Style : River cruise

Vida Portugal: Vineyards & Villages Along the Douro with 3 Nights in Lisbon

Avalon Waterways
4.7 . Excellent
97%
Travel Style: N/A
Physical Level: Normal generally flat walking in urban or suburban environments. Very Easy
Lodging Level: Mid-range budget with accommodations ranging from comfortable lodges, guesthouses, and homestays to three star hotels. Value (3*)
11 days
From: $ 4,648 $ 423 / day
Checking price

Overview

Highlights (Bullets)

  • Welcome to Lisbon
  • Guided sightseeing, see Belem Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries
  • Excursion to Palàcio Nacional de Sintra
  • Guided sightseeing of Coimbra; transfer to Porto; onboard welcome reception
  • Choice of guided sightseeing in Braga and Guimarães, or Romanesque tour
  • Choice of guided sightseeing Peso da Régua and Lamego or farm visit with tasting
  • Choice of guided sightseeing in Freixo de Numão or guided sightseeing in Vila Nova de Foz Côa
  • Choice of guided sightseeing in Salamanca or guided sightseeing in Freixo de Espada à Cinta
  • Onboard tile painting workshop; guided sightseeing in Amarante
  • Choice of guided sightseeing or bike tour
  • Explore the dreamy Douro River and discover why its name translates to ‘River of Gold’ as you sail on its gleaming waters through Portugal’s breathtaking panoramic beauty
  • Marvel at the world’s oldest demarcated wine region, cozy towns, and charming villages while sailing through some of the most spectacular views of Portugal

Short Description

Explore the dreamy Douro River and discover why its name translates to ‘River of Gold’ as you sail on its gleaming waters through Portugal’s breathtaking panoramic beauty. Marvel at the world’s oldest demarcated wine region, cozy towns, and charming villages while sailing through some of the most spectacular views of Portugal. Before sailing, begin your vacation your way with a three-night stay in beautiful Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. Enjoy guided sightseeing to see the city highlights, including Belem Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries. Join an excursion to magnificent Palacio Nacional de Sintra. Stop in Coimbra for a city sightseeing tour before reaching Porto where you will board your Avalon Suite Ship® to start a delightful river cruise across Portugal!

Like a blue ribbon threading through the green Douro Valley, the River Douro carries you through some of Portugal’s most legendary landscapes. Meaning “River of Gold,” the Douro River lives up to its name by revealing priceless gems along sloping vineyards and sleepy villages where rugged landscapes have been tamed for centuries to produce a bounty of wines and cuisine. Welcome aboard the newest addition to our award-winning fleet of Suite Ships® – the Avalon AlegriaSM to be swept away by Douro’s timeless treasures and traditions, family farms and fevered Fado music, and mouth-watering culinary creations in the world’s oldest demarcated wine region.

Embark on your Suite Ship® in the city of Porto with the opportunity for an optional guided culinary tour to indulge in the city’s world-famous cuisine. Take a guided tour to Braga and Guimarães or explore ancient architecture, including a visit to the Interpretation Centre of the Romanesque. Enjoy a guided tour in the charming towns of Peso da Régua and Lamego, where historical sights are mixed with delicious tastings, or meet the owner of one of the oldest farms in the Douro Valley to sample the proud traditions of olive oil and wine. Take a guided tour of Freixo de Numão, where vineyards and granite houses dot the river shores. Consider a fascinating guided tour to Vila Nova de Foz Côa, home of the remarkable Côa Valley Palaeolithic discoveries – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit Freixo de Espada à Cinta, a cozy village with narrow streets, flowered houses, and grand Gothic Manueline windows. Choose a full-day experience in Spain with a guided sightseeing excursion to Salamanca. Immerse yourself in an emotionally stirring experience in Portugal’s city of Amarante.

Your Douro River cruise returns to Porto to soak in the scenic mysteries of this city’s Historical Centre, a UNESCO World Heritage site. These and countless other treasures await you on the River of Gold in Portugal’s dazzling Douro Valley.

