Explore Porto, Guimarães, Pinhão, Douro Valley, Coimbra, Ericeira, Sintra and Lisbon with your Travel Director
Discover the heart of Porto on historic trams, the Douro Valley on a traditional Rabelo boat ride, winemaking traditions at a family-run quinta in the Douro Valley, the surf culture of Ericeira, Lisbon on its iconic trams, and Fado singing culture in Lisbon
Visit Pena Palace in Sintra (subject to availability) and a family-run quinta in the Douro Valley
Porto: Ride Porto’s historic tram along the river with your Travel Director, then explore the old town on foot with stops around Porto Cathedral, inside São Bento station and in the narrow streets of the Ribeira.
Pinhao: Board a traditional Rabelo boat in Pinhão and cruise a stretch of the Douro once used to carry barrels of port along the river. As you pass the valley’s steep terraces and vine-covered slopes, get a closer look at the landscape that has shaped one of Portugal’s best-known wine regions.
Sintra: Visit Pena Palace (subject to availability), the 19th-century royal palace above Sintra built as a summer residence for Portuguese royalty. As you explore its rooms, terraces and gardens, see the colors, design and hilltop setting that make it one of Portugal’s best-known landmarks.
Lisbon: Enjoy dinner on your final evening in Portugal while listening to Fado, the traditional music of Portugal with strong links to Lisbon. Rooted in the city’s old quarters, its songs tell stories of longing, love and everyday life through one of Portugal’s most recognized musical traditions.
Douro Valley: Join your hosts at a local quinta for lunch in the Douro Valley. Learn about generations of winemaking tradition, local grape varieties and the hospitality that runs through life in this part of Portugal.
Lisbon: Join your Travel Director at 18:00 for a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant and the opportunity to mingle with your fellow travelers.
Monsaraz: Enjoy a memorable Alentejo Highlight Lunch at local restaurant Sem Fim, once an olive mill. Indulge in dish-after-dish of the tastiest tapas in a vibrant setting.
Lisbon: Shared experiences and memories are often the foundation for special bonds and friendships. Toast your travels with wine and good cheer during your dinner at a restaurant in Lisbon, devoted to the enjoyment of regional cooking.
Lisbon: Explore Lisbon with a Local Expert, focusing on the Baixa district rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake and the broad Pombaline layout that shaped the Lower Town. Continue through the Belém Quarter to view landmarks linked to Portugal’s maritime era, including the Monument to the Discoveries and the Belém Tower, both positioned along the Tagus.
Évora: Explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site guided by your Local Expert and see the famous Roman Temple. While sightseeing, witness the fascinating cathedral and be charmed by its mix of Romanesque and Gothic architecture.
Monsaraz: Surrounded by cork oaks and vineyards, wander through the castle ruins to admire the incredible view over the Spanish plains that contrast with the blue of one of Europe's largest artificial lakes.
Fátima: You’ll visit the Sanctuary of Fátima, centered on the reported apparitions of 1917. The site brings together major places of worship such as the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary and the Chapel of the Apparitions, set around a vast open square used for major pilgrimages.
Coimbra: Explore Coimbra with a Local Expert in a city that served as Portugal’s early capital. The walk brings you through steep lanes linked to the old royal palace, past long-standing student cafes and towards the upper town where academic life has shaped the streets for centuries.
Coimbra: Visit the University of Coimbra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with roots in the 1200s. Inside the baroque library, you’ll stand among carved shelves and painted ceilings built to protect rare volumes, including works central to Portugal’s early scientific and literary study.
Guimaraes: Wander through Guimarães’ medieval center, where narrow lanes link small squares shaped around the original castle and palace. The quarter holds stone-fronted houses, arcades and courtyards that reflect the town’s role in Portugal’s early formation, with buildings that have remained in use for centuries.
Obidos: Walk inside Óbidos’ medieval walls, you’ll follow a street pattern that reflects its origins as a Roman settlement later granted as a royal wedding gift in the 13th century. You’ll move through lanes lined with whitewashed houses and small churches, and sample ginja, the local cherry liqueur traditionally served in small cups.
Monsaraz: Join a local boat captain for a tranquil cruise on Lake Alqueva. Relax and enjoy calming waters, picturesque views and tales of river life.
Évora: Take part in a wine tasting that introduces Alentejo varieties grown on the Relvas family estate. As you taste the wines, you’ll hear how the family manages its vineyards with reduced water use, reforests areas with native species and supports local education through scholarships in the surrounding villages. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.
Tomar: Explore Tomar’s Templar Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, first built in the 12th century and later expanded by the Order of Christ. As you move through the complex, you’ll see the Charola, a circular chapel linked to the order’s early ceremonies, along with the defensive structures that shaped the hilltop site.
Tomar: Walk through Tomar’s center to the 15th-century synagogue, one of the few surviving examples of its kind in Portugal. This former place of worship now houses a small collection related to the Jewish community that lived in the town before the expulsion.
Douro Valley: Savor local flavors over a Farm-to-Table meal at Quinta da Pacheca. Learn about the esteemed winemaker Maria Pimental, who holds the distinct honor of being among the first woman winemakers in the Douro. Well-known for her work as a professor at Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Maria was influenced by her grandfather, who established wineries and served as president of the Port Wine Institute until 1976. When her grandfather passed in 2000, Maria returned to her home to help her family with the harvest. She then began working at Quinta da Pacheca as its winemaker, a position she holds proudly to this day.
Porto: Delve into the history of Port wine and immerse yourself in the story of winegrower Antónia Adelaide Ferreira at Ferreira Cellars. Embark on a guided tour starting at the House of Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira, where hundreds of vats and casks age the wine. Then, explore the Vintage Museum and garden before tasting White, Ruby and Tawny Port wine. You’ll be captivated by the tale of “Ferreirinha,’’ who helped the Douro region to develop, modernise and thrive.
