Sunny Portugal

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

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 to know this captivating city with a walking tour led by a local expert. Take in the grandeur of Praça da Liberdade Square, Sao Bento Train Station and its iconic azulejo tiles. End your walking tour with a visit to the Palacio da Bolsa, the Stock Exchange Palace, to see the legendary Arab Room. The afternoon is yours. 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.

Cross the bridge into the neighboring city of Vila Nova de Gaia and follow in the footsteps of Portugal's wine merchants. Embark on a brief cruise along the bridges of Porto. Later, tour a local wine cellar and savor the taste of a vintage in this world-renowned wine city. The afternoon is yours to explore Porto. Maybe visit the Livraria Lello, considered one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world or stop by a local restaurant to try a famous local delicacy, the francesinha: a multi-tiered sandwich topped with savory sauce and a fried egg.

Breakfast Included
Hotel Name: Turim Marques Hotel

Visit Area: Lisbon
Spread across steep hillsides that overlook the Rio Tejo, Lisbon offers all the delights you’d expect of Portugal’s star attraction, yet with half the fuss of other European capitals. Gothic cathedrals, majestic monasteries and quaint museums are all part of the colorful cityscape, but the real delights of discovery lie in wandering the narrow lanes of Lisbon’s lovely backstreets. The Lisbon experience encompasses so many things, from enjoying a fresh pastry and bica (espresso) on a petite leafy plaza to window-shopping in elegant Chiado. It’s mingling with Lisboêtas at a neighborhood festival or watching the sunset from the old Moorish castle.

This morning, say goodbye to Porto. En route to the capital, 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. Take some time to enjoy lunch on your own before leaving for Lisbon. Settle into your hotel before joining your fellow travelers for dinner at a local restaurant.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Admittance: Calcadas Walking Tour or The Way of the Cod Tour
For your first choice, you can discover the art of the Portuguese sidewalks on a locally led walking tour. Get to know the history behind the emblematic Portuguese sidewalks, which are a symbol of culture and art in the country today. Black and white, symmetrical or not, the sidewalks have shapes and designs that narrate an era. For your second choice, you can venture with your Tour Manager and discover the city through the lens of the country’s beloved salted codfish. Hear how the fishermen throughout history would trek out into the cold, North Atlantic waters for this delicacy that cannot be found on Portuguese seashores. Lisbon & Its Famed "Calcadas" Walking Tour Activity Level 3 Led by a local guide, this tour requires walking 2 miles excluding Elevador da Gloria. It will include steep hills and walking on cobblestone, uneven streets. The Way of the Cod - Codfish Route Activity Level 2 Includes public transportation using the subway. Involves walking on cobblestoned, uneven streets.

Choose 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 Belem and see the iconic Belem Tower (UNESCO). See the façade of the 16th-century Jeronimos Monastery* (UNESCO) and learn about the importance of this iconic site. Tonight, you may choose to join an optional tour to listen to local artists perform traditional Fado music, a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage highlight.

Breakfast Included
Hotel Name: Vitoria Stone Hotel

Visit Area: Belém
Standing proudly on the bank of the Targus river in Lisbon is Belém Tower, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This 16th-century tower was where explorers from the Age of Discovery set out towards the New World, across the Atlantic.

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) – the “Museum City of Portugal.” In the afternoon, take time to explore this medieval walled city and see its well-preserved Roman temple up close.

Breakfast Included
Hotel Name: Vila Galé Lagos

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.

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: 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.

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: 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.

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: Vila Galé

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.

En route to the Portuguese Riviera, make a 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. Then, head to the Portuguese Riviera. Mansions scattered throughout Cascais and Monte Estoril all hint at this area’s history as a haven for exiled European royals and nobility.

Breakfast Included

Visit Area: Algarve
The Algarve is alluring. Coastal Algarve receives much exposure for its breathtaking cliffs, golden beaches, scalloped bays and sandy islands. But the letter 'S' (for sun, surf and sand) is only one letter in the Algarvian alphabet: activities, beach bars (and discos), castles (both sandy and real), diving, entertainment, fun. Coastal Algarve is not all there is to the region. The enchanting inner Algarve boasts pretty castle towns and historic villages, cork tree– and flower-covered hillsides, and birdlife.

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. Bid Portugal goodbye during dinner in Cascais, and celebrate the end of your unforgettable journey.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Visit Area: Portimão

Your tour ends today.

Breakfast Included

Visit Area: Setúbal