Style River cruise
See all the highlights and popular spots on a classic tour.
Itinerary Focus Classic Highlights
Mid-range budget with accommodations ranging from comfortable lodges, guesthouses, and homestays to three star hotels.
Lodging Level Value (3*)
Flight & Transport Inclusions N/A
Start City LISBON, PORTUGAL
End City PORTO (DISEMBARKATION)

Destinations

Portugal

Attractions & Cities Visited

Coimbra Lisbon Porto Salamanca

Activities & Interests

Culture River cruise

N/A
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Itinerary

Day 1: LISBON, PORTUGAL

Welcome to Lisbon.

Your day in Lisbon is free to explore at your leisure.

Day 2: LISBON

Portuguese Treasures

CLASSIC Explore Lisbon, Portugal’s capital, with a Local Guide. Do not miss the must-see sights, including Belem Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries.

This evening you might join an optional excursion including a traditional Portuguese dinner, followed by a live concert of traditional Portuguese Fado music.

(Breakfast)

Day 3: LISBON. EXCURSION TO SINTRA AND VISIT OF PALÁCIO NACIONAL

A Resplendent Royal Residence

CLASSIC This morning, join us on a guided excursion to Sintra, where you will visit the National Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Afterwards, drive to Cabo da Roca and enjoy some free time in the Western most point of continental Europe.

You might opt to join an optional gastronomic walking tour to learn about the authentic flavors, aromas, and traditions of Portugal.

(Breakfast)

Day 4: LISBON–COIMBRA–PORTO (EMBARKATION)

Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding

CLASSIC Stop in Coimbra for a guided city sightseeing tour. Accompanied by a Local Guide, you’ll explore the historical area of the city and learn all about the oldest university in Portugal, and one of the oldest in the world.

Transfer to Porto to board your Avalon Suite Ship®

Enjoy dinner and explore the ship on your first night on board.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PORTO

(Breakfast,Dinner)

Day 5: ENTRE OS RIOS. EXCURSION BRAGA AND GUIMARÃES

Portuguese Panoramas

Visit the Adventure Center on board for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.

DISCOVERY Step back in time within the walls of the Interpretation Centre of the Romanesque with a fascinating introduction to its symbolism and architecture. Enjoy an excursion with an exclusive visit to one of the most iconic monasteries of the Romanesque era with entrance to a XIII century church and be enchanted by sounds of Gregorian Chant from the high choir, OR:

CLASSIC Enter a world of Celtic history and the reign of Cesar Augustus where five roads diverged to form an empire with a full-day guided tour of Braga. Marvel at the magnificent castle and San Miguel church in Guimarães, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Celebrate your experience with a stop at one of the area’s many wine farms and enjoy a tasting.

Sample green wine and famous pastries with stops en route to Régua.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PORTO ANTIGO

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 6: PESO DA RÉGUA

Pastoral Pleasures of Portugal

DISCOVERY Experience life on one of the oldest farms in the Douro Valley with a personal tour by the owner of the house, including an olive oil and wine tasting, OR:

CLASSIC Take a guided walking tour of the charming town of Régua —with its religious architecture, narrow streets, beautiful tiles, and stained-glass window of Casa do Douro. Continue to Lamego to visit the cathedral, followed by a delicious tasting of bola de Lamego and sparkling wine in a local pastry shop.

Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy free time in Pinhão to browse the artisanal markets for woven textiles, terra cotta creations, and culinary delights, or consider joining an optional excursion to learn about the Douro Valley’s “liquid gold” at a traditional olive-oil mill.

This evening, consider an optional excursion to enjoy an authentic Portuguese dinner hosted by the local farmers.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PINHÃO

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 7: POCINHO

Written in Stone

Enjoy a relaxing cruise to Pocinho for a day in the Terra Quente region.

