See what everyone is talking about on this fabulous trip to Portugal. From Lisbon to Porto, experience the history, food, culture and friendly people of Portugal. From motorboats on the Douro River to picnics on the grounds of a palace, this small group trip is sure to amaze and delight!

This trip is a small group of only 10-15 women travelers with a full time host throughout the trip.

Fun Women Travel was founded with an understanding of the deep sense of community most women feel when in the company of like minded women.

Fun Women Travel Groups are for women who like to travel but may not always solo. Fun women travel with an open heart and a curious mind. Fun women leave unnecessary baggage behind. Fun women travel with a heart full of the company of like minded women travelers.

Fun Women Travel groups have partnered with women-owned or women-managed partners (or partners with a proven track record of empowering women) to create culturally immersive itineraries in interesting destinations. All trips are small (10-15 ladies), have at least one experience with women citizens in the destination, and have some fun experiences thrown in to push our boundaries just a little!

Arrive at airport in Porto. Take a taxi or Uber to the hotel. We can arrange private transfers for additional cost, if preferred.

Please schedule your flight to arrive in time for our welcome dinner at 7:30pm.

Check in to the Pestana Porto.

Tonight, we will gather to meet each other, while sharing a delicious welcome dinner all together. Wine is included.

Meals included: D

Your Full Day tour will start with Porto's Baixa (Downtown) which is laid out around the Avenida dos Aliados (Avenue of the Allies), the city´s focal point. At the top of this thoroughfare, there is the imposing Municipal Council building. At the other end, it opens onto the Praça da Liberdade (Liberty Square) where there is a statue of a mounted Pedro IV (19th century), emperor of Brazil and, like much of Oporto, a supporter of the Liberalism movement. In a show of recognition, the king literally gave his heart to the city, now watched over in the Church of Lapa.

Heading up Rua de São Filipe Néry, there is the Church and Tower dos Clérigos (Ecclesiastics), the centerpiece of the city and the most original design by Nicolau Nasoni. From 75 meters up in the tower, there is a wonderful panoramic view over the city of Porto and beyond. On the way, nip into the Lello bookshop and admire the lavish decoration bestowed on this temple to culture. 

Surrounding this center, there is a dense network of streets packed with stores and cafes. Of the latter, the magnificent Majestic and the cheerfully bustling Mercado do Bolhão are well worth a visit. On the streets, 31 de Janeiro Galeria de Paris and Cândido dos Reis check out the facades with their Art Nouveau finishings.

To the side of the square, take a look at the São Bento (Saint Benedict) railway station to see the pictured tiles in the entrance hall. Then head down the Rua das Flores (Street of Flowers), with its goldsmiths and the exuberant baroque façade of the Church of Misericórdia (Compassion), a masterpiece by architect Nicolau Nasoni.

Just a little bit uphill, you'll find the Cathedral. Besides the church, which was begun in the 12th century, it is worth visiting the tile-covered cloisters. The precinct, with its pillory and other monuments, has a superb view over the river and the houses on both sides.

Continue downhill towards the riverfront - Ribeira - This is one of the most attractive districts of Porto, in which you get a feel for the ancient vernacular ambiance. You can start a cruise on the Douro from here. In this area, you will see two of the most important monuments. First the Church of S. Francisco, the most important Gothic church in the city, whose Baroque interior is completely covered in gilt carvings. And just attached to it, you'll find the Palácio da Bolsa (Stock Exchange). A beautiful 19th-century building, whose highlights include the famous Salão Árabe (Arab Hall), the Hall of Nations, and a remarkable grand staircase.

Included: Certified guide and driver, lunch at a local restaurant

In the afternoon, you will visit the Pink Palace at WOW.

In centuries old Port wine cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia, WOW pays homage to the region, and shines a light on the most important Portuguese industries and traditions.

But WOW is more than museums, it is an entire district full of new and exciting things to do, explore, and learn.

Six museum experiences, nine restaurants, shops, a temporary exhibition space, an events space and a wine school.

We will do the Pink Palace experience - one of the funnest things to do in Porto! Be ready to let your hair down and have some fun, all while sampling some rose wines. Everything is more fun with rose!

Note: Entry to pink palace included with tasting of 5 Rosé wines!!

 We will finish the evening with dinner at a local restaurant. Three course meal with wine included. Transfers included.

Meals included: B, L, D

The Douro Valley could as easily be called the enchanted valley, such is the beauty and magic that its landscapes offer.

In the Douro Valley, you will admire breathtaking landscapes over the river and visit vineyards, towns, and villages.

Classified a world heritage site, the man gave birth to port wine and table wines of great quality. Port wine is the oldest Ambassador of Portugal. Cultivated in terraces of the Douro, has the honor to belong to one of the oldest demarcated regions in the world since in 1756 was created the General Company of Agriculture and Vineyards of the Alto Douro. Here was also born the Douro table wines, which in recent decades have acquired great notoriety and border projection thanks to their quality, both in the reds as the whites and rosés. Green in summer, fire color in autumn, the Vineyard has given rise to a unique landscape classified by Unesco. 

We will depart our hotel at 8:30 for a full day in the Douro Valley.

We will start our day with a guided e-bike tour of the Douro Valley. 

Overlooking the Douro River and Vila do Pinhão. On an electric mountain bike, you will enjoy the fresh air, needing some experience and dexterity to travel its dirt tracks and some winding paths. The excitement and pleasure of a couple of hours well spent is guaranteed! Bike tour through the vineyards from Favaios Village to Pinhao.

Includes: Bike tour, all logistics and material, guides, personal accident insurance, liability insurance, water in individual bottles.

Description: Approximate distance 18km, duration 2 hours, terrain is national secondary roads and dirt tracks with smooth ground; Medium difficulty: a light plain terrain at the beginning with a technical descent as the trail continues.

Recommend comfortable clothing and footwear.

Next we will head to the Quinta do Portal Wine estate for a visit and lunch.

Quinta do Portal is a family fine winemaking company that embraced with passion the “Boutique Winery” concept. We are producers of Douro wines, premium Port Wines, fortified Moscatel wines and a little Olive Oil.

Included: lunch with traditional Portuguese meal paired with estate premium wines, guided visit to the estate.

We will end our day with a private river cruise in the Douro Valley.

Sailing on the Douro River is one of the most beautiful experiences when visiting the region. Embark on a relaxed experience, passing through the main Quintas of the Douro Wine Region, many stories will be shared by the experienced skipper.

After the cruise, transfer back to Porto.

Dinner on your own. We can make recommendations for local restaurants, if desired.

Meals included: B, L

Today, we check out and say goodbye to our friends in Porto.

On the way, we will visit Coimbra with a guided tour.

Entering in the city of Coimbra we’ll find several traces of the past. Nevertheless, there’s still a blow of youthfulness with the big student community arriving every year to the old University. This monument should indeed be one of the highlights of your visit and you cannot miss the University chapel and its Baroque library.

Visit the Old Cathedral (1162) in Romanesque style, one of the oldest temples in Portugal; New Cathedral (1598) Jesuit Temple and former school; Academic Quarter, where we can see the various academic republics, private houses where students live today, and where illustrious Portuguese poets once lived; Almedina, gateway to the ancient Moorish walled city; Inquisition Courtyard, where catholic convictions made thousands of deaths through Fire to witches, Jews, and other infidels; St. James Church, a must-pass for all pilgrims heading to Santiago de Compostela; We finish in Santa Cruz Church (1131), founded by the 1st King of Portugal and where he is buried next to his son. It was here where St. Anthony graduated as an Augustine monk.

Enjoy a lovely lunch in Coimbra before continuing to Lisbon with a possible stop in Óbidos. This will depend on timing.

