MIT Hillel
Jewish Journey to Portugal

Mar 22, 2026 - Mar 29, 2026

  • DESTINATION Portugal
  • Who's Going MIT Students
  • Trip Type Special Journey
  • Duration 8 DAYS
  • Group Size 10+
Program is tentative and subject to change. Connect with our Customer Care Team by calling: (888) 230-6008 Mon.-Thur. from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET).

YOUR journey

J² crafts journeys of inspiration, education, and Jewish connections to Israel and worldwide. We are guided by a simple but powerful concept: No two trips are the same; each experience should be personal, meaningful, and backed by superb service. Travel is not just about the places you visit, but the connections you make along the way.

  •   Food & Wine
  •   Heritage
  •   Music
  •   Nature Walks
  •   Street Art
  •   Street Food
  •   UNESCO Heritage Sites
  •   Urban Graffiti Tour

Program Itinerary

DAY 1
THE START OF A SPECIAL JOURNEY
Sun. Mar 22, 2026
  • Depart the US.
Overnight: Flight
DAY 2
WELCOME TO PORTUGAL
Mon. Mar 23, 2026
  • Arrive at Porto International Airport.
  • Group transfer from the airport.
  • Meet your J² Expert Educator and your local guide who will accompany you on this journey.
  • Start your exploration of Porto with a scenic stroll along the riverbanks, beginning at the vibrant Cais da Ribeira and crossing over to the picturesque Porto de Gaia riverbank.
  • Free time for lunch at the Ribeira local market.
  • Conclude your adventure with a ride on the teleferico and a walk across the iconic Dom Luís I Bridge, providing breathtaking panoramas of Porto’s skyline.
  • Check in to the hotel.
  • End the day with a traditional Fado concert followed by a welcome dinner at a restaurant.
Overnight: Porto, Portugal Meals: Dinner
DAY 3
PORTUGAL’S MEDIEVAL CAPITAL
Tue. Mar 24, 2026
  • Visit the Kadoorie Mekor Haim Synagogue, the largest synagogue in the Iberian Peninsula.
  • Romanesque to Romanticism: View the main sites of the city, including: Avenida dos Aliados, Clérigos Tower, which is known as the symbol of the city, São Bento railway station, decorated with 20,000 tiles depicting the history of Portugal, and the Ribeira neighborhood near the riverfront, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • Lunch on own, en route.
  • Tour of the Porto Old Jewish Quarters: We'll learn about the Jewish heritage in Sepharad Portugal, the Jews of the Middle Ages and the terrible times of the Inquisition, the new Christians of the modern era, and the 20th-century Jewish Renaissance.
  • Participate in a ceramic workshop, where you will learn with local artisans about this important Portuguese heritage and paint Porto tiles yourself using traditional techniques. Make your own souvenir of your Portugal journey, while tasting a delicious glass of local port.
  • Free evening to explore the local food scene on own.
Overnight: Porto, Portugal Meals: Breakfast
DAY 4
JEWISH HISTORY IN BELMONTE
Wed. Mar 25, 2026
  • Check out of the hotel and drive to Belmonte.
  • Explore the Castle of Belmonte, where you can learn about the town's broader history, including its Jewish heritage. The castle offers panoramic views of the surrounding area.
  • Group lunch, en route.
  • Walk through the historic Jewish Quarter. Observe the narrow streets and traditional houses, and see the sites where Jews lived and practiced their faith in secret.
  • Spend time at the Jewish Museum, which showcases the history of the Belmonte Jewish community since the Middle Ages.
  • Discover the synagogue in Belmonte, still active to this day and meet with local community members, descendants of the Anusims of Portugal.
  • Check into the hotel, followed by dinner and a discussion with your J² Expert Educator.
Overnight: Belmonte, Portugal Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 5
JEWISH HISTORY IN TOMAR
Thu. Mar 26, 2026
  • Check out of the hotel and depart Belmonte.
  • Arrive at the historic city of Tomar.
  • Discover the famous and ancient Jewish synagogue dating back to the 15th century and Abraham Zacuto Luso-Hebrew Museum.
  • Lunch at a restaurant.
  • Visit the Convent of the Order of Christ, originally a Templar stronghold built in the 12th century and one of Portugal's most important historical and artistic monuments. The Convent is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 
  • Continue your drive to Lisbon.
  • Check in to the hotel.
  • Enjoy the hustle and bustle of the lively Time Out Market. Free time for dinner on own at the market.
Overnight: Lisbon, Portugal Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 6
THE MAGIC OF SINTRA
Fri. Mar 27, 2026
  • Depart the hotel for a visit to the Pena Palace grounds and its surrounding Pena Park.
  • Excursion to the city of Sintra, the resort town of Portugal kings, perched high in the mountains. The town’s picturesque romantic monuments and mountainous vistas serve as the backdrop for unparalleled architectural and natural beauty.
  • Lunch on own, en route.
  • Depart Sintra and stop at Cabo da Roca. Overlooking the deep blue of the Atlantic Ocean, stand at the western-most extent of mainland Portugal and continental Europe.
  • Drive back to Lisbon.
  • Explore the Belem district of Lisbon, located on the River Tagus, from where many of the great Portuguese explorers embarked on their momentous voyages.
  • Stop at the Monument to the Discoveries to pay tribute to the Portuguese Age of Discovery in the 15th and 16th centuries.
  • Pass by the impressive Jerónimos Monastery and learn about the story behind its impressive walls.
  • Taste Lisbon's most famed pastry, Pasteis de Belem, whose exact recipe remains a secret to this day.
  • Return to the hotel to freshen up for Shabbat.
  • Shabbat service followed by dinner with the community at the Shaaré Tikva Synagogue. This was the first synagogue to be built in Portugal since the late fifteenth century.
Overnight: Lisbon, Portugal Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 7
EXPLORING LISBON
Sat. Mar 28, 2026
  • Depart the hotel for a day of guided walking to explore Lisbon.
  • Enjoy a tour of the center of Lisbon, including Rossio Square, Baixa (the downtown area), and Praça do Comércio.
  • Take in the best of the Portuguese capital's graffiti through the narrow streets and staircases of Barrio Alto.
  • Explore the Alfama Quarter, including the site of the Lisbon massacre of 1506, with its steep winding alleys, hidden landmark churches, and breathtaking views of the Tagus River – all while hearing about the tension between tradition and modernity.
  • Lunch at a restaurant.
  • Free time to explore Lisbon on your own.
  • Return to the hotel, participate in a havdalah ceremony, and share final reflections from your trip.
  • Farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight: Lisbon, Portugal Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 8
UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN
Sun. Mar 29, 2026
  • Check out of the hotel.
  • Group transfer to Lisbon International Airport for your return flight to the US.
Meals: Breakfast

