Itinerary
- Day 1
Lisbon
You'll arrive in Lisbon and check into your hotel for a three-night stay. The city sits on seven hills with winding cobblestone lanes and colorful Moorish architecture, so there's plenty to explore on foot once you're settled in.
- Day 2
Lisbon
A local guide leads you through Lisbon's Belém district where you'll see the Jerónimos Monastery and try the famous Pastéis de Nata. After visiting the iconic Belém Tower and Padrão dos Descobrimentos monument, you'll head back to Rossio Square before dinner. This is your farewell meal in the city.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner with Tour Director and fellow travellers)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Belém district
- Visit Jerónimos Monastery
- Taste Pastéis de Nata (famous Portuguese tart)
- See Belém Tower
- See Padrão dos Descobrimentos
- Visit Rossio Square
- Dinner with Tour Director and fellow travellers
Landmarks/POIs Jerónimos Monastery Belém Tower Padrão dos Descobrimentos Rossio Square - Day 3
Lisbon
Today you pick what interests you most. You can visit the Maritime Museum to learn about Portugal's seafaring history, take a day trip to the hilltop town of Sintra to see the Palacio Nacional, or check out contemporary art at MAAT. The afternoon is yours to do as you like.
Included Activities
- Choice of Scenic Freechoice activities
Optional Activities
- Maritime Museum visit - Learn about Portugal's nautical history in the Jerónimos Monastery with over 23,000 pieces charting seven centuries of maritime triumphs
- Sintra & Palacio Nacional excursion - Coach to Sintra (around 45 minutes), orientation tour, and visit Palacio Nacional with its blend of Moorish and Portuguese Gothic architecture
- Museum of Art, Architecture, and Technology (MAAT) - Explore Portuguese contemporary art in a converted power station and futuristic building on the Tagus riverbank
Landmarks/POIs Maritime Museum Palacio Nacional Museum of Art, Architecture, and Technology (MAAT) - Day 4
Lisbon to Porto
After breakfast, you'll leave Lisbon and travel north to Porto. Once you arrive, you board your cruise vessel on the banks of the Douro River, settling in for the next part of your journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Travel to Porto
- Embark on Scenic Space-Ship
- Day 5
Porto
In historic Porto, you choose between a guided tour that includes the Palacio da Bolsa and Bolhão Markets, or an active adventure with cable car rides to the Dom Luis bridge. Later in the afternoon, you'll participate in a tile painting workshop where you'll learn about Portugal's iconic blue tiles.
Included Activities
- Tile painting workshop
- Choice of Scenic Freechoice morning activities
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Porto including Palacio da Bolsa - Visit the 19th-century neoclassical building with its stunning Arab Room featuring gold leaf ceiling, plus free time to explore Bolhão Markets (operating since 1914)
- Active tour of Porto including cable car - Walk to board a traditional rabelo wooden cargo boat to Vila Nova de Gaia, take a cable car to Dom Luis bridge, and walk towards Porto Cathedral, Sao Bento railway station, and Rua das Flores
Landmarks/POIs Palacio da Bolsa Bolhão Markets Dom Luis Bridge Porto Cathedral Sao Bento Railway Station Rua das Flores - Day 6
Entre-os-Rios to Regua
The ship docks at Entre-os-Rios where you'll pick one of three experiences: hike the Paiva Walkways with a suspended bridge, tour a 150-year-old wine producer at Quinta da Aveleda, or visit Guimarães, the birthplace of Portugal. You'll cruise to Régua this afternoon and then visit the Douro Museum.
Included Activities
- Choice of Scenic Freechoice excursions in Douro Valley
- Visit Douro Museum
- Drink of local port or port tonic on terrace overlooking Douro Valley
Optional Activities
- Paiva Walkways hike - Active hike along Paiva River with wooden walkway down rocky hillside in Arouca Geopark, includes the longest suspended pedestrian bridge in the world at 520 metres long, approximately 4 kilometres walking distance with large number of stairs and uneven terrain (high degree of fitness required)
- Quinta da Aveleda wine tour - Visit 150-year-old sparkling wine producer, tour the estate and explore enchanting gardens
- Excursion to Guimarães - Visit UNESCO World Heritage-listed city, explore the 15th-century Ducal Palace with historic collection of tapestries, furniture, ceramics and weapons, plus free time to explore the city
Landmarks/POIs Paiva River Walkway Arouca Geopark Suspended Pedestrian Bridge (Paiva) Quinta da Aveleda Guimarães Ducal Palace Douro Museum - Day 7
Regua
This morning takes you to the Varosa Valley to explore Tarouca with its restored monastery and historic 14th-15th century fortified bridge. In the afternoon, you'll choose between visiting Lamego with its cathedral, touring the Baroque Mateus Palace, or taking a Port Wine Blending Class at Quinta de Pacheca.
Included Activities
- Excursion to Varosa Valley
- Visit Tarouca village
- Explore Monastery of Saint John of Tarouca
- Walk fortified bridge of Ucanha
- Choice of Scenic Freechoice afternoon activities
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Lamego - Coach to the town nestled among terraced vineyards, culminating at the stunning Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption
- Mateus Palace visit - Coach transfer to Mateus Palace, one of the best examples of Baroque civil architecture in Portugal built in the first half of 18th century, featuring original furniture, ornately carved ceilings, historic library, and manicured gardens with statues, hedges, cypress tunnel and reflective ponds
- Port Wine Blending Class - Visit Quinta de Pacheca to learn how an oenologist creates wine blends, view glorious vineyards and old cellar, then participate in hands-on workshop learning the blending process
Landmarks/POIs Monastery of Saint John of Tarouca Fortified Bridge of Ucanha Varosa River Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption Mateus Palace Quinta de Pacheca - Day 8
Douro Valley Cruise to Vega de Terron
You'll relax on the ship as it sails through the Douro Valley's Vinhateiro wine region, a UNESCO World Heritage site with 2,000 years of wine production history. Spend time on the Sun Deck watching the scenery as you cruise toward Vega de Terron.
