Circuits at Pousadas de Portugal

Routes through Portugal, the Country of Pousadas!

Suggestions for stays of three nights to discover the best of Portugal, from north to south, from Inland to the Coast, every corner, every piece of our history, that Pousadas de Portugal helped to build.

1. Castles of the Alentejo

• In this route, the first night is spent at the Castle of Alcácer, a Historic Design Pousada where the new and modern meet in a design by architect Diogo Lino Pimentel. Also, take the opportunity to visit the archaeological museum of the Hotel and enjoy the panoramic view of the river Sado.
• On the 2nd day we invite you to visit and have lunch at the Castle of Alvito, a 15th century building, where a stroll through the gardens of the Castle is a must, and from then to discover the Alentejo. Then we arrive at Estremoz, for dinner and to spend the night in his magnificent castle, one of the most iconic Pousadas due to its rich historical and cultural treasures and genuine antique decor, a true Museum Pousada.
• On day 3 we suggest a visit to the Castle of Palmela, where you will dine and stay overnight so that you can enjoy hiking through the beautiful Arrábida mountain range and the typical village of Azeitão the next day, with its cheeses and regional desserts, and lunch with panoramic views from the Pousada de Setúbal.

2. The Minho, Cradle of the Nation

• We recommend a stop at the Pousada at Condeixa-a-Nova or Porto for dinner before settling at the Pousada at Viana do Castelo, enjoying one of the most iconic views from any Pousada, where you can see the city, the countryside and the sea.
• The next day, after visiting the city we recommend a walk through Alto Minho with lunch at the Pousada de Valenca do Minho, takin in the historic center of Braga and ending at the Pousada de Amares - Santa Maria do Bouro, a result of the restoration of a former Cistercian Monastery from twelfth century, by architect Souto Moura. This Pousada is known for its typical cuisine, and the next day can take a stroll through Gerês where recommend a stop for lunch with a panoramic view from the Pousada do Geres in Caniçada. This day ends with Dinner and overnight stay at the Pousada de Guimarães - Santa Marinha, part of the monastery of the Augustans from the  12th century.
• The next day a visit the monastery and a long walk through the beautiful gardens of the Pousada, with granite fountains and exquisite tile panels, is a must. Visit the Old Town and Castle, the birthplace of the Nation!  

3. From the Temple of Diana to the Paço Ducal (Duke's Palace)

• Doing out to discover the Convents of the Alentejo, the first night is spent at the Pousada de Arraiolos, a 16th century convent converted into a Historical Design Pousada, harmony between ancient and modern. The next day visit the city of Évora, a UNESCO heritage site, without forgetting the temple of Diana, and a visit and lunch at the Convent of Lóios - Pousada de Évora, then follow path to the Pousada do Crato - Flor da Rosa, a castle, a convent and the duke's palace, all built in different periods, giving rise to a work of eclectic architecture, with a harmony of unmatched beauty.
• The next day, a visit to the medieval town of Marvão is a must, with walls dating from the thirteenth century, and where you can have lunch at Pousada do Marvão and then go through Castelo de Vide, before going down to Vila Viçosa, for dinner and overnight at Pousada D. Joao IV, the Royal Convent of Chagas de Cristo, one of the Pousadas with more legends and stories to tell.
• On the 3rd day after a visit to the palace, we suggest a trip to a typical Alentejo house, birthplace of the first Pousada - Elvas, where you can taste the most typical delicacies of the region, ""bacalhau dourado"" (golden codfish) or “pézinhos de coentrada"" (a stew) before returning home.

4. Mountains and Food from the Beiras

• It's the best combination of scenery and cuisine, two attributes of the Beiras region. The first stop is in the Serra do Açor in the Pousada de Vila Pouca da Beira, in the Convento do Desagravo, one of the most iconic and renowned for its hospitality and cuisine.
• On the 2nd day, our suggestion is a quiet journey through typical villages of the region, such as the Aldeia das Dez, Piódão and Linhares da Beira or Seia where you can visit the Bread Museum, before climbing the Serra da Estrela, seeing truly dreamlike landscapes, with a stop for dinner and overnight stay in the Pousada de Manteigas in the heart of the mountain range, where you can enjoy a gastronomic tasting of cheeses, sausages and other delicacies that are typical of the region.
• The next day the tour continues in the mountains, then down by Seia or Gouveia to end the day at the recent Pousada de Viseu, where you can recover your strength with a relaxing massage at the Pousada's Spa. On the next day after visiting the Cathedral and the Statue of Viriato,  a tour of the Serra do Caramulo up to Buçaco is mandatory, not forgetting a gastronomic stop at Mealhada to enjoy its famous pig suckling pig before coming home.

