Portugal 7 days

7 days Jewish Tours to Portugal:

A Taste of Portugal

The Jewish presence in Iberia has existed long before Portugal itself became a country. The contribution of Portuguese Jews to the arts, philosophy, commerce and sciences helped create the rich cultural heritage of this nation. Our unique tour focuses on places of Jewish interest, as well as the fascinating people who continue to contribute to Portuguese society. These descendants of the Inquisition, often referred to as Marranos, are now known as the B’nai Anousim (Children of Oppression). Forced to convert during those awful days, many secretly, and over the centuries, retained their precious Jewish practices, as well as pride in their true heritage. These are the Secret Jews of Portugal – proof, to this day, that our people’s soul cannot be vanquished.

You will see three Portuguese jewels: Porto (and taste the famous port), Lisbon, and Belmonte, with its Old Jewish Quarter and Jewish Museum. Staying at gorgeous hotels, you will enjoy both physical luxury and a rare, inimitable Jewish experience.

EXPLORE OUR 10 DAY TOURS TO PORTUGAL

EXPLORE OUR 12 DAY TOURS TO PORTUGAL AND SPAIN

DAY 1 MONDAY ARRIVAL IN PORTO

Welcome to Porto, capital of northern Portugal, gracefully set above the River Douro. Transfer to your hotel and time to settle in before beginning a tour of the city. In the afternoon, explore Porto’s old quarter, Baixa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During the Middle Ages, Porto was home to a thriving Jewish community, whose traces remain in the lanes of “Rua Monte Judeus” and “Escadas da Esnoga” — the “Street of the Jewish Hill” and “Stairway to the Synagogue.” These names tell of the life that once filled these narrow streets, where traders, scholars, and artisans helped shape the city’s prosperity. Later, visit the iconic Lello Bookshop, an exquisite symbol of Porto’s artistic spirit. The city blends past and present with effortless grace – from its medieval alleys and colorful riverfront to its galleries, boutiques, and elegant cafés. Its vitality is a perfect beginning to a journey through a land where memory and modernity intertwine. Palácio das Cardosas Hotel.

DAY 2 TUESDAY PORTO

Begin the day at the Makor Haim Synagogue, “Source of Life,” the first built in Portugal for native Jews in more than four centuries. Its founder, Captain Artur Carlos de Barros Basto, known as “Ben Rosh,” devoted his life to helping descendants of conversos reclaim their Jewish heritage, founding schools and communities and reminding the nation that Jewish life had never truly vanished. His work gave new meaning to the word return. Continue through Porto’s landmarks: the Bolhão Market, the Clérigos Tower, São Bento Station with its magnificent azulejo tiles, and the Palácio da Bolsa with its splendid Salão Árabe (Arabian Hall). Stroll along the Ribeira, where the city meets the river, and admire a panoramic view of the Dona Maria Bridge, designed by Gustave Eiffel. From the opposite bank in Gaia, you will have another perspective of the ancient part of the city, set along the banks of the Douro. Return to the hotel and enjoy the afternoon at leisure to explore Porto on your own. Palácio das Cardosas Hotel.

DAY 3 WEDNESDAY CABANAS DE VIRIATO – TRANCOSO – BELMONTE

Early departure from Porto for Cabanas de Viriato to visit the home of Aristides de Sousa Mendes, recognized by Yad Vashem as one of the Righteous Among the Nations. As Portugal’s consul in Bordeaux during the Holocaust, Sousa Mendes defied his government’s orders and issued thousands of visas, saving more than 30,000 refugees, among them 10,000 Jews. For this act of conscience, he was stripped of his position and left in poverty, yet remained unrepentant: “If thousands of Jews are suffering because of one Christian (Hitler), surely one Christian may suffer for so many Jews.” His home today stands as a living memorial to moral courage. Continue to Trancoso, a beautifully preserved walled town with Jewish roots dating to the 12th century. Here, the newly added Isaac Cardoso Center for Jewish Interpretation and synagogue Beit Mayim Hayim (“House of Living Waters”) honor centuries of Jewish life. When a mezuzah was placed on its doorway, it marked the first in the village for hundreds of years. Proceed to Belmonte, a town overlooking the Cova da Beira valley, whose story is one of the most extraordinary in Jewish Europe. The Jews of Belmonte, descendants of those who fled the Inquisition, kept their faith alive in secret for more than four centuries. In the privacy of their homes, the “New Christians” lit candles on Friday nights, whispered Hebrew prayers in Portuguese, and passed down customs hidden behind Catholic façades. Officially recognized in 1989, the community opened the Beit Eliahu Synagogue in 1996, followed by the Jewish Museum and the restored cemetery. Today, Belmonte’s Jewish families live openly, heirs to those who kept the flame of Judaism alive against all odds. After visiting the sites, see houses with engraved crosses that are still visible, a protective pretense by Jewish people to escape persecution. Continue to the hotel on the outskirts of the town. Pousada de Belmonte.

