Windstar Cruises: Star Pride

Portugal’s capital is an 18th-century city - elegant, open to the sea and carefully planned. Most places of interest are within easy walking distance. Rossio Square, the heart of Lisbon since medieval times, is an ideal place to start exploring. Many rebuilt houses with original façades provide stores and restaurants with modern interiors. High above Baixa is Bairro Alto - with its teeming nightlife. There are many monuments and museums, such as San Jeronimos Monastery, Royal Coach Museum and Gulbenkian Museum. Two well-known landmarks are the Monument to the Discoveries and the Tower of Belem. A statue of Christ looms above Europe’s longest suspension bridge. Madragoa, Bica and Bairro Alto, Lisbon’s older sections, offer a variety of sights: the Church of Sao Roque, with its beautiful tiles; St. George Castle, which offers a splendid view from its location above the Alfama quarter; the botanical gardens, featuring an unusual, cold greenhouse; and the cathedral, stunning with its Moorish design. Renowned Gulbenkian Museum is the cultural center of Portugal.

Suggested Private Excursions

Coimbra & Óbidos Medieval Village (6 - 8 Hours)

Batalha and Alcobaça Majestic Monasteries, Fátima & Óbidos (10 Hours)

Fátima & Óbidos Medieval Village (6 - 8 Hours)

Alcobaça Monastery, Nazaré and Óbidos Villages (6 - 8 Hours)

Alenquer for Wine Lovers & Óbidos (6 - 8 Hours)

Dressage Experience, Wine & Lunch with the Countess (6 - 8 Hours)

Tomar & Óbidos Jewish Inheritance (6 - 8 Hours)

Lisbon History & Local Flavours (6 - 8 Hours) BEST SELLER

Lisbon History with Alfama District (3 - 4 Hours)

Lisbon History with Belem Area (3 - 4 Hours)

Lisbon Jewish Inheritance (6 - 8 Hours)

Lisbon Family Travel (6 - 8 Hours)

Mystic Sintra, Cascais Coastline & Lisbon (6 - 8 Hours) BEST SELLER

Mystic Sintra & Cascais & Estoril Coastline (6 - 8 Hours)

Sintra Unesco World Heritage (6 - 8 Hours)

Sintra, Cascais Coastline & Queluz History (6 - 8 Hours)

Cooking Class & Sintra Unesco World Heritage (6 - 8 Hours) BEST SELLER

Sintra Mountains Jeep Tour (4 Hours)

Alentejo & Local Tradition (6 - 8 Hours)

Alentejo Wine & Olive Oil (10 Hours)

Alentejo, Local Tradition & Wine Estates (10 Hours)

Alentejo & Wine Flavours (6 - 8 Hours)

Lisbon Sightseeing HD D&G (3 - 4 Hours)

Lisbon at Your Leisure HD D&G (3 - 4 Hours)

Lisbon Private Panoramic River Cruise

An Exploration of Lisbon (8 hours)

Queluz, Sintra and Estoril (8 hours)

Highlights of Lisbon (4 hours)

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Madeira has been described as "Island of Eternal Spring". It is renowned for its wine, which many feel ranks among the world’s best. Funchal has a wide selection of resort hotels where watersports, golf and tennis are popular. Visitors can tour the 15th-century cathedral, orchid gardens of Quinta das Cruzes, and buildings associated with Christopher Columbus. Madeira’s discoverer, Zarco, is believed to have lived in the house Quinta das Cruzes. Now it displays furniture and paintings and is surrounded by fabulous gardens. The stunning 15th-century design of Sé Cathedral features white stucco with contrasting black basalt and red tufa rock; the ceiling is inlaid with ivory. Located near Town Hall, the Museum of Sacred Art contains art from several islands, including a group of 15th- and 16th-century paintings of Portuguese and Flemish schools. Visit colorful Mercado dos Lavradores during the morning to see flower vendors and fish and produce stands.

Suggested Private Excursions

Funchal History & Tradition (6 - 8 Hours)

Funchal History & Wine (6 - 8 Hours)

Madeira Mountains Jeep Tour (8 Hours)

Madeira Mountains Jeep Tour (4 Hours)

Funchal Sightseeing HD D&G (3 - 4 Hours)

Funchal at Your Leisure HD D&G (3 - 4 Hours)

Madeira has been described as "Island of Eternal Spring". It is renowned for its wine, which many feel ranks among the world’s best. Funchal has a wide selection of resort hotels where watersports, golf and tennis are popular. Visitors can tour the 15th-century cathedral, orchid gardens of Quinta das Cruzes, and buildings associated with Christopher Columbus. Madeira’s discoverer, Zarco, is believed to have lived in the house Quinta das Cruzes. Now it displays furniture and paintings and is surrounded by fabulous gardens. The stunning 15th-century design of Sé Cathedral features white stucco with contrasting black basalt and red tufa rock; the ceiling is inlaid with ivory. Located near Town Hall, the Museum of Sacred Art contains art from several islands, including a group of 15th- and 16th-century paintings of Portuguese and Flemish schools. Visit colorful Mercado dos Lavradores during the morning to see flower vendors and fish and produce stands.

Suggested Private Excursions

Funchal History & Tradition (6 - 8 Hours)

Funchal History & Wine (6 - 8 Hours)

Madeira Mountains Jeep Tour (8 Hours)

Madeira Mountains Jeep Tour (4 Hours)

Funchal Sightseeing HD D&G (3 - 4 Hours)

Funchal at Your Leisure HD D&G (3 - 4 Hours)

The Canary Archipelago, or Fortunate Islands, as they are often called, owe their fame and fortune to their geographical location and climate. Of volcanic origin, the islands lie off the African coast and encompass such a variety of features that in the course of a day it is possible to pick bananas, throw snowballs, swim in the Atlantic and climb mountains. Tenerife is the largest of Canaries. The south features a desert with grotesque rock formations and chunks of cooled lava. Further north stretch miles of green fields of bananas, tomatoes and potatoes. Mountain slopes are dotted with beech, eucalyptus and pine trees. The coastline is as varied as the areas inland, offering black, grey and golden sand, cliffs, tame beaches and wild capes. A spectacular example of past volcanic activity is Canadas crater which rings Mount Teide - the main feature of the island. At 12,198 feet, the cone-shaped Teide is the highest Spanish summit and nearly always snow-capped. A cable car is available to the top.

The Canary Archipelago, or Fortunate Islands, as they are often called, owe their fame and fortune to their geographical location and climate. Of volcanic origin, the islands lie off the African coast and encompass such a variety of features that in the course of a day it is possible to pick bananas, throw snowballs, swim in the Atlantic and climb mountains. Tenerife is the largest of Canaries. The south features a desert with grotesque rock formations and chunks of cooled lava. Further north stretch miles of green fields of bananas, tomatoes and potatoes. Mountain slopes are dotted with beech, eucalyptus and pine trees. The coastline is as varied as the areas inland, offering black, grey and golden sand, cliffs, tame beaches and wild capes. A spectacular example of past volcanic activity is Canadas crater which rings Mount Teide - the main feature of the island. At 12,198 feet, the cone-shaped Teide is the highest Spanish summit and nearly always snow-capped. A cable car is available to the top.

One of the smaller Canary Islands, La Gomera is best known for being Christopher Columbus’ residence prior to his discovering the Americas. His 15th century house is now a museum open to the public. In the seaside resort of Valle Gran Rey, one can sit in shore front restaurants, sample the local cuisine and enjoy the views of Tenerife. Don’t miss an opportunity to try Mistela, a locally made beverage that is honey from the palm trees mixed with local white wine.

At the northeastern tip of the Canaries, Lanzarote offers some of the most unusual
scenery to be found, with its unique "lunar" landscape of the Timanfaya National
Park. Wander in the well-preserved colonial town of Tequise, the island's former
capital, or visit the unusual house of the island's famed artist, the late Cesar
Manrique, who designed it as part of the volcanic landscape.

Also known as Grand Canary, Las Palmas in the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands. During Christopher Columbus’ 1492 voyage of discovery, he was forced to pull his ships into Grand Canary to make repairs to the “Pinta”. During three subsequent voyages, he stopped again in the Canary Islands on his voyage of discovery. During the late fifteenth century, the city of Las Palmas was established by the Spanish in the heart of a lush palm grove. It is today the largest city in the archipelago as well as one of Spain’s leading ports.