Top Five Off the Beaten Path Destinations in Portugal
By: Patricia

By Heritage Tours Private Travel

1) Peneda-Geres National Park

Peneda-Geres National Park is Portugal’s only national park and an excellent place to discover on a private excursion. Made up of the Serra da Peneda mountain range to the north and the Serra do Geres to the east, it roughly parallels the Spanish border. Many parts of Peneda-Geres have still been untouched by tourism and the Portuguese government has strived to protect not only the wildlife in the area, but also the traditional lifestyles and culture of the region. The park is an excellent place to enjoy a deluxe picnic, a bike ride or some fishing. Should you be lucky, you might also spot some horses still roaming in the wild.

Photo By caffeine_obsessed

2) The riverfront town of Regua in the Douro Valley

The riverfront town of Regua in the Douro Valley is the perfect place to experience a private scenic boat ride aboard a rabelo (the Portuguese vessel traditionally used in the port wine trade). These boat rides take travelers through stunning scenery that can include terraced hillsides and whitewashed villages. While in town we suggest visiting Regua’s riverfront neighborhood, which contains a lively selection of cafes, bars and restaurants. Our hotel of choice in the area is the Quinta da Romaneira. Overlooking the Douro River, this property was created with the intention of being the most luxurious resort in Portugal.

Photo By brunomiranda

3) Sintra

About one hour outside of Lisbon, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sintra boasts lush forests, ideal for a private 4X4 excursion or a privately-guided hike. The town also offers excellent touring with sights such as the Palacio da Vila, originally built as a summer residence for royalty and the Palácio da Pena, a rural retreat created by Maria II and Ferdinand. One of our favorite hotels in the area is the Grande Real Villa Italia, a luxury hotel built on the site of a former Italian palace.

Photo By Dave Govoni (Va bene!)

4) Belmonte

For travelers interested in Jewish Heritage, Belmonte is home to a unique Jewish community. This small and remote town never suffered the full impact of the Inquisition and consequently local Jews continued to practice their faith here in private. After the fall of Salazar’s dictatorship, the Jewish community finally identified itself publicly.

Photo By mariag.

Now the city boats an excellent Jewish Museum and with the right connections it can be possible to meet with members of the town’s Jewish community. Our hotel of choice in the area is the Pousada de Belmonte, built around a restored convent.

Photo By airdiogo

5) Guimarães

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Guimarães boasts a beautifully preserved and striking historical center. Great places to visit on a privately guided tour include the Dukes of Bragança’s 15th century Gothic Palace (the occasional official residence of the Portuguese president) and the church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira with its beautiful Romanesque cloister. For overnight accommodations, we recommend visitors continue on to Porto and stay in The Yeatman, a hillside hotel overlooking the Douro River and one of the most luxurious in Porto. Something of an homage to the country’s celebrated wine heritage, it has an extensive collection of Portuguese wines and an excellent Vinothérapie Spa.

Photo By ferlomu

About the Blogger:

Heritage Tours Private Travel is a destination specialist based in New York that creates custom-designed, private tours of Morocco, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, and Southern & East Africa. For five years in a row, both Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure have each chosen Heritage Tours Private Travel for its prestigious list of top travel specialists in the United States. The company celebrated its fifteenth anniversary in 2010 and is a preferred supplier for Virtuoso. Heritage Tours Private Travel has been featured in Virtuoso Life magazine for being a leader in philanthropic travel.

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