Picturesque Portugal

Next comes the Douro Valley with its decorative tiled train station at Pinhão and the 18th-century Mateus Palace near Vila Real. Then on to Aveiro, often called Portugal’s Venice, where brightly painted boats float lazily by pastel Art Nouveau buildings before an overnight stop in Coimbra with its centuries-old university.

The itinerary ends around Lisbon, beginning with sweeping views from the Alto do Parque Belvedere and visits to Alfama’s stepped alleys and Belem’s historic monuments. Day trips to Sintra’s palace, Cape Roca on the edge of Europe, and Cascais offer a coastal contrast. The final evening brings the group together once more for a farewell dinner before the journey home the following day.

New to Portugal? Our Portugal guide has the practical essentials: money, plugs, visas and when to go.