Experience the culture of the country, the taste of the wine and the architecture of the cities and villages on our amazing Portugal singles vacation. With a rich heritage, and a landscape that includes lush mountains and sun-kissed plains, Portugal offers a warm welcome. The result of traditions introduced to the region by ancient civilizations Portugal has fantastic wine that is a great value for the money. The food is wonderful and the locals are friendly so don’t miss this truly sensory opportunity that is certain to linger in your memory for a long time.

ITINERARY

Day 1: Lisbon

Arrive into Lisbon Airport (airport code LIS) this morning (remember you are flying home from Porto-airport code OPO) and take the provided shuttle to the group’s hotel, The Turim, located in one of the most elegant areas of Lisbon. Time to relax or start your explorations in Lisbon, Portugal’s hilly, coastal capital city, before our vacation begins with a welcome meeting at 6PM and an optional dinner.

Day 2: Lisbon

Today we discover Lisbon on our full day guided city tour. Explore Lisbon’s oldest neighborhoods as we drive through cobblestone streets lined with quaint cafes and learn how Lisbon grew from a fishing village into a cosmopolitan city during the Ages of Discoveries. Pause to admire te Lisbon church’s intricate stained glass rose window, reconstructed with fragments from the original. See the 16^th-century Jeronimo’s Monastery (UNESCO), a grand religious building historically associated with the early sailor explorers and the Monument to Discoveries built on te north bank of the Tagus River in 1960 to commemorate the 500^th anniversary of the death of Prince Henry the Navigator.

View the impressive Belem Tower, a small fort that was constructed in the center or the Tejo Estuary to guard Lisbon from seafaring raiders. For such a trivial role, the fort was lavished with beautiful and intricate details that include North African Moorish styled watchtowers, shield shaped battlements and the first European stone carving of a Rhinoceros. Visit Sao Jorge Castle (Saint George Castle). Aa Moorish castle occupying a commanding hilltop overlooking the historic center and the Tagus River. The strongly fortified citadel dates from the medieval period of Portuguese history, and is one of the main tourist sites of Lisbon. Time for a tasting at an old patisserie that has managed to hold on to the secret recipe of Portugal’s finest pastry for over 100 years and enjoy a demonstration and tasting of the famous ‘pasteis de Belem’. Tonight, we enjoy our welcome dinner with an authentic fado Show, a traditional Portuguese musical performance.

Day 3: Lisbon – Sintra – Cascais – Lisbon

Our morning begins with a drive to Sintra, a resort town in te foothills of Portugal’s Sintra Mountains. A longtime royal sanctuary, its forested terrain is studded with pastel-colored villas and palaces. The Moorish and Manueline-style Sintra National Palace is distinguished by dramatic twin chimneys and elaborate tile work. The Monastery was seriously damaged by the 1755 earthquake and was abandoned.  The building of Palacio d Pena, which started in 1840 and finished in 1885, when King Fernando died. It was inhabited by the royal family until 1910, when the Portuguese Republic was established and monarch was abolished. The forested park lands that surround the palace continue the Romanticism design ideals of the palace, with hidden pathways, ornate features and stunning viewpoints.

Free time for lunch before we drive to Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of continental Europe, and get a souvenir certificate with the inscription “where the land ends and the sea begin”.  Pass the stunning beaches of Cascais, including Praia do Guincho, the most picturesque beach on the Lisbon coast. On the way to Cascais, experience the mystery of the cave “Devils Mouth”, created by the crashing of the waves on the rocky cliff. Stop at the elegant seaside resort of Cascais, a once peaceful fishing village that was discovered by European nobility for its idyllic setting and become a favorite destination for the international jet set thereafter. Then we travel back to Lisbon for a relaxing evening.

Day 4: Lisbon Free day – Sunset Cruise

Enjoy a free day in Lisbon to discover this magical city on your own or with a few of your new travel friends. If you are interested in a guided activity, you can check out the Lisbon tours and activities here- Lisbon optional tours and activities. If shopping is your thing, LX Factory, once an abandoned industrial area, has shops, vendor stalls and cafes that create an artisanal shopping experience. Embaixada provides high end shopping in an elegant, converted palace. The stores in Embaixada tend to sell more classic items, whereas LX  Factory is more cool and hip.  Tonight, we sail into the sunset for fantastic views of Lisbon. Our cruise takes place on the Tagus River, during the most magical time of day: sunset. While relaxing on board, the cruise will pass by some of the main monuments of the Portuguese capital.

