Norwegian Cruise Line®: Norwegian Dawn

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)

Founded as Portus Hannibalis by the Romans, Portimão is a port and one of the major resorts on the craggy Atlantic shores of Portugal's sunny Algarve. It boasts a bustling harbour overlooked by two castles and a pedestrian centre abounding in shops, bays and restaurants - while just two miles away is delightful Praia da Rocha, setting of a stunning beach, honey-hued cliffs and striking wind-and-sea-sculpted rock formations. Also from here you can visit Albufeira, the area's largest resort, the 12th century sandstone fortress at Silves, Fortaleza de Sagres and Cabo de Sao Vicente.

Suggested Private Excursions

Algarve History (3 - 4 Hours)

Algarve History (6 - 8 Hours)

Cadiz is an old city with Andalusian character. The magnificent Baroque cathedral and impressive mansions were built with gold. Cadiz’s modern-day treasure lies 30 minutes to the north in the rolling hills of Jerez - where production of the liquid gold, as the famous sherry is often called, ensures a booming economy. Visit one of the bodegas for a tour and tasting. The Historic City Center of Old Cadiz is a pedestrian zone for a pleasant stroll. The monument to "Las Cortes" is the Spanish Parliament established in Plaza de España. The 18th-century golden-domed Cathedral of Santa Cruz looms over the whitewashed houses. The dazzling interior contains a magnificent collection of sculptures and art objects. The Museum of History features an outstanding model of Cadiz in ivory and mahogany that illustrates what the town looked like at the end of the 18th century. The small, colorful Flower Market offers much local flavor. The Moorish-style Alameda Apodaca Gardens serve as a reminder of the Moors’ occupation in past centuries.

Suggested Private Excursions

Ancient Port of Cadiz (3 hours)

Gibraltar is the famous promontory located at the western entrance of the Mediterranean, with Spain to the north and, across the Straits, Morocco to the south. The Straits are a channel connecting the Atlantic with the Mediterranean. Africa is clearly visible on a fine day. In ancient times, the Rock, as Gibraltar is popularly called, and its counterpart on the African side, Mount Abyla, were known as the Pillars of Hercules. Visitors enjoy historical sites, magnificent views and beautiful beaches. A favorite pastime is strolling along Main Street to browse and shop in the duty-free shops or stop in one of the pubs. Many visitors come to see Gibraltar's curiosity, the Barbary Apes. According to legend, the British will remain as long as the apes survive. Alemeda Botanical Gardens is where the British troops mustered for their parades. Trafalgar Cemetery was named for the casualties of the Battle of Trafalgar. On the fringe of the downtown area is the Cable Car Base Station where the car runs to the rock top.

Located beneath the coastal hills of the sun-warmed shores of the Andalusian coast, midway between Malaga and Almeria, ancient Motril is a seaport and thriving beach resort that has drawn Phoenicians, Romans and Moors during its long history. Visit beautiful churches, Carchuna Fortress and the 16th century Casa de la Palma. This Andalusian city is gateway to Granada and the famed Alhambra, located inland at the foothills of the former capital to the Caliphs and Almoravids, which is 40 miles away.

Ibiza, often called the White Island for its typical architecture, became a major center of touristical attraction during the 1960s, being then famous for its "Hippie-Culture" and nudist beaches. Today Ibiza has offerings for families and older visitors, but there are the young ones who are attracted by the island's rollicking nightlife, which already starts in the afternoon, at the beaches and in the center of town, to continue until dawn in the numerous discotheques. Behind the beaches and in the island's interior, is a pure and simple Mediterranean culture, and remains of populations which inhabited Ibiza thousands of years ago, as for instance the famous wall-paintings of Ses Fontelles.

The Balearics are comprised of 16 islands; the three principal ones are Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca. Lying just 60 miles off the Spanish mainland, the islands’ lush and rugged landscape combined with an extremely mild, sunny climate prove irresistible. The Balearics boast cosmopolitan resorts with lively nightlife and plenty of sports activities. Palma de Majorca is the capital of the archipelago. A cosmopolitan city with sophisticated shops and restaurants, it also offers buildings of spectacular Moorish and gothic architecture. Museo de Mallorca housed in the Palacio Ayamans boasts an interesting collection of Moorish, medieval and 18th- to 19th-century art. Those who wish to explore the northern end of the island will enjoy the dramatic land and seascape of Cabo Formentor at the end of a long, narrow peninsula. A winding road with magnificent views leads to the luxury Hotel Formentor, beautifully situated above the bay. The lighthouse of Cabo Formentor is the most northerly point on Majorca.