5. Discovering Port Wine

• Discover some of the most beautiful landscapes of our country.  We suggest spending the first night at the Pousada de Viseu, so the next day you can to venture up to Peso da Régua  and travel up the banks of the River Douro, especially around Santa Marta de Penaguião but also Pinhão, enjoying the magnificent scenery and finally climbing to up Favaios and Alijó, where we recommend dinner and overnight stay at the Pousada de Alijó  - Barão de Forrester, where you can taste the specialty inspired by the region - Partridge in Port Wine.
• The next day we suggest the reverse route down to Pinhão and on the banks of the river, visiting some of the best known farms, and bringing the day to a close at Porto where you can settle for 2nd night at Pousada do Porto - Palácio do Freixo; this building of national heritage, is the newest Pousada.
• The next day there is an excellent opportunity for a boat trip on the Douro and a visit to the wine cellars of Porto. When returning home, make a stop at Pousada de Condeixa-a-Nova for Dinner, for example one of the specialties, the "Lousã" kid-goat garnished with mashed Broa bread and Turnip sprigs.

6. From the Eastern Algarve to the Vicentine Coast

• We suggest going down to the Algarve to stay in one of the most recent Pousadas, the Palace of Estoi, from the 18th century, designed by Architect Gonçalo Byrne.
• The next day a visit and lunch at Pousada de Tavira, in the Convent of Nossa Senhora da Graça, where you can also see the archaeological remains.  Then we move towards the western Algarve to stay at the Pousada de Sagres, on a hillside with stunning views over the ocean. From here you can see the Fortress of Sagres where Infante D Henrique drove the Portuguese Discoveries in the 15th century, and Cabo de St. Vicente, the southwestern most part of Europe named Sacrum Promontorium.
• The next day our suggestion is a quiet stroll through the Costa Vicentina nature park, closing the day by enjoying a sumptuous view over the dam of Santa Clara-a-Velha, where you settle in the Pousada for dinner and overnight stay on your 3rd night. The next ext day, heading towards the beautiful beach of Zambujeira, the adventure continues along the Alentejo coast, ending with dinner at the Pousada de Alcacer do Sal.

7. Wine and Flavours of the Alentejo

• Our suggestion is exploring the Alentejo wines with dinner and staying the first night at the Pousada de Arraiolos, where you can enjoy specialties such as Desfiada de Pombo (shredded wood pigeon), Torcaz da bolota em massa filo (acorn in filo pastry), cinnamon and bouquet of lettuce (recipe dating back to 1732) or Grilled Lamb Chops with rosemary, potatoes in olive oil and sautéed spinach leaves.
• The next day we invite you to take part in the Wine Academy course, ""The Wine and Its Aromas"" at the Adega das Mouras, which is unbeatable at a way to refine your knowledge of wine. The day ends with a tasting dinner at the Pousada de Evora before returning to Arraiolos and one more night.
• The next day is a visit to Monte da Ravasqueira is a must, to see the famous wines and the production of olive oil, honey and Lusitano horses. End the day with another tasting of regional products at the Pousada de Beja, a former Franciscan convent of the thirteenth century in the middle of the historic town centre.
• The next day another wine tasting and the visit to the Herdade da Malhadinha Nova is on the route, with one of the most modern wine cellars of the region, where the prize winning  reds and rosés may be tasted, but where you can also see the breeding of native animal races. On the way home there is still time for one more stop for a dinner at the Pousada de Palmela.

8. Nature and Gastronomy in Gerês

• Go into nature and discover some of the most beautiful landscapes in our country in the Serra do Gerês.
• We suggest the first night at the Pousada de Braga, so the next day you can venture out into the Serra do Gerês visiting some sites of interest like the typical village of Santa Isabel do Monte, the Sanctuary of N. Sra. da Abadia or the Monastery at Rendufe. The day ends at the Pousada Santa Maria do Bouro, a result of the restoration of a twelfth-century Cistercian monastery, by architect Souto Moura. This Pousada is known for its gastronomy with some specialties such as Lamprey or “Pica-no-Chão” Cockrel Rice. The next day a quiet stroll through the Peneda-Gerês National Park, to finish comfortably at the Pousada do Gerês in Caniçada. The landscape enjoyed from there is so beautiful that you will feel immediately tempted to swap the comfort of the Pousada for the discovery of the surprises of the wonderful Peneda-Geres National Park or a visit to Serra Cabreira, discovering a new world where lagoons stretch out before you like blankets of blue among the green vegetation. Here you can once again enjoy some dishes like the Sarrabulho Porridge, or Lamb Rice accompanied by the Vinho Verde of the region.
• The next day another hike through the heart of the mountains before returning, with a stop at Pousada de Guimarães or Condeixa-a-Nova for Dinner.

