Emerald Cruises Douro: 14 nights from Oporto with Emerald Radiance
Sep 18, 2027

Pinhão

Pinhão

Vega de Terrón

Peso da Régua

Peso da Régua

Oporto

At the mouth of the Rio Douro, the hilly city of Porto presents a mix of styles, eras and attitudes: narrow medieval alleys, extravagant Baroque churches, small squares and wide avenues, flanked by stately buildings.

The heart of Oporto is the Ribeira district, an area declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site made up of winding alleys, zigzagging stairs and churches on every corner, village-style squares and old merchants' houses where Roman ruins are hidden under the foundations. In the last two decades Porto has undergone a remarkable rebirth – which is expressed in the buzz of its efficient metro system and the shimmering of some ambitious urban renewal projects. The crowning of the city's glories are the two latest masterpieces, Museu de Arte Contemporânea by Álvaro Siza Vieira and the 'Casa da Música, which have transformed the city into a place of pilgrimage for architecture enthusiasts.
The Dom Luís I bridge an audacious iron arch, which crosses the Douro river, is impressive and not to be missed. It was built by the Belgian engineer Théophile Seyrig, for road traffic. Since 2003 the upper level has been used exclusively by the city's metro trams.

Leixoes

Lyon

Lyon is the third largest city in France after Paris and Marseille and offers many attractions for those who visit it. Its historic center became part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998 and is rich in museums, monuments, churches, parks and views. It also offers a noteworthy gastronomic culture.

The historic center of the city, called Presqu'île, peninsula, houses the Museum of Fine Arts, the Basilica of Saint-Martin d’Ainay, the Church of Saint-Nizier and many other buildings of great historical and cultural significance. The Presqu'île is also the heart of Lyon's life, where you will find shops, restaurants, and clubs.
On the west hill of the city is the historic center of Fourviéres, reachable by two funiculars, one of which is among the oldest in the world and still functioning. In December it hosts one of the most characteristic festivals in Europe, the Lyon Festival of Lights. Between 5 and 8 December, about seventy installations enliven the streets, squares, and buildings of the city, creating a particularly evocative atmosphere that attracts thousands of visitors every year.
Lyon is also the city that gave birth to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the "father" of the Little Prince, and paid homage to him by building a monument in Place Bellecour seventy years after his death.

Macon

Tournon