Visit Portgual - Enchanting Vacations to Portugal that Have It All

Explore Portugal

Lisbon, Douro Valley, The Algarve, Madeira, Porto, Funchal

Enchanting Getaways to Portugal

Portugal was a major maritime player in Europe’s search for riches and global trade routes from the 15^th– to the 18^th-century. Fearless Portuguese explorers like Prince Henry the Navigator, Vasco da Gama, and Ferdinand Magellan sailed the oceans, sketching crude maps of the new lands they discovered beyond the horizon.

Today Portugal is enjoying a different kind of golden age, as record-breaking numbers of international tourists are attracted to its beauty, heritage, and culture.

Tourists agree that Portugal has it all:

Dazzling Capital – Travel and Leisure calls Lisbon “one of the most vibrant cities in Europe.”
Beautiful small towns like Aveiro, “Portugal’s Venice” and the Municipality of Evora, a UNESCO site with an ancient Roman temple at its town center
Fabulous beaches and resorts on the Algarve coast
Affordable prices – The beautiful city of Porto was named Europe’s #2 most affordable city by S. News and World Report.
Top culinary destination with the perfect combination of mouth-watering seafood and meat dishes, Portuguese wines, and jaw-dropping low prices
15 UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the cultural, fairytale setting of Sintra (near Lisbon), the Alto Douro Wine Region, and Lisbon’s Jerónimos monastery
Diverse landscapes of mountains, fertile river valleys, dense woodlands, rolling plains, dramatic coastline, and exotic islands.
Passionate, friendly people – Portugal’s most valuable asset

Wherever you travel in this beautiful southern European country, you’ll soon fall in love with its people and find yourself planning a return trip to Portugal.

Let’s Plan Your Dream Trip Together!

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Baldwin Travel meticulously researches every aspect of your itinerary to give you the thrilling, customized vacation or destination wedding you desire. Cindy Baldwin is a seasoned world traveler who has been to many places you’ll be visiting. Her personal insights are certain to enhance your trip with unforgettable moments, people, and places.

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“Cindy is fabulous with her recommendations and off-the-beaten-track traveling. The hotels are welcoming, clean, and truly lovely. Why would anyone book elsewhere? You rock, Cindy!”

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Customized Vacations to Portugal’s Favorite Places

Family Trips ♦ Romantic Getaways ♦ Fun in the Sun ♦ Active Adventures ♦ Laid-back & Leisurely ♦ Honeymoons ♦ Destination Weddings

Lisbon

Sophisticated and cultured, Portugal’s capital city undulates over hills where the Tagus River flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Lisbon’s abundant treasures include world-class museums, palaces, Moorish castles, and religious structures. Grand plazas and hip neighborhoods like Santos, Lisbon’s revitalized waterside community. Visit the iconic hilltop St. George’s Castle, People watch at Rossio Square. Shop at Lisbon’s famous Mercado da Ribeira, and ride a cable car up to Bairro Alto, Lisbon’s top nightlife destination.

Douro Valley

Rich in natural beauty and historical treasures, the entire Douro Valley in northern Portugal is a World Heritage site and fondly called the “Enchanted Valley.” Take a riverboat cruise and marvel at Douro’s spectacular countryside and rolling hills of vineyards. Enjoy wine-tasting tours and drink Portugal’s famous port wine in the region where it is exclusively produced. Visit the capital city of Porto and tour the cultural highlights that dot the valley’s landscape like museums, national parks, and a hilltop shrine.

The Algarve

Portugal’s southernmost region, the Algarve is a top European vacation destination. It’s breath-taking coastline and beaches are the setting for first-class resorts, delicious cuisine, and plenty of activities. In Faro, enjoy the regional capital’s history, cafes, and landmark cathedral in “Old Town.” Explore scenic towns throughout the Algarve like Albufeira with its dramatic cliff-backed coves, Alcoutim with its 14th-century castle and museum on the Portugal/Spanish border, and Tavira, a picturesque town straddling the broad River Gilao.

