Classic Travel - by Malgosia and Jurek Majcherczyk

Day. 1      Departure NYC for overnight flight to Lisbon

Late evening departs from JFK or Newark Airport on TAP Air Portugal or United Airlines or other airlines. Overnight non-stop flight to Lisbon. Dinner on board of the plane. Majority of the group members are flying on Portugal TAP#204 departing Newark at 11:15pm.

Day. 2     Morning arrival at Lisbon. PM: City Tour

Arrive Lisbon on late morning. TAP#204 arrive at 10:55am. Welcome by our local guide and transfer to the hotel in the city center.

On the way to the hotel, we will have a panoramic tour of the city with short stop at Parque Eduardo VII so enjoy a great view over the city. Free time for lunch. After check in the hotel and short relax, we begin a first part City tour of Portugal Capital’s.  

Lisbon, situated on 7 hills in the north bank of the River Tagus, become capital of Portugal in 1255 after being conquered to the Moors. It is a city of art, architecture, culture, traditions and atmosphere. The charm of Lisbon exists in its strong links to the past. Its renovated palaces, magnificent churches and impressive castle mirror the city’s rich cultural heritage. 

Our afternoon tour; take a walk in Alfama, one of the most ancient and typical neighborhoods of the city and the downtown Lisbon Black Horse Square, the Rossio Square. Welcome dinner and overnight at hotel in Lisbon. (D)

Day. 3      AM: Lisbon City Tour PM: Visit Sintra 

After breakfast departure to Belém, the monumental area of Lisbon. Here you will find Jerónimos Monastery, Portugal’s most important religious monument and a masterpiece of Manueline architecture; the Tower of Belem, the ex-libris of Lisbon and the Monument to the Discoveries, which celebrates the voyages of discovery of new worlds by the Portuguese sailors.  

After lunch proceed to the romantic village of Sintra, known by its beautiful palaces and parks and considered World Heritage by UNESCO. Visit of the Royal Palace, favorite summer residence for most Portuguese Kings and time for a walk. Return to the hotel for dinner (on your own) and overnight. (B, L) 

Day. 4           Lisbon – Obidos – Alcobaca – Nazare – Batalha - Fatima 

After breakfast at the hotel, drive north towards Fátima. The first stop will be the beautiful walled town of Óbidos, with its picturesque streets and its medieval castle. The tour proceeds to Alcobaça, where you will find the 12th century Santa Maria Monastery and its church, the largest in Portugal. The next stop will be Nazaré, one of the most typical fishing villages in Portugal which has now become famous for its giant waves. Then drive to Batalha, known for the monastery of great dimensions and refined Gothic architecture, built between the 14th and 16th centuries. Its construction was due after a vow made by the future king John I to the Virgin Mary, before a battle against the Spaniards: the Aljubarrota Battle (1385). For its artistic value, this monument was declared as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. Finally, arrival in Fátima, center of Christian faith and a local of world pilgrimage. Dinner and overnight. Evening optional private visit of Fatima Shrine. (B, D)

Day. 5             Fatima – Coimbra - Porto 

After breakfast, visit of Fátima, center of Christian faith and a local of world pilgrimage due to the Apparitions of Our Lady to the three shepherd children on 1917. This tour will include the Capelinha (also known as Chapel of the Apparitions) and the Basilica where the tombs of two of the children of Fatima can be seen. Drive north towards Porto, Portugal’s second largest city. On the way we visit historical and beautiful town of Coimbra. This was a medieval capital of Portugal with oldest and most prestigious university in whole country. Continue to Porto. Afternoon city tour, including the beautiful city center, the Ribeira Square and the Stock Exchange Palace with its extravagant Arabian Hall. The tour could not be complete without crossing the river to Vila Nova de Gaia to visit one of the many wine cellars of the world-famous Port Wine, where we will be given a detailed explanation of the wine production and enjoy a wine tasting. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Porto. (B, D)

