Itinerary
- Day 1
Lisbon
You'll arrive in Lisbon and head to your luxury hotel. Later this evening, meet your tour director and the other guests for a welcome drink to start things off.
Included Activities
- Hotel transfer on arrival
- Welcome drink with Tour Director and guests
- Day 2
Lisbon
This morning brings a guided tour through Lisbon's Belem district, where you'll see the Jeronimos Monastery and Belem Tower. You'll taste Pasteis de Nata and check out the Padrao dos Descobrimentos monument, then walk through Rossio square. The afternoon is yours to explore or hop on the famous Tram 28 if you like.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided exploration of Lisbon
- Visit to Belem district
- Visit to Jeronimos Monastery
- Taste Pasteis de Nata
- Visit to Belem Tower
- Visit to Padrao dos Descobrimentos
- Walk through Rossio square
Optional Activities
- Browse elegant shops
- Tram 28 ride to discover more of the city
Landmarks/POIs Jeronimos Monastery Belem Tower Padrao dos Descobrimentos Rossio Square - Day 3
Lisbon
Pick between two options for the day: head to the hilltop town of Sintra to see Palacio Nacional with its mix of Moorish and Portuguese Gothic design, or take a hands-on traditional Portuguese cooking class. That evening, dinner happens with fellow guests at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Delicious dinner in a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Dinner in a local restaurant
Optional Activities
- Visit Sintra & Palacio Nacional - Coach to Sintra (approximately 45 minutes from Lisbon), orientation tour of Sintra, visit to Palacio Nacional
- Traditional Portuguese Cooking Class - Learn about Portuguese cuisine history and ingredients, prepare a traditional dish
Landmarks/POIs Palacio Nacional Sintra - Day 4
Lisbon to Porto
After breakfast, you'll transfer from Lisbon to Porto and board your 5-star river cruise ship. From there, your Douro River cruise begins along one of Portugal's most scenic waterways.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Transfer to Porto
- Boarding 5-star Scenic Space-Ship
- Day 5
Porto
Wake in Porto, a 2,000-year-old city with lots of contemporary energy. You can choose a guided tour including Palacio da Bolsa, or go for an active option with a cable car ride to the Dom Luis bridge and visits to Porto Cathedral and Sao Bento railway station. This afternoon, you'll learn about Portugal's blue tiles and create your own during a tile painting workshop.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Tile painting workshop
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Porto - Discover Porto's culture and history, visit Palacio da Bolsa
- Active tour of Porto including cable car - Travel from Porto to Vila Nova de Gaia, cable car ride to Dom Luis bridge, walk across bridge towards Porto Cathedral, Sao Bento railway station, and Rua das Flores
Landmarks/POIs Palacio da Bolsa Dom Luis Bridge Porto Cathedral Sao Bento Railway Station - Day 6
Entre-os-Rios to Regua
You'll arrive at Entre-os-Rios and pick your adventure: hike along the Paiva River, explore Quinta da Aveleda wine estate, or visit Guimaraes with its 15th-century palace. Later, cruise to Regua and visit the Douro Museum. This region is known for Port wine production, with terraced vineyards and 18th-century wineries.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Douro Museum in Regua
Optional Activities
- Paiva Walkways - Active hike along the Paiva River
- Quinta da Aveleda - Explore sparkling wine producer property on impressive estate
- Excursion to Guimaraes - Visit World Heritage-listed city, explore 15th-century palace with historic collection of tapestries, furniture, weapons and more
Landmarks/POIs Entre-os-Rios Douro Valley Paiva River Quinta da Aveleda Guimaraes Douro Museum - Day 7
Regua
The morning starts with your choice of activities: explore Varosa Valley and the village of Tarouca with its monastery, visit a family-run quinta for olive oil tasting, or hike through vineyards. After lunch on the ship, the afternoon offers more options: a coach tour to Lamego with its cathedral, Mateus Palace with its Baroque architecture, or a Port wine blending class at Quinta de Pacheca.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Lunch on board
Optional Activities
- Visit Varosa Valley, Tarouca & Ucanha - Explore Varosa Valley, visit Tarouca village, explore restored Monastery of Saint John of Tarouca, walk fortified bridge of Ucanha (Portugal's first toll bridge)
- Quinta visit with olive tasting - Learn about olive oil production at family-run Quinta handed down for 11 generations
- Excursion to Lamego - Coach to Lamego nestled among terraced vineyards, tour culminating at Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption
- Mateus Palace - Coach transfer to Mateus Palace, considered one of the best examples of Baroque civil architecture in Portugal
- Port Wine Blending Class - Visit Quinta de Pacheca, hands-on workshop on the Port blending process
Landmarks/POIs Varosa Valley Tarouca Monastery of Saint John of Tarouca Ucanha Lamego Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption Mateus Palace Quinta de Pacheca - Day 8
Vinhateiro Wine Region
Today you'll spend time cruising through the Vinhateiro wine region. Watch terraced vineyards line the landscape along the Douro, dotted with traditional red-roofed farmhouses and small villages. This area was the world's first demarcated wine region in 1756 and holds World Heritage status. You'll arrive in Vega de Terron this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruise through Vinhateiro wine region
Landmarks/POIs Vinhateiro Wine Region - Day 9
Vega de Terron to Salamanca
Wake in Vega de Terron at the Portugal-Spain border where the Douro and Agueda rivers meet. This quiet town has peaceful streets and welcoming residents. Choose between a full-day guided tour of Salamanca visiting two cathedrals (12th and 16th centuries), a market for local delicacies, and free lunch time, or visit Freixo de Espada a Cinta to see the silk museum and watch handcrafted silk processing.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Salamanca Full Day Excursion - Guided tour of Salamanca including two cathedrals (one from 12th century, one from 16th century), visit to market for local delicacies, free time to explore and enjoy lunch at leisure