Madeira

Portugal’s Madeira is a mountainous volcanic island where dramatic cliffs rise high from the water’s edge. Located in the Atlantic Ocean about 600 miles southwest of Lisbon, this sub-tropical island thrills visitors with its intense beauty, cultural delights, and spirit of adventure such as a mile-high walk among the clouds atop Pico do Arieiro mountain. Sample the island’s famous Madeira fortified wines and Poncha, a strong alcoholic drink. Dine on a rare Black Scabbard fish fillet with Banana and top off the meal with passion fruit pudding.

Porto

The capital city of Duoro Valley, Porto is situated where the Douro River flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Enjoy the city’s core, a World Heritage site filled with historic medieval landmarks like the grand 12th-century Se Cathedral, churches, buildings, and museums. Take a winery tour and taste Porto’s world-famous wines. Tour the imposing Palacio da Bolsa. Climb to the top of the Clergos Tower. Enjoy the youthful ambiance of Cais da Ribeira, Porto’s colorful riverside quarter and social hub. Taste Tripas a Moda do Porto, a popular dish, and top it off with a custard dessert tart.

Funchal

The capital of Madeira, Funchal is a sun-drenched city of steep hills and terraces. Rich in history and culture, Funchal welcomes visitors to explore historic monuments like sea forts, museums, and a 16th-century cathedral that still serves the community. Ride a cable car up to the spectacular hillside Botanical Garden, and enjoy panoramic 360-degree island and ocean views. Then take a fast ride back down the hill in a wicker toboggan, a one-of-a-kind experience that novelist Ernest Hemingway once called “exhilarating.” Taste flavorful island cuisine like Wine and Garlic Pork with Fried Bread or Tuna Steak with Fried Maize.

Did You Know?

Interesting facts about Portugal

World Heritage: Portugal has 15 UNESCO World Heritage sites including the Historic Centre of Porto, the Alto Douro Wine Region, and the Tower of Belem in Lisbon.

Ancient Roots: Lisbon is older than Rome—dating back to 1200 BC—and among the oldest cities in Europe

Exploration: Portugal was the world’s first maritime power, and birthplace to some of the world’s first explorers such as Ferdinand Magellan and Vasco de Gama.

Party Time: Lisbon hosts the largest festivities in Portugal during the entire month of June, so plan your vacation accordingly.

Fireworks: The spectacular New Year’s Eve fireworks display in Funchal Bay, Madeira Island, is considered the greatest in the world by the Guinness World Records.

Sandcastles: The beachfront town of Pera in the Algarve is the site of FIESA, the largest sand sculptures festival in the world.

SAMPLE ITINERARY FOR TRAVEL TO PORTUGAL

8-Day Portugal Adventure

Day 1: Lisbon

Arrival in Lisbon. After you clear customs, you’ll be met by your driver who will be holding a sign with your name on it. You’ll be driven to your centrally located 4-star hotel.

Day 2: Lisbon

After breakfast, take a stroll and discover the beauty of Lisbon. For lunch, make your way to Restaurant Doca Peixe for a special meal. This evening enjoy a traditional Fado show and drinks. The show is located in a restored 17th century stable.

Day 3: Condeixa-a-Nova

After breakfast, pick up your rental car at a convenient downtown Lisbon location and drive to the Pousada De Condeixa-a-Nova, Santa Cristina. This former 16th-century palace in Condeixa has housed European nobility.

Day 4: Mesao Frio

After breakfast, take a relaxing drive to the Solar da Rede, an 18th-century manor house in Mesao Frio with a breathtaking view of the Douro River.

Day 5: Mesao Frio

After breakfast, enjoy a city tour. The rest of the day is at your leisure.

Day 6: Porto

After breakfast, drive to Porto in time for a river cruise. After the cruise, you tour a wine cellar in the world’s oldest demarcated wine region—the Douro Valley—under the supervision of the Port Wine Institute.

Day 7: Porto

After breakfast, explore Porto. In the afternoon, enjoy lunch at Restaurant Don Tohno in the shadow of the Dom Luis Bridge on the Porto River.

Day 8: Farewell, Portugal!

Return your rental car at the airport and say good-bye to amazing Portugal.

This is one example of a luxurious trip to Portugal. Baldwin Travel will prepare a special itinerary customized to your budget and desires. Contact us today!