Central Portugal
5
Day Itinerary •
Portugal
Five days in Central Portugal gives you the complete experience of the most historically rich interior region in the country, from the extraordinary UNESCO university of Coimbra and the remarkable World Heritage monasteries to the extraordinary boulder villages of the Serra da Estrela foothills, the remarkable Roman city of Conimbriga, and the hidden natural landscapes of the finest mountain range in Portugal. This route covers the full Central Portugal: the extraordinary Coimbra university and Roman ruins of Conimbriga, the remarkable Batalha and Alcobaca World Heritage monasteries, the extraordinary Templar convent of Tomar, the remarkable Fatima pilgrimage sanctuary, the extraordinary boulder village of Monsanto, the Serra da Estrela natural park and the remarkable schist villages of the Zezere valley.
Best Time To Visit
April to June or September to October
Getting There
Drive from Lisbon (2 hours) or Porto (1.5 hours). Train to Coimbra.
Getting Around
Car essential for the full route. Serra da Estrela requires a car.
Budget Per Day
Approx 70 to 140 euros per person per day
Difficulity
Easy to moderate , driving, heritage sites and mountain walking
DAY 1
COIMBRA
MORNING
COIMBRA UNIVERSITY AND JOANINA LIBRARY
Coimbra University is the most extraordinary academic heritage in Portugal, its remarkable UNESCO campus containing the extraordinary Biblioteca Joanina, the finest Baroque library in the world with extraordinary gilded shelving and a remarkable painted ceiling. The Old Cathedral of Coimbra is the finest Romanesque building in Portugal. Entry approx 12 euros. Drive: Walk down
MIDDAY
SANTA CRUZ MONASTERY AND CONIMBRIGA
Santa Cruz Monastery contains the remarkable tombs of the first two kings of Portugal, the most historically significant church in the country, and the finest Manueline pulpit outside Belem. The extraordinary Roman city of Conimbriga, 15km south of Coimbra, is the most remarkable Roman archaeological site in Portugal with extraordinary mosaic floors. Conimbriga entry approx 4 euros. Drive: Drive to Conimbriga
AFTERNOON
CONIMBRIGA ROMAN CITY
Conimbriga is the most extraordinary Roman city in Portugal, its remarkable mosaic floors, the finest Roman mosaics in the Iberian Peninsula, the extraordinary city walls and the remarkable House of Fountains with its extraordinary water garden giving the finest Roman heritage in the country. The museum beside the site houses extraordinary finds from the excavations. Entry approx 4 euros.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Machado de Castro National Museum occupies the former episcopal palace built directly above the remarkable Roman cryptoporticus, a 1st-century underground gallery still entirely intact beneath the museum. The finest museum in central Portugal. Entry approx 6 euros.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Coimbra old town Outstanding Portuguese coffee near the university in the finest student city in Portugal. | Lunch: Tasca in Coimbra Outstanding central Portuguese lunch with chanfana goat stew and local Bairrada wine. | Dinner: Restaurant in Coimbra Outstanding dinner in Coimbra. Local leitao roast suckling pig from Mealhada nearby.