9. Lisbon, Sintra and Estoril Coast

• Come discover the region of Lisbon, Sintra and Estoril. Start with a dinner in the Restaurante Cozinha Velha next to the Palácio Nacional de Queluz, with overnight stay at the Pousada.
• The next day leave early for the Sintra mountain range, stopping at the Palacio da Vila, Palácio da Pena and the Moorish Castle. Go down to Colares along the beautiful old road and continue through Malveira da Serra, stopping at the westernmost point in Europe, Cabo da Roca. Continue to Guincho and the beautiful coast to the Bay of Cascais and end the day at Casino Estoril, the largest in Europe. Return to the Pousada de Queluz for the night, and the next day take the opportunity to discover the Queluz National Palace and the Castelo de S. Jorge, where you can enjoy lunch at the Restaurante Casa do Leão, with stunning views over the city of Lisbon and the River Tagus. The day could end in the Bairro Alto in one of the typical "fado" restaurants.
• On the third day we suggest continuing to visit the numerous highlights of the city, without forgetting the Torre de Belem, Jeronimos Monastery, the Costume Museum and the Lisbon Oceanarium.

10. Golf Routes    

Portugal is a country with many golf courses of international quality on offer, so we invite you to different regions with large golf courses, and naturally, close to excellent Pousadas.

• North and Centre

We suggest Porto, where you can enjoy dinner and overnight stay at Pousada do Porto - Palácio do Freixo, the newest Pousada in the network. The next day 18 holes at Espinho in Oporto Golf, considered one of the oldest courses in continental Europe, this links was created in 1890 at the hands of a group of British players involved in the business of Port Wine. The next day we recommend leaving Porto and discovering one of the most beautiful and challenging courses in the country, the Golf Course at Ponte de Lima, which is so harmonious and seductive, it is an inspiration for lovers of golf. End the day at the Pousada de Viana do Castelo, where you can have Rojões Minho style for dinner with unforgettable views of Monte de Sta. Luzia. The next day headsouth towards the Estela Golf Club, a true links set in a magnificent area along the coast, an 18-hole golf course overlooking the sea!
In the central region, we suggest going for a first stop at the famous suckling pigs of Mealhada before staying at the Pousada Condeixa-a-Nova, climbing the next day to the Montebelo course designed by Mark Stilwell and Malcolm Kenyon.  On the second night dinner and overnight stay is in the recent Pousada de Viseu, where you can enjoy the Pousada's Spa, and the next day continue to discover the fantastic 27 holes at Montebelo, returning to Viseu for your last night. In the last day we suggest a pleasant drive to Curia to discover the fantastic course that is part of the Spa with the same name, the Curia Golf Course with nine holes, a competitive course for players of all levels, ideal before returning home.

• Lisbon and the Algarve

In the Lisbon Region our suggestion is the 1st night at Pousada Castelo de Palmela, to play the next day at the Quinta do Peru Golf Course, from where you can depart for lunch at the Pousada de Setubal. The day ends with dinner at the Restaurante Cozinha Velha near the old National Palace of Queluz and overnight stay at Pousada D. Maria I. During the following two days enjoy two great golf courses just 15 minutes away, the Lisbon Sports Club, a golf course surrounded by nature but a tricky course where a good score becomes a challenge, and the more recent Belas Clube de Campo, a golf course of international calibre designed by William (Rocky) Roquemore.
The Algarve is undoubtedly the largest destination for Golf in Portugal so we make two suggestions, one with a stay at the new Pousada of Estoi Palace, where we recommend playing some of the best courses in the country, such as Quinta da Ria at Ria Formosa Natural Park, the course at Quinta do Lago Norte, by two U.S. architects. The challenge is ongoing, with large lakes and the par 4 holes usually doglegs. If you prefer the English style suggest the Old Course in Vilamoura, by Frank Pennink, a classic in golf design, or the Vila Sol, by the Englishman Donald Steel.
If you like the western Algarve we suggest three nights at the Pousada de Sagres with its impressive views over the sea. Our suggestion is to play at Forest Park by the famous Spanish architect Pepe Gancedo, who also designed the famous Torrequebrada project in Spain, and during the following days exploring the courses of Carvoeiro Golf. Vale de Pinta is an exceptional course set within an olive grove, where some trees are over 1500 years old, and offers the player a spectacle of great beauty, and Gramacho, a relatively short course that is a good bet for those who want to imagine themselves in one of the double greens at St. Andrews.