Flea Markets and Fairytales: Portugal with Ashley and Jenasie

Welcome to Porto – a city of color, charm, and creative spirit. Upon arrival, make your way to the joining hotel for check-in and some time to relax. With its hillside neighborhoods, blue-and-white tiled churches, and the shimmering Douro River below, Porto is the perfect place to begin your journey through Portugal’s artistic soul.

In the evening, gather with Ashley and your fellow travelers for a special welcome dinner at a traditional Portuguese restaurant. Enjoy your first taste of local cuisine, share stories, and toast to the week of discovery ahead.

🏨 Accommodation

• Acta The Avenue Hotel or similar ⭐⭐⭐⭐

🍽️ Included Meals

• Dinner

✅ Activities

• Welcome Dinner at a Traditional Restaurant

After breakfast, set out on a guided walking tour with your experienced and knowledgeable local guide to explore Porto’s historic heart – a patchwork of colors, textures, and stories. Wander through the cobbled lanes of the Ribeira district, where pastel buildings rise above the riverfront and laundry flutters from iron balconies. Visit the majestic São Bento Station to admire its stunning azulejo murals, depicting Portugal’s history in brilliant blue and white tiles. Cross the iconic Dom Luís I Bridge for panoramic views of the city’s terracotta rooftops and the sparkling Douro below.

You’ll also step into the magical Livraria Lello, one of the world’s most beautiful bookstores, where stained glass, carved wood, and a sweeping red staircase have inspired artists and writers for over a century. In the afternoon, channel your own creativity during a tile painting workshop led by a local artisan. You’ll paint two traditional azulejos, which will be fired overnight and ready for collection the next day – a perfect keepsake from Portugal’s artistic heart.

🏨 Accommodation

• Acta The Avenue Hotel or similar ⭐⭐⭐⭐

🍽️ Included Meals

• Breakfast

✅ Activities

• Porto Walking Tour
• Visit to Livraria Lello
• Tile Painting Workshop

This morning, immerse yourself in Porto’s local life with a visit to Feira da Vandoma – the city’s oldest and most colorful flea market. Stroll among the bustling stalls filled with antique books, retro posters, ceramics, and vintage treasures. It’s a photographer’s paradise and a cultural time capsule that captures the city’s creative and quirky spirit. After exploring and picking up a few unique finds, return to the hotel to drop off your discoveries.

In the afternoon, continue your journey through Porto’s cultural heritage with a guided visit to the Palácio da Bolsa, a 19th-century architectural masterpiece once used by merchants and dignitaries. Its Arab Room, inspired by Moorish design, shimmers with gold leaf and intricate detail. Later, collect your beautifully glazed tiles from the workshop – a lasting reminder of your creative connection to the city.

After a day of treasure-hunting at the flea market, unwind with an evening of creativity and connection. Gather with Ashley and Jenasie for a relaxed junk journaling session – the perfect way to capture the beauty and inspiration of your travels. We’ll start with a little “show and tell” to share favorite finds from the market, then get crafty assembling our own Portugal-inspired travel journals with kits provided by your hosts. This cozy creative night is all about slowing down, laughing together, and turning your travel memories into art.

🏨 Accommodation

• Acta The Avenue Hotel or similar ⭐⭐⭐⭐

🍽️ Included Meals

• Breakfast

✅ Activities

• Visit Feira da Vandoma Flea Market
• Guided Tour of Palácio da Bolsa
• Collection of Finished Tiles
• Junk Journaling Night with Ashley & Jenasie

After breakfast, board your private coach for the scenic journey south to Lisbon, passing rolling vineyards, sun-drenched hills, and picturesque coastal landscapes. Along the way, you’ll see how Portugal’s beauty extends far beyond its cities – a tapestry of rural charm and coastal elegance.

Upon arrival, set out on a guided walking tour of Lisbon’s historic center. Explore the elegant boulevards of Baixa, the boutique-lined lanes of Chiado, and the maze-like alleys of Alfama – where brightly painted houses and street art blend into a kaleidoscope of color. End the day with a ride on Lisbon’s iconic yellow tram, an enduring symbol of the city’s old-world charm and everyday creativity.

🏨 Accommodation

• Eurostars Lisboa Parque Hotel or similar ⭐⭐⭐⭐

🍽️ Included Meals

• Breakfast

✅ Activities

• Private Coach Transfer to Lisbon
• Lisbon Walking Tour
• Traditional Tram Ride

Today’s adventure takes you to Sintra – a dreamlike town tucked among misty forests and fairytale palaces. Begin at the mystical Quinta da Regaleira, where winding tunnels, hidden towers, and lush gardens tell stories of myth and symbolism. Then visit Palácio de Monserrate, a masterpiece of romantic architecture blending Moorish, Gothic, and Indian influences in soft pinks and ivory whites.

Surrounded by tropical gardens bursting with color, Monserrate feels like a painter’s dream. Enjoy an included lunch at a local restaurant, soaking up the charm of this UNESCO World Heritage town before returning to Lisbon in the late afternoon.

🏨 Accommodation

• Eurostars Lisboa Parque Hotel or similar ⭐⭐⭐⭐

🍽️ Included Meals

• Breakfast

• Lunch

✅ Activities

• Visit to Quinta da Regaleira
• Visit to Palácio de Monserrate
• Included Lunch in Sintra

Discover Lisbon’s artistic and bohemian heart, starting at Feira da Ladra – the city’s famous open-air flea market where locals sell everything from antique tiles and vintage vinyl to handmade crafts. It’s a kaleidoscope of colors and creativity, nestled in Alfama’s historic streets.

Later, visit Ler Devagar, one of Europe’s most beautiful bookshops, housed in a former printing factory. Its soaring ceilings, floating bicycle sculpture, and shelves of art and literature create an atmosphere that celebrates imagination and culture. The rest of the day is free to explore Lisbon’s galleries, boutiques, or colorful street murals that reflect the city’s creative pulse.

🏨 Accommodation

• Eurostars Lisboa Parque Hotel or similar ⭐⭐⭐⭐

🍽️ Included Meals

• Breakfast

✅ Activities

• Visit Feira da Ladra Flea Market
• Visit Ler Devagar Bookstore

Begin your final full day with a private transfer to the stunning Palácio Nacional de Queluz, often called the “Portuguese Versailles.” Stroll through its pastel-pink halls and formal gardens adorned with fountains, statues, and gilded detail – a glorious reflection of Portugal’s royal artistry.

In the afternoon, visit the National Tile Museum (Museu Nacional do Azulejo), where centuries of color and craftsmanship come to life through intricate tilework. You’ll see everything from 16th-century religious panels to bold contemporary designs that prove Portugal’s creative spirit is as vibrant as ever. Tonight, gather with your group for a farewell dinner – a final toast to art, friendship, and the colors of Portugal.

🏨 Accommodation

• Eurostars Lisboa Parque Hotel or similar ⭐⭐⭐⭐

🍽️ Included Meals

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Farewell Dinner

✅ Activities

• Visit to Palácio Nacional de Queluz
• Visit to National Tile Museum
• Farewell Dinner

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before saying goodbye to Lisbon’s light and color. Take one last stroll through its elegant boulevards or relax at a café as you reflect on a week filled with creativity, culture, and connection.

As you depart, carry home not just your painted tiles and photos – but the spirit of Portugal’s artistry, warmth, and joy.

🍽️ Included Meals

• Breakfast

✅ Activities

• Departure Day