Lisbon: Portugal offers endless opportunities for the curious traveler. Delve into the culinary world over a Pastéis de Belém cooking class with a professional chef. In this hands-on class, learn how to make the famous and delicious Portuguese pastry and gain insights into the secret behind its crunchy puff pastry. Conclude your class by tasting your creation, paired with coffee, tea or juice.
Choose between two carefully selected activities
Tomar: Explore Tomar’s Templar Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, first built in the 12th century and later expanded by the Order of Christ. As you move through the complex, you’ll see the Charola, a circular chapel linked to the order’s early ceremonies, along with the defensive structures that shaped the hilltop site.
Tomar: Walk through Tomar’s center to the 15th-century synagogue, one of the few surviving examples of its kind in Portugal. This former place of worship now houses a small collection related to the Jewish community that lived in the town before the expulsion.
Lisbon: Join your Travel Director at 18:00 for a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant and the opportunity to mingle with your fellow travelers.
Monsaraz: Enjoy a memorable Alentejo Highlight Lunch at local restaurant Sem Fim, once an olive mill. Indulge in dish-after-dish of the tastiest tapas in a vibrant setting.
Douro Valley: You’ll sit down to a Farm-to-Table meal prepared with produce grown in the Douro region. Alongside local dishes, you’ll try Port wine made from grapes cultivated on the valley’s terraced hillsides, with staff sharing how the landscape shapes the flavor and style of each pour.
Lisbon: Shared experiences and memories are often the foundation for special bonds and friendships. Toast your travels with wine and good cheer during your dinner at a restaurant in Lisbon, devoted to the enjoyment of regional cooking.
Lisbon: Explore Lisbon with a Local Expert, focusing on the Baixa district rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake and the broad Pombaline layout that shaped the Lower Town. Continue through the Belém Quarter to view landmarks linked to Portugal’s maritime era, including the Monument to the Discoveries and the Belém Tower, both positioned along the Tagus.
Évora: Explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site guided by your Local Expert and see the famous Roman Temple. While sightseeing, witness the fascinating cathedral and be charmed by its mix of Romanesque and Gothic architecture.
Monsaraz: Surrounded by cork oaks and vineyards, wander through the castle ruins to admire the incredible view over the Spanish plains that contrast with the blue of one of Europe's largest artificial lakes.
Fátima: You’ll visit the Sanctuary of Fátima, centered on the reported apparitions of 1917. The site brings together major places of worship such as the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary and the Chapel of the Apparitions, set around a vast open square used for major pilgrimages.
Coimbra: Explore Coimbra with a Local Expert in a city that served as Portugal’s early capital. The walk brings you through steep lanes linked to the old royal palace, past long-standing student cafes and towards the upper town where academic life has shaped the streets for centuries.
Coimbra: Visit the University of Coimbra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with roots in the 1200s. Inside the baroque library, you’ll stand among carved shelves and painted ceilings built to protect rare volumes, including works central to Portugal’s early scientific and literary study.
Guimaraes: Wander through Guimarães’ medieval center, where narrow lanes link small squares shaped around the original castle and palace. The quarter holds stone-fronted houses, arcades and courtyards that reflect the town’s role in Portugal’s early formation, with buildings that have remained in use for centuries.
Obidos: Walk inside Óbidos’ medieval walls, you’ll follow a street pattern that reflects its origins as a Roman settlement later granted as a royal wedding gift in the 13th century. You’ll move through lanes lined with whitewashed houses and small churches, and sample ginja, the local cherry liqueur traditionally served in small cups.
Monsaraz: Join a local boat captain for a tranquil cruise on Lake Alqueva. Relax and enjoy calming waters, picturesque views and tales of river life.
Évora: Take part in a wine tasting that introduces Alentejo varieties grown on the Relvas family estate. As you taste the wines, you’ll hear how the family manages its vineyards with reduced water use, reforests areas with native species and supports local education through scholarships in the surrounding villages. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.
Tomar: Explore Tomar’s Templar Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, first built in the 12th century and later expanded by the Order of Christ. As you move through the complex, you’ll see the Charola, a circular chapel linked to the order’s early ceremonies, along with the defensive structures that shaped the hilltop site.
Tomar: Walk through Tomar’s center to the 15th-century synagogue, one of the few surviving examples of its kind in Portugal. This former place of worship now houses a small collection related to the Jewish community that lived in the town before the expulsion.
Porto: Delve into the history of Port wine and immerse yourself in the story of winegrower Antónia Adelaide Ferreira at Ferreira Cellars. Embark on a guided tour starting at the House of Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira, where hundreds of vats and casks age the wine. Then, explore the Vintage Museum and garden before tasting White, Ruby and Tawny Port wine. You’ll be captivated by the tale of “Ferreirinha,’’ who helped the Douro region to develop, modernise and thrive.
Lisbon: Portugal offers endless opportunities for the curious traveler. Delve into the culinary world over a Pastéis de Belém cooking class with a professional chef. In this hands-on class, learn how to make the famous and delicious Portuguese pastry and gain insights into the secret behind its crunchy puff pastry. Conclude your class by tasting your creation, paired with coffee, tea or juice.
Choose between two carefully selected activities
Tomar: Explore Tomar’s Templar Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, first built in the 12th century and later expanded by the Order of Christ. As you move through the complex, you’ll see the Charola, a circular chapel linked to the order’s early ceremonies, along with the defensive structures that shaped the hilltop site.
Tomar: Walk through Tomar’s center to the 15th-century synagogue, one of the few surviving examples of its kind in Portugal. This former place of worship now houses a small collection related to the Jewish community that lived in the town before the expulsion.
