Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

There simply is no way to tour Europe & not be awestruck by its natural beauty, epic history, dazzling artistic & culinary diversity. From soaring mountains to golden sands, Europee reveals a tapestry of quaint & contemporary cultures – always with enough rough edges to keep you intrigued

Welcome to   mesmerizing Portugal – with its medieval castles, cobblestone villages, captivating cities & golden beaches. The Portugal experience can be many things.

Arrive in the city of Lisbon - Portugal’s hilly capital, a coastal city known for its cafe culture & soulful Fado music.

After you exit in the Arrival Hall at Terminal? - Lisbon Humberto Delgado Portela Airport, subsequent to Immigration & Customs, you will be welcomed by The Journeys representative who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to the hotel, help you settle in & provide you with some useful tips for exploring the area as well as discuss the program for the next day.

If, for any reason you are unable to make contact with our representative within 30 minutes of waiting, please call the local Emergency telephone # listed on your Contact List. Please follow the advice given by our 24 / 7 Duty Officer.  Please do not exit the Airport & make your own way to the hotel unless advised.

Reach the hotel & Check-in.

*Check-in time is 02.00 pm. For earlier arrivals in the morning, we will request the hotel for a complimentary early Check-in but cannot be guaranteed unless reserved & paid for ‘immediate occupancy’.

Balance of the morning / afternoon is at leisure to relax or independent exploration or optional activities (we shall be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements). 

Monumental History| Artistic Treasures| Scenic Views | Living Life

Seven cinematic hillsides overlooking the Rio Tejo cradle Lisbon's postcard-perfect panorama of cobbled alleyways, ancient ruins & white-domed cathedrals - a captivating scene crafted over centuries.

Capped by a collection of terraces known as miradouros (viewpoints), a must-see web of no-filter-necessary views over Lisbon with its trademark hills spread across the cityscape like lofty guardians of colour & history. Windswept vistas reveal the city in all its beauty: Roman & Moorish ruins, white-domed cathedrals, grand plazas lined with sun-drenched cafes. From imposing Sao Jorge Castle, the view encompasses the old city’s pastel-colored buildings, Tagus Estuary & the Ponte 25 de Abril suspension bridge. Nearby, the National Azulejo Museum displays 5 centuries of decorative ceramic tiles. The real delight of discovery though, is delving into the narrow cobblestone lanes as yellow trams clatter through tree-lined streets, lisboetas stroll through lamplit old quarters, much as they have done for centuries.

Cheap booze & the absence of open-container laws means Lisbon loves a night on the town! Don't be fooled by Bairro's Alto's sleepy daytime feel - by night, these narrow cobbled lanes transform into one of Europe's most raucous drinking locales. Student dives, traditional fado houses, upscale wine bars & LGBT hot spots merrily coexist among the muddled mess. In Cais do Sodre, Pink Street & environs are home to some of the city's classic nightclubs & rowdiest cocktail bars, while trendier mega clubs stretch along the waterfront from Santos to Santa Apolonia. 

Lisbon's strategic seaside position on Europe's doorstep means a bounty of fresh seafood (octopus, tuna, monkfish, shrimp, sardines, clams, snails) rules the city's kitchens, from Michelin-starred restaurants to gourmet-food markets to countless corner tascas (taverns). Top-grade Alentejan beef beckons with juicy steaks & gourmet burgers, and you will find everything from tantalising Indian curries to authentic Moroccan couscous in between.

Gossip is exchanged over fresh bread & wine at tiny patio restaurants as fado singers perform in the background. In other parts of town, Lisbon reveals her youthful alter ego at bohemian bars & riverside clubs, late-night street parties & eye-catching boutiques selling all things classic & cutting-edge.

A trip to Lisbon is as much about lapping up the dolce vita lifestyle as gorging on art & culture. It is about relaxing into the city's Mediterranean rhythms & idling around the picturesque streets. The tempo rises as the heat of the day fades into the evening cool & the fashionably dressed aperitivo (aperitif) crowd descends on the city's bars & cafes. Restaurants & trattorias hum with activity & cheerful hordes mill around popular haunts before heading off to cocktail bars & late-night clubs.

And just outside Lisbon there is more - enchanting woodlands, gorgeous Atlantic beaches & seaside villages from Cascais to Estoril - all ripe for discovery.

Balance of the day at leisure or perhaps opt for one of the many options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Overnight.   

Morning at 09:00 pm, meet the Tour-guide and proceed for a 4 hour sightseeing of the city.

Lisbon is an enticing tangle of past and present - funky & old-fashioned, unpretentious & quirky, restored and revitalised, booming with new confidence. With cultural diversity combined with a laid-back ambience and an architectural time-warp, this is one of Europe's most enjoyable cities.

