Portugal's Atlantic setting has shaped its history, cities, food, and traditions. In Lisbon, walk Alfama's tiled streets, visit Belém, the riverfront district associated with Portugal's maritime voyages, and taste a warm pastel de nata, the country's famous custard tart. Continue to Pena Palace, Sintra's colorful 19th-century royal retreat, and the Algarve's golden cliffs and sea caves. Visit Coimbra's historic university before traveling to Porto for its riverfront neighborhoods and port-wine cellars. A full day among the terraced vineyards of the Douro Valley and an included farewell dinner with live fado, Portugal's traditional song, complete the journey.
Begin in Alfama, Lisbon's oldest neighborhood, where narrow lanes climb toward viewpoints over red-tiled rooftops and the Tagus River. Our Storyteller Guides introduce the city through its streets, public squares, and riverfront before the group gathers for dinner.
Ride one of Lisbon's historic trams through the old quarters, then visit Belém, the riverfront district closely tied to Portugal's maritime voyages. Tour Jerónimos Monastery, see Belém Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries, and taste a warm pastel de nata, Portugal's famous custard tart.
Explore Chiado, Lisbon's historic literary and shopping district, and continue into the hillside streets of Bairro Alto. Our Storyteller Guides use the markets, tiled buildings, viewpoints, and public squares to share how the city's neighborhoods developed, with time to stop for coffee and watch daily life unfold.
Head into the wooded hills of Sintra to tour Pena Palace, the vividly colored hilltop palace of King Ferdinand II and Portuguese Romanticism. After time in Sintra's historic center, continue to Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of continental Europe, where the cliffs fall straight to the Atlantic.
Travel south across the Alentejo, a region of open plains, cork oaks, olive trees, and farming towns. By afternoon, reach the Algarve, Portugal's southern coast of golden cliffs, sea caves, and sheltered coves, with time to walk beside the water and enjoy the region's seafood.
Board a boat near Carvoeiro to see the Algarve's sea caves, where the Atlantic has carved golden limestone cliffs into arches, caverns, and sheltered coves. Back on land, follow a clifftop path for a wider view of the coastline and spend the evening near the water.
Head north with a stop in Coimbra, home to one of Europe's oldest universities. Tour the hilltop campus and step into the Joanina Library, a gilded Baroque hall of books that has served scholars since the eighteenth century, before continuing to Porto for the night.
Explore Porto from the blue-and-white azulejo panels inside São Bento Station to the Ribeira, the historic riverfront district beside the Douro. Cross the Dom Luís I Bridge to Vila Nova de Gaia, where a guided cellar visit shows how port wine is made and aged before the group samples it.
Spend a full day in the Douro Valley, where generations of farming families shaped steep hillsides into terraced vineyards. Travel through the UNESCO-listed wine region and cruise a stretch of the Douro River before returning to Porto for the included farewell dinner with live fado, Portugal's traditional song.
After breakfast, transfer to Porto Airport for the group flight home.
Belém Tower: Diego Delso (CC BY-SA 3.0); Jerónimos Monastery: Diego Delso (CC BY-SA 4.0); Alfama & the Tagus: Dale Cruse (CC BY 4.0); Tram 28: Christine Zenino (CC BY 2.0); Pena Palace, Sintra: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas (CC BY-SA 3.0); Ribeira District, Porto: Diego Delso (CC BY-SA 3.0); Rabelo Boats & Dom Luís I Bridge: Diegoarielvega (CC BY-SA 4.0); Douro Valley Vineyards: Rosino (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Transportation options
Group airfare to and from Portugal can be included on request.
Add three nights in Funchal to experience Madeira’s subtropical gardens, dramatic sea cliffs, island food, and wine tradition. Explore Funchal’s Old Town and Mercado dos Lavradores, the city’s working farmers’ market, then ride the cable car to Monte Palace Tropical Garden. Visit the fishing village of Câmara de Lobos and the Cabo Girão skywalk, set high above the Atlantic. A guided levada walk follows one of Madeira’s historic irrigation channels, with the route selected according to the group, weather, current trail conditions, and required reservations. A Funchal wine-lodge visit and Madeira wine tasting can also be included.
Day 1
Fly from Porto to Madeira and begin in Funchal, the island’s capital, with time in the Old Town and along the waterfront.
Day 2
Visit Mercado dos Lavradores, ride the cable car to Monte Palace Tropical Garden, and include a Funchal wine-lodge visit and Madeira wine tasting.
Day 3
Visit the fishing village of Câmara de Lobos and the Cabo Girão skywalk, then follow a guided levada route selected for the group and current conditions.
Day 4
Transfer to the airport for the flight home.
Added to your custom proposal
The extension’s added flights, three hotel nights, all required ground transportation in Madeira, and selected touring are priced separately in the custom proposal.
Share who's traveling, your preferred dates, and the experiences that interest you.
We build the itinerary, accommodations, transportation, and dining around your group.
Adjust the days, stops, and pace together, then we plan and coordinate the details.
Tell us your group and your dates. We’ll take it from there.
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