Sunny Portugal featuring Porto
Details
Tom’s Travel returns to Portugal for 16 days, taking in the whole country. Highlights include Porto, Aviero, Lisbon, the Algarve, Obidos and Madiera Island. This is a marvelous opportunity to enjoy all the fine wines of Portugal.
Highlights:
Porto, Lisbon, Choice on Tour: “Calcadas” Walking Tour or “The Way of the Cod” Tour, Belem, Cork Factory, Evora, Winery Visit, Alentejo, Lagos, Algarve, Silves, Setúbal, Portuguese Riviera, Obidos, Sintra, Choice on Tour: National Palace of Sintra or Free Time, UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Price:
Starts at $6,148.00 per person and Includes Round Trip Air from Detroit Metro Airport, Inter-flights from Lisbon, Air Taxes and Fees/Surcharges, Hotel Transfers.
For more information on this tour visit https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1209904
Itinerary
Day 1
Apr 10, 2025: Overnight Flight
Ancient castles and Roman ruins, groves of orange and almond trees, quiet whitewashed villages, and welcoming locals – Portugal is waiting for you.
Day 2
Apr 11, 2025: Porto, Portugal – Tour Begins
Arrive in Porto, a former industrial city steeped in history. Porto’s Baroque and modernist architecture blend to create an artistic heritage that has earned UNESCO distinction. Here, you’ll find quiet cafes perfect for sipping a glass of Port wine and watching the world go by. You may choose to venture out and head toward the Douro River where so much of the history of this city started.
Day 3
Apr 12, 2025: Porto
Get to know this captivating city with a walking tour led by a local expert. Take in the grandeur of Praça da Liberdade Square, Sao Bento Train Station and its iconic azulejo tiles. End your walking tour with a visit to the Palacio da Bolsa, the Stock Exchange Palace, to see the legendary “Arab Room.” The afternoon is yours. Tonight, join your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner.
(B, D)
Day 4
Apr 13, 2025: Porto – Vila Nova de Gaia – Porto
Today, you’ll cross the bridge into the neighboring city of Vila Nova de Gaia and follow in the footsteps of Portugal’s wine merchants. Embark on a brief cruise along the Bridges of Porto. Later, tour a local wine cellar and savor the taste of the vintage in this world-renowned wine city. After, the afternoon is yours to explore Porto. Maybe visit the Livraria Lello, considered to be one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world or stop by a local restaurant to try the famous local delicacy, the francesinha: a multi-tiered sandwich topped with savory sauce and a fried egg.
(B)
Day 5
Apr 14, 2025: Porto – Aveiro – Lisbon
This morning, say goodbye to Porto. En route to the capital, enjoy some free time to experience the city of Aveiro. This enchanting city is known for its canals and its egg yolk desserts, loved by the Portuguese, and has a rich history and heritage fueled by its canals and Atlantic Ocean. Take some time to enjoy lunch on your own before leaving for Lisbon. Settle into your hotel before joining your fellow travelers for dinner at a local restaurant.
(B, D)
Day 6
Apr 15, 2025: Lisbon
Choose how you want to explore Lisbon today, because it’s your choice! Discover the art and tradition of the Portuguese sidewalks during a locally led walking tour -OR- venture with your Tour Manager on foot and discover the city through the lens of the country’s most loved fish, bacalhau (salted codfish). After, travel to Belem where you’ll see the iconic Belem Tower (UNESCO) and the Monument to the Discoveries. Witness the façade of the 16th-century Jeronimos Monastery* (UNESCO) and learn about the importance of this iconic monastery. Tonight, you may choose to join an optional tour to listen to local artists perform traditional Fado music, a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage highlight.
(B)
Day 7
Apr 16, 2025: Lisbon – Evora
Today, you’ll make your way through Portugal’s charming countryside. Visit a family-owned cork factory, where you’ll learn about the product’s importance to the local economy and why Portugal is the world’s top cork producer. Your journey then takes you to Evora (UNESCO) – the “Museum City of Portugal.” A traditional Alentejo lunch will be waiting for you, accompanied by Cante Alentejano music (UNESCO). In the afternoon, take time to explore this medieval walled city and see its well-preserved Roman temple up close.
(B, L)
Day 8
Apr 17, 2025: Evora – Lagos
Journey to the stunning coasts of the Algarve – the southernmost region of Portugal. On the way, indulge in full-bodied wines from the Alentejo region during a winery tour, tasting, and light lunch. Then, explore the historic resort town of Lagos, where Moorish and Renaissance influences meet towering seaside cliffs. Many celebrated voyagers began their explorations from this bustling port city.
