Tour 5

Today, and after airport formalities, you will be collected outside customs, and transferred, by Deluxe vehicle with English speaking chauffeur, to your hotel in Lisbon.

After check-in procedures, take your time to unwind and relax!

Boasting springtime temperatures during the winter and cool summers freshened by a breeze blowing in from the Atlantic, Costa de Lisboa, on the southwestern coast, offers a rich and impressively integrated diversity. The capital of Portugal since its conquest from the Moors in 1147, Lisbon is a legendary city with over 20 centuries of History.

This morning, with the assistance of your expert guide, you’ll discover the most emblematic neighborhoods of the city: Bairro Alto – a picturesque quarter dating from the 1500s, that has traditionally been the city’s bohemian haunt of artists and writers, Chiado – an elegant, sophisticated district of theaters, bookshops, old-style cafes, art nouveau jewelry shops, luxurious international names such as Hermes, and local treasures, Rossio – the liveliest square in the city and Alfama – Lisbon’s heart during Moorish times, you’ll find yourself wandering through colorful XVIII century squares downtown and getting lost in the medieval maze of the Alfama district overlooked by an ancient castle.

Today’s highlight will be the intimate and romantic river cruise aboard a luxury sailing yacht. This cruise includes panoramic first row to the main Lisbon facade, where you can see the major nautical monuments such as Belem Tower, Discovery monument, 25 April Bridge, Sanctuary of Christ the King, MAAT (Museum of Art and Architecture and Technology) and Comercio Square.

Today, marvel with the quaint and aristocratic, World Heritage by UNESCO, town of Sintra – where Lord Byron lived and considered it to be “Paradise in Earth”. You’ll see castles, fortresses, forests, and beautiful scenery. 

Sintra and its mystical hills dotted with fairytale palaces and extravagant villas have bewitched visitors for centuries. The Romans made it a place of cult moon worshiping and named it “Cynthia” after the goddess of the moon. They were followed by the Moors who also fell in love with the lush vegetation and built a hilltop castle, a palace, and several fountains around the town. Later it became the summer residence of the Portuguese royal family and attracted a number of wealthy aristocrats who built huge mansions and villas.

You’ll visit the 19th century Pena Palace, one of Europe’s most fantastic palaces. It includes a drawbridge, a conglomeration of turrets, ramparts, and domes, and a gargoyle above a Neo-Manueline arch, all washed in an array of pastel shades. The extravagant interior is decorated in late Victorian and Edwardian furnishings, rich ornaments, paintings, and priceless porcelain preserved just as the royal family left them.

En-route back to Lisbon, stop at Cascais, a lovely fishermen village that became (along with neighboring Estoril) a popular resort favored by European nobility and kings in the early 20th century. Today it is a colorful cosmopolitan town with elegant pedestrian streets, luxuriant villas, fashionable shops, restaurants and bars.

Have a relaxed lunch (not included) and venture on a relaxing walking tour enjoying the fresh sea breeze.

Begin your day with a stop in Óbidos, Portugal’s most romantic medieval village.

All of Óbidos has been declared a national monument. It is known as the “Wedding Present Town” because it was a gift King Dinis gave to Queen Isabel on their wedding day in 1282, but that alone is not what makes it such an extraordinarily romantic place – what make it one of Europe’s most romantic medieval villages are its incredibly picturesque cobblestone streets lined with colorful houses filled with geraniums and bougainvillea, Gothic doorways and windows, whitewashed churches, flowerpots and dazzling tiles all encircled by the walls of a 12th century castle.

Enjoy a walking tour, on own, inside the walls. This walled town, with its narrow streets spreading from the foot of the castle, still preserves all the atmosphere of a 16th century mediaeval town.

After lunch (not included), tour continues towards the world’s oldest wine region: Douro Valley. Let yourself be enchanted by the views of the river and the vineyards.

Down time to rest and relax. Take the opportunity to restore your energies for the next days of touring!

Your journey starts with a private visit followed by a lectured wine tasting at a breathtakingly beautiful family-owned wine estate, referred by Wine Spectator, brilliantly situated on top of a small hill, overlooked by steep sloping vineyards. 

Feel the magnificence of a wine estate with 130 hectares, of which 70 are planted with grade “A” vineyards. Sitting on a privileged location in the Douro Demarcated Region, the state has been in the family for over a century. Like other great Douro quintas, its origins lie in ancient times. References to the state date as far back as the early seventeenth century, long before the Douro became the world’s first demarcated wine region in 1756. In 2008, Wine Spectator has reviewed and selected the best for their Top 100 list. 

Explore the estate widely admired wines, its vineyards and cellars, whilst discovering the Portuguese tradition of warm hospitality. Enjoy a private toast on an amazing frame, at the top of the hill close to the swimming-pool and indulge in a private lunch, at the terrace (if weather allows it) or at the family house.

After lunch, marvel with a private river cruise aboard a typical Rabelo boat.

Until the end of the 19th century, the Douro River was the main access route to the interior regions and the only means of importing foreign products. A difficult river and risky to navigate, there was only one type of boat that could overcome its natural obstacles, the Rabelo Boat. The robustness of the boat and the ability of the first crews made it possible to carry large barrels of wine above the river. 

With the help of a local guide, discover the green vineyards, stratified culture and stunning natural beauty of the Douro Valley. Marvel at the beautiful slopes, heavily planted with vines, which offers breathtaking views of one of the most impressive man-shaped landscapes in the world.

• Possible winery upgrade;

• Possible cruise upgrade.

Enjoy a smooth drive towards Porto, the second biggest metropolis of Portugal and one of Europe’s most charismatic cities.

Upon arrival, venture on a special tour. Your driver/guide will take you on a “Mercedez Maria”, a Ural Ranger, a charming vintage motorcycle, with the look of Second World War but with all the modern safety features of an XXI century motorcycle and with room for two each. The rhythm is slow-paced with a lot of conversation, historical facts and curiosities, lots of stops for photos and to enjoy the views. 

Through the Historical Center, you’ll see places like S. Bento station, Ribeira and the Stock Exchange Palace, along the Douro River with its bridges, the Miragaia neighborhood, and all the way to the beach to understand the connection of the city’s history with the ocean. Return to the city center, explore Cristal Palace and neighborhoods like Virtudes, Vitória, and Clérigos, learn all their history and see the great views that Porto has to offer. 

Cross to Gaia, on the other side of the river and see the D. Luís bridge and the Port wine neighborhood.

Sidecar tour ends at your hotel in Porto.

According to your flight departure time, and after check-out procedures, your private chauffeur will meet you at the lobby and take you towards Porto International Airport.