Enticing Douro

Arrive in Lisbon and proceed with check-in at your designated hotel.

Lisbon, one of Europe’s most scenic capitals, spans multiple hills along the Tagus River. During your guided tour, visit the limestone Belém Tower and the late Gothic Jerónimos Monastery, final resting place of several Portuguese kings and national heroes. Enjoy a sampling of the traditional Pastéis de Belém pastry before continuing to the Discoveries Monument, which commemorates Portugal’s most renowned maritime explorers.

Enjoy a morning excursion to Serra de Sintra, one of the loveliest mountain villages in Portugal and a favorite summer residence of the Portuguese royal family for more than 500 years. Long an inspiration for artists and poets, Lord Byron once called it “perhaps the most delightful village in Europe.” High up on a rocky peak, you can tour Pena Palace, a wonderful fairytale castle dating back to Portugal’s Romantic period.

Ride a motorcoach to Tomar and take in the Castle and Covent of the Order of Christ, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is a brilliant work of 12th- to 16th-century architecture. Continue on to Porto and board the ship for your Enticing Douro cruise. In the evening, enjoy the illuminated landscapes of Porto on a scenic cruise aboard your ship.

This tranquil village offers an authentic slice of Douro River life. Today, visit the Baroque-style Palacio de Mateus and its gardens. Inside the house, you can see interesting furnishings, paintings and a ceiling of intricately carved wood. The gardens here are considered some of the most beautiful in Portugal.

In the morning, spend time soaking up the beauty of this picturesque port before you visit Castelo Rodrigo, a small fortified village perched high on a hilltop with centuries-old walls, steep narrow streets and fantastic views. You can also opt to hike up to the village should you wish a more active exploration. 

Drive to Salamanca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built of golden sandstone, Salamanca is known as a “living museum,” and you can have an opportunity to step back in time to the Middle Ages during your escorted tour, which includes the city’s elegant university buildings, the New Cathedral, the intriguingly decorated House of Shells and Plaza Mayor.

Spend time soaking up the beauty of the Douro River as you cruise to Pinhão. Be treated to an exclusive lunch at Quinta da Avessada, where you can enjoy an authentic and traditional dining experience complete with entertainment. Quinta da Avessada is also a fascinating interactive museum commemorating the history and culture of wine in the Alto Douro region, so you can have fun discovering all the various stages of wine production as well as doing plenty of tasting. Savor the flavors of Portugal’s renowned fortified wine, vinho do porto, made exclusively in the Douro Valley. Head to a local quinta for your authentic Port-wine tasting experience and enjoy the sweet nectar of this fascinating region.

Travel to picturesque Lamego, home to one of the most important pilgrimage sites in all of Portugal, where you can go to the Nossa Senhora dos Remédios (Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies). The shrine features a staircase of nearly 700 steps, beautifully decorated with white and blue tiles, which the more active adventurer will want to climb on a guided hike. Concluding both tours, you can have the opportunity to sample local traditional specialties, such as bôlas de Lamego, bread filled with smoked ham; presunto, a type of dry-cured ham; and Espumante, a Portuguese sparkling wine. Afterwards, head to a local quinta for a delicious lunch. 

The colorful city of Porto blends the best of old and new, which you can discover on an escorted tour of the historic quarter, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, including the Cathedral, one of the city’s oldest monuments; and the São Bento Railway Station, known for its blue and white tile panels depicting scenes from Portuguese history. If you prefer to get more active, you can go on a guided hike. In the afternoon, you can also enjoy a tasting of Port, Portugal’s most renowned contribution to the world of wine. When the sun sets, enjoy the illuminated landscapes of Porto on a scenic cruise aboard your ship.

Disembark the ship and you prepare for your flight home.