We’ll rise early for some low-light photography of Lisbon. We’ll explore several of the city’s neighborhoods. There is a lot to see and capture in Lisbon, but it is also a difficult city to navigate because of the up and down nature of its seven hills. We will use local transportation to transfer from one neighborhood to another.

After lunch, we’ll check out the colorful and fun photographic opportunities at Lisbon’s LX Factory. What do you get when you introduce an old strip of factory buildings to restaurants, cafés, and creative minds? You get one of the coolest hangout spots in the city. Lisbon has accepted a role as a technological center and startup headquarters, attracting more entrepreneurs in the process, and the LX Factory is one of many fruitful initiatives.

In the evening, we will take a short trolley car ride to Belém, which boasts two UNESCO World Heritage sites. Both the Jerónimos Monastery (built in 1495) and the Belem Tower (built in 1513) are humbling sites, and photograph very nicely as well. We won’t let you forget to visit Pastéis de Belém, famous for their pastries of the same name, they make for a delicious dessert. And finally, as the sun is about to set, we will shoot the newly created MAAT (Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology). This will be a wonderful place to wrap up the day before we’ll head back to our hotel. (B)

We’ll depart early in the morning for Sintra, which is located just outside Lisbon. We will spend the day exploring the amazing castles that seem to be around every corner in this small town. The many retreats, estates, and castles that dot the hills, some dating back to the 8th century, is why Sintra is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

After a wonderful lunch in one of the cafes nearby, we will tour the Moorish Castle that sits atop the highest point in the town. The grounds and the view make for some of the best photographs one could ask for. Sintra will provide us with the perfect opportunity to discuss architecture photography as we’ll travel from one amazing structure to another. As the day goes by, the colorful buildings seem to come to life with the warm evening sun beating against them. They pop out of the lush green hills providing some beautiful contrast in order to photograph this incredible landscape.

Our objective is to give you a taste of Sintra. You could literally spend a week exploring this magical enclave. So, if you fall in love with Sintra, which you very well may do, you will certainly want to return! After Sintra, we will explore the beach community of Cascais. Cascais (kush-kaish) has rocketed from sleepy fishing village to much-loved summertime playground of wave-frolicking lisboêtas ever since King Luís I went for a dip in 1870. Its trio of golden bays attracts sun-worshipping holiday makers, who come to splash in the ice-cold Atlantic. (B)

Once we’ll arrive in Algarve, we will explore the world renowned Ponta da Piedade cliff and Praia da Rocha beach in Portimão. At sunset, we will attempt to capture that iconic Algarve sunset shot, followed by dinner. The stunning coast of the Algarve is known for its breathtaking cliffs, golden beaches, sea caves, scalloped bays, and sandy islands. But ‘sun, surf, and sand’ is far from the end of the Algarve story; there’s no shortage of photographic opportunities on this breathtaking coast. (B)

On day six, we’ll leave early for our drive to Porto in northern Portugal. Along the way, we will make a brief stop at Tomar before arriving in Aveiro. Enchanting and brimming with fascinating history, Tomar makes for a great stop while exploring Portugal. Located in the center of the country, it is surrounded by forests, fields, and other charming rural towns, and although it’s a sleepy town at first glance, there is plenty to see and photograph in this incredibly pretty town with epic architecture.

Next, we’ll head to Aveiro. Hugging the edge of the Ria, a shallow coastal lagoon rich in birdlife, Aveiro (uhvey-roo), whose name might come from the Latin aviarium (place of birds), is a prosperous town with a youthful, energetic buzz. It’s occasionally dubbed the “Venice of Portugal” thanks to its high-prowed boats, humpbacked bridges, and small network of picturesque canals. We’ll explore by foot or aboard a moliceiro; the traditional seaweed-harvesting boat now converted to tourist use.

Upon our arrival in Porto, we will check in to our hotel and we will turn our focus on the old city and all the spectacular sites it has to offer. Located between the mouth of the Douro River and the Atlantic Ocean. Porto is one of Europe’s oldest urban centers and is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. (B)

Today, we’ll immerse ourselves in Porto; saving the best for last. As we’ll explore the city’s diverse neighborhoods and wander through its ancient streets, we’ll encounter magnificent examples of baroque architecture showcased in its buildings and churches. Throughout the day, we’ll focus on street, people, cityscape, and architectural photography, along with long-exposure techniques using ND filters.

While walking around, we will have a wonderful time photographing the people, culture, and sites of one of Europe’s oldest cities. Photographing this port city at sunset and twilight is best done from the banks of the Douro River. For this you will need your tripods and ND filters. Here, we will focus on the old town. (B)

Today, we’ll depart Porto for a day trip to one of the world’s oldest demarcated wine regions (since 1756). The Douro Valley showcases steep terrace vineyards carved into mountains, granite bluffs, and whitewashed Quintas (estates) and 18th-century wine cellars that draw in visitors from around the world. We’ll be tasting the ports and wines, traveling winding scenic roads, visiting postcard-pretty villages, and enjoying excellent regional restaurants.

Upon our return to Porto, we will freshen up at our hotel, and return to the banks of the Douro River for a wonderful “Farewell Dinner” at one of our favorite Portuguese restaurants. (B) (D)

On day nine, we will have our final group discussion, review our past week’s photos, trade contact information, and say goodbye, as we’ll head back to Lisbon. NOTE: If you are departing from Porto we will bid you farewell in Porto.

We urge you to extend your stay and practice all the photography skills you have learned over the nine days in other towns in Portugal or throughout Europe! (B)