Experience Portugal

Welcome to Portugal! Stretching along the banks of the river Douro, Porto is one of the most romantic cities in Portugal. Known for its majestic bridges, the medieval riverside district with its cobblestone streets, merchant houses, and cafes. Let's therefore meet in this beautiful city, at the hotel at 18:00 for a welcome meeting with the group leader and fellow travelers! Optional dinner.

Our journey in Portugal continues with a guided orientation walk led by the group leader. A free day to explore the city at your own pace: the Ribeira district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is full of winding alleys, staircases, and baroque churches and is fantastic to explore on foot. The Church of São Francisco is known for its lavish interiors with gilded carvings. The opulent 19th-century Palacio de Bolsa, once a stock market, was built to impress potential European investors. The Mercado do Bolhao, Porto's market, has been one of the city's institutions since 1914. In the late afternoon, we meet the guide and the rest of the group again to try the famous Portuguese wine in an included port wine tasting. In the evening, there is the optional opportunity to take a river cruise on the Douro with one of the city's typical boats!

The morning is free to explore Porto at your own pace. In the late afternoon, departure for Coimbra where we will stay overnight.

We continue our tour of Portugal with a walk in Coimbra. Located on the banks of the Mondego River, Coimbra was once the capital of the country and its royal legacy can be felt in its streets and historic buildings. In the afternoon, free time at your disposal. In the evening, we meet for the Fado evening show: the Coimbra version of fado is linked to the academic traditions of its university and the musicians wear the traditional academic attire: dark robes and capes. The music is characterized by somber melodies and lyrics, often about the life of the poor, inspired by mourning and melancholy.

Today we travel to the so-called Schist Villages, a wonderful part of Portugal, but a well-kept secret, with friendly people eager to welcome us into their villages. The area consists of 26 villages nestled among the hills and riverbanks, blending seamlessly with the surrounding environment thanks to the stone used to build them, schist, a metamorphic rock. We enjoy a relaxing walk through the hills surrounding the village. In the afternoon, we can choose to take part in a traditional cooking class and dinner.

Today we return to Coimbra and then transfer to Lisbon by train. Much of the character and charm of Lisbon lies in its beautifully restored buildings, wide boulevards, imposing castles, and churches. After a short walk together to discover the city, there will be free time at your disposal.

A free morning to discover Lisbon! Stroll through the charming streets of local neighborhoods, watch the people, visit the Belem Tower (a wonderful building originally designed as a lighthouse) and the vast and spectacular Jeronimos Monastery. Otherwise, take a day trip to Sintra, a royal sanctuary full of romantic pastel-colored buildings. In the evening, get together and experience more of the Portuguese lifestyle by enjoying a sunset walk with your group and a picnic with wine and cheese.

Our tour of Portugal has come to an end: see you next time!