Barcelona, the self-confident and progressive capital of Spain, is a tremendous place to be. Though it boasts outstanding Gothic and Art Nouveau buildings, and some great museums – most notably those dedicated to Picasso and Catalan art – it is above all a place where there's enjoyment simply in walking the streets, stopping in at bars and cafés, drinking in the atmosphere. A thriving port and the most prosperous commercial centre in Spain, it has a sophistication and cultural dynamism way ahead of the rest of the country. In part this reflects the city's proximity to France, whose influence is apparent in the elegant boulevards and imaginative cooking. But Barcelona has also evolved an individual and eclectic cultural identity, most perfectly and eccentrically expressed in the architecture of Antoni Gaudí. Scattered as Barcelona's main sights may be, the greatest concentration of interest is around the old town (La Ciutat Vella). These cramped streets above the harbor are easily manageable, and far more enjoyable, on foot. Start, as everyone else does, with the Ramblas.

Suggested Private Excursions

Barcelona: A Walk Through Barcelona and The Sagrada Familia Park Guell for Families- 6 Hours

Art and Architecture in Barcelona (8 hours)

Gaudi’s Barcelona (4 hours)

Glitz and glamour are the two key-words to St. Tropez’s reputation. Set like a jewel in the crown of the Mediterranean, St. Tropez has long been a mecca to artists and the summer vacationers alike, who are drawn to the picturesque setting and the old-world charm of the town’s architecture. In the 1920s, St. Tropez became a fashion headquarters and an international playground, an association that has hardly been dispelled with time.

Suggested Private Excursions

St Tropez: Highlights of St Tropez - 4 hours

Livorno serves as a convenient gateway to Tuscany - which is known for classic landscapes and lush vineyards. Visitors come to see great art centers of Florence, Lucca and Pisa - where names like Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Boticelli, da Vinci, Donatello and Dante come to mind. Pisa is known for its brilliant monuments, which include the 11th-century Cathedral, the Baptistery and the leaning Bell Tower. Lucca is one of the most handsome Romanesque cities in Europe. Its historic center features several fine old churches and lovely squares. Lucca is also known as home of composer Giacomo Puccini, whose birthplace is now a museum. Walking in the historic center, shopping in its elegant stores and enjoying a meal of renowned Tuscan cuisine are some highlights of this area. Downtown Livorno has a fine local market and a variety of fine shops and restaurants. Sights include the 14th-century Loggia della Signoria assembly hall in Florence; the Uffizi Gallery, which houses one of the world's famed museums and the Accademia best-known for Michelangelo's sculptures.

Suggested Private Excursions

Livorno: Cycling Lucca's Medieval Walls - 5 hours

Livorno: Chianti Countryside & Wine Tasting - 8 hours

Livorno: Best of Florence & Pisa - 8 hours

From Naples visitors can explore the rugged Amalfi coast, Italy's most romantic stretch of coastline. Near Amalfi is the resort of Positano, where visitors enjoy strolling through streets and shopping in small boutiques. Take an excursion to legendary Pompeii, an ancient Roman city covered and preserved by the debris from the violent eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. The monuments of this city are considered to be among the finest of any ancient city in Europe, and visitors can spend a day here learning about life in a Roman town during the first century A.D. The Cathedral of San Gennaro, a fine medieval building, has one chapel containing the tomb of Charles of Anjou, while another houses the cathedral's gold and silver treasure. Among the Christian underground burial vaults discovered in an area of suburban heights, the Catacombs of San Gennaro can be visited. Capodimonte Park - a well-kept tropical park - has a royal palace built by Charles III in 1738 that now houses Naples' picture gallery, the National Museum of Capodimonte.

Suggested Private Excursions

Naples: Food Tour of Naples - 4 hours

Naples: The City of Naples - 8 hours

Naples: Historic Pompeii & Vesuvius - 9 hours

Civitavecchia is the port city for Rome. Rome has always been and remains the Eternal City. With its splendid churches, ancient monuments and palaces, spacious parks, tree-lined boulevards, fountains, outdoor cafés and elegant shops, Rome is one of the world’s most attractive cities. Among the most famous monuments is the Colosseum where spectators watched combats between muscled gladiators and ferocious animals. Stop to see the remains of the Forum, once a political and commercial center. Rome’s squares were enhanced with such imposing structures as the Vittorio Emanuele Monument and grandiose fountains like the Fontana di Trevi. Awe at Christendom’s most magnificent church, the Sistine Chapel. The busy square Piazza Venezia is easily recognized by its imposing Vittorio Emanuele II Monument. Take a stroll to Rome's famous Trevi Fountain. Vatican City is the site of lovely St. Peter's Square and St. Peter's Basilica, where for 200 years, Renaissance masters worked on its design and created an unparalleled masterpiece. Visit Vatican Museum.

Suggested Private Excursions

Civitavecchia: Imperial Rome & The Vatican City - 8 hours

Civitavecchia: Rome for Repeat Visitors - 8 hours

Civitavecchia: Gastronomic Rome and Time at Leisure - 8 hours

Civitavecchia: Museums of Rome - Capitoline and Borghese - 8 hours