DISCOVERY Discover Vila Nova de Foz Côa at the eastern terminal of the legendary Douro Railway line. Marvel at the amazing archaeological site along the River Côa where a wealth of remarkable prehistoric rock paintings and carvings were discovered as the most significant collection of Palaeolithic figurations known today. Before returning to ship, enjoy hands-on workshop guided by an archeologist, OR:

CLASSIC Join a guided tour of Freixo de Numão, a charming village nestled between the nearby mountains filled with vast vineyards and granite houses. This little suburb is filled with Roman, Medieval, and modern ruins.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BARCA D’ALVA

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 8: BARCA D’ALVA. EXCURSION TO SALAMANCA

The Reign in Spain

Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.

CLASSIC Join our guide for a guided tour this morning to of one of the most remote villages of the country, Freixo de Espada à Cinta village in the Douro International Natural Park, home to majestic birds of prey, OR:

CLASSIC Get a taste of Spain with a full-day excursion to Salamanca. This Spanish city will take your breath away with its stunning streets and squares, featuring a feast for the eyes with Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque, and "Plateresque" architecture. Dive into a delicious dish of the traditional Spanish delicacy, tostón asado (traditional roast suckling pig).

In the afternoon you might wish to join our optional excursion to enjoy a do-it-yourself workshop to learn how to bake traditional Florinhas (Portuguese pastries).

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN POCINHO

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 9: CALDAS DE AREGOS. EXCURSION TO AMARANTE

Painted Tiles & Passionate Tunes

During your morning sailing, a professional painter will guide you through the process of painting an azulejos (traditional Portuguese tile) to take home a piece of Portugal’s tradition. You may alternatively join an optional excursion to 18th-century Casa de Mateus – birthplace of Mateus Rosé wine and a masterpiece of Baroque architecture.

CLASSIC Join a guided sightseeing tour of Amarante – poised against a breathtaking backdrop of the great Serra do Marão mountain and the Tâmega River, which courses through the heart of the city and assortment of houses lining the riverbanks.

Later, feel the passion of Portugal’s soulful and stirring Fado music during a visit with local musicians on board.

Enjoy a scenic sailing to Porto for a free evening to explore the city.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PORTO

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 10: PORTO

Ancient Charm Meets Avant-Garde

ACTIVE Enjoy the wharfs of the Douro River and the coastal magnificence of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia, on a bicycle and accompanied by a professional biologist tour guide, OR;

CLASSIC Join a guided sightseeing tour of Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Continue your experience with a ride to the riverside city of Matosinhos and up Avenida da Boavista to admire some of the modern charms of Porto – from ancient avenues to avant-garde graffiti street art, OR:

This afternoon, you may choose to join in a guided optional excursion such as a scenic canal cruise on the Aveiro (Venice of Portugal) or explore a family-owned factory to witness the Portuguese art of cork and barrel production. Perhaps simply spend time strolling through Porto’s cobblestone lanes, lovely shops, and tempting tapas bars this afternoon before experiencing the energy of Porto’s buzzing nightlife.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PORTO

(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

Day 11: PORTO (DISEMBARKATION)

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

(Breakfast)

Availability

Checking price
Price From $ 4,648
Price Per Day: $ 423 per day
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Mar-31-2024Apr-10-2024$ 4,648YesPlease Call Reserve
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Jul-06-2025Jul-16-2025$ 5,298YesAvailable Reserve
Jul-13-2025Jul-23-2025$ 5,298YesAvailable Reserve
Jul-20-2025Jul-30-2025$ 5,298YesAvailable Reserve
Jul-27-2025Aug-06-2025$ 5,298NoSold Out Reserve
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Sep-07-2025Sep-17-2025$ 5,498YesAvailable Reserve
Sep-14-2025Sep-24-2025$ 5,498YesAvailable Reserve
Sep-21-2025Oct-01-2025$ 5,498YesAvailable Reserve
Sep-28-2025Oct-08-2025$ 5,398YesAvailable Reserve
Oct-05-2025Oct-15-2025$ 5,398YesAvailable Reserve
Oct-12-2025Oct-22-2025$ 5,298YesAvailable Reserve
Oct-19-2025Oct-29-2025$ 5,098YesAvailable Reserve
Oct-26-2025Nov-05-2025$ 4,998YesAvailable Reserve
Nov-02-2025Nov-12-2025$ 4,798YesAvailable Reserve
Nov-09-2025Nov-19-2025$ 4,798YesAvailable Reserve
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Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

