Itinerary
- Day 1
Porto
You'll arrive in Porto and board your luxury river cruise ship. Get settled into your suite, then head to the cocktail reception this evening where you'll meet fellow travelers and toast to the start of your journey.
Included Activities
- Cocktail reception on board
Landmarks/POIs Douro River - Day 2
Cruise to Pinhão
Spend the day cruising through the Douro Valley as your ship travels toward Pinhão. The terraced vineyards and estates line both sides of the river, creating incredible views from your suite or the deck. By afternoon you'll dock in Pinhão, a small village surrounded by port wine vineyards. Check out the riverside train station with its hand-painted azulejo tiles when you go ashore.
Included Activities
- Cruise through Douro Valley
- Docking in Pinhão
Landmarks/POIs Douro Valley Pinhão River - Day 3
Provesende
This morning you'll visit Provesende, a village sitting on a plateau with great views across the rolling landscape below. Walk through the narrow streets, stop by the church, and see the old bakery and historic manor house Morgadio da Calçada where you'll taste local bola pastries. There's time to wander around and learn about traditional handicrafts in the village.
Included Activities
- Visit Provesende village
- Church visit
- Traditional handicraft demonstration
- Historic manor house Morgadio da Calçada visit
- Bola tasting
Landmarks/POIs Provesende Morgadio da Calçada - Day 4
Freechoice Excursions
Today you choose your own adventure. Either take a guided tour of Salamanca, the golden city, to see its two cathedrals and sample local food at the market, or head to Freixo de Espada à Cinta to explore a unique silk museum where Portugal's only handcrafted silk is still made entirely by hand using traditional methods.
Included Activities
- Scenic Freechoice excursion access
Optional Activities
- Salamanca Full Day Excursion - guided tour of the university and cathedrals, market tasting of local delicacies, free time for lunch
- Freixo de Espada à Cinta with silk museum - guided tour, silk museum visit
Landmarks/POIs Salamanca Freixo de Espada à Cinta - Day 5
Cruise to Régua
You'll wake in Pocinho, a village that was established as the railway terminus back in 1887. In the morning, pick between visiting the Côa Valley Museum or the Casa Painova estate where you can see how almonds are produced. Later in the afternoon, cruise toward Régua while you have port wine or relax in your suite watching the river. Régua is the largest town along the river and serves as a good base for exploring the valley's wineries.
Included Activities
- Cruise to Régua
- Scenic Freechoice excursion access
Optional Activities
- Côa Valley Museum - coach transfer, guided museum visit, prehistoric workshop
- Tastes of the Côa Valley - visit Casa Painova estate, almond production demonstration, tasting of almonds, olives and fruit products
Landmarks/POIs Côa Valley Museum Casa Painova Régua - Day 6
Freechoice Excursions & Classical Concert
You'll have choices for your Freechoice excursions today. Visit Lamego to see its impressive Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption and taste local produce, kayak along the Pinhão River past terraced vineyards, or tour the Baroque Mateus Palace. This afternoon you'll cruise back toward Porto, and later enjoy a classical concert at the iconic São Francisco Church, an exclusive event included with your cruise.
Included Activities
- Scenic Freechoice excursion access
- Classical concert at São Francisco Church
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Lamego - coach transfer, guided tour, Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption visit, self-guided museum option, local produce tasting
- Kayaking along the Pinhão River - kayak tour of vineyards and farmland
- Mateus Palace - coach transfer, guided tour of Baroque architecture, gardens and interiors
Landmarks/POIs Lamego Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption Pinhão River Mateus Palace São Francisco Church - Day 7
Freechoice Excursions
Back in Porto, you'll wake in this 2,000-year-old city where street art covers ancient walls and colorful tiles decorate historical buildings. Choose between a guided tour of Porto's culture and the Palacio da Bolsa, a trip to Guimarães (the birthplace of Portugal), or visit Quinta da Aveleda for its gardens and wine tasting.
Included Activities
- Scenic Freechoice excursion access
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Porto - guided tour including Palacio da Bolsa visit, Arab Room with gold leaf ceiling, free time to explore Bolhão Markets
- Excursion to Guimarães - coach transfer, guided tour of UNESCO World Heritage city, Ducal Palace visit with historic collections, free exploration time
- Quinta da Aveleda - coach transfer to 150-year-old wine producer, tour of sparkling wine producer estate, gardens tour, wine tasting
Landmarks/POIs Palacio da Bolsa Bolhão Markets Guimarães Ducal Palace Quinta da Aveleda - Day 8
Porto to Madrid
You'll fly from Porto to Madrid today on your included flight. After landing, transfer to your hotel where you'll spend the next three nights. This gives you time to settle in and get your bearings in the city before exploring.
Included Activities
- Flight from Porto to Madrid
- Airport transfer to hotel
- Day 9
Guided Tour & Freechoice
Start your morning with a guided tour covering Madrid's highlights, including the historic Austrian Quarter from the Habsburg era. You'll see Plaza Mayor with its colorful buildings, Plaza de la Villa, Plaza de la Paja, the Sabatini Gardens, and the Cibeles and Neptuno fountains. For your afternoon, choose between visiting the Prado Museum to see masterworks or walking through the Royal Palace, an 18th-century structure that's quite grand.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Madrid highlights - Austrian Quarter, Plaza Mayor, Plaza de la Villa, Plaza de la Paja, Sabatini Gardens, Cibeles and Neptuno fountains
Optional Activities
- Get arty at The Prado - self-guided visit to Prado Museum with over 1,500 artworks on display from Spanish masters Goya and Velázquez and European artists
- Explore the spectacular Royal Palace - guided or self-guided tour of 18th-century Royal Palace, grand rooms, airy courtyards, artworks, and armory
Landmarks/POIs Plaza Mayor Plaza de la Villa Plaza de la Paja Sabatini Gardens Cibeles Fountain Neptuno Fountain Prado Museum Royal Palace - Day 10
Leisure Day
Madrid is yours to explore today. Rent a rowboat on El Retiro Park's lake and paddle past monuments and trees, check out museums like the Centro de Arte Reina Sofía or Museo Lazaro Galdiano, shop Gran Vía or Barrio de Salamanca for luxury brands, or search for vintage finds in Chueca and Malasaña. Food lovers should visit Mercado de San Miguel, a cast iron market from the 1800s that draws huge crowds. Later, you'll have a special Spanish dinner with the other guests on your tour.
- Meals
- Dinner (Special Spanish dinner with fellow guests)
Included Activities
- Spanish dinner with fellow guests
Optional Activities
- El Retiro Park - rowboat rental on lake
- Centro de Arte Reina Sofía - museum visit
- Museo Lazaro Galdiano - museum visit
- National Archaeological Museum - museum visit
- Gran Vía - luxury shopping
- Barrio de Salamanca - luxury shopping district
- Chueca and Malasaña districts - vintage shopping
- Mercado de San Miguel - century-old market with produce, meat, cheese, fruit, vegetables, ice cream
Landmarks/POIs El Retiro Park Centro de Arte Reina Sofía Museo Lazaro Galdiano National Archaeological Museum Gran Vía Barrio de Salamanca Chueca Malasaña Mercado de San Miguel - Day 11
Departure
On your last morning, take a leisurely walk through Sabatini Park gardens near your hotel, or sit at a street café for strong Spanish coffee. After you check out, transfer to the airport to head home with memories from your journey.
Included Activities
- Airport transfer
Optional Activities
- Walk through Sabatini Park
- Pavement café visit
Landmarks/POIs Sabatini Gardens
