Portugal

Upon arrival in Lisbon, settle into our historic hotel, located atop one of Lisbon’s seven hills, overlooking the Tejo River. The evening is free to relax and rest from your travels.

Drive along the stunning Arrábida coast to the fishing town of Setúbal. Stroll through Setúbal’s wonderful food market and its picturesque old town before continuing to the area of Azeitão to visit a traditional azulejo workshop, meet with the artisans, and make our own tiles. Return to Lisbon for lunch at a local restaurant, then tour the colorful Belém district, visiting the iconic Manueline-style Jerónimos Monastery and the National Coach Museum, home to one of the world’s finest collections of historic carriages. Gather for a welcome reception and dinner this evening.

Starting from our hotel’s Lapa neighborhood, take a private electric tram through the picturesque São Bento, Chiado, and Alfama districts. Disembark for a visit to the Museum of Decorative Arts and enjoy a private demonstration of antique furniture restoration by young apprentices who are learning age-old crafts that have been forgotten through much of Europe. Following a guided walk in the Alfama, travel by electric tuk tuk back to Chiado and savor a lunch featuring an assortment of petiscos that are a signature of Portuguese cuisine, similar to Spain’s tapas. Afterward, ride aboard one of the iconic elevadores that traverse Lisbon’s steep inclines, stopping to wander the artisan shops that line the streets. Enjoy a traditional fado show with dinner this evening.

Depart Lisbon this morning, driving through the Alentejo countryside to Évora. Along the way, stop at an agroecology farm for a cooking demonstration and lunch featuring the traditional Portuguese stew, cozido à Portuguesa. Then take a guided tour of the farm, learning how permaculture and the harmonious integration of landscape and people leads to sustainable harvests. Continue to Évora and check in to our hotel, a restored 15th-century convent.

Today we embark on an exploration of the Alentejo region, known for its cork oaks and olive groves. Visit an unconventional, award-winning winery and, following lunch there, continue to a historic cork oak estate. Learn about cork production during a guided tour of the estate, then return to Évora for dinner at our hotel.

Drive to Évora’s historic city center, stopping to see the Roman Temple of Évora. Take a walking tour, including visits to the Church of the Lóios, a century parish church originally built by a 15th-century count to house his family pantheon, and the Chapel of Bones, a fascinating religious structure decorated with the bones of approximately 5,000 human corpses. Continue to the village of Monsaraz and enjoy lunch at a restaurant located in a former olive oil mill and the opportunity to hear Cante Alentejano, a genre of polyphonic singing traditional to the Alentejo region that has been inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Return to Évora late this afternoon.

Depart for Porto this morning, stopping in the delightful riverfront city of Coimbra. After lunch at a local restaurant, visit the Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal’s oldest university and one of the oldest universities in continuous operation in the world. See the university’s ornate18th-century Biblioteca Joanina, considered one of the world’s most beautiful libraries. Continue to the city of Porto and check in to our hotel.

Embark on a walking tour through Porto’s picturesque old quarter. Visit the Mercado do Bolhão, Porto’s emblematic traditional food market, and tour the Palácio da Bolsa, the imposing 19th-century historic seat of the Portuguese stock exchange and a World Heritage Site. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and free time in the WOW Porto Cultural District. In the late afternoon, visit a port wine lodge for a tasting. Dinner this evening is on our own.

Venture to the Alto Douro wine region today for a visit to Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo. This acclaimed winery has been listed since the first demarcation of the Douro wine region in 1756, and its cellar dates to 1764. Learn about the sustainable production methods that have garnered Quinta Nova numerous awards, then sample some of the vintages during a wine-paired farewell lunch. This afternoon, embark on a scenic cruise along the lovely Douro River before returning to Porto by road for an evening at leisure.

Transfer to Porto Airport for flights returning home.