1,680 Avalon Waterways Travel Reviews & Ratings

97%
4.7 out of 5 (100+ reviews)
Excellent 1,448
Great 134
Average 45
Disappointing 15
Terrible 38
Value
4.7
Guide
4.7
Activities
4.7
Lodging
4.7
Transportation
4.7
Meals
4.7

Vida Portugal: Vineyards & Villages Along the Douro with 3 Nights in Lisbon

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Company Reviews

1st river cruise exceeded expectations

5.0
Details
Value5.0
Guide5.0
Activities5.0
Lodging5.0
Transportation5.0
Meals5.0
My wife and I were looking to do something special for our 50th anniversary so we booked a weeklong cruise on the Rhone. We had done many ocean cruises but this was our first river cruise and it was wonderful. The food, the entire staff, and the excursions were all first rate. We made many new friends during the cruise and I suspect we'll be back on a 2nd river cruise with Avalon in the not too distant future.
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The staff was very wonderful.

5.0
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Value5.0
Guide5.0
Activities5.0
Lodging5.0
Transportation5.0
Meals5.0
The staff was very wonderful.

Extraordinary hotel and central staff!

5.0
Details
Value5.0
Guide5.0
Activities5.0
Lodging5.0
Transportation5.0
Meals5.0
The hotel manager Mahai Stancui and his staff were fantastic. Went way above and beyond. Will be forever grateful. The food, beverages, tours and entertainment were all great too:)
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BEST River Cruise!

5.0
Details
Value5.0
Guide5.0
Activities5.0
Lodging5.0
Transportation5.0
Meals5.0
Best river cruise that we have taken! Excellent food, included snacks, waters, and coffees in the back lounge. Nice light lunch and dinner options in the main lounge. Cruise director and tours were top notch. Cabin was lovely and, had the weather been better, the doors that open would have been wonderful! Looking forward to another Avalon adventure!
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This was a time of many firsts for me

5.0
Details
Value5.0
Guide5.0
Activities5.0
Lodging5.0
Transportation5.0
Meals5.0
This was a time of many firsts for me. First time in Europe, first time on a cruise of any kind! It was amazing!

The ship was spotless elegance. Our room was amazing like every part of our trip! The food and the excursions were perfectly executed.

I can’t wait to go on another trip. Thank you Avalon!
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This was my first Rhine River Cruise

5.0
Details
Value5.0
Guide5.0
Activities5.0
Lodging5.0
Transportation5.0
Meals5.0
This was my first River Cruise and I was very excited and truly enjoyed everything. The Cruise Director Daniela was amazing and very personable and keeping us all updated on where to be, when we were doing it and what was happening. Loved the different color codes for the excursions as well. We had many wonderful people that helped our experience go smoothly. Andrew, Mili, Omer, Kadak, Umit, Adrian, Julia (what a hoot), Deyar, Phyo Wai and especially Daniela. They were all very helpful in making us have a great Rhine River Cruise. Thank you to everyone on Avalon Expression.
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Details

Deck & Cabin Plans

Optional Activities

WCC|Vida Portugal Vineyards & Villages Along the Douro
WCCQ|With 3 Nights in Lisbon

Group Size

Standard Group - 25 + people

Accommodations

Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Lisboa

This luxurious 286-room hotel is set in one of the capital's elegant landmark buildings which dates back to 1933, located directly on the famous Avenida de Liberdade, in the heart of Lisbon. The bright, airy guest rooms are all air-conditioned and include flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, minibars and complimentary premium toiletries. The hotel has a top-floor panoramic restaurant offering international cuisine and a great selection of wines. A sleek rooftop sky bar, a seasonal outdoor swimming pool framed by a green garden of century-old botanical trees, a gym and a SPA area complete the hotel amenities and Free Wi-Fi internet access is available throughout the property.

Lisbon

Portugal

Avenida de Liberdade 185

Trip ID#:

AVALON-WCCQ

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