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Jewels of Spain, Portugal and the Douro River
2 Nights Hotel Accommodations in Lisbon, then enjoy a 7-night cruise through the Douro River Valley, 3 Nights Hotel Accommodations in Madrid

Lisbon to Madrid - 13 days	For further assistance call 1-800-526-8539
Ship - Queen Isabel	Ask about our Travel Insurance

Detailed Itinerary: Lisbon to Madrid

Skip to Madrid to Lisbon itinerary

Day 1: Lisbon 

Arrive at Lisbon’s Portela Airport where you’ll be transferred to the hotel.

Day 2: Lisbon

Featured Excursion: Lisbon city tour with visit to the Church of the Jerónimos Monastery

Everything old is new again in the Portuguese capital, which is undergoing a remarkable rebirth of late. Get to know this hilly metropolis with a city tour that shows you all the top sights and treats you to a unique pastry with an intriguing (and delicious) history. Dynamic, colorful and picturesque, Lisbon will continually surprise you. Glorious historic architecture reflects the wealth brought in during the “Age of Discovery,” when the Portuguese owned the seas, but it is also a modern center of finance and international trade.

Day 3: Lisbon - Óbidos - transfer to Porto (Embarkation Day)

FEATURED EXCURSION: Guided stroll through Óbidos

You’ll board a motorcoach this morning, heading north through Portugal’s picturesque countryside toward Porto—but you’ll stop in fascinating Óbidos before you reach the colorful city. The tiny whitewashed village of Óbidos is so charming that Portuguese kings traditionally gave it to their brides as a wedding gift. Need we say more? Climb up to the imposing hilltop castle for spectacular, Instagram-worthy photos of the countryside and the sea beyond.

Day 4: Porto

Choice of Porto city tour or Exclusive “Do as the Locals Do” Porto walking tour with local tastings and vintage tram ride

There’s much more to Portugal’s second city than its eponymous fortified wine—historic architecture, cutting-edge design, fabulous food and wine, and a hip, laid-back vibe. Discover its many charms with your choice of distinctively different tours today. Today you cruise to the mouth of the Douro and Portugal’s second city (after Lisbon), Porto, which gave its name to the nation’s most famous export, Port wine, and to the nation itself. The city is a fascinating combination of historic buildings and cutting-edge architecture, tradition and vivacious modernity.

Day 5: Porto (Guimarães)

Choice of Guimarães: the cradle of Portugal or Porto shopping experience

Guimarães or Porto? That’s the question of the day today (you really can’t go wrong either way). Guimarães is the town where Portugal was born and its well-preserved architecture and stylish young residents make it a pleasure to visit. Or opt to explore one of Porto’s oldest neighborhoods, picturesque Ribeira, considered the soul of the city.

Day 6: Entre-os-Rios (Amarante)

FEATURED EXCURSIONS:Quinta da Aveleda visit with gardens, Douro Museum and Port wine history

The family-owned Quinta da Aveleda looks like something out of a fairytale, with its lush flower gardens, peacocks and swans, shady terraces and whimsical follies—the perfect place to relax over a glass of vinho verde, the preferred drink of the region. After your visit to the quinta, you will get a crash course in the history of making Port during your visit to the Douro Museum.

Day 7: Porto Antigo (Lamego) - Pinhão

FEATURED EXCURSIONS: Lamego city tour with a sparkling wine tasting at the Quinta da Pacheca, Scenic Stroll to Pinhão station

One of Portugal’s top pilgrimage sites is our destination today, Our Lady of Remedies in Lamego. The church sits high above the town, accessible via hundreds of zigzagging steps adorned with beautiful blue and white tiles. After seeing the sights with a local expert, enjoy a tasting of locally made wines at a picturesque quinta.

Day 8: Pinhão - Pocinho

Choice of Quinta do Seixo guided tour with tasting -or- Vineyard hike and wine tasting at a local quinta

Today is all about wine, which has been cultivated in the Douro River Valley since ancient Roman times. You’ll head to the hills to a prestigious wine estate, where you can sip Port while savoring marvelous views. Or, take a scenic drive to a family-owned quinta, where you’ll have a firsthand look at grape harvesting.

Day 9: Pinhão - Barca d’Alva (Castelo Rodrigo)

Choice of Castelo Rodrigo -or- Archaeological Park of the Côa Valley

A tiny village surrounded by mountains, Barca d’Alva is your base for today's adventures. Go medieval today at Castelo Rodrigo, both the name of a hilltop castle as well as the village that surrounds it. It has been singled out as one of Portugal’s 12 historic villages for its medieval beauty. The view from the top is incredible and the village is a charming place to ramble, relax and replenish. Or, if you wish, you can also lace up your hiking boots and unleash your inner Indiana Jones with an up-close gander at some prehistoric carvings during a visit to Portugal’s first archaeological park, Foz Côa.

