Portugal Meets Spain, Self-drive (Multi country)

Portugal Meets Spain, Self-drive (Multi country)

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12 Days From

$2171

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Tour Overview

Embark on a captivating self-drive journey through Portugal and Spain with the "Portugal Meets Spain" tour. Begin your adventure in the historic city of Porto, renowned for its stunning hills and vibrant architecture. Explore the medieval charm of Guimarães and the religious significance of Santiago de Compostela. Discover the academic heritage of Coimbra and the enchanting palaces of Sintra. This 12-day tour offers a blend of cultural and historical experiences, with accommodations in superior hotels and a rental car for seamless travel. Enjoy the freedom to explore at your own pace, from the picturesque Douro Valley to the bustling streets of Lisbon. With 11 breakfasts included, this tour promises a delightful exploration of two beautiful countries, rich in history and natural beauty. ...more ...less

Highlights

  • Porto: Explore one of the oldest cities in Europe, known for its stunning hills, blue rivers, and UNESCO World Heritage architecture.

  • Guimarães: Discover the medieval atmosphere of this historic city, often recognized as the cradle of Portugal.

  • Santiago de Compostela: Visit this pilgrimage center, famous for its legends and myths, and the endpoint of the Camino de Santiago.

  • Coimbra: Experience the historic University of Coimbra, one of the oldest in the world, with its magnificent baroque library.

  • Sintra: Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its mysterious palaces and castles set in a lush forest.

  • Viana do Castelo: Enjoy the beautiful city known for its connection to the sea and exquisite gold filigree works.

  • Lisbon: Discover the historic Belem area, home to the iconic Belem Tower and Jeronimos Monastery, symbols of the Age of Discovery.

Itinerary

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Day 1 : Arrival Porto / Car Pick-Up

Paul Allen

Location: Porto

Accommodation Name: Hotel Axis Porto or similar 4*

Meals Included: Breakfast


Arrive at Porto International Airport, pick up the car and drive to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day at leisure. You can rest or get to know beautiful Porto, an enchanting city and UNESCO World Heritage site, filled with historic buildings and outstanding monuments. Stroll the beautiful streets of Porto, admire its architecture, and indulge in mouth-watering local food. 

Overnight in Porto.

Day 2 : Porto

Location: Porto

Accommodation Name: Hotel Axis Porto or similar 4*

Meals Included: Breakfast


Enjoy a delicious breakfast at the hotel and get ready to explore charming Porto and its beautiful surroundings. Wander around its lovely neighbourhoods and, perhaps, visit the fascinating San Francisco Church, the best example of baroque in the north. Then, catch a glimpse of the Stock Exchange Palace with its famous Moorish Hall, and see one of the famous Port Wine Cellar where you can enjoy a memorable wine tasting session. Catch sight of the city centre and if you are a shopping aficionado, check out Santa Catarina street, a beautiful pedestrian area great for walking and perfect for shopping. 


Overnight in Porto.


Day 3 : Porto – Guimaraes – Braga – Viana Do Castelo (144Km – 2Hrs)

Location: Viana do Castelo

Accommodation Name: Hotel Axis Viana or similar 4*

Meals Included: Breakfast


Start your day with breakfast at the hotel and get ready for your next destination. Drive to Guimaraes – the cradle of the nation and birthplace of the first king of Portugal, were walking through the historic centre, one is plunged for moments back into medieval times. Visit the Sacred Hill, crowned by the Castle, as well as the Palace of the Dukes of Bragança with its original buildings dating back to the 15th century. Drive to Braga known as the “Portuguese Rome” for its concentration of religious architecture, including the oldest cathedral in the country and the Bom Jesus do Monte Sanctuary, with its famous baroque stairway and gardens. Arrive at Viana do Castelo and check in to your hotel.


Overnight in Viana do Castelo.


Day 4 : Viana Do Castelo – Vigo – Pontevedra – Santiago De Compostela/Spain (194Km – 2.5Hr)

Location: Viana do Castelo

Accommodation Name: Hotel Virxe da Cerca or similar 3*

Meals Included: Breakfast


After breakfast at the hotel explore Viana do Castelo, one of the most beautiful cities in the north of Portugal. This city has a strong connection to the sea – Portuguese Discoveries and cod fishing industry – and is well known for the amazing filigree works made of gold. Next drive to Vigo in Spain, the largest city of Galicia, located on the edge of the estuary that bears his name. It is considered the main fishing port in Europe. Continue to Pontevedra, the capital of the homonymous province in Galicia, northwestern Spain. It is considered by the United Nations as one of the best European cities to live in and is the Galician city that has the most pedestrian streets and green spaces per inhabitant. Arrive at Santiago de Compostela and check in to your hotel.


Overnight in Santiago de Compostela.


