, Piódão and Linhares da Beira or Seia, where you may visit the Bread Museum, before going up to Serra da Estrela, with dreaming landscapes. You may stop at the Pousada de Manteigas, in the heart of the mountains, to have dinner and sleep the night. There, you can taste several cheeses, typical spicy sausages and other delicacies from this region.

After a peaceful sleep, carry on with your trip through the mountains, going down through Seia or Gouveia and finish your day at Pousada de Viseu, where you can restore energy with a relaxing massage at the SPA of the Pousada.

On the next day, after visiting the Cathedral and the Viriato statue, go on a tour by Serra do Caramulo up to Buçaco. Do not forget to make a gastronomic stop at Mealhada to eat the famous suckling pig, before returning home.

Discovering Port Wine

Find some of the most beautiful landscapes we have in our country. We suggest for the first night you sleep at Pousada de Viseu and the following day go to Peso da Régua and walk the banks of the River Douro, specially around Santa Marta de Penaguião, but also around Pinhão, enjoying the magnificent landscapes and finally go up to Favaios and Alijó where you can have dinner and stay overnight at Pousada de Alijó. In this Pousada you may taste the typical speciality – “perdiz em Vinho do Porto” (Partridge in Port Wine).

On the third day take the opposite route coming down to Pinhão by the shores of the river, visiting some of the most well¬known farms, then end your day in Oporto city, where you can sleep at Pousada do Porto Palácio do Freixo, a national patrimony.

On the following day, you will have a great opportunity for a boat trip on the River Douro and to visit the cellars of Port Wine. When returning home, stop at Pousada de Condeixa-a-Nova and have dinner. You may eat, for example, one of the specialities – Cabritinho da Lousã guarnecido com migas de broa e espigos de nabo (Kid from Lousã region with “migas” of maize bread and turnip spikes).

From the Algarve to the Costa Vicentina

We suggest you to go down to the Algarve and stay in one of the most modern Pousadas, the Pousada de Estoi, a Palace from the 18th century.

The next day, have lunch at the Pousada de Tavira, a former convent, where you may also see the archeological vestiges. Then go on to the Pousada de Sagres, on a slope with a superb view over the ocean. From here, we can see the Sagres Fortress, where the Portuguese Discoveries were promoted by Infante D. Henrique in the 15th century and the Cape of S. Vicente, the most south-western part in Europe, named as Sacrum Promontorium.

Our suggestion for the next day is a peaceful walk through the natural park of Costa Vicentina, ending the day at the Pousada de Santa Clara-a-Velha, enjoying a magnificent view over the Santa Clara-a-Velha Dam, have dinner and sleep on this third night. After having a well deserved rest, travel on to the beautiful beach of Zambujeira and continue on the adventure by the Alentejo Coast, finishing with a dinner at the Pousada de Alcácer do Sal.

Wines and flavors from Alentejo

We suggest you discover the wines from Alentejo, having dinner and sleeping, the first night at Pousada de Arraiolos, where you may taste the specialities, like “Desfiada de pombo torcaz da bolota em massa filo, canela e bouquet de alfaces” (a recipe from 1732, with pigeon, cinnamon and lettuce) or “costeletas de borrego na grelha com alecrim, batata azeitada e folhas de espinafres salteadas” (lamb cutlets, rosemary, potatoes, olive oil and sauté spinach leaves).

On the second day, we invite you to participate in the Wine Academy course, “O Vinho e os seus Aromas” (“The Wine and its Bouquets”), in the Adega das Mouras, the best there is to refine your knowledge about wines. The day will end with a tasty dinner at the Pousada de Évora, returning then to Pousada de Arraiolos to stay overnight.

The next day visit the Monte da Ravasqueira, to get to know the famous wines, the olive oil, the honey production and also the Lusitano Horse. You may finish your day tasting regional products at Pousada de Beja, an old Franciscan Convent from the 13th century, right in the historical centre of the city. On the fourth day, another wine tasting and a visit to Herdade da Malhadinha Nova, with one of the most modern cellars in the region and where you will be able to taste the prize winning red and rosé wines, but also see the breeding of indigenous animals. When returning home, stop and have dinner at Pousada de Palmela.

Nature and gastronomy at Gerês

Depart towards nature and find some of the most beautiful landscapes our country has, at Serra do Gerês. We suggest you stay for the first night at Pousada de Guimaraes - Santa Marinha, and on the second day, venture yourself into Serra do Gerês visiting some interesting places, like the typical village Santa Isabel do Monte, the Sanctuary of Nª. Srª. da Abadia or the Monastery of Rendufe. The day will end at Pousada de Amares that resulted from the refurbishment of a Cistercians’ Monastery from the 12th century. This Pousada is well¬known for its gastronomy, having some specialties as lamprey or the cock rooster.

On the third day, take a quiet walk through the National Park of Peneda-Gerês and finish your day comfortably at Pousada do Gerês/Caniçada. Here you may enjoy such a beautiful view that you will feel tempted to change the comfort of the Pousada by the discovery of many surprises the wonderful Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês has to offer, or to visit the Serra da Cabreira to discover a new world where some lagoons spread out like blue cloaks over the green vegetation. Here you may taste again some delicacies like “papas de sarrabulho” or “arroz de cabrito” together with regional green wine. The next day, take another tour to the heart of the mountains, then before returning home, stop at the Pousada de Condeixa-a-Nova to have dinner.

Lisbon, Sintra and Costa do Estoril

Come to know the region of Lisbon, Sintra and Estoril. Start with a dinner at the Cozinha Velha Restaurant, at Queluz National Palace, where you may sleep the night at the Pousada de Queluz.

On the second day, leave early to visit Serra de Sintra, stopping at Palácio da Vila, Palácio da Pena and Castelo dos Mouros. Come down to Colares by the beautiful old road and go through Malveira da Serra, stopping at the most western place in Europe, the cabo da Roca. Go on to Guincho and by the beautiful coast up to Cascais Bay and finish your day at the Casino do Estoril, the biggest in Europe.

Return to Pousada de Queluz for another night and the next day go and visit the Queluz National Palace and the Castelo de S.Jorge, where you may have lunch at the Casa do Leão Restaurant, enjoying a superb view over Lisbon and the River Tejo. The day will end at Bairro Alto, for example, in one of the typical restaurants where fado is sung. On the third day, do not miss a visit to the Torre de Belém (Belém Tower), the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (Jerónimos Monastery), the Museu do Traje (Costume Museum) and the Oceanário de Lisboa (Oceanarium of Lisbon).

Booking a route

Prices between Sunday and Thursday

3 nights in a standard double room with breakfast: 285€

3 nights in a standard double room with half board (breakfast and dinner): 465€

Supplement of 60€ per room / night

Friday and Saturday nights

9/11Jun + 22/25Jun + 12/14Aug + 28/31Oct + 30Nov/3Dec + 7/10Dec, all days inclusive.

Any day of the week, between 16 of July and 10 of September, on routes where there is overnight at Pousadas of Alcácer do Sal, Crato, Estoi and Porto.

Tours available all week without weekend supplement

Lisbon, Sintra and Costa do Estoril (1)

From the Algarve to the Costa Vicentina (2), between Nov and Mar

Valid

Routes valid till 31st March 2012, except in Easter and New Year.

To Submit a route reservation request, please click here