Portrait of Portugal

Arrive in Lisbon, where you are met and transferred to your hotel. This evening, join your Resident Tour Director and fellow guests for drinks and a welcome dinner.

Enjoy a tour of Lisbon with an expert local guide. See the Belém Tower and visit the Jerónimos Monastery. Later, attend a hands-on workshop at the National Tile Museum, where you are introduced to this ancient Portuguese craft. This evening, experience a private dinner and performance of fado, the characteristic and emotional folk music of the nation.

This morning, travel just outside Lisbon to the village of Sintra. In this town of palaces, enjoy a guided tour of the Pena Palace, decorated with vivid colors and evocative stone carvings. Return to Lisbon, where the rest of the day is at leisure for you to explore.

Depart Lisbon for Alcobaça Monastery. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was founded by Portugal’s first king in 1153 and became one of the most important monasteries in the country. Continue to nearby Nazaré, a picturesque coastal village that is also home to some of the world’s largest surf. Savor a seafood lunch, then take a funicular to the old neighborhood of Sitio atop the cliffs. Later, arrive in Coimbra and check in to your hotel.

Join a local expert for a tour that introduces you to the University of Coimbra, the oldest in Portugal, and its Johannine Library. Built between 1717 and 1728, this library contains over 50,000 volumes and was constructed on the ruins of a medieval prison. Then, enjoy lunch at leisure and time to explore. Continue to your hotel in the Douro Valley.

Drive along the beautiful Douro Valley, a place of lush, rolling hills terraced by rows of grapevines. Then, take to the water as the locals have for centuries on a traditional rabelo boat. Embark on a scenic cruise down the Douro Valley, admiring its vineyards and whitewashed estates. Cap off your cruise with a winery visit, picnic lunch, tour and tasting. Then, return to the hotel for an evening at leisure.

Meet a local viscountess to learn about the history of her family and their estate. Enter the old kitchens, where you learn to cook using the original wood-burning stoves. Indulge in the hearty lunch that you helped prepare, and then journey to Porto, Portugal’s second-largest city, for time at leisure.

This morning, explore the Cais da Ribeira, the quayside of the fascinating Ribeira district. See some of the city’s most beautiful monuments, including the São Francisco Church, the Romanesque Cathedral and the opulent 19th-century Palácio da Bolsa, which once functioned as a major stock exchange. The afternoon is yours to further explore. Afterward, savor a farewell dinner at one of the city’s famous port lodges.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your departing flight.