Day 5 : Santiago De Compostela

Location: Santiago de Compostela

Accommodation Name: Hotel Virxe da Cerca or similar 3*

Meals Included: Breakfast


Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and spend your day discovering Santiago de Compostela, world heritage since 1985 this city attracts visitors and pilgrims from all over the world. Walk around the city centre, visiting the Plaza del Obradoiro, and its Cathedral dedicated to the Apostle Santiago. In front of the Cathedral, the world-known Camino de Santiago ends.


Overnight in Santiago de Compostela.


Day 6 : Santiago De Compostela – Ourense – Teloes (300Km – 3Hrs)

Location: Telões

Accommodation Name: Hotel Miracorgo or similar 4*

Meals Included: Breakfast


Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel before continuing your journey. Discover Ourense, the city of water. Here you can find thermal waters all over the city and some are free, like the thermal springs of A Chavasqueira. Don’t miss the Fonte d’Burgas, one of the symbols of the city, where the water sprout out at 65 degrees. Arrive at Teloes village and check in to your hotel.

Overnight in Teloes.

Day 7 : Teloes – Peso Da Régua – Lamego – S. Pedro Do Sul – Viseu (170Km – 2Hrs)

Location: Viseu

Accommodation Name: Hotel do Parque or similar 4*

Meals Included: Breakfast


Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and drive to Vila Real. Visit the gardens of the Solar de Mateus, whose façade is depicted on the well-known Portuguese rosé wine bottles. Then enter the demarcated port region and travel through the vineyards and the breathtaking landscapes of the Douro Valley. Start in Peso da Régua a municipality that belongs to the district of Vila Real, located next to the Douro River, considered the Capital of the Douro Demarcated Wine Region. Stop in Lamego, overlooked by one of Portugal’s most important shrines Nossa Senhora dos Remédios with its magnificent baroque style staircase. Here, you can sample some of the local delicacies, including the local ham and the famous “Bola de Lamego” (a loaf baked in the oven with smoked ham). Continue to São Pedro do Sul which is worldwide famous for the thermal baths dating back from the time of pre-Roman. The unique richness of its natural mineral water emerges naturally on the surface at a temperature of 68 C and is distributed by two spas, Rainha D. Amélia and D. Afonso Henriques, which operate all year round. Drive to Viseu and check in to your hotel.

Overnight in Viseu.

Day 8 : Viseu – Luso - Bussaco – Coimbra (94Km – 1Hr)

Location: Coimbra

Accommodation Name: Vila Gale Coimbra or similar 4*

Meals Included: Breakfast


After breakfast at the hotel explore Viseu, the centre of the Dão vineyards and a city connected to Portugal’s oldest hero, Viriato, a Lusitanian chief. Next, drive to Luso, one of Portugal’s most important spa towns located at the bottom of Bussaco forest. The healing quality of its mineral water is well known and thousands of bottles of “Água do Luso” are daily consumed. Drive through the heart of Portugal to Bussaco well known for its luxuriant forest, made up of a selection of rare trees and plants of exotic beauty, and hosting a charming and romantic hotel, formerly a royal hunting lodge. Continue to Coimbra for check in.


Overnight in Coimbra.


Day 9 : Coimbra – Figueira Da Foz – Batalha - Fátima (146Km – 2Hrs)

Location: Fátima

Accommodation Name: Hotel Santa Maria or similar 4*

Meals Included: Breakfast


Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. In Coimbra visit the University, one of the oldest in the world, with its magnificent baroque library and its unique atmosphere characterized by ancient traditions and customs such as the black student capes and the melancholic Fado music. Stop at St. Clara Church where the tomb of Queen Santa Isabel, the protagonist of the “miracle of the roses” lies. Then drive to Figueira da Foz located in the center of the country, a seaside resort with 34 kilometers of magnificent beaches to discover. Continue to Batalha where you can visit the Monastery of Santa Maria da Vitória, a masterpiece of gothic architecture in Portugal where we also encounter the tomb of Henry the Navigator, the mastermind behind Portugal’s era of maritime discoveries. Next, drive to Fatima and check in to your hotel.


Overnight in Fatima.


Day 10 : Fátima – Óbidos – Sintra - Lisbon (207Km – 3Hrs)

Location: Lisbon

Accommodation Name: Turim Iberia or similar 4*

Meals Included: Breakfast


After breakfast at the hotel explore Fatima, one of the most important catholic shrines in the world dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Fatima's fame is due to the Apparitions of Our Lady of the Rosary that appeared to three shepherd children. Through a landscape rich in windmills and fruit trees, arrive at Óbidos, surrounded by medieval walls where you can admire the harmony of the architecture, the diversity of the handicrafts and taste the famous ginginha (bitter cherry liqueur). Continue to Sintra, a magical and enchanted place, where time stood still. Set on top of mountains and surrounded by a luxuriant forest that grows in this microclimatic region, you will find the most mysterious palaces and castles, hidden in a typical mist that often surprises the visitors. Just enjoy a walk in the narrow streets that surround the National Palace of Sintra – where the Portuguese royalty of the 15th and 16th centuries used to spend the summer months. Then, drive to Lisbon and check in to your hotel.



