Emerald Cruises Douro: 12 nights from Madrid with Emerald Radiance
Aug 14, 2025

Madrid

Madrid is the capital of Spain: don't miss a visit to the Prado Museum or the city's famous botanical garden.

The Prado Museum is one of the world's most important art museums, housing masterpieces by artists like Velázquez, Goya, El Greco and Bosch. It's a must-visit for all art lovers! Plaza Mayor, the heart of the old city, is surrounded by historic buildings and cozy cafes, making it a perfect spot for strolling and soaking in the city's ambiance. Retiro Park is an ideal place to unwind from the hustle and bustle of the city. In this park, you’ll find beautiful lakes, marble monuments and the famous Crystal Palace. Madrid's cuisine is a blend of traditions from all over Spain. One of the most famous dishes is cocido madrileño, it’s a meat stew. You should also try tapas, small appetizers served in bars and restaurants throughout the city.

Special favorites include jamón ibérico (Iberian ham), paella and swit churros with hot chocolate, which can be enjoyed at traditional cafes like Chocolatería San Ginés. While Madrid doesn't have direct access to the sea, it's easy to reach several ports from the city, where luxurious cruises set sail across the Mediterranean. These cruises offer journeys to the coasts of France, Italy and Greece, as well as to stunning islands like Mallorca and Sardinia. These trips allow you to indulge in Mediterranean culture, cuisine and natural beauty. Madrid is a city where history and modernity blend harmoniously, creating a unique atmosphere that is impossible to forget. Whether you're a history buff, an art lover, a foodie or just seeking new experiences, Madrid will leave unforgettable memories in your heart.

Madrid

Madrid is the capital of Spain: don't miss a visit to the Prado Museum or the city's famous botanical garden.

The Prado Museum is one of the world's most important art museums, housing masterpieces by artists like Velázquez, Goya, El Greco and Bosch. It's a must-visit for all art lovers! Plaza Mayor, the heart of the old city, is surrounded by historic buildings and cozy cafes, making it a perfect spot for strolling and soaking in the city's ambiance. Retiro Park is an ideal place to unwind from the hustle and bustle of the city. In this park, you’ll find beautiful lakes, marble monuments and the famous Crystal Palace. Madrid's cuisine is a blend of traditions from all over Spain. One of the most famous dishes is cocido madrileño, it’s a meat stew. You should also try tapas, small appetizers served in bars and restaurants throughout the city.

Special favorites include jamón ibérico (Iberian ham), paella and swit churros with hot chocolate, which can be enjoyed at traditional cafes like Chocolatería San Ginés. While Madrid doesn't have direct access to the sea, it's easy to reach several ports from the city, where luxurious cruises set sail across the Mediterranean. These cruises offer journeys to the coasts of France, Italy and Greece, as well as to stunning islands like Mallorca and Sardinia. These trips allow you to indulge in Mediterranean culture, cuisine and natural beauty. Madrid is a city where history and modernity blend harmoniously, creating a unique atmosphere that is impossible to forget. Whether you're a history buff, an art lover, a foodie or just seeking new experiences, Madrid will leave unforgettable memories in your heart.

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

Lisbon

Perched on steep slopes overlooking the Tagus River, Lisbon offers all the pleasures you'd expect from Portugal's main attraction.

The capital of Portugal, Lisbon (in Portuguese Lisboa) has experienced a great rebirth in recent years, with a lively and flourishing contemporary culture. Perched on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, Lisbon is one of the rare European cities that face the ocean and use water as an element that defines the city. Lisbon enchants travelers with its white limestone buildings, intimate alleys and an ancient charm that makes it a popular destination all year round.

Lisbon

Perched on steep slopes overlooking the Tagus River, Lisbon offers all the pleasures you'd expect from Portugal's main attraction.

The capital of Portugal, Lisbon (in Portuguese Lisboa) has experienced a great rebirth in recent years, with a lively and flourishing contemporary culture. Perched on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, Lisbon is one of the rare European cities that face the ocean and use water as an element that defines the city. Lisbon enchants travelers with its white limestone buildings, intimate alleys and an ancient charm that makes it a popular destination all year round.

Lisbon

Perched on steep slopes overlooking the Tagus River, Lisbon offers all the pleasures you'd expect from Portugal's main attraction.

The capital of Portugal, Lisbon (in Portuguese Lisboa) has experienced a great rebirth in recent years, with a lively and flourishing contemporary culture. Perched on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, Lisbon is one of the rare European cities that face the ocean and use water as an element that defines the city. Lisbon enchants travelers with its white limestone buildings, intimate alleys and an ancient charm that makes it a popular destination all year round.