Day 5: Coimbra via Obidos and Nazare

Our trip to the Portugal’s “Silver Coast” begins in the medieval walled town of Obedos, located on a hilltop, encircled by a fortified wall and divided between two parishes. Obedos, steeped in history, culture and tradition remains a well-preserved example of medieval architecture. Inside the wall are colorful buildings, a small church, a market, lots of café’s and locally made souvenirs. Stroll around the village walls and cobbled narrow streets with your guide and don’t forget to try the drink Ginja, a Portuguese liqueur made by infusing Ginga Berries.

For centuries, Nazare was a traditional seaside town where fishermen taught their children to avoid the big waves that crashed on the nearby cliffs. Yet, over the past eight years, those same waves have made this place a unusual destination for extreme surfers, their fans and the international companies that sponsor athletes.  The waves, which are the height of a ten-story building are caused by an underwater canyon-3 miles deep and 125 miles long-that ends abruptly just before the shore of the city. We will stop here for free time for lunch. On the banks of the River Mondego is Coimbra, famous for its university, the oldest in Portugal and one of the oldest in Europe. There are several monuments from those times that show the splendor of Romanesque art. In the shopping area and historic cafe area of the city center, see the Monastery of Santa Cruz, which houses the tomb of Portugal’s first king and the Monastery of Santa Clara-A-Velha. We are staying overnight in Coimbra at the Tivoli Coimbra Hotel. 

Day 6: Coimbra-Porto

After breakfast, we will have a guided tour of the University of Coimbra including the Palace of Schools where we can visit the Royal Palace that includes the Grand Hall of Acts, the Private Exam Room and the Armillary room. We will visit the Royal Chapel of Saint Michael and the Joanine Library. Visit the Botanic Garden where we can travel around the world through botany. Then we drive to Porto, the capital of northern Portugal and declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. During our cultural tour, you will have the opportunity to visit interesting places such as the Balhao Market, Santa Catarina Street, the Majestic Café, Avenida de Aliados, the cathedral, Batalha Square, Infante D, Henrique Square and many others. We will check into our hotel The Eurostars Porto Centro for the next three nights.

Day 7: Porto –  Cruise of the 6 Bridges and Visit World of Wine

This morning we will be transferred to the river area. Enjoy a nice walk across the Douro River as we get to know the six bridges that crown the city of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia. Then we will set sail on an exciting 50 minute ride along the Doura River. See the different points of interest that surround the city and her about the famous Rabelos boats and the authentic badges of the region. Some of the places we can see from the boat are Bolsa Palace, The Museum of Port Wine, Cristal Palace, Ribeira de Oporto, Mosteiro de Serra do Pilar, among others. Upon docking, we sill drive over to the World of Wine, WOW for short. All the old Port Wine Cellars are here. WOW is more than museums an wineries. It is an entire district full of new and exciting things to do, explore and learn. The six museums, called experiences, have themes like wine, cork, chocolate, fashion and the Bridge Collection, featuring a vast array of centuries-old drinking vessels and glasses. Enjoy 2 experiences of your choice.

Day 8: Porto – Douro Valley – Porto

Today we take an unforgettable journey through the beautiful landscapes and scenic mountains of the Douro Valley plus get to enjoy wine tasting and a picnic lunch. We stop in Amarante, settled in the 4^th century BC and the home of the beautiful monastery of San Gonalo on the chapel next to the bridge. We pass through Pinhao, the region’s largest riverside town. Famous for its beautiful train station along the Douro Line. The Pinho station has tiled panels that depict  scenes, landscapes and customs of the Douro Region.

Day 9: Porto Free Day  – Farewell Dinner

Enjoy a free day in Porto strolling the cobblestone streets, take a funicular ride, check out a museum, shop till you drop or take an optional tour. You can go wine tasting, explore a village or visit a national park. Explore options here.  

After a wonderful day at leisure, we will meet an transfer to a local restaurant for our Farewell dinner.

Day 10: Porto

Have breakfast at your leisure, then say goodbye to your new travel friends as you head to the airport for your flight home.