Hop aboard an air-conditioned coach or an Asian Tuk Tuk & explore the most intriguing landmarks, delving into Lisbon’s historic Moorish influenced historic district of Alfama rich with tiled buildings & cobblestone alleyways. Wind around streets and stop to pop into a local wine shop to sip Port (fortified wine), exclusively produced in the Douro Valley of northern Portugal. Drive along the Avenida da Liberdade, a fashionable tree-lined street through the centre of town. If time allows, walk through the city’s oldest quarter - Baixa, Rossio & Restauradores. Then, drive towards the coast of the Tagus River and pass the historic Commerce Square (Praca do Comercio), which was completely rebuilt after the devastating Lisbon Earthquake of 1755.

From the beautiful waterfront see the beautiful Se de Lisboa cathedral - a 12^th century church remodeled numerous times, but carrying Roman architectural roots.

Continue on to Belem, home to the 16^th century UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites Belem Tower & Jeronimos Monastery (from outside only). Admire these prime examples of Portuguese Manueline art, as you traverse the edge of the Tagus. Next stop will be the Discoveries Monument. Learn how this monument celebrates Vasco da Gama’s expedition to the Americas during Portugal’s Age of Discovery in the 15^th & 16^th centuries. Walk down to the Coach Museum to enjoy one of the finest collections of 17^th century luxury coaches.

As the sightseeing tour comes to an end, marvel at the 25^th of April Bridge, longest of its kind in Europe & similar to San Francisco’s Golden Gate, suspended over the Tagus River.

After lunch (direct payment), proceed a half day 5 hour excursion to Sintra, a resort town in the foothills of Sintra Mountains and a UNESCO World Heritage site. A long time royal sanctuary, with its rippling mountains, dewy forests thick with ferns & lichen, exotic gardens & pastel-hued glittering palaces, folded into luxuriant hills that roll down to the blue Atlantic, Sintra is like a page torn from a fairy tale.

Celts worshipped their moon god here, the Moors built a precipitous castle, and 18^th century Portuguese royals swanned around its dreamy gardens. It features many delightful palaces like Castle of the Moors, the beautiful 19^th century hilltop Palace of Pena known for its whimsical design and sweeping views and the Moorish Manueline style Sintra National Palace, distinguished by its dramatic twin chimneys and elaborate tilework (from outside only - Entrance Fees not included)..

On the way back to Lisbon, drive by the coast through the aristocratic villages of Cascais & Estoril, enjoying a a breathtaking view of the Mouth of the Tagus River. The highlight of the trip is the Casino where Casino Royale with James Bond, the famous spy 007 was filmed.

Return to the hotel in Lisbon.

Evening at leisure or perhaps opt for one of the many Options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Early morning around 07:00 am, depart for a full day 5 hour excursion.

First stop will be at Obidos, a medieval symbol of narrow streets surrounded by walls & known for its typical white houses with blue trim, flowered windows, narrow streets & steps paved with beautiful stone.

Embark on a walking tour, passing through the 18^th century entry arch covered in glazed tiles (azulejos). Small bright white houses lining narrow cobblestone streets, flower pots on window-sills, Gothic & Renaissance churches - especially the beautiful Church of Santa Maria - reminds one of the importance of Obidos's past.

Continue to Nazare, one of the most famous fishing towns in Portugal. Among the brightly coloured rowing-boats moored on the beach bathed by the Atlantic Ocean, one may watch the fisher folks bring in the nets. A superb view is enjoyed from the "Sitio" from where you may observe women still wearing the traditional seven-skirted costumes near the Nossa Virgem de Nazare Basilica, an important pilgrimage centre.

Visit the Monastery of Batalha, a gothic masterpiece classified as a UNESCO World heritage site.

Next stop is nearby Fatima, the well-known Roman Catholic Marian shrine. Visit the Basilica and the Chapel of Apparitions that marks the spot where the three shepherd children had visions in 1917.

Return to the hotel by late afternoon.

Balance of the day at leisure (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Alas, the experience comes to an end & it is time to say good-bye.

Check-out of the hotel by 12:00 noon (if the departure time is later in the evening, we will request the hotel to allow you use the facilities and leave the luggage at the Bell Desk). 

Medieval castles, cobblestone villages, captivating cities and golden beaches: the Portugal experience can be many things. History, great food & idyllic scenery are just the beginning…

“ Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do” - Mark Twain

Enough reasons, we are sure, that will entice you to come back.

In time, you will be met by a Journeys Rep, who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to Terminal? -  Lisbon Humberto Delgado Portela Airport for your onward journey.  B

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