DAY 2
WORLD HERITAGE MONASTERIES
MORNING
BATALHA MONASTERY
Batalha Monastery is the most extraordinary Gothic building in Portugal, its remarkable UNESCO Manueline church containing the extraordinary Founder's Chapel with the tombs of King Joao I and Henry the Navigator, and the remarkable Unfinished Chapels, the finest unfinished Gothic structure in the world. The extraordinary cloister gives the finest Gothic heritage in Iberia. Entry approx 6 euros. Drive: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
ALCOBACA MONASTERY
Alcobaca Monastery is the most extraordinary Cistercian monastery in Portugal, its remarkable UNESCO Gothic church containing the extraordinary royal tombs of Pedro I and Ines de Castro, the most celebrated medieval love story in Portugal, carved in extraordinary 14th-century detail. The remarkable kitchen with a river running through it is extraordinary. Entry approx 6 euros. Drive: 45 min drive
AFTERNOON
TOMAR TEMPLAR CONVENT
Tomar is the most extraordinary Templar heritage town in Portugal, its remarkable Convent of Christ containing the extraordinary Charola rotunda and the remarkable Manueline window, the finest single Manueline carving in Portugal. The extraordinary castle walls give the finest medieval military heritage in central Portugal. Entry approx 6 euros.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Aljubarrota battlefield near Batalha is the finest medieval battlefield heritage in Portugal, the 1385 site where Portugal defeated Castile and confirmed its independence. The extraordinary interpretation centre gives the finest military heritage context in central Portugal. Entry approx 7 euros.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast before Batalha Early start for Batalha. Extraordinary Gothic church before the tour buses at 10am. | Lunch: Restaurant in Alcobaca Outstanding central Portuguese lunch beside the extraordinary UNESCO monastery. | Dinner: Restaurant in Tomar Outstanding dinner in the finest Templar town. Local river fish and excellent wine.
DAY 3
MONSANTO AND BOULDER VILLAGES
MORNING
MONSANTO BOULDER VILLAGE
Monsanto is the most extraordinary village in Portugal, its remarkable medieval houses built into and around enormous granite boulders on a rocky hilltop giving the most dramatic village landscape in the country. The extraordinary castle ruins above the boulders and the remarkable paths between the granite rocks give the finest village experience in central Portugal. Castle entry free. Drive: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
IDANHA-A-VELHA ANCIENT CITY
Idanha-a-Velha is the most extraordinary archaeological village in Portugal, its remarkable settlement built on Roman Egitania containing the finest Visigothic cathedral in the country, a remarkable Roman bridge and extraordinary ancient olive trees. The most layered heritage in a single Portuguese village. Free. Drive: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
CASTELO BRANCO AND THE EPISCOPAL GARDEN
Castelo Branco is the most extraordinary garden city in central Portugal, its remarkable Episcopal Garden of the 18th-century bishop's palace containing the finest formal baroque garden in Portugal with extraordinary granite statuary of the kings of Portugal and the apostles. The remarkable Museu Francisco Tavares Proenca Junior houses the finest collection of Castelo Branco embroideries. Entry approx 2 euros.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Penha Garcia village above the Ponsul gorge near Monsanto has remarkable dinosaur footprints preserved in the limestone riverbed giving the most extraordinary prehistoric natural heritage in central Portugal. Free. 20 minutes from Monsanto.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Monsanto village Outstanding coffee in the most extraordinary village in Portugal. The only cafe between the boulders. | Lunch: Tasca near Idanha-a-Velha Outstanding central Portuguese lunch near the remarkable Roman and Visigothic ruins. | Dinner: Restaurant in Castelo Branco Outstanding Beira Baixa dinner in the most extraordinary garden city in central Portugal.
DAY 4
SERRA DA ESTRELA
MORNING
SERRA DA ESTRELA NATURAL PARK
Serra da Estrela is the most extraordinary mountain landscape in Portugal, its remarkable granite peaks reaching 1993 metres giving the highest point on the Portuguese mainland. The extraordinary glacial valley of the Zezere and the remarkable Torre summit give the finest mountain scenery in the country. Entry to park free. Drive: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
LORIGA AND THE SCHIST VILLAGES
Loriga is the most extraordinary schist village in the Serra da Estrela, its remarkable medieval stone houses built entirely from the local dark schist giving the finest traditional village architecture in central Portugal. The extraordinary waterfall above the village and the remarkable views down the schist valley give the finest mountain village experience in Portugal. Free. Drive: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
SEIA AND THE SERRA DA ESTRELA MUSEUM
Seia is the most extraordinary town on the southern slopes of the Serra da Estrela, its remarkable Natural Park museum giving the finest introduction to the geology, wildlife and traditional culture of the highest range in Portugal. The extraordinary cheese of Serra da Estrela, the finest cheese in Portugal made from raw sheep's milk, is produced in the villages around Seia. Museum entry approx 4 euros.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Covao d'Ametade glacial valley in the Serra da Estrela is the finest hidden glacial landscape in Portugal, its remarkable ancient ice-carved valley giving extraordinary views from the Zezere source. Almost entirely unknown to international tourists. Free. 2-hour walk from the Torre road.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast before Serra drive Early start for the Serra da Estrela. The mountain landscape is extraordinary in the morning mist. | Lunch: Restaurant in Loriga schist village Outstanding mountain Portuguese lunch in the finest schist village in the Serra da Estrela. | Dinner: Restaurant in Seia Outstanding dinner in the finest Serra da Estrela town. Local sheep's cheese, smoked sausage and Serra wine.
