Itinerary
- Day 1
Lisbon
You'll land in Lisbon and head to your hotel to settle in. The city's waiting for you with a mix of old-world history and contemporary energy, so take some time to get oriented and rest up before things get going.
- Day 2
Lisbon
Spend the day wandering through Lisbon's winding streets lined with colorful buildings. You'll try regional wines and local food, then meet up with the group for a welcome dinner that includes traditional folkoric performances.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome dinner with Portuguese cuisine and folkloric entertainment)
Included Activities
- Welcome dinner with folkloric entertainment
- Day 3
Lisbon
Start with a tour of Belem and the Tower of Belem, one of Lisbon's signature landmarks. After that you have free time downtown for lunch and walking around, then grab some local petiscos before heading to a history museum. The rest of the afternoon is yours to relax at the hotel or keep exploring the city.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Lisbon
- Visit to Tower of Belem (UNESCO)
- Visit to interactive historical museum
- Local petiscos tasting
Optional Activities
- Free afternoon exploration of Lisbon
Landmarks/POIs Tower of Belem - Day 4
Lisbon
This day is yours to plan. Walk through food markets, hit the shops, or book an optional trip out to Sintra and Cascais if you want. Later in the evening, you'll experience traditional fado music paired with Portuguese food and wine.
- Meals
- Dinner (Portuguese cuisine and wine with traditional fado (UNESCO) performance)
Included Activities
- Fado performance with Portuguese cuisine and wine
Optional Activities
- Portugal's Royal Havens: Sintra & Cascais excursion ($65.00 per person)
Landmarks/POIs Sintra Cascais - Day 5
Lisbon to Ponta Delgada
You'll fly to Sao Miguel, the largest island in the Azores. Once you arrive, take a walking tour through Ponta Delgada's center to see the City Gates and main buildings. Dinner features traditional Azorean cooking at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Dinner (Traditional Azorean cuisine at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Ponta Delgada town center
- View of Portas da Cidade (City Gates)
Landmarks/POIs Portas da Cidade - Day 6
Ponta Delgada
Start your day at a 150-year-old family pottery studio learning how Portuguese ceramics are made by hand. Then choose between exploring Terra Nostra Botanical Park or swimming in its thermal pools. You'll have a unique lunch cooked using volcanic heat, then walk through Ribeira dos Caldeiroes and visit a tea plantation before heading back to Ponta Delgada.
- Meals
- Lunch (Cozido das Furnas, cooked in the heat of volcanic earth in Furnas Valley)
Included Activities
- Visit to 150-year-old family-run ceramic factory
- Cozido das Furnas lunch in Furnas Valley
- Ribeira dos Caldeiroes Natural Park walk
- Tea plantation visit and tour
Optional Activities
- Terra Nostra Botanical Park stroll
- Thermal water pool at Terra Nostra Park
Landmarks/POIs Terra Nostra Botanical Park Furnas Valley Ribeira dos Caldeiroes Natural Park - Day 7
Ponta Delgada
Take it slow today with the option to add a whale-watching tour if you want, which includes a biologist guide and lunch. Later you can visit a pineapple plantation to learn about this fruit that Portuguese sailors brought to the islands. Wrap up with cocktails and dinner at a family restaurant.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at a family-run restaurant with cocktails)
Included Activities
- Pineapple plantation visit and tour
- Dinner at family-run restaurant with cocktails
Optional Activities
- Whale-watching adventure with expert biologist and lunch ($145.00 per person)
- Day 8
Ponta Delgada
Head to Sete Cidades volcanic crater to see its twin lakes one blue, one green and learn the local stories behind them. You'll stop at a small family winery where volcanic soil shapes the wines. Free time in Ribeira Grande for lunch, then finish at Ribeira dos Caldeiroes Nature Reserve.
Included Activities
- Sete Cidades volcanic crater tour
- Twin lakes viewing
- Boutique family-run winery visit
- Ribeira dos Caldeiroes Nature Reserve visit
Landmarks/POIs Sete Cidades Ribeira dos Caldeiroes Nature Reserve - Day 9
Ponta Delgada to Funchal
Fly to Madeira, known as the Pearl of the Atlantic. You'll arrive in the afternoon and take a walking tour through Funchal's old town to see the main sites. After that, head to the Madeira Botanical Gardens with thousands of exotic plants spread across terraced grounds.
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Funchal old town
- Madeira Botanical Gardens tour
Landmarks/POIs Madeira Botanical Gardens - Day 10
Funchal
Visit Lavradores market to see exotic fruits, flowers, and traditional fish stalls. Learn about Madeira wine through a tasting at a wine lodge, then walk through Santa Maria Street with its colorful murals and painted doors. Have lunch at a cafe, then the afternoon is free to explore or relax. Dinner features espetada with folk dancers and music.
- Meals
- Dinner (Traditional espetada dinner, local cuisine cooked over open fire with folk dancers and lively music)
Included Activities
- Lavradores market visit
- Madeira wine lodge tasting
- Espetada dinner with folk dancers and music
Optional Activities
- Free afternoon exploration of Funchal
- Hotel garden, pool, and spa access
Landmarks/POIs Lavradores Market Santa Maria Street - Day 11
Funchal
Drive to Camara de Lobos, a fishing village that inspired Winston Churchill's paintings. Continue on mountain roads past vineyards to Cabo Girao, Europe's highest glass lookout. You'll learn about Madeira banana farming at BAM, then have free time to swim in natural volcanic pools at Porto Moniz before returning to Funchal.
Included Activities
- Câmara de Lobos village visit
- Cabo Girão viewing
- Highest glass skywalk in Europe walk
- BAM (Centro da Banana da Madeira) visit
- Porto Moniz natural volcanic rock pools access
Optional Activities
- Swimming in natural volcanic rock pools at Porto Moniz
Landmarks/POIs Câmara de Lobos Cabo Girão Porto Moniz - Day 12
Madeira
The day is yours to spend however you like on Madeira. Or if you want structure, sign up for an optional levada walk along the island's traditional watering system, including lunch at a quinta with Atlantic views and visits to traditional A-frame houses in Santana.
Optional Activities
- Levada Walk & Santana's Traditional Houses with Lunch full-day tour ($100.00 per person)
Landmarks/POIs Santana - Day 13
Funchal to Lisbon
Fly back to Lisbon and step back into the city's modern pace. This evening you'll join the group for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant to say goodbye to Portugal.
- Meals
- Dinner (Farewell dinner at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Farewell dinner at local restaurant
- Day 14
Lisbon
It's time to head home. You're leaving with memories from Lisbon to the Azores to Madeira, and a real feel for what Portugal offers.