In Lisbon, we will check into the Boutique Hotel PortoBay Liberdada. This 98-room hotel is converted from three imposing turn-of-the century buildings just off the wide Avenida Liberdade, Lisbon’s main boulevard. The impressive array of facilities includes a heated indoor swimming pool, good spa, small rooftop terrace and hot tub. All with a convenient location just off Lisbon's main thoroughfare. 

Note: there is an additional city tax of 2 euro per person, per night that must be paid directly to the hotel.

Dinner on your own. We can recommend some good local restaurants or the hotel has a restaurant.

Meals included: B, L

This tour will take you on a full-day journey exploring the best of Sintra and Cascais Coast.

On they way to Sintra you will enjoy the Ocean views along the Cascais Coast and have a stroll in the town center.

Lunch, as a group, can be enjoyed in the Cascais town center or by the ocean at a local restaurant. 

After lunch continue to the World Heritage Site of Sintra. A town of palaces, landscapes, culture, art and also of great romantics who passed through here. Learn about the ancient myths of Celtic bards, the Moorish legends, the passions of the Christian Reconquest and a masonry that makes this site so unique in the world and yet so magical!

There were several romantic figures that have passed in Sintra. From literature to music, the town of Sintra has inspired various figures and dazzled others with its mystical and charming environment. We visit the Historical Center of Sintra, with a visit to the traditional narrow streets full of flowers and local craft shops, viewpoints, with time to taste the local traditional sweets.

Pena Royal Palace - After hours entrance tickets

In the top10 of the most beautiful palaces in the world! A real enchanted palace. One of the most beautiful examples of the romantic revival of the 19th century. Built on the site of a former convent of friars from the Order of St. Jerome. A fantasy from King Fernando of Saxe Coburg-Gotha. A palace with a complexity of styles: neo-Gothic, neo-Manueline, neo-Islamic and neo-Renaissance.

Once the visit to the Pena Palace is completed, you will return to the hotel.

Dinner on your own.

Meals: B, L

Guided visit to the west quarter of Lisbon - Belem. 

Bathed by the the mouth of the Tagus River, visit Belém with its gardens and monuments to the Lisbon of the Voyages of Discovery now declared UNESCO World Heritage. 

Next on the tour is the imposing Jerónimos Monastery. Listed as World Heritage since 1983, it is a real book of stone on the golden period in Portugal’s History. After admiring the south portal in detail, it is worth visiting the cloisters and the church where Luís de Camões and Vasco da Gama are buried.

On the western edge of Praça do Império, an imposing modern building will attract your attention. This is the Belém Cultural Centre, a powerful fixture in the city’s cultural scene, with an interesting programme of cultural events. This is where the Berardo Museum is housed, with its collection of contemporary art.

Don't miss the chance to pay a visit to the Belém Tower, a fortress erected in the 16th century with the aim of defending the entrance to the Tagus from sea attacks – although its elaborate decoration makes it look more like a textbook on Manueline style than a military structure.

The imposing Monument to the Discoveries stamps its mark on the riverside at Belém. It was designed in 1940 to commemorate the "Exposition of the Portuguese World", promoted by the Salazar government to celebrate the eighth and third centenaries of the founding and restoration of the Portuguese nation (1140 and 1640 respectively). However, it was only built in 1960 for commemorations marking 500 years since the death of Prince Henry the Navigator. Designed by architect Cottinelli Telmo, it features the work of sculptor Leopoldo de Almeida. 52 metres in height, the monument symbolises a caravel, headed by the figure of Prince Henry the Navigator followed by a cortege of 32 leading figures from the Era of the Discoveries including, for example, king Afonso V (1432-81), the driving force behind the first discoveries, Vasco da Gama (1460-1524) who discovered the maritime route to India, Pedro Álvares Cabral (1467-1520), who discovered Brazil and Fernando Magellan, who completed the circumnavigation of the globe in 1522, among others.