Overnight in Lisbon.


Day 11 : Lisbon

Location: Lisbon

Accommodation Name: Turim Iberia or similar 4*

Meals Included: Breakfast


Breakfast at the hotel. Start your day in Lisbon downtown, known as Baixa, the area reconstructed by Marquis of Pombal after the 18th-century earthquake. Nearby is Alfama, the oldest section of Lisbon, dating its foundation by the time of the Arabs. Visit Lisbon's most monumental and historical area - Belem. It was from here that many of the great Portuguese explorers embarked on their voyages of discovery. Today it is a spacious green suburb with many gardens, parks and monuments; Belem Tower is the city's icon. Jeronimos Monastery is a symbol of the Age of Discovery, both World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO, with the original Manueline style, influenced by the theme of the discoveries.


Overnight in Lisbon.


Day 12 : Departure Lisbon / Car Drop-Off

Location: Lisbon


Spend your last morning in Lisbon. Then, drive to Lisbon Airport, return the rental car and prepare for your return flight.


What's Included

  • Accommodation

    11 nights' accommodation in superior hotel categories.

  • Meals

    11 breakfasts are included during the tour.

  • Car Hire

    12 days car rental with pick-up at Porto Airport and drop-off at Lisbon Airport, including unlimited mileage, SCDW (Super Collision Damage Waiver), TP (Theft Protection), VLF (Vehicle Licensee Fee), ASC (Airport Service Charge), and tax.

  • Other

    Meet & Greet service is included.

What's Not Included

  • Visa Fees

    Visa fees are not included in the tour package.

  • Flights

    International or domestic flights are not included.

  • Optional Tours

    Optional tours, if any, are not included.

  • City Tax

    City tax is not included and is payable on the spot.

  • Porterage and Gratuities

    Porterage and gratuities are not included.

  • Entrance or Tour Fees

    The package does not cover any applicable entrance or tour fees.

  • Personal Expenditures

    Expenditures of a personal nature, drinks, and meals or items not stated explicitly in the program are not included.

  • Drinks and Camera Fees

    Any alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, mineral water, and camera/video camera fees (if any) are not included.

  • Travel Insurance

    Travel insurance or any loss or extra cost arising due to unforeseen circumstances such as flight delays, accidents, etc., is not included.

  • Car Hire Exclusions

    Cross border supplement, airport service charge, fuel, fines, tolls, parking, PAI (Personal Accident Insurance), SDW (Super Damage Waiver), damage to a third party or to the hire vehicle due to negligence or inappropriate driving, loss or damage to vehicle components, damage to the engine through negligence, theft of the vehicle with keys left in the ignition, damage caused through driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, fines due to breaking traffic laws, costs for leaving the car outside of designated areas, each additional driver, and any extra equipment (GPS, baby seat etc) are not included. ...more ...less

Requirements

Comfortable and light clothing is the most suitable for travelling in Portugal. Visitors should not wear sleeveless shirts, shorts, short skirts or skimpy clothing when visiting religious or official buildings. Sun protection, sunglasses, a hat and mosquito repellent can be very useful during your stay.


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Please Note

  • One driver, age 23 and up, holding a driving license valid for a minimum of 2 years 
  • Clients must collect the car with their own international credit card
  • We reserve the right to change itineraries and activities due to weather conditions, technical problems or security reasons
  • Triple room is a Double room with an additional bed
  • Early check-in, late check-out, connecting or adjoining rooms in the hotel are subject to availability and not guaranteed
  • No refund for unused services. Splitting of the package is not allowed  

Accommodation options

ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
Day 1, 2 Porto

  • Superior Hotel Category = Vila Gale Porto or similar 4* 
Day 3 Viana do Castelo
  • Superior Hotel Category = Axis Viana or similar 4* 
Day 4, 5 Santiago de Compostela
  • Superior Hotel Category = Gran Hotel Los Abetos or similar 4* 
Day 6 Vila Real
  • Superior Hotel Category = Hotel Miragorgo or similar 4*
Day 7 Viseu
  • Superior Hotel Category = Hotel Grao Vasco or similar 4* 
Day 8 Coimbra
  • Superior Hotel Category = Vila Gale Coimbra or similar 4* 
Day 9 Fatima
  • Superior Hotel Category = Hotel Cinquentenario or similar 4* 
Day 10, 11 Lisbon
  • Superior Hotel Category = Turim Iberia or similar 4* 
CAR HIRE OPTIONS
  • Car Group C = Car type Seat Ibiza AC or similar 

