Discover Portugal: River Cruise through the Douro Valley
European river cruises offer an amazing way to visit multiple destinations within a short span. We recently took a delightful river cruise in Portugal with Viking River Cruises, resulting in countless cherished experiences and beautiful photos to share.
Why did we choose a river cruise in Portugal?
Simply put, we had never been to Portugal before, making it a brand new adventure for us. Additionally, we were looking for a remarkable way to celebrate Cameron’s 40th birthday.
After hearing about the Douro Valley, renowned for its wine production, a luxurious cruise through Portugal seemed like the perfect getaway for adults.
The cruise is aptly named “Portugal’s River of Gold.” It spans ten days, beginning in Lisbon and concluding in Porto (you can find more details here).
In this post, we’ll share our river cruise experiences, including land excursions.
We detail our journey day by day, outlining our activities during the cruise we took in May 2018. Please note that timings and specifics may change in future cruises, so consider this information a guideline (for exact details, please reach out to Viking directly).
Watch our short video about the river cruise here.
Day 1 – Lisbon, Portugal
The “River of Gold” cruise itinerary starts in Lisbon, the lively coastal capital of Portugal.
Arriving on a Sunday from Vancouver, we touched down at Lisbon International Airport at noon. A Viking representative greeted us with a large red sign, making identification easy.
A private transfer brought us to our hotel, Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Lisboa, at no extra cost.
Although we arrived prior to the standard 3:00 PM check-in time, our room was ready and waiting. This was much appreciated after a long day of travel.
Day one is a free day on the cruise itinerary, giving guests the chance to explore Lisbon as they wish.
The only scheduled activity was an optional talk at 6:00 PM that outlined the details of the Portugal river cruise itinerary. The hotel has a dedicated table in the lobby for Viking River Cruise guests, ensuring someone is available to address any queries related to the trip.
After a brief nap, we made our way to the hotel’s rooftop bar, which boasts breathtaking views. We could have easily spent the evening there, but with only two nights in Lisbon, we were eager to explore the city.
Discover our activities in Lisbon, Portugal.
Stunning views from Sky Bar, located on the rooftop of Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Lisboa.
Check out this post for more photos of Lisbon.
Day 2 – Lisbon, Portugal
The hotel offers a complimentary breakfast, starting our day with energy. We had a scheduled excursion to visit key attractions in Lisbon.
We left the hotel promptly at 9:00 AM, noting the importance of punctuality as the bus departed right on time.
The Lisbon city tour provided a comprehensive guided experience.
Guests from the Portugal river cruise were split into three coaches, with about 25-30 people per coach.
We received QuietVox audio devices so we could hear our knowledgeable guide share fascinating stories about Portuguese history and culture.
Our first stop: the stunning Belém Tower (see photo above).
We spent about 30 minutes at Belém. While we didn’t enter the tower, we took plenty of photographs of its extraordinary exterior.
Belém Tower is one of the most significant tourist attractions in Lisbon, showcasing remarkable Manueline architecture from the 16th century.
Navy Museum and Jerónimos Monastery
Following our visit to Belém Tower, we headed to the nearby Navy Museum and Jerónimos Monastery, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. The architecture of the monastery is quite impressive (see above photo).
The Portuguese take immense pride in their maritime history and achievements, with the Portuguese Empire once being one of the largest and longest-lasting empires in history.
The museum hosts over 17,000 exhibits, including historical paintings, archaeological artifacts, and various ship models from Portugal’s maritime legacy.
We spent an hour at the maritime museum; our guide led a 30-minute tour followed by an additional 30 minutes for independent exploration.
Next, we departed the museum at 11:30 AM, passing through the beautiful Praça do Comércio (Commerce Square) before arriving in the enchanting Alfama District.
The Alfama is the oldest district in Lisbon.
It is the only part of the city that survived the catastrophic earthquake of 1755, retaining much of its historical charm. Nowadays, it is known for its narrow medieval streets, quaint cafes, and charming squares.
We explored Alfama for about 45 minutes, concluding our tour at 1:00 PM.
Afterwards, we had the option of returning to the hotel by coach or being dropped off in the city center. We chose to stay in the city and explore at our leisure. Discover what we did here.
Learn why Lisbon exceeded our expectations – here’s what we discovered.
Optional Tour: A Taste of Lisbon
Viking offers additional tours at select locations. We opted to join the A Taste of Lisbon tour, which costs $69 USD per person for a delightful 3.5 hours.
The coach departed Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Lisboa at 3:30 PM with a small group of 12 participants.
The food tour featured stops at three locations, each with local dish samples.
At the first stop, we enjoyed Portugal’s iconic pastry, pastel de nata (see photo below). The second stop included steak sandwiches paired with beer, while the final stop offered a charcuterie selection complemented by wine. This was definitely the highlight of the Taste of Lisbon tour.
We also visited the Miradouro de Nossa Senhora do Monte for jaw-dropping views of Lisbon (see photo below).
We returned to our hotel by 7:00 PM.
