Lisbon & the Alentejo in 7 Days
A private week that starts on foot in Lisbon and then takes the road south and inland: the cliffs of Arrábida, Évora, white Estremoz, the star fortress of Elvas and Monsaraz above the Alqueva lake, with your hotels, rental car and own MLH roadbook all taken care of.
You have a week, and two very different Portugals. Begin in Lisbon without a car, then collect the keys and drive into the Alentejo: cork oak plains, white villages, a Roman temple and a fortified granite hill above the biggest lake in Europe. All you have to do is turn up and enjoy it.
The shape of the journey
Lisbon
Arrive, and a private transfer takes you to your hotel. An evening stroll up the Avenida da Liberdade to Rossio, and a light dinner in the Baixa or the Chiado. Settle in for two nights.
Lisbon in a day
A morning in Belém: the Jerónimos cloister, the Belém Tower, the Monument to the Discoveries and the custard tarts that made the district famous. In the afternoon, a private guided half-day walk through the Baixa, Alfama and the viewpoints over the Tagus. In the evening, a fado dinner in Alfama.
South to the Arrábida and the Alentejo
Collect your rental car in the centre of Lisbon, your own MLH roadbook riding along. Take the coast road south: the sanctuary and cliffs of Cabo Espichel, the fishing port of Sesimbra, the little harbour of Portinho da Arrábida and the viewpoints of the Arrábida hills, with a stop at an azulejo workshop in Azeitão if time allows. Then inland to your country house near Évora, to arrive before dark. Settle in for four nights.
Évora
A day on foot inside the walls of a UNESCO World Heritage city: the Roman temple, the cathedral, the church of São Francisco and its Chapel of Bones, the university and the Praça do Giraldo, with cork, ceramics and copper in the craft shops. Walk the old walls at golden hour.
Estremoz & Elvas
Estremoz, the white marble town, with its keep, its castle and its Rossio (a market fills it on Saturday mornings), then Elvas, whose star-shaped fortifications and the Amoreira aqueduct are UNESCO-listed, and where the convent pastries are worth a stop.
Monsaraz & the Alqueva
Monsaraz, a fortified village of schist lanes above the Alqueva, the largest artificial lake in Europe, and a Dark Sky reserve. Walk the castle walls and the lanes on foot, then follow the viewpoints along the Guadiana valley. A day to take slowly, with a long lunch in the middle.
Until next time
An early start, and a last look at the plains. Drive to Lisbon airport to return your rental car in good time for your flight.
Everything taken care of
In your private journey
- A private airport transfer on arrival
- Two nights in Lisbon and four in the Alentejo, breakfast included
- A guided half-day walk in Lisbon, just for you
- A fado dinner in Alfama
- A rental car from Day 3, with your own MLH roadbook
- The days shaped to your style and pace
Where you'll stay
A central hotel in Lisbon and a country house near Évora, breakfast each morning throughout. Should you prefer something more refined, or a particular address you have in mind, simply tell us. We will tailor the stay to suit you.
Tailored to you
There is no off-the-shelf price, because there is no off-the-shelf journey. Tell us your dates, how many you are and what you love (history, food, wine, or simply space), and we will send a tailored proposal, accommodation, car and all. A shorter or longer version, with an extra day to the river town of Mértola or more time in Lisbon, is always possible.
Curious about Lisbon or the Alentejo on their own? Read more about Lisbon and the Alentejo.
Good to knowQuestions, answered
Do we need to drive?
Only in the Alentejo. Lisbon is done on foot, and you collect your rental car on Day 3, with your own MLH roadbook as your companion. If you would rather not drive, we can shape this journey with a private driver instead.
Is the Alentejo worth a week in itself?
It is worth four days. Évora, Estremoz and Elvas, and Monsaraz each deserve a day, and the roads between them are quiet. If you want more, a day to the river town of Mértola can be added.
When is the best time to go?
Spring and autumn, when the plains are green or golden and the days are warm but easy. High summer is fierce in the Alentejo, so we plan it with long lunches and quiet afternoons.
What kind of accommodation is it?
A central hotel in Lisbon and a country house near Évora, all with breakfast. If you would prefer something more refined or a particular address, tell us and we will tailor it to you.
Can you arrange this for a family or a larger group?
Yes. Tell us your numbers and we will tailor the whole journey, accommodation and all.
Let's plan your journey
Tell us when you would like to come and who is travelling. Your travel designer will shape the seven days around you and send a tailored proposal.