-Day 1 Overnight Flight to Portugal (Lisbon)
Day 2 Olá Lisbon
Meet your tour director and check into hotel
Details: Lisbon city walk
This port city was once the entrance point for exotic wares from the far-flung corners of Asia, Africa and the Americas. Get lost in the Alfama, a maze of streets where houses are so close together, you can spread your arms and touch the buildings on both sides of the street! Stroll along the cobblestone pedestrian malls and Lisbon's main street, the Avenida da Liberdade.
Day 3 Lisbon--Porto
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima visit
Details: Travel to Porto via Coimbra & Fátima
Portugal's biggest university town, Coimbra has been a center of learning since 1290, when the country's first college was founded here. Fátima draws pilgrims rather than students. In 1917, three children saw several apparitions of the Virgin Mary in a field here, and the enormous basilica that was built in her honor attests to the continuing flood of pilgrims who visit the city each year.
Details: Coimbra University guided visit
History, tradition and charm. The University of Coimbra is the oldest Portuguese university and for centuries was the only university in Portugal. In June 2013, UNESCO classified it as World Heritage Site and during your time on campus you’ll quickly understand why.
Details: University Library visit
Built between 1717 and 1728, the University Library is also known as the Baroque Library in honor of King John V (1707-1750), who sponsored its construction and whose portrait, made by Domenico Duprà (1725), dominates the ornate space.
Details: Royal Palace visit
The original chapel dates back presumably to the 11th century, built right after the conquest of the city from the Moors in 1064, just before the foundation of Portugal. It is dedicated to St. Michael, like all Portuguese Royal Chapels, because of his role in defeating the forces of evil.
The Royal Palace. Purchased by the University from the Royal Family in 1597, the Royal Palace is where the most iconic rooms of the University are located, and where the most important traditional academic ceremonies take place.
Day 4 Porto
Details: Porto guided sightseeing tour
Portugal's second largest city bustles with commerce, but its spectacular bridges (one designed by a disciple of Gustave Eiffel) and picturesque Ribeira district continue to draw visitors from around the world. Start your tour along the riverfront, where bright houses and intricate balconies rise haphazardly over narrow cobblestone streets. Continue on to the Church of São Francisco, whose plain exterior belies the dripping-with-gold Baroque magnificence of the interior. The Sé (cathedral) is only slightly less elaborate, with marble and stone substituting for gold leaf. The silver altarpiece in the Chapel of the Holy Sacrament and the typically Portuguese azulejos (tiles) add to the beauty.
Day 6 Porto--Lisbon
Travel to Lisbon
Details: Scenic drive through the Douro Valley
Admire the world's most beautiful wine region as you make your way from Porto to Peso da Régua, through the terraced hillsides at the heart of the Douro Valley.
Day 7 Lisbon
Details: Lisbon guided sightseeing tour
See the Castelo de São Jorge, a castle dating back to the Middle Ages, which sits formidably overlooking the city and its port. The Monument to the Navigators, dedicated to various important figures in Portugal’s history, depicts Henry the Navigator, and other explorers on top of a caravel, the standard Portuguese ship used for sailing expeditions. Take an elevator to the top of the monument for an impressive view of the city. Finally, travel to the vast Jerónimos Monastery, an awe-inspiring structure that is considered to be one of the most prominent monuments in Lisbon.
Details: Mosteiro dos Jerónimos visit
Tour the Jerónimos Monastery, a monastery ordered by Manuel the Fortunate to commemorate Vasco da Gama's voyage to India. The monastery is one of Portugal’s finest examples of Manueline architecture that combines flamboyant Gothic and Moorish influences with elements of the nascent Renaissance. The church features tombs of many of the great figures in Portuguese history, including Vasco da Gama.
Day 8 Lisbon
Details: Sintra, Cape Roca & Cascais guided excursion
Enjoy a full day excursion outside of Lisbon to explore the natural beauty and royal buildings of Sintra, the westernmost point of continental Europe at Cabo da Roca and the picturesque seaside town of Cascais.
Details: National Palace visit
The National Palace of Sintra, often referred to as the Town Palace (Palácio da Vila), is a historic royal residence situated in Sintra, Portugal. It stands out as the most well-preserved medieval royal palace in the country, having been continuously occupied from the early 1400s until the late 1800s.
Details: Cape Roca (Europe’s most westerly point)
Enjoy the stunning views and capture the moment with a photo at Cape Roca, Europe’s most westerly point.
Details: beaches of Cascais & Estoril
Take some time to relax and enjoy two of Portugal's most beautiful beaches. Visit Cascais and Estoril to take in some rays and meet the locals.
Details: Citadel of Cascais
Visit the luxury resort town of Cascais and see the citadel that once served as a summer home for the King of Spain in the 16th century.
Details: Fado evening
Portugal's version of the Blues, Fado means "fate" or "destiny," and its songs generally tell the tale of lost love or glory. Head to a Fado house in the Bairro Alto and see the singers swathed in black, accompanied by 12-stringed guitars, crooning their hearts out.
Day 9 Flight home from Lisbon
Day 9 Start Extension to Algarve
Travel to Algarve via Evora
Details: Evora City Walk
Hit the ruins. One of the grandest cities in Portugal, Évora shows off the country's best-preserved Roman temple as well as an imposing city filled with medieval churches, convents, and palaces.
Details: Roman Temple of Evora
The Roman Temple of Evora, often referred to as the Temple of Diana, is a remarkably preserved ancient Roman structure situated in the historic city of Évora, Portugal. Constructed in the 1st century CE, it was initially dedicated to Emperor Augustus. Although commonly linked to Diana, the goddess of hunting, this association is actually incorrect.
Details: Chapel of Bones visit
The Chapel of Bones in Évora, Portugal, is a distinctive and haunting chapel situated beside the Church of St. Francis. Built in the late 16th century by Franciscan monks, its walls are decorated with the bones and skulls of around 5,000 people. These remains were taken from local cemeteries to alleviate overcrowding and to serve as a reminder of the fleeting nature of human existence.
Day 10 Algarve--Lisbon
Travel to Lisbon
Details: Lagos excursion
Lagos is a picturesque town in the Algarve, renowned for its stunning cliffs and beautiful beaches like Praia do Camilo. The old town is rich in history, featuring landmarks such as the Lagos Fortress and the Church of St. Anthony, along with charming narrow streets and traditional Portuguese architecture.
Day 11 Flight home from Lisbon
Tour Includes:
- 7 overnight stays (9 with extension) in hotels with private bathrooms
- Full European breakfast daily
- Dinner daily
- Full-time services of a professional tour director
- Guided sightseeing tours & city walks as per itinerary
- Visits to select attractions as per itinerary
- Tour Diary™
- Local Guide and Local Bus Driver tips; see note regarding other important tips
- Note: On arrival day only dinner is provided; on departure day, only breakfast is provided
- Note: Tour cost does not include airline-imposed baggage fees, or fees for any required passport or visa. Optional excursions, optional pre-paid Tour Director and multi-day bus driver tipping, among other individual and group customizations will be listed as separate line items in the total trip cost, if included.
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