Upon our arrival in Lisbon, we will be met by our guide and embark on a panoramic tour of this stunning capital city that perfectly reflects the culture, heritage, and traditions of Portugal, while at the same time, embraces a modern world. Lisbon is often called the “city of discoveries,” known for explorers such as Henry the Navigator and Vasco da Gama who led amazing expeditions into the New World in the name of Portugal. Our touring will come to an end at the Hotel My Story Figueira Lisbon (or similar) to settle in for the next two nights. Time will be available to relax and freshen up before a wonderful welcome dinner as a group. 

(Dinner included)

Enjoy breakfast this morning before we take a closer look at Lisbon on a city tour beginning with a visit to the Castle of São Jorge. The castle offers beautiful views over the city! From the castle we will walk downhill through the maze of alleyways in the Alfama, Lisbon’s oldest quarter, to the Praca do Comercio on the banks of the Tagus. Then we’ll head by bus to the Belém district to admire the Jerome Monastery, Belém Tower, and the Monument to the Discoveries. The monastery is Lisbon’s showpiece of Manueline architecture, which originated during the Age of Discovery, while the monument commemorates this important period of exploration. It was inaugurated on the 500th anniversary of the death of Prince Henry the Navigator who discovered the Azores, Madeira, and Cape Verde. Up next is Rossio Square, the heart of urban life in Lisbon. The remainder of the afternoon is yours to explore Lisbon before we gather for dinner together this evening.

(Breakfast and dinner included)

We will say goodbye to Lisbon after breakfast today and venture to the picturesque Portuguese town of Sintra, set amidst pine-covered hills and known as the summer residence of former kings. The village is steeped in history and charm that has enticed the nobility and elite of Portugal for centuries, and it boasts exquisite palaces, lovely mansions, and decorative gardens. We’ll walk through the Gothic-Renaissance Palacio Nacional located in the heart of the town with its two huge, coned chimneys. This palace was a favorite of the nobility and was in continuous use from the fifteenth to the nineteenth century, making it the most used royal residence of Portugal. Then we are off to Fatima for a tour of the city. In 1917, the Virgin Mary appeared to three shepherd children in Fatima, and it has since become the most important pilgrimage site in Portugal and one of the most important in the Roman Catholic Church. We’ll check in to the Hotel Dom Goncalo Spa (or similar) and enjoy dinner as a group.

(Breakfast and dinner included)

After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll depart for Batalha to visit the Batalha Monastery, a Gothic-style monastery complex dating back to 1386 that became an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. The monastery was built to thank the Virgin Mary for the Portuguese victory over the Castilians in the battle of Aljubarrota in 1385, fulfilling a promise of King John I of Portugal. It took more than a century to build with the contributions of numerous architects over the course of the reigns of seven kings. It is now one of the best and original examples of Late Flamboyant Gothic architecture in Portugal, intermingled with the Manueline style. We will then continue on to Coimbra, the former capital of Portugal and important for its location between Lisbon and Braga. The Romans built an ancient city here named Aeminium, and many of the ancient archaeological structures are well preserved such as the aqueduct and cryptoporticus. Coimbra is home to the oldest university in Portugal and one of the oldest in Europe. The University of Coimbra was founded in 1290 and has played an influential role in the development of higher education in the Portuguese-speaking world. Here we will visit the Biblioteca Joanina with its collection of 300,000 precious books and the beautiful São Miguel Chapel. Our day will come to an end in Porto with dinner and the first of a three-night stay at Hotel Catalonia Porto (or similar).

(Breakfast and dinner included)

Our day will begin with breakfast before we set out on a full day of sightseeing in Porto. Located on the Douro River, it is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the oldest cities in Europe. We’ll board a boat for a cruise through the city to admire the Porto skyline from a unique perspective. Porto is a market town, with narrow streets that are lined with tightly packed buildings and wind their way up the terraced hillside from the banks of the Douro. Our tour will then take us to Ribeira, a lively and picturesque district in Porto’s historical downtown. Other highlights include a glimpse of the Church of São Francisco, one of the city’s most prominent Gothic monuments; Liberty Square linking the old town with the new; and the Stock Exchange Palace. This nineteenth-century building used to be the economic and commercial heart of Porto and boasts intricately painted ceilings, detailed sculptures, and other artistic decor. We’ll then cross the bridge to Vila Nova de Gaia where the famous wineries known for port wine can be found. A little port wine sampling will round out the day’s touring. Dinner as a group awaits us after some time to freshen up.

(Breakfast and dinner included)

Today’s adventure will take us into the Douro Valley to the small city of Lamego. The city really stands out as a culturally-rich area in Portugal, serving as a center of art, architecture, and history. Keep your eyes peeled for the Nossa Senhora dos Remédios Sanctuary with its twin-towers, nine flights of stairs, 686 steps, and terraces adorned with chapels, statues, fountains, and obelisks. Lamego is also widely known for its port wine, so we’ll visit a winery to do some sampling and then head to Regua for a scenic boat ride along the Douro. Upon our return to Porto, we will celebrate our journey through Portugal with a fantastic dinner together! 

(Breakfast and dinner included)

MAIN TOUR:

Following breakfast we will transfer to the airport for our flight home.

(Breakfast included)

POST TOUR:

After breakfast we’ll transfer to the airport for our flight to Ponta Delgada in Portugal’s Azores. This archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean is made of nine volcanic islands known for their dramatic landscapes, fishing villages, green pastures, and blue hydrangeas. Our guide will meet us at the airport and introduce us to Ponta Delgada on a city tour. Located on São Miguel Island, Ponta Delgada is the economic capital of the Azores and the gateway to the  islands’ stunning vistas, crater lakes, and volcanoes. Our tour will end at the Hotel Marina Atlantico (or similar) and freshen up for dinner as a group.

(Breakfast and dinner included)

Today’s adventure will take us through green meadows toward Sete Cidades for impressive views of the islands’ most famous and largest crater lakes. From the Vista do Rei viewpoint, the stunning Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Verde are a sight to behold! Though they are only separated by a narrow strait, each reflects the sunlight differently, making one lake blue and the other green. We’ll then continue along the island’s northern coast to Ribeira Grande and marvel at the seventeenth- and eighteenth-century-style homes dotting the coastline. Farther inland is the isolated Lagoa do Fogo, or Lake of Fire, where we can revel in the peace offered by one of the most beautiful crater lakes in the Azores. Once back in Ponta Delgada, the afternoon is yours to explore before we gather for a delicious dinner.

(Breakfast and dinner included)

Following breakfast we will venture east to Vila Franca to experience São Miguel’s former capital that was once destroyed by an earthquake and has since been restored to its former glory. We’ll then step into paradise in Furnas Valley situated in a giant volcanic crater. The flora and fauna here are quite unique, and the hot springs, geysers, and mud pools hint at the area’s volcanic past. The locals even use the geothermal heat from the banks of Lagoa das Furnas to cook a local specialty, Cozido das Furnas, in pots sunk into the earth! The chance to try this delicious stew awaits us before we head up to the Pico do Ferro viewpoint for a wonderful view of the lake and valley. On our way back to Ponta Delgada, we’ll visit a family-owned tea plantation to learn about tea production in the Azores and enjoy a tasting. Dinner awaits us back in Ponta Delgada. 

(Breakfast and dinner included)

We will say goodbye to the Azores today as we board our flight back to Lisbon. We’ll settle into the VIP Executive Entrecampos Hotel (or similar) and freshen up for a wonderful farewell dinner.

(Breakfast and dinner included)

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel this morning before we transfer to the airport for our flight home.

(Breakfast included)