October 28 - November 4, 2025
The Jewish Heritage on the Iberian Peninsula goes back to the first century, still during the Roman Empire. Portuguese historians believe that the first Jewish people arrived in Portugal after the destruction of the second Temple in Jerusalem in 70 CE, during the I century and probably even before during the era of the Phoenicians. After the Romans, the land was attacked and ruled by the Germanic tribes, the Barbarians. In 711, Sefard (from Hebrew, meaning both today´s Spain and Portugal) was taken over by the Moors in 711.
They were Muslims from northern Africa, they were tolerant towards other religions, and the era was called the Golden Age, everyone lived together and flourished. After the so-called Reconquista, Sefarad was slowly gained by the Christians, between the X and the XII century. When the Kingdom of Portugal was established in the XI century, during the rule of the first Portuguese King, Afonso Henriques, Jews were given influential and important positions at the royal court. Continuing, up to the XV century Jewish presence was of a big relevance in Portugal.
Everything changed when the Spanish Queen and King issued the Edict of Expulsion. Thousands of Jews fled to Portugal, believing there they would be safe. Unfortunately, it only lasted 4 years, when the Portuguese king Manuel I signed an equal Edict of Expulsion in 1496. This was followed by the establishment of the Inquisition. From this moment the society is divided into “Old Christians” and “New Christians” (those forcefully converted and the following generations (also called in Hebrew: Bnei Annusim).
It was an amazing phenomenon when Jews were not allowed to practice anymore, but they did, however secretly in hiding. During the Tour you will learn a lot more about the Crypto-Jews, how kept Jewish religion and customs, passed only orally, as nothing written in Hebrew was allowed anymore. We will visit places, such as Belmonte, where Judaism was completely “underground” until the XX century.
They will visit some of the oldest synagogues (and secret Synagogues). We invite you to explore the Sefardic history and heritage, but the issue of Ashkenazi Jews coming to Portugal and creating their Communities will be one of our subjects as well.
Discover Portugal, its people, its history, and the culture, on a relaxed kosher tour, tailored to your needs and your pace, while tasting our gastronomy and learning about the Jewish roots outside the touristy areas
Daily Itinerary & Attractions
Day 1. Tuesday 28 Oct – Lisbon
Arrival in Lisbon. Transfer to the hotel and Check in.
Evening walking tour of old Lisbon and Shaare Tikva Synagogue: Explore the Jewish footprints of the city in the Alfama neighborhood, the Barrio Alto or the memorial of the massacre of 1506, while you discover the history of Lisbon and the most emblematic sites of the city.
Dinner at the hotel. Night in Lisbon
Day 2. Wednesday, 29 Oct – Sintra, Cascais, Lisbon
Breakfast at the hotel.
Half day trip to Sintra, Cascais and Estoril
Sintra is a charming town, full of well preserved medieval buildings, wonderful gardens and great palaces. We will visit the most beautiful Royal Palace. There is proof that a Jewish Quarter existed in Sintra in the XII century, but the presence of the Jews there dates much earlier. A synagogue is mentioned in a document from 1407 as well as a Rabbi. In 1480 the Rabbi was Salomao ben Crespo. A name of a street still exists today: Beco da Judiaria, Judiaria meaning a Jewish Quarter. The Jews who lived there were: tailors, shoemakers, merchants and doctors as well as iron smelters. Sintra, is a picturesque Portuguese town 45 minutes from Lisbon. The variety of fascinating historic medieval buildings, including the best preserved medieval Royal Palace in Portugal, turned Sintra in a must-do day trip from Lisbon. Enjoy a guided visit and walking tour in the fairy tales streets of Sintra and its small Jewish quarter.
Continue to Cascais, exclusive coastal resort for Royal and aristocracy holydays and scenario for European intellectuals and spy games during WW2.
Lunch at Chabad House in Cascais and free time to explore the town
Return to Lisbon by 4 pm. Free afternoon in Lisbon.
Dinner at the hotel.
Fado Show. Night in Lisbon
Day 3. Thursday, 30 Oct – Tomar, Belmonte
Breakfast at the hotel and check out.
Daytrip to the central region of Portugal to explore the Jewish Legacy and its rebirth in Portugal.