Take a delicious stop at the traditional Pastry Factory of “Pasteis de Belem”. At the beginning of the 19th Century, in Belém, next to Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (the Heironymite Monastery) there was a sugar cane refinery attached to a small general store. As a result of the 1820 liberal revolution, all convents and monasteries in Portugal were shut down in 1834, the clergy and labourers expelled. In an attempt at survival, someone from the monastery offered sweet pastries for sale in the shop; pastries that rapidly became known as ‘Pastéis de Belém’.

In 1837, the baking of the “Pastéis de Belém”began in the buildings attached to the refinery, following the ancient ‘secret recipe` from the monastery. Passed on and known exclusively to the master confectioners who hand-crafted the pastries in the ‘secret room’, this recipe remained unchanged to the present day.

We will have lunch in a local restaurant in Lisbon.

We will continue our Lisbon touring day with a tour of Lisbon Old Town.

A big part of the beauty of Lisbon lies down on its citizens, in the way these people relate with the city, in the way they gather in the alleys and patios, in the way they taste their coffee and pastry side by side with beautiful monuments of singular architecture.

You will cover a few of the main areas depending on the groups preferences.

We'll visit Bairro Alto, one of the most emblematic neighborhoods in Lisbon. Here, you can feel the "Fado" while the tram passes by. From the belvedere, we'll be able to feel the heartbeat of the city and to admire its beautiful hills. We'll continue our tour going down the hill to the area of Chiado, an important centre of commerce and cultural activity - it was here that writers and philosophers used to gather to discuss their ideas back in the early 20th century. In front of the historical "A Brasileira" café, we'll pass by the statue of Fernando Pessoa drinking his coffee, watching people passing by. From there, to Baixa Pombalina, the historical centre rebuilt after the earthquake in 1755. The new wide streets and 5 floor buildings gave a new dimension and image to the city.

Visit the Cathedral of Lisbon.

Lisbon Cathedral is one of the city's gems and one of the most significant monuments in the country, due to its historical, religious and artistic value. Its construction began in 1147, when the first king of Portugal, D. Afonso Henriques, reconquered the city from the Moors. It was built on a Muslim mosque - which in turn, as the archaeological excavations confirmed, had been built on a previous Visigothic Christian temple.

The original building followed the canons of the Romanesque style, but between the 13th and 14th centuries it suffered its first changes. During the reign of D. Dinis, the cloister was built, in Gothic style. Later King D. Afonso IV ordered the construction of the ambulatory for his family pantheon, which made the Cathedral more apt to receive pilgrims who came to see the relics of St. Vincent.

End your walking tour with Alfama - the oldest neighborhood of Lisbon, spreading on the slope between the São Jorge Castle and the Tagus river. Its name comes from the Arabic Al-hamma, meaning "hot fountains" or "baths," akin to "hammam".

Alfama is a delightful maze of narrow cobbled streets and ancient houses.

Contained within this diverse and charismatic district are many of Lisbon's most important historic buildings, including the Cathedral, Castle of St George, and National Pantheon.

Historically, Alfama was situated outside of the city walls and was associated with poverty and squalor, where only the poor and disadvantaged lived. As Lisbon grew into a major seafaring city, the district retained its lowly status as the tough and deprived district where sailors and dock workers lived.

The great 1755 Lisbon earthquake did not destroy the Alfama, which has remained a picturesque labyrinth of narrow streets and small squares. Lately, the neighborhood has been invigorated with the renovation of the old houses and new restaurants where Fado—Portuguese typical melancholy music—can be enjoyed.

In the slopes of Alfama there are other terraces (miradouros) from which to see the city, like the Miradouro de Santa Luzia, near the church of the same name and over remnants of the Moorish city walls, and the Miradouro das Portas do Sol (Gates of the Sun). Near Miradouro of Santa Luzia is located the Museum of Decorative Arts (Museu de Artes Decorativas), a 17th-century mansion with magnificent interiors.

Today, Alfama has shrugged off this grim reputation, and has transformed into a fashionable and artisan district, but still retains its unique character and rich heritage.

