A Taste of Portugal - Coimbra, Aveiro & Porto.
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Oporto
seafood anyone?
making wine the old fashioned way
a little vino anyone?
Photo credits go to Lee Hackman from Leaning Ladder. Thanks Lee!
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The trip includes air, hotels, and more!
June 22 - 30, 2024. 8 days in sunny Portugal. SOLD OUT - waiting list available. Portugal is super popular these days, and with good reason. But somehow northern Portugal has remained a little off the radar for many. We'll visit Coimbra, the medieval capital of Portugal, Aveiro, the Venice of the north, and stunning Porto, home to the world famous port wineries of Portugal.
$3139 includes roundtrip flights between Newark's Liberty International Airport and Porto on Portugal's national airline TAP, all air taxes and fuel surcharges, all transfers between airports and hotels in Portugal, three nights in Coimbra within walking distance to all the sights, a night in the beautiful seaside town of Aveiro, four nights in the highly rated Legendary Hotel in downtown Porto right in the heart of the city, breakfasts daily and a pre departure meeting and orientation before we go. We'll also be offering optional side trips to see Conimbriga, the site of the best preserved Roman ruins in Portugal, and a Douro River Cruise up the scenic Douro River surrounded by the famous Porto vineyards. Prices are based on double occupancy. There is a single supplement fee of $649. Airport departure taxed and fuel surcharges are included but subject to change until time of booking, Round trip transportation from Easton to the airport will be available for an additional charge. Northern Portugal is a beautiful place to visit, especially in June. Here are some highlights of the places we'll be seeing and staying.
Coimbra was the medieval capital of Portugal. It's an Arab-flavored town with a long, rich culture and a maze of winding cobblestone streets, cozy cafes, and gorgeous centuries old architecture. But it's also home to a world-renowned university, which is one of the oldest in Europe. Even with all that history, Coimbra has a wonderful hip, youthful atmosphere with warm, friendly locals. We'll be staying in the Vila Gale Hotel on the banks of the Mondego river, within easy walking distance of all the sights of historic downtown Coimbra. Conimbriga makes a great day trip from Coimbra. It wasn't the largest Roman settlement in Portugal, but it's certainly the best preserved. It's hard to believe the these ruins have been buried for two thousand years! Aveiro Known as the Venice of Portugal, it's a landscape dominated by water. While Venice has the black gondola, Aveiro has the moliçeiro. We'll spend an enjoyable day and overnight here. While it's not on many travelers' radars, it definitely should be. It's a very walkable city filled with oodles of character, art, architecture, and history. Our hotel is a typical Portuguese hotel right in the heart of the action in lovely downtown Aveiro. Porto A UNESCO World Heritage Site and home of the world famous Port Wineries of Portugal. It's smaller than it's well touristed sister city Lisbon in the south, but it's also a lot less crowded. Porto is a foodie paradise, and the atmosphere, culture and vibe of the city make it a joy to walk around in. Our hotel is perfectly located in the heart of the city. The narrow, cobbled streets of the Ribeira neighborhood are dotted with small bars and eateries serving classic Portuguese fare like grilled sardines, and it's just a few minutes walk. We'll be here for four nights and, I promise you will fall in love with this city! Our hotel is the highly rated Legendary Hotel just on the edge of the old town and within easy walking distance of all the historic sights of Porto. We'll have an option to visit one of the Port wine cellars for a tour and tasting, and another for a day cruise up the scenic Douro River, lined with vineyards (and more vinho!). Itinerary
Saturday June 22, 2024 - Day 1 departure Meet at Park n Ride at Rt 33 & William Penn Highway for our ride to the airport. Our direct nonstop United Airlines flight UA238 will depart Newark Liberty International airport at 7:00 PM and arrive in Porto at 6:55 AM on Sunday June 23. Sunday June 23, 2024 - Day 2 Arrive to the airport in Porto on Sunday morning and meet our coach and our local guide for the ride down to our Hotel in Coimbra. After check-in we'll have an orientation tour of the city and head out to explore. The rest of the evening is free at your leisure. Overnight at the Vila Gale Hotel. Monday June 24, 2024 - Day 3 Breakfast served at hotel. Day free at your leisure to explore historic Coimbra and wander the labyrinth cobblestone streets of the medieval city center. Overnight at the Vila Gale Hotel. Tuesday June 25, 2024 - Day 4 Breakfast served at hotel. Day free at your leisure. Optional tour to Conimbriga, one of the best preserved Roman ruins in Europe. Overnight at the Vila Gale Hotel. Wednesday June 26, 2024 - Day 5 After a leisurely breakfast at our hotel, we'll head north along the coast to Aveiro, our home for the night. After a brief orientation tour, we'll have the day free to enjoy this scenic and walkable city by the sea. Recommend taking a tour of the city in one of the colorful Moliceiro boats lining the canals. Overnight in the Imperial Hotel in Aveiro. Thursday June 27, 2024 - Day 6 After a leisurely breakfast at our hotel, we'll head north again to Porto to meet our guide for a walking orientation of the city. The rest of the day is free to explore this beautiful city. Overnight in the Casual Inca Hotel, located in the heart of Porto. Friday June 28, 2024 - Day 7 Breakfast served at hotel. Day free at your leisure. Optional Douro River Cruise, and tour and tasting of a Port Wine Cellar. Overnight in the Casual Inca Porto Hotel. Saturday June 29, 2024 - Day 8 Breakfast served at hotel. Day free at your leisure. Soak in the sun, the atmosphere and the culture of Porto! Overnight in the Casual Inca Porto Hotel. Sunday June 30, 2024 - Day 9 After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel we’ll make our way to the airport for our flight home. Direct non-stop United Airlines flight UA145 departs Porto at 12:35 PM and arrives in Newark at 3:30 PM. We should be home in Easton in time for dinner. 
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