Bus transfer to Tomar (2h30).
Tomar is one of Portugal’s historical jewels and was the last Templar town built in the Xll century. The city grew even more just after the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492 with the arrival of artisan and merchant refugees. The Jewish minority invigorated the city with new trades and techniques. Tomar has the best-preserved medieval Synagogue in Portugal. It houses the small Abraão Zacuto Jewish Museum, with interesting pieces related to the history of the Jews in Portugal.
Lunch in Tomar. Continue to Belmonte (2h15).
Belmonte is the last community of peninsular origin, dating from the 13th century and hidden for centuries, where about 200 Crypto-Jews survive. It is one of the only crypto-Jewish communities that has been recognized without the need to convert to Judaism in the 20th century. Today it has a synagogue, its own Rabbi, and its own cemetery. A living witness of the Iberian Jewish history.
Visit to Belmonte Synagogue and Jewish Museum, meeting with the President of the Jewish Community.
Dinner at the hotel.
Day 4. Friday, 31 Oct – Guarda, Vilar Formoso, Porto
Breakfast at the hotel and check out.
Bus transfer to Guarda (45mins).
Short guided visit to the Jewish quarter of Guarda, one of the most genuine corners of the medieval city. The Jewish community in Guarda was for a long period one of the country’s most important Jewish communities, and also one of the oldest. In the old Jewish Quarter, inhabited by Jews, and later by New Christians, there are still marks of crosses in the doors that were a symbol of the Christianization of the houses, but they are also the testimonies of the “mezuzot” that every Jew had in his house.
Continue to Vilar Formoso – the Peace Frontier (30 mins), to visit the museum that honors the story of Aristides de Sousa Mendes and the refugees of 1940. Sousa Mendes was a Portuguese diplomat who save the life of many Jews by giving them visas against the policy of the Portuguese government. Recognized as Righteous Among the Nations, the historian Yehuda Bauer characterized his heroism as “perhaps the largest rescue action by a single individual during the Holocaust.”
Lunch boxes in Vilar Formoso. Arrival in Porto and check in at the hotel.
Kabalat Shabbat in Porto Synagogue. Shabbat dinner. Night in Porto
Day 5. Shabbat, 1 Nov – Porto
Breakfast at the hotel.
Shacharit in Porto Synagogue, free morning
Shabbat Lunch
2h30 walking tour of the sounds of Porto: a tour around the hotel and the synagogue, and a unique opportunity to experience Porto in a new way, focusing on your senses. From architectural wonders to tranquil gardens, each location will reveal a new facet of Porto’s musical identity, so that the sounds of Porto will resonate in your memory forever.
Micha service and Havdala. Dinner at the hotel
Free night in Porto
Day 6. Sunday, 2 Nov – Porto
Breakfast at the hotel.
Sightseeing and walking tour of historical Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia. Visit to the Clérigos Tower, the Lello Library, São Bento Station, the Ribeira of the Douro and the Bridge Luis I, the Rua das Flores, the wine cellars of Porto, while you learn about the history and culture of the city.
Lunch.
Free afternoon for shopping and explore the city on your own.
Porto kosher wine tasting in a Porto Cellar and dinner. Night in Porto
Day 7. Monday, 3 Nov – Coimbra, Lisbon
Breakfast at the hotel and check out.
Bus transfer to Coimbra (1h45). Guided walk in the city and the visit to the 12th Century University of Coimbra, one of the oldest in Europe, including the Palace of Schools (Baroque Library, St. Michael’s Chapel and the Royal Palace) and the Chemistry Lab (which belongs to the Science Museum).
Lunch boxes in Coimbra.
Continue with the bus to Lisbon (2h30)
2-hour Sunset guided Cruise in the Tagus river to see wonderful landscapes of the historical city center, passing by such sights as: the Commerce Square, São Jorge Castle, Alfama, National Pantheon, Santa Apolónia Station, Cacilhas, Christ the King, 25th of April Bridge, Tower of Belem and Discoveries Monument
Check in at the hotel. Farewell dinner. Night in Lisbon
Day 8. Tuesday, 4 Nov Lisbon
Breakfast at the hotel and check out.
Transfer to the airport