Itinerary
- Day 1
Lisbon
You'll arrive in Lisbon and head to your luxury hotel to settle in. This evening, there's a welcome drink with your Tour Director and the other guests, so you can meet everyone as the trip kicks off.
- Day 2
Lisbon
A guided tour takes you through Belem district to see Jeronimos Monastery, Belem Tower, and the Padrao dos Descobrimentos monument. You'll try Pasteis de Nata and walk around Rossio square. After lunch, the afternoon is yours to shop, relax, or take Tram 28 around the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided exploration of Lisbon's Belem district
- Visit Jeronimos Monastery
- Visit Belem Tower
- Visit Padrao dos Descobrimentos
- Walk through Rossio square
- Taste Pasteis de Nata
Optional Activities
- Take Tram 28 to explore Lisbon
- Browse elegant shops in the city centre
Landmarks Jeronimos Monastery Belem Tower Padrao dos Descobrimentos Rossio square - Day 3
Lisbon
Pick between two options today: visit the hilltop town of Sintra to check out Palacio Nacional with its distinctive chimneys, or take a hands-on traditional Portuguese cooking class. Dinner is with fellow guests at a local restaurant this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Delicious dinner in a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Classical concert in São Francisco Church
Optional Activities
- Visit Sintra & Palacio Nacional - guided orientation tour of Sintra and visit to the medieval palace
- Traditional Portuguese Cooking Class - learn about Portuguese cuisine and cook a traditional dish
Landmarks Palacio Nacional Sintra - Day 4
Lisbon to Porto
After breakfast, you'll transfer to Porto and board your 5-star river cruise ship to start sailing the Douro River.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Cruise along the Douro River
Landmarks Douro River 
- Day 5
Douro Valley - Pinhao
The ship slowly makes its way through the Douro Valley toward Pinhao, and you'll see steep riverbanks covered with terraced vineyards the whole way. Later, you dock in Pinhao, a small village known for Port wine. There's time to walk around and visit the riverside train station with its hand-painted azulejos tiles.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruise through the Douro Valley
- Visit Pinhao village
- Explore riverside train station with azulejos tiles
Optional Activities
- Paint your own azulejos at a workshop in Pinhao
Landmarks Pinhao Douro Valley - Day 6
Douro Valley - Provesende
This morning you'll visit Provesende, a village sitting on a plateau with great views of the landscape. You can wander through, see the church, find the old bakery, watch traditional handicrafts being made, and tour the historic manor house Morgadio da Calcada where you'll taste bola.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Provesende village
- Visit village church
- Explore old bakery
- Witness traditional handicraft being made
- Visit Morgadio da Calcada manor house
- Tasting of bola at Morgadio da Calcada
Landmarks Provesende Morgadio da Calcada - Day 7
Douro Valley
You have two options today: take a full day trip to Salamanca, known as the 'golden city' for its sandstone buildings and famous university, or visit Freixo de Espada à Cinta to learn about Portugal's hand-processed silk tradition and sample local food at an estate.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Full day excursion to Salamanca - visit city cathedrals, market sampling local delicacies, and free time to explore
- Visit Freixo de Espada à Cinta - guided tour of silk museum, visit local Quinta for tasting of regional produce
Landmarks Salamanca Freixo de Espada à Cinta - Day 8
Pocinho - Regua
You wake in Pocinho, where the Douro Railway line started back in 1887. Choose between seeing the Coa Valley Museum, which has the largest open-air Paleolithic rock art site in the world, or exploring village life with visits to Freixo Numao and Casa Painova estate. In the afternoon, cruise toward Regua, the biggest riverside town in the region.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruise from Pocinho to Regua
Optional Activities
- Coa Valley Museum - coach transfer, tour of Portugal's largest Paleolithic rock art site with pre-historic workshop
- Village life in the Coa Valley - visit Freixo Numao village, Casa Painova estate, demonstration of sugared almond production, tasting of almonds and local products
Landmarks Pocinho Coa Valley Museum Freixo Numao Casa Painova Regua - Day 9
Regua - Porto
Wake in Regua and pick from three options: explore Lamego, a town with Baroque buildings and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies, kayak on the Pinhao River, or visit Mateus Palace, a fine example of Baroque civil architecture. Later you'll cruise back to Porto for a classical concert at São Francisco Church.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Classical concert in São Francisco Church
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Lamego - coach to town, tour of Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies, option to walk or coach down zigzagged staircase, tasting at Bodega, free time to explore
- Kayaking along the Pinhao River - scenic paddle past impressive landscapes
- Mateus Palace - coach transfer and tour of Baroque palace with ornamental pond
Landmarks Lamego Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies Pinhao River Mateus Palace São Francisco Church - Day 10
Porto
Choose from three options today: join a guided tour of Porto to see Palacio da Bolsa and Bolhao Markets, visit Guimaraes, a World Heritage city and birthplace of Portugal's first king, or tour Quinta da Aveleda, a 150-year-old wine producer with nice gardens.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Porto - visit Palacio da Bolsa and explore historic Bolhao Markets during free time
- Excursion to Guimaraes - visit World Heritage-listed city and Ducal Palace with free time to explore
- Quinta da Aveleda - coach transfer, tour and tasting at 150-year-old wine producer, explore enchanting gardens
Landmarks Palacio da Bolsa Bolhao Markets Guimaraes Ducal Palace Quinta da Aveleda - Day 11
Porto to Madrid
You'll disembark this morning and fly to Madrid. Check into your centrally located hotel for three nights, which gives you plenty of time to explore the city's culture, architecture, and food.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Flight from Porto to Madrid
- Day 12
Madrid
A guided tour this morning covers Madrid's 17th century Austrian Quarter, Sabatini Gardens, the Cibeles and Neptuno Fountains, and a traditional bullfighting ring. You'll see the Royal Palace from the outside and visit Templo de Debod, an Egyptian temple from the second century BC that the Egyptian government gave to the city. Dinner with other guests is at a local restaurant tonight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Delicious dinner in a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Madrid
- Explore 17th century Austrian Quarter
- Visit Sabatini Gardens
- See Cibeles Fountain
- See Neptuno Fountain
- View traditional bullfighting ring
- View Royal Palace panorama
- Visit Templo de Debod
Landmarks Sabatini Gardens Cibeles Fountain Neptuno Fountain Royal Palace Templo de Debod - Day 13
Madrid
Today in Madrid you've got flexibility to shape your own schedule. If you're into art, there's a guided tour at the Prado Museum where you'll walk through centuries of Spanish paintings and sculptures. Alternatively, you could join a walking food tour that takes you through the city streets, stopping to try jamón ibérico and tapas at Mercado de San Miguel, which is a popular spot for sampling local flavors. After lunch or however you split your morning, the afternoon is yours. You might head to the shops in the city centre, spend time in one of Madrid's parks if you want to relax, or just wander around on your own and see what catches your eye.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Prado Museum visit with guide (collections from 12th to 20th century)
- Tastes of Madrid walking tour with local guide including Mercado de San Miguel visit and tasting of jamón ibérico and tapas
Optional Activities
- Strolling fashionable boutiques in city centre plazas
- Relaxing in Madrid's manicured gardens
- Exploring the surrounding area at leisure
Landmarks Prado Museum Mercado de San Miguel - Day 14
Madrid
After breakfast, head to Madrid airport and wrap up your trip with the memories of the journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast
