Portugal’s River of Gold

  • Europe
  • Operator: Viking Cruise
  • Start: Lisbon, Portugal
  • Finish: Porto, Portugal
  • Destination: Europe
  • Type: River Cruise
  • March 2027 - November 2028
10 days, 8 guided tours, 2 countries. Experience the renaissance of Lisbon, newly invigorated with trending galleries and restaurants. Explore two of Iberia’s oldest university towns: Coimbra, Portugal and Salamanca, Spain. Roam the port warehouses of Porto. Enjoy traditional cuisine, wine and fado singing. Cruise the Douro River Valley, the world’s oldest demarcated wine region and a UNESCO Site.

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Hightlights

Salamanca, Spain
Régua, Portugal
Lisbon, Portugal

Enjoy the Douro’s beauty & history

Explore Lisbon, Portugal’s lively capital, where winding streets lead to historic cathedrals and grand plazas. Sail roundtrip from Porto and cruise the Douro River Valley, the world’s oldest demarcated wine region and a UNESCO Site, where rural quintas line the hillsides. In Spain, visit Salamanca, home to one of Iberia’s oldest universities, then return to Porto to enjoy its iconic fortified wine, local dishes and soulful fado music.

 

FLIGHT ON US 
Economy airfare or flight credit included of up to $2,800pp* 
Expires 30 November 2026

 


Viking inclusive values

More features, services and excursions included

*One complimentary shore excursion in every port of call
*Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary)
*All onboard meals, featuring regional specialties & always available classics
*Beer, wine & soft drinks with onboard lunch & dinner
*24-hour specialty coffees, teas  & bottled water
*Port taxes & fees
*Ground transfers with Viking Air purchase
*Visits to UNESCO Sites
*Enrichment lectures & Destination Performances
*Onboard gratuities

 

Our stateroom includes

*River-view stateroom
*Bottled water replenished daily
*110/220 volt outlets
*Queen-size Viking Explorer Bed (optional twin-bed configuration) with luxury linens & pillows
*Private bathroom with shower, heated floor & anti-fog mirror
*Premium Freyja® toiletries
*Plush robes & slippers (upon request)
*40″ or 42″ flat-screen Sony® TV with infotainment system featuring Movies On Demand, plus CNBC, CNN, FOX &      more
*Telephone, safe, refrigerator
*Individual climate control

*All amenities on board Viking Longships; amenities vary on other ships.

 


Booking terms & conditions

*Prices are per person, in Australian dollars, based on double occupancy and correct at time of publication. Prices include all advertised discounts, and all offers are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time. All offers are only valid for new bookings and only on selected departures made between 01 April – 30 November 2026 at 7:00pm (AEST) unless sold out prior.  Viking reserves the right to correct errors or omissions and to change any and all fares, fees and surcharges at any time. View the Passenger Ticket Contract for full booking terms and conditions. Itineraries are subject to change and may vary by departure date. Map depicts the standard itinerary offered.

Itinerary

Day 1: Lisbon, Portugal

Arrive and check in to your hotel. Lisbon has inspired explorers for centuries with its stunning setting at the Tagus River’s mouth. Its labyrinthine streets carry echoes of 16th-century navigators who sailed on the winds of the Age of Discovery. The city prospered greatly from its trade. And today’s streets are lined with the legacies of wealthy builders, including the Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower, stunning works that introduced Manueline architecture. Savoring local cuisine and port wine are favorite pastimes here. On any evening, the strains of fado spill from clubs in the historic Alfama District.

Day 2: Lisbon, Portugal

Throughout Lisbon, fascinating monuments tell this proud city’s story. Along the riverfront, in Praça do Comércio, an equestrian statue at its center represents Portugal’s King José I, who capably rebuilt the city following the devastating 1755 earthquake. Among the most recognized of Lisbon’s monuments is the grand Monument to the Discoveries on the banks of the Tagus River, displaying statues of more than 30 contributors to exploration, whose bravery and spirit still shape the culture of this vibrant European capital.

Shore Excursions

Discover the Legacy of Portuguese Explorers

Walk through the maritime history of the great Portuguese explorers and see the impressive Jerónimos Monastery. Embark on a scenic drive by motor coach past the bold and soaring Monument to the Discoveries and the elegant Belém Tower, where there will be time for photos. Arrive at the Jerónimos Monastery, a Manueline masterpiece and UNESCO World Heritage Site, and admire its exterior. Enter the West Wing, where you will enjoy a guided tour of the Maritime Museum and explore the Golden Age of Discovery, when Portuguese caravels set sail in search of new worlds. Here, you will view naval exhibits, including ceremonial barges from the 18th century and the royal cabin from Queen Amelia’s 19th-century yacht. You will also stroll through displays of maritime artifacts, see replica maps showing the caravels’ 16th-century discoveries and admire the wooden figurine of the archangel Raphael that accompanied Vasco da Gama on his voyage to India.


Day 3: Porto, Portugal

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and begin your journey to your embarkation city. Porto holds a place of great traditional importance. The town lends its name to the port wine produced in the region and throughout the nation. Located along a rocky embankment, the city boasts picturesque neighborhoods, fashionable restaurants and lively markets. Like Lisbon, Porto has a rich past; its historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of narrow cobblestone streets brimming with romantic buildings spanning the centuries and a Romanesque cathedral. At the riverside, small barcos rabelos, boats once used to transport casks of wine, paint a charming scene.

Shore Excursions

Portugal’s Oldest University Town

En route to Porto, explore one of Portugal’s oldest cities and visit its medieval-era university. Depart Lisbon in the morning and arrive in Coimbra for lunch. The Portuguese hold this city close to their hearts, as it was the birthplace of six of their kings. The most beloved of them all, Afonso Henriques, moved his capital to this burgeoning city along the Mondego River in 1139 soon after it was taken back from the Moors. See the Santa Clara-a-Velha, once an active convent. Then, cross the river and ascend the hill to the university where 700 years of learning whisper down hushed corridors. View the library, its shelves lined with 300,000 books, and chapel, with its baroque organ. After, enjoy a delicious lunch accompanied by fado music and continue your drive to Porto.

Day 4: Régua, Portugal & Pinhão, Portugal

Régua, Portugal

Day 5: Scenic Sailing: Douro River & Barca d’Alva, Portugal

Scenic Sailing: Douro River

Journey through the Douro River valley into the history of fine Portuguese wine. Surrounded by terraced hills, spot some of the area’s quintas, or wine estates, clinging to the slopes, nestled snugly among their vines. In this beautiful and largely unspoiled region, olive and almond groves share the river’s banks with vineyards. And it is hard to ignore the fact that this journey follows in the wake of traditional barcos rabelos that once transported wine downriver to the waiting casks in Vila Nova de Gaia.

Barca d’Alva, Portugal

Day 6: Salamanca, Spain

Founded by a Celtic tribe before the rise of the Roman Empire, Salamanca was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988 due to its beautifully preserved buildings. It is home to one of Europe’s oldest universities, founded in 1134, and its main square, bustling with students, is often called the most beautiful in Spain. The beauty of this richly historic city, besides the enormous Romanesque cathedral whose profile dominates the town, is the grace with which Salamanca retains a traditional Spanish village feel. It is a living museum that takes visitors back to the Middle Ages.

Shore Excursions

An Ancient University and a Mammoth Cathedral

Visit Spain’s oldest college town, an invigorating tapestry of scholarly, religious and cultural pursuits. Cross the Spanish border with your guide and drive through the Iberian countryside to Salamanca, known as “La Dorada,” or “The Golden City,” due to the glow of its sandstone structures. After time exploring the vast Plaza Mayor, surrounded by beautiful baroque buildings, enjoy a visit to the local market to sample some regional cuisine. After, continue to the 13th-century Salamanca University. You will also see the House of Shells, an unusual medieval building decorated with more than 300 carved mollusks. Your tour concludes at the New Cathedral, a golden-hued Gothic-baroque masterpiece built from 1513 through 1733. After, there will be free time to explore on your own, perhaps stepping inside the Romanesque-Gothic Old Cathedral or other icons of Spanish architecture: the 15th-century Tower del Clavero, the 16th-century Monterrey Palace and many beautiful churches and convents.

Day 7: Pinhão, Portugal & Régua, Portugal

Pinhão, Portugal

Pinhão is surrounded by picture-postcard terraced hillsides that are synonymous with the Douro River Valley. Its slow pace and quiet atmosphere belie the fact that it produces world-renowned port wines; some of the most recognizable names in port production operate wine estates near here. One of the “station towns” along the Douro River, Pinhão boasts a relaxing and scenic promenade along the river, perfect for strolling and drinking in the beauty of vineyard-clad hills. The village’s railway station is decorated with 24 spectacular scenes depicted in azulejos, Portugal’s distinctive blue-and-white tiles.

Régua, Portugal

Day 8: Régua, Portugal & Porto, Portugal

Régua, Portugal

In Portuguese cuisine, pork plays a central role, appearing in paio, a pork loin sausage, and chouriço, a spicy sausage often flavored with paprika or wine. These cured meats are nicely complemented by the smooth and creamy cheeses of the region. Among main dishes, the addictive pastéis de bacalhau (small cod cakes) are enjoyed hot or cold. And Portugal’s famed soup, caldo verde, gets its deep green color from a variant of kale. At meal’s end or just as a treat, the city’s pastelarias are well worth a visit for anyone with a sweet tooth.

Porto, Portugal

Day 9: Porto, Portugal

Porto’s prosperous future was sealed when the distinctive, single-masted barcos rabelos delivered the first wine shipments here from vineyards up the Douro River. Before the advent of the railroad, these wooden cargo boats provided the fastest and most efficient transport of wines between the Douro River valley’s wineries and the city, from which bottles were exported all over the world. Today, the vessels are owned by port wine companies along the Douro. Though no longer in use, they still grace the river’s edge nonetheless, enriching the city’s character and cultural identity.

Shore Excursions

Explore the “City of Bridges”

Experience the intriguing city of Porto on foot and see the sights during a leisurely walk. Admire the city’s noted architecture, such as the iconic Luís I Bridge, a double-decked metal arch that spans the Douro River. Walk across the upper level of the bridge to Porto Cathedral, a Romanesque landmark in the Old Town. Learn more about the 12th-century church, one of the oldest monuments in the city, and see the stunning interior. Continue to São Bento train station, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Monument of Portugal. View the blue and white tile panels inside, depicting historical scenes of Portugal. Then, head to Porto’s most famous street, the Rua das Flores, where you can enjoy free time to explore on your own. Continue to Ribeira’s riverfront; from here you may choose to walk back to the ship with your guide or return independently by water taxi.

Day 10: Porto, Portugal

Bid farewell to your fellow guests and journey home. Or spend more time exploring, perhaps joining one of our extensions.

Pre & Post Cruise Extensions

More days means more to discover, with extension packages you can add before or after your Viking cruise or cruisetour. Enjoy additional days to explore your embarkation or disembarkation city, or see a new destination altogether with a choice of exciting cities.
Pre & Post Cruise Extensions vary by itinerary and are subject to change.

Dates and prices

From AUD $8,695 per person, twin share

All departures
April 2027 6 sailings
May 2027 10 sailings
June 2027 10 sailings
July 2027 10 sailings
August 2027 5 sailings
September 2027 3 sailings
October 2027 3 sailings
November 2027 4 sailings
December 2027 3 sailings
March 2028 2 sailings
April 2028 3 sailings
May 2028 3 sailings
June 2028 3 sailings
July 2028 4 sailings
August 2028 4 sailings
September 2028 4 sailings
October 2028 4 sailings
November 2028 2 sailings

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FAQ's
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