Day. 6             Porto – Braga – Guimaraes - Porto 

A full day tour to the province of Minho (northwest of Portugal) where green fields and mountains are in evidence. Arrival to Braga, the most ancient religious capital of the country. The old town center is dominated by the Cathedral, the oldest one in the country. On the outskirts, stands the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus, with its monumental baroque staircase and the natural beauty of the setting. The tour then proceeds to Guimarães, World Heritage and birthplace of Portuguese Nation as it was here where the 1st king of Portugal was born. This city it has a unique atmosphere with its narrow medieval streets and magnificent castle. We have lunch in the local restaurant with section of the best Portugal wine. By the end of the day, we come back to our hotel in Porto. (B, L)

Day. 7 Flight: Porto - Funchal / Madeira   

Full day tour dedicated to Douro Valley, world patrimony and one of the most beautiful wine sceneries of the world, with visit of local farms, wine tasting and lunch.

Douro region is primarily associated with Port wine production, but many Port houses have also introduced table wines into their range. As a result, a new wave of top Douro wines has been created with greater focus on the large number of grape varieties grown in the Douro region, most of them local Portuguese grapes and although most top “quintas” now replant with single-variety vineyards and focus on a limited number of varieties, older, mixed vineyards will remain in production for many decades to come. The soils, the climate, the grape varieties, the scale of the place, all contribute to produce wines that can genuinely be considered world class. 

At evening transfer to Porto Airport for approximate 2 hours flight. Arrival at the beautiful Madeira Island, with its fascinating landscape, high mountains and deep valleys covered by exotic vegetation and colorful flowers. The charm of the small villages and the cosmopolitan rhythm of the capital, Funchal, are some of the reasons to visit and explore every corner of this island.

Welcome by local guide and transfer to the hotel for overnight in the city center with view on the Atlantic Ocean. (B, L)

Day. 8 Funchal – Cabo Girao – Porto Muniz - Magdalena do Mar – Funchal/Madeira 

After breakfast, we leave Funchal along the coastal road towards the small fishing village of Câmara de Lobos. A small detour will take us to Cabo Girão, the highest promontory in Europe and the second highest in the world. 

Continue to Ribeira Brava to visit this pleasant seaside village before going up to Serra de Água and as far as Encumeada, where, on a clear day, you can enjoy a beautiful view over both the North and the South coast. Proceeding to S. Vicente, we enjoy the rich and unique vegetation of the Laurussia forest. Arriving at the coast, we head towards Porto Moniz along the road built beside the levadas: This is a route that has been carved through rocks and is a testament to human persistence and will to conquer the land. Once in Porto Moniz, you will recharge your batteries with a pleasant lunch at a local restaurant by the natural pools. On the way back to Funchal, we head towards Paúl da Serra, a 1400m high plateau. From the plateau we descend towards the coast to Madalena do Mar, small village where according to the legend Polish King Wladyslaw III known as “Warnenczyk” was living in the end of XV century. Then we continue via Ponta do Sol and Ribeira Brava to our hotel in the Funchal and mark the end of the day. Dinner on your own. (B, L)

Day. 9  Funchal / Madera  

This morning, we will enjoy a cruise aboard a superb Catamaran along the coast to Fajã dos Padres, a journey of approximately 2h30 to discover cetaceans. Opportunity to know a little the coast and, depending on weather conditions and the sea, make swimming stops. Return to the hotel and afternoon free for private activities. In the afternoon w will enjoy a city tour of the Madera’s capital. We will walk throughout city historical canter; we also see monuments of the pope John Paul II and Marshal Jozef Pilsudski.

In the evening, we will take you for a traditional farewell dinner where you will enjoy the food and hospitality from Madeira. Return to the hotel after dinner. (B, D) 

Day. 10  Flight: Funchal – Lisbon - New York   

Departure transfer to Funchal airport. Departure Funchal on TP#1690 at 05:15am. Arrival in Lisbon at 06:55am. Connecting your international flights to New York Airports or other destination. (B)

*** End of our Trip ***