DAY 4 THURSDAY BELMONTE – TOMAR – LISBON

Depart for Lisbon. En route, visit Tomar, a town steeped in history and mystery, founded by the Knights Templar. Visit the 15th-century synagogue on the former Rua da Judiaria, now the Museum Luso-Hebraico Abraão Zacuto. With its Gothic vaults and four central columns, it preserves fragments of a vanished world — gravestones, cornerstones, and echoes of prayer from a once-thriving Sephardic community. It stands as a bridge between the Portugal of the past and the one rediscovering its heritage today. Continue to Lisbon, arriving in the afternoon. Check in at the hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. PortoBay Liberdade Hotel.

DAY 5 FRIDAY LISBON – CASCAIS – SINTRA – LISBON  

This morning, visit to the Shaare Tikva Synagogue, restored in 2004, now the Center of Jeiwh Lisbon. Continue to the seaside town of Cascais, where during the Holocaust, Jewish refugees were sheltered. Here, the municipality supported the opening of the Avner Cohen Casa (Documentation Center) run by Chabad. Recently, the Rabbi of the vibrant Jewish Documentation Center, R. Eli Rosenfeld, published a groundbreaking book, Jewish Voices for Portugal, highlighting the wisdom of six Portuguese-Jewish commentators on the Torah. It is worth noting that the book’s preface was written by Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of the Portuguese Republic, and Carlos Carreiras, Mayor of Cascais. During the visit, you will see documents dating back 500 years. Travel on to Sintra, a dreamlike town of palaces, forests, and winding roads, known as “Lord Byron’s Glorious Eden.” Before the forced conversions of 1497, Sintra’s Jewish community lived and worked close to the royal court. Wander its narrow lanes, filled with memory, and visit the National Royal Palace, Return to Lisbon. PortoBay Liberdade Hotel.

DAY 6 LISBON

Today, see Lisbon and its various neighborhoods. Begin with sweeping views from Largo da Graça over the “seven hills” and the wide Tagus River. Begin with a panoramic visit to the Riverside area. Passing the Rossio, reach the Largo da Graça, from where you can admire the magnificent city view, the Tagus River, and the “Seven Hills” of Lisbon. Continue to Alfama, the oldest district, where the narrow Rua da Judiaria marks the heart of the medieval Jewish Quarter. Here, Jewish life once flourished, scholars, merchants, and families whose voices still seem to echo through the cobbled streets. In Praça do Comércio, where the Autos-da-Fé of the Inquisition took place, stand in remembrance of those who perished for their faith. Continue to Belém, a district that reflects Portugal’s Age of Discovery. Visit the Jerónimos Monastery, a masterpiece of Manueline art, and the nearby Tower of Belém, from which Portuguese navigators set sail to the edges of the world. Many who shaped these voyages – cartographers, astronomers, and financiers – were Jews or New Christians, whose brilliance helped chart new global routes even as they lived under the shadow of forced conversion. The Monument to the Discoveries (Padrão dos Descobrimentos) celebrates their spirit of adventure and the enduring resilience of the Jewish mind. Return tothe hotel. PortoBay Liberdade Hotel.

Day 7 SUNDAY LISBON – HOME FLIGHTS

The transfer to the airport is pending your flight departure. As you leave Portugal, reflect on the Jewish history in this land – from the flourishing of medieval communities to the silence of exile, and now to the rebirth of Jewish presence. Portugal’s Jewish story is one of faith sustained through darkness, memory restored through courage, and renewal.