Included Activities
- Full day cruise through Vinhateiro wine growing region
Landmarks/POIs Vinhateiro Wine Region - Day 9
Vega de Terron
Wake in Vega de Terron on the Portugal-Spain border where the Douro and Águeda rivers meet. You can explore the 'golden city' of Salamanca with its honey-colored architecture and two cathedrals, or visit Freixo de Espada à Cinta to see its unique handcrafted silk museum.
Included Activities
- Choice of Scenic Freechoice excursions
Optional Activities
- Salamanca Full Day Excursion - Known as the 'golden city' for honey-coloured sandstone architecture, visit two cathedrals (12th and 16th century) on guided tour, visit market to taste local delicacies such as olives, cheese and smoked ham, plus free time to explore and enjoy lunch at your leisure
- Freixo de Espada à Cinta with silk museum - Visit village founded by King Dinis of Portugal in 14th century, explore the only place in Portugal where handcrafted silk is still processed entirely by hand, and visit the silk museum on guided tour
Landmarks/POIs Salamanca Cathedral (12th century) Salamanca Cathedral (16th century) Freixo de Espada à Cinta - Day 10
Pocinho
In Pocinho, the terminus of the 1887 Douro Railway, you'll choose between visiting the Côa Valley Museum to explore paleolithic rock art through artifacts and digital technology, or Casa Painova estate to learn about sweet almond production and enjoy local tastings. You'll cruise toward Pinhão this afternoon.
Included Activities
- Choice of Scenic Freechoice morning excursions
Optional Activities
- Côa Valley Museum visit - Coach transfer to the museum with introduction to the region's paleolithic rock art sites through original artefacts and digital technology, includes prehistoric workshop
- Tastes of the Côa Valley - Visit Casa Painova estate for demonstration on how sweet almonds are produced, learn how nuts are harvested and used in desserts and pastries, enjoy tasting of almonds, olives and fruit products
Landmarks/POIs Côa Valley Museum Casa Painova - Day 11
Pinhão
You wake in Pinhão surrounded by terraced vineyards that produce exceptional port wine. This morning, you transfer to the village of Provesende to explore the church, old bakery, traditional handicrafts, and the historic manor house Morgadio da Calçada with a tasting of bola. For the afternoon, you can kayak along the Pinhão River, hike through Quinta vineyards, or visit Quinta da Roada estate for wine tasting.
Included Activities
- Transfer to Provesende
- Visit village church
- Explore old bakery
- Learn traditional handicraft
- Visit historic manor house Morgadio da Calçada
- Tasting of bola at Morgadio da Calçada
- Choice of Scenic Freechoice afternoon activities
Optional Activities
- Kayaking along the Pinhão River - Glide past impressive landscapes of terraced vineyards, patchworked farmland and sprawling estates via kayak on the Pinhão River, a tributary of the Douro
- Quinta vineyard hiking - Guided hike through breathtaking vineyards of Quinta in the Douro Valley with stunning views across Douro River, learn about winemaking process and sample wines
- Quinta tasting - Visit Quinta da Roada estate for tasting of the region's most famous Port wine export, guided walking tour learning vineyard secrets, finish in estate's visitors' centre housed in old stables restored in traditional Douro style for Port wine tasting
Landmarks/POIs Provesende Morgadio da Calçada Pinhão River Quinta da Roada - Day 12
Pinhão to Porto
You'll have a leisurely day sailing along the Douro River as your ship returns to Porto. This evening, you'll attend an exclusive classical concert at the iconic São Francisco Church, a 13th-century Gothic site with a gold-leaf decorated altar.
Included Activities
- Relaxing day cruise along Douro River
- Classical concert at Sao Francisco Church
Landmarks/POIs Sao Francisco Church - Day 13
Porto
Your final day in Porto offers several choices: cruise the canals of Art Nouveau Aveiro in a colorful moliceiros boat, play golf at Quinta do Fojo Golf Club, or tour a famous Port wine cellar at Cockburn's. You'll have free time to explore Porto before a farewell dinner and illumination cruise where you'll see the city and its bridges lit up at night.
- Meals
- Dinner (Farewell dinner)
Included Activities
- Choice of Scenic Freechoice activities
- Free time to explore Porto
- Farewell dinner
- Illumination cruise through Porto
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Aveiro with cruise - Coach to Art Nouveau Aveiro, guided walking tour and cruise the waterways in brightly coloured moliceiros flat-bottomed boat
- Round of golf - Play 6 holes at Quinta do Fojo Golf Club (one of Porto's most popular courses set in walled estate with gardens, lakes, woods and historical Manor House founded in 1714). For experienced golfers only - must bring 'Golf Handicap Certificate' to participate. Recommended to bring sunscreen and hat
- Wine tasting in Vila Nova de Gaia - Travel to visit Cockburn's Port, one of Porto's most famous cellars, for guided visit and tasting
Landmarks/POIs Aveiro Quinta do Fojo Golf Club Cockburn's Port Cellar - Day 14
Porto
After breakfast, you'll disembark and transfer to Porto airport for your onward journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Disembark from cruise
- Transfer to Porto airport