Accommodation options

ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS

Day 1, 2 Porto

  • Superior Hotel Category = Hotel Axis Porto or similar 4* 

Day 3 Viana do Castelo

  • Superior Hotel Category = Hotel Axis Viana or similar 4* 

Day 4, 5 Santiago de Compostela

  • Superior Hotel Category = Hotel Virxe da Cerca or similar 3* 

Day 6 Teloes

  • Superior Hotel Category = Hotel Miracorgo or similar 4*

Day 7 Viseu

  • Superior Hotel Category = Hotel do Parque or similar 4* 

Day 8 Coimbra

  • Superior Hotel Category = Vila Gale Coimbra or similar 4* 

Day 9 Fatima

  • Superior Hotel Category = Hotel Santa Maria or similar 4* 

Day 10, 11 Lisbon

  • Superior Hotel Category = Turim Iberia or similar 4* 

CAR HIRE OPTIONS

  • Car Group C =  VW Polo or similar

Mode of Transport

This self-drive tour includes a 12-day car rental with unlimited mileage, starting from Porto Airport and ending at Lisbon Airport. The car hire features a VW Polo or similar, with SCDW, TP, VLF, and ASC included.

Accommodation

Enjoy 11 nights of superior accommodation in 4-star hotels, including Hotel Axis Porto, Hotel Axis Viana, Hotel Virxe da Cerca, Hotel Miracorgo, Hotel do Parque, Vila Gale Coimbra, Hotel Santa Maria, and Turim Iberia, or similar options.

Check out our Q&As

  • What type of accommodation is included in the tour?

    The tour includes 11 nights of accommodation in superior hotel categories, typically rated 4 stars, such as Hotel Axis Porto, Hotel Axis Viana, and Turim Iberia in Lisbon, or similar.

  • What is included in the car hire for this tour?

    The car hire includes 12 days of car rental with unlimited mileage, pick-up at Porto Airport, and drop-off at Lisbon Airport. It also includes SCDW (Super Collision Damage Waiver), TP (Theft Protection), VLF (Vehicle License Fee), ASC (Airport Service Charge), and tax.

  • Are meals included in the tour package?

    The tour package includes 11 breakfasts.

  • What are some of the key highlights of the tour?

    Key highlights include visiting Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage site, exploring the medieval atmosphere of Guimarães, experiencing the pilgrimage center of Santiago de Compostela, and discovering the historic university city of Coimbra.

  • What should I know about the driving requirements for the car hire?

    The driver must be at least 23 years old and have held a valid driving license for a minimum of 2 years. The car must be collected with an international credit card.

  • What are some of the exclusions in the tour package?

    Exclusions include visa fees, international or domestic flights, optional tours, city taxes, porterage, gratuities, and personal expenditures. Entrance or tour fees for suggested sites are not covered.

  • What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?

    You can change it by logging into your profile and click on Bookings. Please check your cancellation policy.

  • Do you offer any travel insurance?

    We do not offer Travel Insurance but would strongly recommend that you purchase a comprehensive Travel Insurance Policy prior to departure. 

  • What documents will I receive before I travel?

    Booking confirmation with Itinerary and confirmation vouchers

  • When are there specific hotel names confirmed?

    Confirmed hotel names are informed latest 10 days prior to client's arrival

  • Are Visa fees included in the price?

    No, visa fees are not included

  • Are flights included in the tour?

    No, they are not included

  • What does the price include?

    What is included is stated specifically on the product Description. Gratuities are at your discretion. Prices do not include (unless stated otherwise) - gratuities to the guide, driver or tour manager.

  • Is there any option for solo traveller?

    Yes of course. Please note that the default selection shows the price per person per double room. For solo travellers, you will have to select a single room when available.

Reviews from travellers on this tour

Joy Francis  

Would book with them again.

15-Mar-2023

We had a great time! The hotels picked for us were so great. The breakfast must have been awesome because when i came home weighed the same as when i left and we walked lots. The location of the hotels put us in the middle of the best areas. Very helpful with all our needs. Would book with them again. ...more ...less

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Book with Confidence

  • Low Deposit

    Destination Services Portugal requires a minimum deposit of 20% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 30 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of destination services portugal charges.

    At 45 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

Portugal Meets Spain, Self-drive (Multi country)

12 Days Starting in Porto, Portugal and ending in Lisbon, Portugal

Visiting: Porto, Viana do Castelo, Santiago de Compostela, Telões, Viseu, Coimbra, Fátima, Lisbon

Tour code:

636111

Group Type:

Independent

Guide Type:

Self Guided

Physical rating:

VERY_EASY

Trip Styles:

Small Group

Activities:

Sightseeing

From: $2171 (USD)

NB: Prices correct on 22-Feb-2025 but subject to change.