For visitors, Alfama is a joy to visit and is often best explored by simply getting lost within the labyrinth of alleys and side streets. Around every corner or a steep climb, is a delightful plaza, a trendy cafe, an independent shop, or a panoramic viewpoint.

We will end our touring day with a private panoramic tour in Lisbon with a traditional tram - all to ourselves!!!!

ITINERARY: Belém - Junqueira - Calvário - 24 Julho - Cais Sodré – P. Comércio – P. Figueira – M. Moniz – Alm. Reis - Graca – S. Vicente - Portas do Sol

The old Lisbon trams are one of the most unique ways to know the city. Going up and down the seven hills of Lisbon since the late 19th century, these picturesque trams fit perfectly in all the alleys and narrow streets of the Portuguese capital. In this activity you will be riding the most exclusive tram of Lisbon carefully restored according to the 19thcentury standards when the trams were, in fact, the most modern way to move around the city. This tram ride allows you to absorb all the atmosphere of the old neighborhoods of Alfama, Chiado or the Downtown of Lisboa all of them just outside the window of what will be (at least for a while) your own tram.

Dinner on your own.

Meals: B, L

You can enjoy a day at leisure in Lisbon to explore or enjoy the spa at the hotel (we can help make arrangements, if desired).

Or you can choose one of two optional activities.

Option 1: Soft Coasteering at Arrabida

An adrenaline rush, an unforgettable experience in a scenery of spectacular beauty of the Arrabida Natural Park! 

Coasteering is one of the most powerful ways to experience nature, immerse yourself in breathtaking landscapes and enjoy incredibly fun experiences.

Coasteering consists of a progression along the coastline, involving jumping into the water, swimming, walking and easy rock climbing.

This activity allows you to discover scenarios and hidden spots, otherwise impossible to see. 

Cost: 170 euro (See optional add on in pricing)

Option 2: Cooking Workshop at Chef's Home with Market Experience

Meet chef Artur at his local market or directly at his home (if you can only do this for dinner or a day the market is closed) for a hands-on experience about Portuguese "petiscos".

This one-on-one time with the chef at the market will allow you to meet some of the vendors, pick some fresh ingredients you may want to try, and learn how to cook or just take in the chef's suggestions for his favorite "petiscos" to cook. Chef Artur has some particular ways of cooking some of the most basic ingredients and transforming them into fresh and surprisingly delicious treats.

This is a very complete, fun, and tasty experience that you will not forget. The class can be as hands-on as you want it to be or feel comfortable with and lunch will be served al fresco on the patio if the weather so permits. We usually recommend not booking anything immediately after this experience as guests may want to take a stroll or even a nap afterward.

Duration: approx. 4h

Cost: 290 euro (see optional add on in pricing)

To end our fabulous trip, we will all come together for a farewell experience - a Fado Night!

At 7h30 PM your driver and guide will be waiting for you at your hotel lobby, ready to take you to a Fado night. The show begins at 8h45 PM.

Fado is Portuguese and was born in Lisbon. It was adopted by Portuguese culture and is now a symbol of Portugal, with a strong tradition in the historic districts of Lisbon. The three-hour show features talented artists – a singer and two musicians (Portuguese guitar and classical guitar) – performing Fado and the music that makes it the national song.

It is said that Fado combines nostalgia (saudade), Portuguese pride, hope and conformism in a musical style epitomized by Amália Rodrigues. On account of these unique characteristics, Fado has now been declared part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

Today you will experience a portuguese dinner with a fado live performance at Clube de Fado.

Round trip transfers included.

Meals: B, D (L if choosing the optional cooking class)

After breakfast, we will check out of the hotel and say goodbye to our new forever friends.

You can order an Uber or have the hotel call a taxi to the airport for your return flight home. We can also arrange a private transfer at additional cost.

If you want to stay on in Lisbon, we can arrange additional nights, based on availability.

Goodbye, farewell, until we meet again! Safe Fun Women Travels home!

We thank you for joining us and sharing yourselves and your stories with Fun Women Travel!

Meals: B