Our Escorted Tour of Spain and Portugal has crossed the border, and our New Zealand group, hosted by Consultants Melissa and Sandra, has arrived in Portugal. Their next stop on the Portugal leg of this tour was one of Europe's most captivating capitals, and Melissa has sent through her report from the ground.

A city of colour and history

"Lisbon completely won us over," Melissa writes. A city built across seven hills, its story is written into its grand squares, its colourful tiled buildings and its iconic yellow trams, each one carrying centuries of history from the age of explorers and seafarers. Wandering these streets, it is easy to see why Lisbon has become such a beloved stop on our escorted journeys through Portugal.

The taste of Portugal

No visit to Lisbon is complete without sampling the famous Portuguese custard tart, and the group made sure to try the real thing. As Melissa puts it, they are "on another level" compared to anything you will find back home. It is these small, authentic moments, standing in a local pastelaria with a warm tart in hand, that our escorted tours are designed to deliver.

A day trip to fairytale Sintra

A true highlight of the Lisbon leg was the day trip to Sintra, a fairytale town in the hills just outside the city. The group explored the magnificent Pena Palace, with its striking colours and clifftop views, before wandering the town's charming streets, where Melissa says there was "something new around every corner."

It is this kind of experience, a thoughtfully chosen detour that turns a good holiday into an extraordinary one, that comes from travelling with a Consultant who has been there before and knows exactly where to take you next.

Onwards to the Douro

Lisbon proved the perfect way to close out this leg of the journey. The group has now travelled north to Porto, where they are boarding their Douro River cruise, ready for the next chapter of their Spain and Portugal adventure. We will bring you more updates as Melissa and Sandra continue to host our group through Portugal's wine country and beyond.

If a journey like this has caught your imagination, we would love to help you plan your own. Get in touch with your YOU Travel & Cruise Consultant today, and let's start planning your next holiday or cruise together.