In the evening, a special Gala Dinner will be prepared for you.

Day 10: Vega de Terrón (Disembarkation Day) - Salamanca - transfer to Madrid

FEATURED EXCURSION: Salamanca walking tour

What adventures await you in Spain? You’ll disembark today, heading towards Madrid. Along the way you’ll visit the beautiful and historic university town of Salamanca—the “Golden City”—famous for its sand-colored buildings and abundance of churches. This is the university town where Columbus sought advice before sailing west in search of the new route to the Indies. Walk with a local expert through the Plaza Mayor, considered one of the most beautiful squares in Spain, and visit the university and the city’s astounding Food Hall.

Day 11: Madrid

FEATURED EXCURSION:Corral de la Moreria - award winning Flamenco performance and dinner

Choice of Madrid panoramic city tour with Prado Visit -or- Madrid panoramic and active walking tour: historic center and Prado visit

Madrid may very well be Europe’s liveliest capital city, a place where people eat late and stay up even later. Get your bearings with a panoramic overview or a more intimate walking tour, both of which include a visit to the extraordinary Prado Museum. Tonight, enjoy dinner and a colorful, passionate, foot-stomping show at the city’s finest flamenco venue. The capital of Spain, Madrid boasts incomparable artwork, an amazing range of architectural styles— from Moorish to postmodern—and exceptional food. Your Iberian adventure begins here as you sample some of its highlights.

Day 12: Madrid (Toledo)

FEATURED EXCURSION:Toledo walking exploration: city of walls, silk and swords

A one-time ancient Roman colony, medieval Moorish capital and center for religious tolerance, Toledo is said to be Spain’s spiritual heart: a timeless, UNESCO-listed city where Muslims, Jews and Christians have peacefully co-existed for three centuries. After your city tour you’ll have time to explore—and eat—on your own; the food here is so exceptional that Toledo was named Spain’s gastronomic capital in 2016.

Day 13: Madrid, transfer to the airport

You’ve experienced the best of Spain, Portugal and the pristine Douro River, but now the journey comes to a close. Transfer to Madrid - Barajas Airport for your flight home. (CB/BB)

Departures & Pricing

Detailed Itinerary: Madrid to Lisbon

Skip to Lisbon to Madrid itinerary

Day 1: Madrid

Arrive at Madrid-Barajas Airport, where you will be transferred to the hotel.

Day 2: Madrid

FEATURED EXCURSION: Madrid city tour, Prado Museum, and dinner with flamenco show

Welcome to Madrid, Spain’s capital and largest city. Your panoramic tour of this lively metropolis will take you to some of Madrid’s most famous sights. Then explore the massive Prado Museum, which features one of the world’s finest collections of European art. With nearly 7,600 paintings among its holdings, the Prado’s assemblage is truly stunning in both its depth and breadth. In the evening you’re in for another treat - a spectacular dinner and flamenco show at one of the finest venues in Madrid. (BB, D)

Day 3: Madrid (Toledo)

FEATURED EXCURSION: Toledo city tour with Santo Tomé Church visit

Toledo is known as the “City of the Three Cultures,” as it has been heavily influenced by Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In fact, the historical co-existence of these cultures led to Toledo’s designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today you’ll get to explore this vibrant city and discover its extensive cultural heritage for yourself, visiting synagogues and churches alike. Among the many fantastic sites awaiting you today is St. Tomé Church, home to one of El Greco’s most famous paintings, Burial of the Count of Orgaz. (BB)

Day 4: Madrid, (Salamanca), transfer to Vega de Terrón (Embarkation Day)

FEATURED EXCURSION: Full-day Salamanca tour

Travel overland to Salamanca, a UNESCO World Heritage city. The architectural purity of this charming town has endured through the centuries, during which time its sandstone buildings have acquired the exquisite glow that gives Salamanca its nickname, “The Golden City.” Walk under plateresque arches and past ornately decorated masonry walls as you explore the university. Then visit Salamanca’s extraordinary Old and New Cathedrals. (BB, L, D)

Day 5: Barca d'Alva (Castelo Rodrigo), Pinhão

FEATURED EXCURSION: Castelo Rodrigo tour and exclusive dinner at Quinta da Avessada