(B, L)
Day 9
Apr 18, 2025: Lagos
It is your day to experience the Algarve on your own. Geraniums, camellias, and oleanders grow alongside fig, orange, and almond trees, while brightly colored fishing boats bob in the sea. Protected by hills to the north and warmed by the sea, the Algarve’s mild climate and beautiful beaches attract visitors from all over the world. You may choose to join an optional boat tour** today that will get you closer to some of the most famous coastal scenery in Portugal.
(B, D)
Day 10
Apr 19, 2025: Lagos – Silves – Lagos
This morning, venture to Silves. Allow your senses to take over when you see the contrast of dark red castle walls with the whitewashed buildings as you climb the hills of this sleepy town, once the capital of Moorish Portugal. During your stop, explore the town at your own pace or choose to climb up to the castle and see for yourself one of the best-preserved examples of Moorish defensive architecture in Portugal. Venture into a local farm nestled among rich landscapes, to learn secrets of regional bread and fruits and sample the results with a savory lunch featuring freshly prepared Algarve seasonal and local specialties. Continue down the coast to discover the importance the canning industry held in the Algarve. After, return to Lagos for an evening at leisure.
(B, L)
Day 11
Apr 20, 2025: Lagos – Setúbal – Cascais
En route to the Portuguese Riviera, make a stop in Setúbal a colorful industrial city and one of southern Europe’s best kept secrets. See the Mercado (Farmers Market) do Livramento up close. It is considered one of the best fish markets in the world, but it’s also rich with displays of fresh fruits and vegetables. After, head to the Portuguese Riviera. Mansions scattered throughout Cascais and Monte Estoril all hint at this area’s history as a haven for exiled European royals and nobility.
(B)
Day 12
Apr 21, 2025: Cascais – Obidos – Sintra – Cascais
Explore the picture-perfect city of Obidos, where white-washed houses sit snug within medieval city walls. Continue on to Sintra (UNESCO), a breathtaking hub that served as the summer residence of Portuguese kings for six centuries. Then, it’s your choice! Explore this quaint hilltop village and wander through the winding streets lined with cork products and pastries -OR- venture into the National Palace of Sintra and learn about its 1000-year old history. On your return to Lisbon, stop to admire the stunning Cabo da Roca, the western most point of continental Europe. Bid Portugal goodbye during dinner in Lisbon and celebrate the end of your unforgettable journey.
(B, D)
Day 13
Apr 22, 2025: Cascais – Lisbon – Funchal, Madeira
Your time on tour comes to a close today, but there’s more of the world to see. Now it’s off to make new memories. Fly to Madeira Island, the “pearl of the Atlantic” where you will arrive in the early afternoon. Madeira boasts a subtropical climate, majestic mountain ranges and volcanic caves. After some free time for lunch on your own in the colorful Santa Maria district, be led on a walking tour of Funchal’s old downtown with its quaint narrow streets and historical sites, such as the 15th-century cathedral. Visit the Botanical Garden of Madeira with its collection of more than 2,500 plants from all continents.
(B)
Day 14
Apr 23, 2025: Funchal
The day is yours. During your free time, you may choose to visit the Sacred Art Museum and learn about how the sugar cane trade allowed for the purchase of Flemish art dating back to the 15th century. Or simply relax and enjoy the amenities that your hotel has to offer. No matter how you spend the day, gather in the evening for a traditional dinner known as an espetada. Folk dancers and lively music entertain you as you feast on a favorite local dish cooked over an open fire.
(B, D)
Day 15
Apr 24, 2025: Funchal – Câmara de Lobos – Porto Moniz – Funchal
Begin your day with a tour that will take you to Câmara de Lobos, a traditional village on a picture-perfect bay that served as a special retreat for Sir Winston Churchill. It was here that Madeira’s natural beauty captivated him and inspired many of his paintings of the Island. Drive along mountain roads, passing banana plantations and vineyards while en route to the world’s second-highest cliff, Cabo Girão. After, visit an immersive and artistic themed center focused entirely on the banana, before leaving for the fishing village of Porto Moniz. Here, enjoy free time for a swim* (weather permitting) in the natural volcanic rock pools before returning to Funchal.
(B)
Day 16
Apr 25, 2025: Funchal – Lisbon
Board your flight and return to the metropolitan energy of Lisbon. Enjoy your afternoon as you please.
(B)
Day 17
Apr 26, 2025: Lisbon – Extension Ends
Depart for home with Portugal in your heart as your tour ends today.
(B)
B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner
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