DAY 5
FATIMA AND RETURN
MORNING
FATIMA PILGRIMAGE SANCTUARY
Fatima is the most extraordinary pilgrimage sanctuary in Iberia, its remarkable vast esplanade larger than St Peter's Square giving the finest expression of Catholic devotion in Portugal. The extraordinary Capelinha das Aparicoes, the small chapel on the site of the 1917 apparitions, and the remarkable Basilica of Our Lady of Fatima give the most moving religious experience in Portugal. Free. Drive: 20 min drive
MIDDAY
OURÉM MEDIEVAL CASTLE AND VILLAGE
Ourém is the most extraordinary medieval castle village in central Portugal, its remarkable fortified hilltop above the modern town giving the finest medieval fortress view in the region. The extraordinary 15th-century collegiate church contains the remarkable tomb of the 4th Count of Ourém with the finest alabaster Gothic carving in Portugal. The hilltop village is almost entirely deserted of tourists. Entry free. Drive: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
LEIRIA CASTLE AND RETURN
Leiria Castle is the most extraordinary royal castle in central Portugal, its remarkable 13th-century hilltop fortification above the Lis river giving the finest castle view in the region. The extraordinary Gothic church of Santa Maria within the castle walls and the remarkable royal palace gallery give the finest combined castle and heritage experience in central Portugal. Entry approx 3 euros.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Pinhal de Leiria, the oldest pine forest in Portugal planted by King Diniz in the 13th century to protect the Leiria coastline from sand dunes, is the finest historic forest in Portugal. The remarkable coast road through the extraordinary forest to the beach at Praia de Vieira gives the finest forest drive in central Portugal. Free.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast before Fatima Morning visit to Fatima before the main pilgrimage groups arrive. | Lunch: Restaurant in Ourem village Outstanding central Portuguese lunch in the extraordinary and entirely unvisited medieval hilltop village. | Dinner: Farewell dinner in Leiria or en route Outstanding final central Portuguese dinner in the extraordinary castle city of Leiria.
Where To Stay
Coimbra, Nights 1 to 2 Best base for university, Conimbriga and the monastery day. Hotels from 70 to 160 euros. Monsanto or Castelo Branco, Night 3 The finest base for the boulder villages. Small hotels from 60 to 130 euros. Budget option Guesthouses in Coimbra from 40 euros. Excellent transport links and the finest university city atmosphere.
Top Tips
1. Coimbra Joanina Library: book timed entry online. The extraordinary Baroque interior with its colony of bats that protect the ancient books sells out weeks ahead.
2. Conimbriga Roman mosaics are the finest in Iberia. The extraordinary House of Fountains mosaic floor is the best preserved Roman floor in Portugal.
3. Monsanto at dawn: drive up before first light and walk the extraordinary boulder village alone before any other visitors. The finest village experience in Portugal.
4. Serra da Estrela cheese: buy directly from the producers in Loriga or Seia. The DOP protected raw sheep's milk cheese is the finest in Portugal.
5. The Tomar Manueline window is best photographed from the garden below in afternoon light. The finest single decorative carving in the country.
6. Fatima on the 13th of each month: the extraordinary candlelight procession at night is the most moving religious spectacle in Portugal.
Total Budget
70 to 140 euros/day