- Freixo de Espada a Cinta with silk museum - Visit village of Freixo de Espada a Cinta, guided tour of silk museum, return to ship for lunch
Landmarks/POIs Vega de Terron Salamanca Freixo de Espada a Cinta - Day 10
Pocinho
You're in Pocinho, a village that became the Douro Railway terminus in 1887. Pick your morning activity: visit the Coa Valley Museum with paleolithic rock art and a pre-historic workshop, or experience village life at Casa Painova estate with demonstrations of sweet almond production and tastings. This afternoon, relax as you cruise toward Pinhao.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruise towards Pinhao
Optional Activities
- Coa Valley Museum - Coach transfer to Coa Valley Museum, contemporary building designed to blend into landscape, paleolithic rock art sites through original artefacts and digital technology, pre-historic workshop
- Village life in the Coa Valley - Visit Casa Painova estate, demonstration on sweet almond production, learn harvesting and uses in desserts and pastries, tasting of almonds, olives and fruit products
Landmarks/POIs Pocinho Coa Valley Museum Casa Painova - Day 11
Pinhao
Wake in Pinhao on one of the Douro River's prettiest stretches, surrounded by terraced vineyards producing exceptional Port wine. You'll transfer to the charming village of Provesende on a plateau with great views. Wander through the village, visit the church, and taste bola at the historic Morgadio da Calcada manor house. Later, choose between kayaking on the Pinhao River, hiking through vineyard terraces, or a vineyard tasting with a guided walk.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Transfer to Provesende
- Wander through Provesende village
- Visit church
- Discover old bakery
- Witness traditional handicraft
- Tasting of bola at Morgadio da Calcada
Optional Activities
- Kayaking along the Pinhao River - Glide past impressive landscapes via kayak on the Pinhao River (tributary of Douro)
- Quinta vineyard hike - Guided hike through breathtaking vineyards of Quinta da Roada in Douro Valley
- Quinta tasting - Visit Quinta da Roada estate for tasting of region's famous export, guided walking tour to learn vineyard secrets
Landmarks/POIs Pinhao Provesende Morgadio da Calcada Pinhao River Quinta da Roada - Day 12
Pinhao to Porto
Spend the day at leisure while sailing along the spectacular Douro River. Your ship returns to Porto this afternoon. Tonight, attend an exclusive classical concert at Sao Francisco Church, a 13th-century Gothic site featuring an altar with intricate carved wood covered in gold.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Sailing along Douro River
- Classical concert in Sao Francisco Church
Landmarks/POIs Sao Francisco Church - Day 13
Porto
Wake ready to explore. Choose a guided walking tour of Aveiro with a cruise on a brightly colored flat-bottomed boat, play 6 holes at Quinta do Fojo Golf Club, or visit Cockburn's Port cellar for a guided tour and tasting. Spend the afternoon exploring Porto at leisure. Evening brings a farewell dinner on the ship, before an illumination cruise past six bridges spanning the Douro.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Farewell dinner)
Included Activities
- Farewell dinner on board
- Illumination cruise through Porto
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Aveiro with cruise - Guided walking tour of Aveiro (city famed for canals), cruise waterways in brightly colored moliceiros flat-bottomed boat unique to city
- Round of golf - Play 6 holes at Quinta do Fojo Golf club, one of Porto's most popular courses
- Wine tasting in Vila Nova de Gaia - Travel to Vila Nova de Gaia, visit Cockburn's Port (one of Porto's most famous cellars), guided visit and tasting
Landmarks/POIs Aveiro Quinta do Fojo Golf Club Cockburn's Port Vila Nova de Gaia - Day 14
Porto to Madrid
You'll board your included flight from Porto to Madrid and transfer to your hotel for three nights.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Flight from Porto to Madrid
- Hotel transfer on arrival
- Day 15
Madrid
Explore Madrid with a local guide this morning. Tour the 17th-century Austrian Quarter, Sabatini Gardens, and the Cibeles and Neptuno Fountains. You'll see a traditional bullfighting ring, get panoramic views of the Royal Palace, and visit Templo de Debod, an Egyptian temple from the second century BC. Dinner with fellow guests happens at a local restaurant this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Delicious dinner in a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Madrid
- Visit to Austrian Quarter
- Visit to Sabatini Gardens
- Visit to Cibeles and Neptuno Fountains
- Visit to traditional bullfighting ring
- Panorama of Royal Palace
- Visit to Templo de Debod
- Dinner in a local restaurant
Landmarks/POIs Sabatini Gardens Cibeles Fountain Neptuno Fountain Royal Palace of Madrid Templo de Debod - Day 16
Madrid
Pick your adventure: a guided tour through the Prado Museum exploring collections from the 12th to 20th century, or join a walking food tour tasting local cuisine like jamón iberico and croquetas at Mercado de San Miguel. The afternoon is yours to shop in fashionable boutiques, relax in Madrid's gardens, or explore the area however you like.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Afternoon at leisure
Optional Activities
- Prado Museum visit - Guided tour of Prado Museum, escort through collections dating from 12th to 20th century, museum opened in 1819
- Tastes of Madrid walking tour - Local guide introduction to flavors of Madrid, walking tour through streets tasting local cuisine, stop at Mercado de San Miguel for gourmet tapas, cheeses, sweets, taste jamón iberico (cured Iberian ham) and croquetas (crispy creamy croquettes), learn history and significance in Spanish cuisine
Landmarks/POIs Prado Museum Mercado de San Miguel - Day 17
Madrid
After breakfast, transfer to Madrid airport with memories from an unforgettable journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Hotel transfer to Madrid airport
