16 days in Portugal Itinerary

Small in size but rich in history, culture, and natural beauty, Portugal features contrasting landscapes that include long beaches, lush vineyards, verdant valleys, and rolling hills dotted with tiny settlements where old traditions still prevail. The country's serene interior, often overlooked by foreigners, remains largely unspoiled by mass tourism and offers visitors a chance to discover this less-trodden part of Europe at their own pace. Ripe for leisurely adventures on foot or by bicycle, Portugal's fertile countryside boasts well-preserved medieval castles and outstanding wineries, producing some of the world's finest ports. The country's cities offer a lively culinary scene known for its many award-winning restaurants, topping the itineraries of foodies from around the globe.

Although most visitors flock to its pleasant Atlantic coastline, Leiria District also features a hilly countryside peppered with quiet towns, luxuriant vineyards, and thick oak forests. The district's namesake capital city, situated at the confluence of two major rivers, attracts history and architecture buffs with its hilltop castle and majestic Romanesque cathedral. If you wish to combine sightseeing with a few active pursuits, use the district capital as your base and divide your time among the region's beaches and fishing villages, which preserve their traditional way of life and happily evade the worst aspects of commercial tourism.