Overview
Taste of Portugal with Madeira
Tantalizing petiscos. Thrilling natural wonders. Timeless traditions. Portugal is calling with a wealth of wonders to amaze and enchant. From Porto to Lisbon, your senses are filled with visions of natural wonder, wonderful wines, tempting tastes, and amazing artistry on this escorted tour of Portugal. Continue your tour with a trip to Santa Cruz on the magical Island of Madeira, complete with crystalline waters and centuries of tradition and culinary treats. Explore “Little Lisbon” in Funchal, with its creative atmosphere that inspires the imagination. From the quaint charms of fishing villages to the quiet reflections from luminous pools and lofty plateaus, your vacation in Portugal is a feast for the senses and an unforgettable adventure for the soul.
Highlights of Taste of Portugal with Madeira
City Highlights
Transportation
Notes
Services of the Tour Director end on day 7. Island portion includes services of a local expert.
Travelers Notes
We’ve packed everything you need for the perfect tour—from hand-selected hotels and dining to the friendly expertise of Globus Tour Directors and Local Guides (with headsets to hear every word), to seamless transportation between destinations and VIP access to the world’s most iconic sites! Touring by private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi; plus a cruise on the Douro River and a return flight from Lisbon to Madeira. Enhance your free time with your GlobusGO mobile app!
UNESCO Sites
Historic Centre of Porto|Royal Building of Mafra
Small Group
Globus offers Small-Group Discoveries on select Europe dates. A Small-Group Discovery is limited to an average of just 24 guests per departure. There’s always room to roam with extra space between you and other travelers—while still getting up close and personal to the experiences you’ve been dreaming of. Small-Group Discoveries include all the features of a traditional Globus Europe escorted tour, complete with expert Tour Director, Driver, and Local Guides who ensure that your health and safety is our top priority. A Small-Group Discovery trip is the perfectly sized European tour—without the crowds.
Product Group
Taste of Portugal
Private Touring
6 guests in a party: $2,307*18 guests in a party: $563*
Meals
10 Breakfasts, 3 Dinners
Itineraries
Day 1
ARRIVE IN PORTO, PORTUGAL Welcome to Porto! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)
Day 2
PORTO Panoramas & Port Wine PORTO Follow your Local Guide for a walking tour in the city center. Enjoy a glass of Porto. Later, relax on a river cruise and take in stunning views of the surroundings. (B)TOUR HIGHLIGHT LOCAL TASTES The grapes from the vineyards in the Douro Valley surrounding Porto provide the main ingredient for one of the world’s most recognized fortified wines. Visit a local wine cellar and taste centuries of tradition in a glass of Port wine in the city that bears its name. Saúde!
Day 3
PORTO–AVEIRO–COIMBRA Art Nouveau & Academic Honors AVEIRO Take a stroll and admire the canals and streets of this colorful town.COIMBRA Orientation walk of the University town. (B) 99mi/ 160kmTOUR HIGHLIGHT PICTURE PERFECT Aveiro is known as the Portuguese Venice for the canals that traverse it, and the traditional boats (barcos moliceiros) that sail on them. In the center you'll discover the colorful buildings that reflect the delightful Art Nouveau movement in the city where the past and present blend to reveal a remarkable landscape!
Day 4
COIMBRA Culture & Bairrada Wine COIMBRA Enjoy a wine tasting in the Bairrada region. (B)TOUR HIGHLIGHTCULTURE & TRADITION Since 1937, this unique place has produced its own sparkling wine, spirits, and Bairrada wines. You’ll be dazzled by the beauty of the galleries excavated in the rock, in which the millions of aging bottles rest. The magnificent Baga room is devoted to tastings and banquets, while the museum offers 80 years of history exhibited in the Bairrada room, along with a beautiful wine shop that complement your visit to one of the most emblematic spaces of Bairrada.
Day 5
COIMBRA–LISBON Panoramas & Port Wine LISBON Guided sightseeing includes a photo stop at Belem Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries. (B) 146mi/ 235kmTOUR HIGHLIGHT HISTORIC SPOT The stunning capital city of Portugal is a treasure trove of historic and architectural masterpieces. Along the banks of the River Tagus see the 16th-century Belém Tower, which served as a fortress and an embarkation point for sailors, it was their last sight of land before the start of their journey. Lisbon’s impressive sculpture, the Monument to the Discoveries pays homage to great Portuguese explorers with a spectacular carved prow of an ancient ship.