Visit the 12th-century walled village of Castelo Rodrigo (one of the twelve historic villages of Portugal), with its medieval streets and stone- walled houses. In the evening, you’ll tour the family-owned Quinta da Avessada, which produces premium Moscatel. After strolling the grounds and meeting the owner, you’ll partake in a rustic dinner featuring fine local wines and traditional live music. (BB, L, D)

Day 6: Pinhão (Lamego), Régua

FEATURED EXCURSION: Lamego city tour with wine tasting at a local quinta

Lamego, a small, picturesque town that is rich in history, invites you to explore its streets today. Lamego houses one of the most important pilgrimage sites in all of Portugal: the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies. Sitting atop a hill, the sanctuary overlooks the town and can be reached by climbing its 686 steps. You’ll get to see it up close on today’s tour and have a chance to admire its gorgeous panels of blue and white tiles before enjoying another treat—a delicious wine tasting. (BB, L, D)

Day 7: Régua

FEATURED EXCURSION: Douro Museum, Mateus Palace and Gardens

The Douro River winds through one hundred miles of granite mountains, carving out a valley whose steep slopes hold terraces that were cut by hand into the rocky soil and planted with grapes centuries ago. Visit the Douro Museum to learn about the river and its wines. See, too, Mateus Palace, which has one of the most beautiful gardens in the country. (BB, L, D)

Day 8: Régua (Amarante), Porto Antiguo

FEATURED EXCURSION: Amarante walking tour 

Today you’ll venture to the charming, old-world town of Amarante, which is situated between the bends in the Tâmega River and the cliffs of the surrounding mountains. Many of its remaining historic structures are Romanesque in style, several of which you’ll see on your guided walking tour through this lovely riverside town. (BB, L, D)

Day 9: Porto

FEATURED EXCURSION: Porto city tour with wine cellars of Cais de Gaia and Ribeira district walking tour

Birthplace of Henry the Navigator (who launched Portugal’s voyages of exploration) and longtime hub of the Port wine trade, Porto combines well- preserved historic buildings with cutting-edge architecture and a booming cultural revival. Your tour will take you to the 19th-century Palácio da Bolsa and then on to the cathedral and the bustling shopping street, Santa Catarina. You will also visit one of the city’s famed Port cellars. Later, explore the UNESCO-designated Ribeira district on foot; here, the colorful heart of the old port city will enchant you with medieval lanes and zigzagging stairways. In the evening, enjoy a Gala Dinner onboard your ship. (BB, L, GD)

Day 10: Porto (Guimarães)

FEATURED EXCURSION: Guimarães city tour 

Visit historic Guimarães. As Portugal’s first capital (back in the 12th century) and home to its first king, Don Afonso Henriques, Guimarães has been called the birthplace of the Portuguese nation. Dominated by Afonso Henriques’s grand castle, Guimarães is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s also a great place to shop for high-quality Portuguese handicrafts and other souvenirs. (BB, L,D)

Day 11: Porto (Disembarkation Day), Coimbra, Óbidos, transfer to Lisbon

FEATURED EXCURSION: Guided stroll through Coimbra University visit, family–style lunch and Óbidos

Travel through the beautiful countryside to Lisbon. En route, you’ll stop in Coimbra, the birthplace of six of Portugal’s kings and home to one of the oldest universities in Europe, Universidade de Coimbra. There you’ll see the university’s 18th-century library, the Biblioteca Joanina. It’s a magnificent place boasting frescoed ceilings, gilded archways, and elaborate carvings. From this hilltop center of learning you’ll head off to enjoy a typical Portuguese lunch at a local restaurant. Then, the adventure continues in  medieval Óbidos for a guided stroll through its maze of cobbled streets and high-walled gardens. (BB, L)

Day 12: Lisbon

FEATURED EXCURSION: Lisbon city tour

Stand on the banks of the Tejo River and take a deep breath. Now turn around and look at the city climbing the hills above you. This is where your adventure begins. Start with a guided tour to iconic Belém Tower and Padrão dos Descobrimentos, a monument to Portugal’s great explorers. Step inside the spectacular Manueline Jerónimos Monastery. Sample a traditional sweet, the pastéis de Belém, at a famous pastelería (pastry shop), then see the hills of the Alfama district and Rossio plaza, with its wavy black-and-white paving and lively street life. (B)

Day 13: Lisbon, transfer to the airport

Transfer to Lisbon Portela Airport for your flight home. (CB/ BB)

Advisements:

• A valid passport is required for travel. Passports must be valid at least 6 months after the last day of travel.
• Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.
•  For reasons of navigation and passenger safety, the cruise operator and the Captain of the ship reserve the right to modify the itinerary of the cruise.

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