Portugal: Lisbon, Porto & the Douro Valley

Arrive in Lisbon, where you are met and transferred to your hotel. This evening, join your Resident Tour Director and fellow guests for drinks and a welcome dinner.

Enjoy a tour of Lisbon with an expert local guide. See the Belém Tower and visit the Jerónimos Monastery. Later, attend a hands-on workshop at the National Tile Museum, where you are introduced to this ancient Portuguese craft. This evening, experience a private dinner followed by a performance of fado, the characteristic and emotional folk music of the nation.

This morning, travel just outside Lisbon to the village of Sintra. In this town of palaces, enjoy a guided tour of the Pena Palace, decorated with vivid colors and evocative stone carvings. Return to Lisbon, where the rest of the day is at leisure for you to explore.

Depart Lisbon for Alcobaça Monastery. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was founded by Portugal’s first king in 1153 and became one of the most important monasteries in the country. Continue to nearby Nazaré, a picturesque coastal village that is also home to some of the world’s largest surf. Savor a seafood lunch, then take a funicular to the old neighborhood of Sitio atop the cliffs. Later, arrive in Coimbra and check in to your hotel.

Join a local expert for a tour that introduces you to the University of Coimbra, the oldest in Portugal, and its Johannine Library. Built between 1717 and 1728, this library contains over 50,000 volumes and was constructed on the ruins of a medieval prison. Then, enjoy lunch at leisure and time to explore. Continue to your hotel in the Douro Valley where you indulge in a refreshing Scenic Sundowner before dinner.

Start your day by embarking on the waters, as the locals have for centuries, on a traditional rabelo boat. Embark on a scenic cruise down the Douro Valley, admiring its vineyards and whitewashed estates. Cap off your cruise with a winery visit, picnic lunch, tour and tasting. Then, return to the hotel for an evening at leisure.

Meet a local viscountess to learn about the history of her family and their estate. Enter the old kitchens, where you learn to cook using the original wood-burning stoves, on an authentic Chef’s Table experience. Indulge in the hearty lunch that you helped prepare, and then journey to Porto, Portugal’s second-largest city, for a walking introduction to its historic quarter.

Today, enjoy one of these Design Your Day activities. Cruise the Douro & Scale the Arrábida Bridge, gliding beneath the city’s iconic bridges and gaining a unique perspective on Porto on Europe’s only bridge climb. Bake One of Portugal’s Iconic Pastries, during a Pastel de Nata cooking class. Visit Braga’s Impressive Roman Ruins to view archaeological wonders dating back thousands of years. Relax during an afternoon at leisure. Tonight, savor a farewell dinner at one of the city’s famous port lodges.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your departing flight.