Sunny Portugal with Porto

Ancient castles and Roman ruins, groves of orange and almond trees, quiet whitewashed villages, and welcoming locals – Portugal is waiting for you.
Hotel Name: Turim Porto Hotel

Arrive in Porto, a former industrial city steeped in history. Porto’s Baroque and modernist architecture blend to create an artistic heritage that's earned a UNESCO designation. With no scheduled sightseeing today, spend the day as you wish, exploring the city independently. Here, you’ll find quiet cafés perfect for sipping a glass of port wine and watching the world go by. You may choose to venture out and head toward the Douro River, where so much of the history of this city started. Depending on your flight arrival time, join your Tour Manager and fellow travelers this evening for a welcome reception at your hotel.

Visit Area: Porto
Porto, known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal, after Lisbon, and is located in northern Portugal. The city dates back to the 4th century. Porto’s city center is one of the oldest city centers in Europe. One of Portugal’s well known exports, port wine, is named for Porto since the metropolitan and surrounding area was responsible for the production and export of the fortified wine.

Get ready for a full and intense day of discovery. Begin with a walking tour led by a local expert, exploring charming cobblestone streets and the vibrant atmosphere Porto is known for. As you make your way towards the Palácio da Bolsa, pass by the São Bento Railway Station, renowned for its azulejo (tile) panels depicting scenes from Portuguese history. At Palácio da Bolsa (Stock Exchange Palace), take in the grandeur of the Arab Room with its lavish Moorish-inspired decor. Stroll through the historic Ribeira District, a UNESCO World Heritage site, bursting with colorful building facades and lively riverside cafés. Next, cross the bridge into the neighboring city of Vila Nova de Gaia, tracing the historic paths of Portugal's wine merchants. Tour a traditional wine cellar, indulging in the rich flavors of vintage wines that have made this region famous worldwide. Cap off your day with a scenic cruise along the Douro River, passing under Porto's magnificent bridges and taking in breathtaking views of the city. Tonight, join your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Admittance: Stock Exchange Palace
The Stock Exchange Palace, also called Palace of la Bolsa de Madrid, is a building located in Madrid, Spain that houses the stock exchange. The palace was founded in 1841 and is the largest of Spain’s four regional stock exchanges.

The day is yours to enjoy. Perhaps you’ll decide to visit Livraria Lello,* one of the world's most beautiful bookstores, or climb the Clérigos Tower for panoramic views of the city. Don’t miss a stop at a local restaurant to try a famous delicacy, the francesinha: a multi-tiered sandwich topped with savory sauce and a fried egg. Alternatively, you might choose to join an optional excursion to the charming cities of Braga and Guimarães.

Breakfast Included
Hotel Name: Hotel Baia

Admittance: Porto Wine Cellars

This morning, say goodbye to Porto. En route to the Portuguese Riviera, enjoy some free time to experience the city of Aveiro. This enchanting city is known for its canals and its egg-yolk desserts, loved by the Portuguese, and has a rich history and heritage fueled by its canals and Atlantic Ocean. After lunch on your own, the day’s journey continues. The next stop is Fatima with some free time to visit the Chapel of the Apparitions, commemorating the Virgin Mary's appearance to three young shepherds in 1917. As you arrive in the Portuguese Riviera, mansions scattered throughout Cascais and Monte Estoril hint at this area’s history as a haven for exiled European royals and nobility. Settle into your hotel before joining your fellow travelers for dinner at a local restaurant.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Visit Area: Fatima
Whatever your beliefs, you can’t help but be impressed by the vast reserves of faith that every year lead as many as 6 million people to the glade where, on May 13, 1917, the Virgin Mary is said to have first appeared to three awestruck peasant children. Where sheep once grazed there are now two huge churches on opposite ends of a vast 1km-long esplanade. For Catholic pilgrims, Fátima has a magnetic appeal like few places on earth, and a trip here will provide any visitor with new insights into Portugal’s religious facet.

Explore the picture-perfect city of Obidos, where white-washed houses sit snug within medieval city walls, and toast with a ginjinha, a sour cherry liqueur served in a small chocolate cup. Continue on to Sintra (UNESCO), a breathtaking hub that served as the summer residence of Portuguese kings for six centuries. Then, it’s your choice! Explore the quaint hilltop village of Sintra and take some time to wander through its winding streets -OR- join a guided tour of the National Palace of Sintra, considered the best-preserved medieval palace in Portugal.

Breakfast Included
Hotel Name: Vila Galé Evora Hotel

Visit Area: Portuguese Riviera
The Riviera stretches from Lisbon and Cascais. The coastline has become a place where the elite vacation between September and October, and a popular tourist destination for its chic look. Removed from the city, the Lisbon coastline is easy access to all the culture that Lisbon offers. It has become a major hotspot for major international celebrities from the world of fashion, sport, and entertainment. The Riviera is also known for is world class conditions for surfing.

Today, make your way through Portugal’s charming countryside. Visit a family-owned cork factory and learn about the product’s importance to the local economy and why Portugal is the world’s top cork producer. Your journey then takes you to Evora (UNESCO). A traditional Alentejo lunch will be waiting for you, accompanied by Cante Alentejano music (UNESCO). In the afternoon, with your local expert, take time to explore this medieval walled city and see its well-preserved Roman temple up close.