Day 6
LISBON–EXCURSION TO MAFRA, SINTRA AND CASCAIS Portuguese Royalties MAFRA [LF] guided visit of Mafra includes the Royal Palace, the convent, and John V Library. SINTRA Free time for lunchCASCAIS Free time to browseLISBON Farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D) LOCAL FAVORITEHISTORY & HERITAGE Learn about the colony of bats which have made their home behind the bookshelves of the library and that ensure its ancient books remain in pristine conditions. The bats leave their hiding spot at night to hunt insects that would otherwise damage the leather- bound spines and yellowed pages of the library’s antique collection.
Day 7
LISBON–SANTA CRUZ Seasons in the Sun LISBON Fly to Funchal. SANTA CRUZ Orientation walk. Free time (B)TOUR HIGHLIGHT NATURAL WONDERS The island of Madeira boasts some of Europe’s most impressive landscapes. Soak in the breathtaking natural scenery that merges with crystal-clear waters, centuries-old traditions, and authentic flavors. Experience a unique island where the clock does not set the time, and the calendar does not dictate the season.
Day 8
SANTA CRUZ–EXCURSION TO FUNCHAL Little Lisbon FUNCHAL Visit Mercado dos Lavoratores and the “open-air-museum” of the Santa Maria. Take the cable car to Monte and take in views of the city. Taste the local Madeira wine and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)TOUR HIGHLIGHTART & NATURE Funchal used to be called “Little Lisbon,” and that is no coincidence. There are plenty of historical buildings to discover in the narrow streets, while the traditional white houses are nestled on the steep slopes. You won’t believe your eyes at the heart of the Zona Velha (Old Town), a swirl of public creativity, which has seen the entrances to buildings along the Rua de Santa Maria adorned with bright paintings and imaginative scenes. Images include everything from a fisherman sitting by his boat in the moonlight to a dislocated eye peering from behind a cracked “window” of yellow glass.
Day 9
SANTA CRUZ Fishing Lore & Luminescent Pools SANTA CRUZ Day at leisure. (B)ENHANCED FREE TIMEEXPLORE MORE Why not discover more of this incredible island and join an optional excursion that takes you further afield, starting with a stop at Camara de Lobos, a small fishing village painted in 1949 by Winston Churchill, before continuing towards Cabo Girai, the world's second highest sea cliff (and Europe’s highest) and Paul de Serra, Madeira’s biggest and highest plateau. Later, reach Porto Moniz, the most north-western valley and visit its beautiful natural pools, the village’s main attractions. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
Day 10
SANTA CRUZ–LISBON Sights of Santa Cruz SANTA CRUZ Fly to Lisbon.LISBON Free time. (B)ENHANCED FREE TIMETOUR HIGHLIGHT Time to pack your bags and say goodbye to the magical Island of Madeira with a flight to Lisbon to relax and reminisce over your stunning adventure.
Day 11
LISBON Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
Departures
Hotels
| # | Name | Description | City | Address | Rating |
| 1 | Holiday Inn Porto Gaia | A modern 212-room high rise hotel near the historical Porto city centre with a chic atrium bar and culinary concept restaurant serving traditinal Portuguese cuisine. Amenities include a gym, spa and Free Wi-Fi access is available throughout. | Porto | Rua Diogo de Macedo, 220 Vila Nova de Gaia | First-Class |
| 2 | Vila Gale Coimbra | The 229 rooms of this contemporary Hotel overlooking the Mondego River are warmly decorated with a dance theme. All rooms have air conditioning, Free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TV. Massages and beauty treatments are available at the extensive Satsanga SPA area, where guests can also enjoy an indoor pool, sauna, Turkish bath and hot tub. [p] | Coimbra | Rua Abel Dias Urbano, 20 | First-Class |
| 3 | Mercure Lisboa | A 104-room modern hotel offering Free Wi-Fi Internet access and year-round heated rooftop swimming pool, with panoramic views over the Águas Livres Aqueduct. International cuisine and Regional wines can be enjoyed in the main restaurant and there is a lobby bar serving a wide range of drinks & cocktails. | Lisbon | Avda Jose Malhoa, 23 | First-Class |
| 4 | Vila Galé Santa Cruz | The Vila Galé Santa Cruz in Madeira, offers stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and is just a stone's throw away from a pebble beach. Facilities include two restaurants, two bars, a seasonal outdoor swimming pool, a heated indoor pool, Turkish bath, gym and massage rooms. All of the 262 sophisticated guest rooms come with a satellite TV, a private balcony and a private bathroom. Free Wi-Fi internet access is available throughout the property. | Santa Cruz | Rua de Sao Fernando 5 | First-Class |
