THE SPLENDORS OF PORTUGAL

Upon arrival in Lisbon, proceed to baggage claim and after clearing customs you will be met by our tour director and transferred to the hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure to relax or explore the city on your own. Spread across picturesque hillsides that overlook the River Tejo, Lisbon offers a myriad of delights as Portugal’s star attraction, yet with a fraction of the fuss of other European capitals. Cathedrals, regal monasteries, and charming museums are all part of the colorful cityscape, but the real delights of discovery lie in its people, touring its sites, and Lisbon’s lovely and old-world backstreets. Your local tour director can answer your questions regarding the nearby attractions. Your welcome dinner is at a local restaurant tonight, offering you the opportunity to embrace the gastronomy of Portugal. (D)

After breakfast at your hotel, enjoy a guided tour of Lisbon, including the opportunity to explore the city center, the old quarter of Alfama, as well as the Belem quarter and its monuments including Jeronimos Monastery (church and cloisters), the Belem Tower (exterior), and the Monument to the Discoveries(exterior). This city, the capital of Portugal, is a legendary city with more than 20 centuries of history. Take the opportunity to grab lunch on your own. Voyages of discovery turned Lisbon into one of the world’s greatest ports and the base of an empire that stretched from Brazil in the West to India in the East. This monumental city features typical tile covered building facades and narrow winding streets. Tonight enjoy an unforgettable Fado show with dinner, as part of our Cultural Discovery Series. Meaning “destiny or “fate,” fado is the urban folk music of Portugal. It thrives today in the country’s bars, taverns, and fado houses for everyone to relish as a global melodic symbol of Portuguese culture and tradition. (B,D)

After breakfast, enjoy your day at leisure to explore the vibrant city of Lisbon or take an optional full day tour to Sintra. Our first stop is Sintra, the UNESCO world heritage site, and visit the charming Royal Palace. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before heading to Cabo Da Roca cliff, the most westerly point of continental Europe. Then visit the beautiful beaches of Estoril and Cascais on the Portuguese Riviera. (B)

After breakfast and hotel check-out this morning we depart to Porto! Today our first stop will be Fátima, the religious center of Portugal. Time to visit the Shrine of our Lady and Chapel of the Shepards. In the afternoon you continue to the university town of Coimbra and its outstanding library. The city is a colorful mix of medieval architecture, bell towers, extravagant baroque churches, and stately buildings. Enjoy lunch on your own before continuing on to Porto. In the late afternoon we arrive in Porto, the world’s port wine capital beckons with her winding streets, old town, and is the country’s second- largest city. Porto’s old town is the Ribeira district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where locals mingle on the River Douro village-style plazas and in the old houses of commerce where Roman ruins lurk beneath the foundations. In the late afternoon, check-in to the hotel and prepare for dinner this evening which will be served at a local restaurant! (B,D)

This morning start your day with breakfast at your hotel. Next, your day’s activities include a full day tour of Porto and the Minho Province. In Porto, visit of the Stock Exchange, see the exterior of St. Francis Church, and Port Wine Cellars with the delicious opportunity to sample port during a wine tasting experience. This afternoon enjoy some free time in Porto or you may be interested in an optional tour to Guimarães, the first capital of Portugal. Return to Porto where you will have an evening on your own to delve into the magic of Portugal’s Porto. Consider a night out in the medieval quarter facing the river that boasts the city’s liveliest restaurants and bars. Dinner on your own this evening. (B)

After a breakfast this morning, we travel to the Douro Valley, for a full day of sightseeing including spectacular viewing points, wine estates and home to the vineyards where Port Wine and Portugal’s most outstanding red table wines are produced. Enjoy a local wine tasting session while taking in the spectacular scenery where verdant terraced hills and colorful fields dotted by almond trees meet the vast Douro River. You will be given time to grab some lunch before returning to Porto. After returning to Porto take time to pack, reflect and prepare for a sumptuous farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)

This morning transfer to the airport for your return flight home. (B)