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included
Hotel Name: Vila Galé Lagos

Visit Area: Cascais
As Portugal is a small country, Cascais is a resort retreat just a half hour west of the city of Lisboa. When settlers first came to Cascais, the beaches were covered with shells in which its current name has derived. Cascais is a quaint coastal town and previously a fishing village until it gained a substantial reputation as the royal family of Portugal chose the town to be its summer residence in the 19th century. Located just off of the Tagus River, one of Portugal’s most noteworthy rivers, Cascais sits just past its mouth where the Atlantic Ocean begins. The coastal town emanates beauty, peace and tranquility while delving into above par seafood and wine.

Journey to the stunning coasts of the Algarve – the southernmost region of Portugal. On the way, visit a local gin distillery. Learn how one man took homemade drink and implemented traditional Portuguese stills and local ingredients to craft a premium gin. Savor the flavors of these botanicals before continuing your journey south. This afternoon, keep the day balanced and fruity at a winery. Indulge in full-bodied wines from the Alentejo region during a winery tour, tasting, and light lunch before continuing on your drive. Later, switch the rich taste of local wine and spirits for salty ocean air in Algarve. This evening, explore the historic resort town of Lagos, where Moorish and Renaissance influences meet towering seaside cliffs. Many celebrated voyagers began their explorations from this bustling port.

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included

Visit Area: Obidos
Obidos is a small town located on the Atlantic Coast of Portugal. The town’s origins can be traced back to an early Roman settlement. The area of the town is located on a hilltop, surrounded by a fortified wall. From its streets, squares, fortified wall and castle, the town remains as a well preserved example of medieval architecture. It is because of this that the town is a popular tourist destination.

It's your day to experience the Algarve on your own. Geraniums, camellias, and oleanders grow alongside fig, orange, and almond trees, while brightly colored fishing boats bob in the sea. Protected by hills to the north and warmed by the sea, the Algarve’s mild climate and beautiful beaches attract visitors from all over the world. You may choose to join an optional boat tour** today that gets you closer to some of the most famous coastal scenery in Portugal.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Visit Area: Sintra
With its rippling mountains, dewy forests thick with ferns and lichen, exotic gardens and glittering palaces, Sintra is like a page torn from a fairy tale. Its Unesco World Heritage–listed centre, Sintra-Vila, is dotted with pastel-hued manors folded into luxuriant hills that roll down to the blue Atlantic. The jewel on the crown lording ominously over the picturesque town center is the National Palace, once the summer retreat of the Portuguese monarchy.

This morning, venture along the coast to discover the importance of the sardine canning industry in the Algarve. Then, continue to Monchique, a mountain village nestled within a rich landscape, to learn the secrets of regional bread and fruits. Sample them with a savory picnic lunch featuring freshly prepared Algarve seasonal and local specialties. Return to Lagos for an evening at leisure.

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included
Hotel Name: Lumen Lisboa Hotel

Admittance: Cork Factory
Visit a local cork factory, where you’ll learn about the product’s importance to the local economy. Harvested from the cork oak, or sobreiro as it’s known in Portuguese, cork is transformed into hundreds of different products.

En route to Lisbon, stop in Setúbal, a colorful industrial city and one of southern Europe's best-kept secrets. See the Mercado (Farmers Market) do Livramento up close. It’s considered one of the best fish markets in the world, and it’s also rich with displays of fresh fruits and vegetables. Continue your journey to your last destination, Lisbon, Portugal's vibrant capital city. You might want to relax for the night, or you could choose to join an optional night of traditional fado music, a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage highlight, performed by local artists.

Breakfast Included

Visit Area: Evora
One of Portugal’s most beautifully preserved medieval towns, Évora is an enchanting place to delve into the past. Inside the 14th-century walls, Évora’s narrow, winding lanes lead to striking architectural works: an elaborate medieval cathedral and cloisters; the cinematic columns of the Templo Romano (near the intriguing Roman baths); and a picturesque town square, once the site of some rather gruesome episodes courtesy of the Inquisition. Aside from its historic and aesthetic virtues, Évora is also a lively university town, and its many attractive restaurants serve up hearty Alentejan cuisine.

Decide how you want to explore Lisbon today, because it’s your choice! Discover the art and tradition of Portuguese sidewalks during a locally led walking tour -OR- venture with your Tour Manager on foot and discover the city through the lens of the businesses and streets connected with the country's most loved fish, bacalhau (salted codfish). After, travel to Belém and see the iconic Belém Tower (UNESCO). See the facade of the 16th-century Jeronimos Monastery*** (UNESCO) and learn about the importance of this iconic site. Bid Portugal goodbye during dinner and celebrate the end of your unforgettable journey.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Visit Area: Alentejo
Travel across the famous Alentejo region of southern Portugal, known for three things; pottery, wine, and cork. Sparsely populated, the Alentejo region is rolling green hills, orchards of sobreiro trees, and vineyards.

Your tour ends today.

Breakfast Included

Visit Area: Lagos
The town lies along the bank of the Rio Bensafrim, with 16th-century walls enclosing the old town’s pretty, cobbled streets and picturesque plazas and churches. Beyond these lies a modern, but not overly unattractive, modern sprawl. The town’s good restaurants and range of fabulous beaches nearby add to the allure. With every activity under the sun (literally) on offer, plus a pumping nightlife, it’s not surprising that people of all ages are drawn here. Aside from its hedonistic appeal, Lagos has historical clout, having launched many naval excursions during Portugal’s extraordinary Age of Discoveries.