RATES & LODGING

Protect yourself from fraud by being cautious and vigilant when it comes to online theft. It is crucial to note that J² adventures will never send an email requesting you to transfer funds to a new account or to redirect a payment. We will never alter our account number or issue additional payment requests without first personally speaking to you and properly identifying ourselves. If you feel uncertain about any communication (scammers often impersonate legitimate companies via e-mail or by calling), halt and contact us directly through our toll-free number listed on our website to discuss any necessary payments. Refrain from responding to suspicious emails or clicking on links or attachments unless you are completely certain of their legitimacy. By following these guidelines and staying vigilant, you can significantly reduce your risk of becoming a victim of fraud.
*or similar hotels. Registration closed

Porto: Hotel Vila Galé Porto

Belmonte: Belmonte Sinai Hotel

Lisbon: Dom Carlos Park

Choose Your Way

VOYAGER
  • Carefully selected accommodations, offering comfort and quality.
  • A seamless, fully curated experience, as outlined below.
  • J² Customer Care available by phone and email.
  • $50 travel credit per person for your next J² journey.

What to expect

  • 6 nights' accommodations.
  • 6 days of touring with a J² Expert Educator and a local guide, 5 days of touring in a luxury, climate controlled bus.
  • Daily breakfast, 3 lunches & 4 dinners.
  • The J² adventures App available on the App Store & on Google Play (active 30 days before your departure and throughout your trip).
  • Water on the bus.
  • All site entrance fees & program fees as per your final program.
  • This journey includes walking tours, cultural site visits, and hotel stays that may involve uneven terrain, stairs, and longer distances on foot. While we do our best to accommodate a range of mobility levels, a moderate level of physical fitness is recommended to fully enjoy the experience. For more information, please see the “Travelers with Physical Limitations” section in our full Terms & Conditions.
  • Credit card fees.
  • Flights to & from Portugal.
  • COVID related expenses, including tests.
  • Late check out on the day of departure is not included.
  • Evening transportation when dinner is not included.
  • Porterage at the hotels.
  • Amendments to the program: In the event that any sites, programs or meals etc. are added to the program, an additional fee may be required.
  • Personal extras: Items of personal nature such as laundry, wines, mineral water, beverages, coffee, tea, food other than the table d’hotel menu, passport and visa fees, insurance, and foreign port taxes, unless otherwise specified.
  • Gratuities are excluded. For groups of 10-19 participants traveling to Portugal: We recommend the following guidelines for tipping (amounts are in US dollars): J² Expert Educator: $16 | Local Guide: $8 | Driver: $3. Amounts are per day per person.
  • US and foreign airport taxes, Q fuel surcharge and border taxes when applicable.
  • This journey includes walking tours, cultural site visits, and hotel stays that may involve uneven terrain, stairs, and longer distances on foot. While we do our best to accommodate a range of mobility levels, a moderate level of physical fitness is recommended to fully enjoy the experience. For more information, please see the “Travelers with Physical Limitations” section in our full Terms & Conditions.
  • Please review our terms & conditions (T&C’s) or request that we send you our full T&C’s. Until you do that, here is the small print, and other stuff you may want to know:
    • Validity | All prices quoted are based on exchange rates as of the proposal date and are subject to change without notice. Rates are per person and are based on shared twin room occupancy.
    • How to Make a Reservation | The quickest way to make a reservation is to register online or contact us by email. We accept VISA, MasterCard, and American Express credit cards. A non-refundable deposit of $1,000 is required in order to complete the registration process.
  • For any assistance with this registration process or other trip-related queries, please email Customer Care: [email protected].
  • Payments | The balance of your payment is due 90 days before your trip begins, or as specified in your invoice. You will receive an email reminder 2 weeks before this date. Various payment options are available as follows:
    • Credit card | We accept Visa, Mastercard and American Express. Please check with your credit card provider regarding international processing fees. We are unable to process payments of over $1,000 over the phone. Please submit payment online via a credit card or by wiring funds via your bank.
    • Domestic bank wire transfer | Payment should be wired in the same currency that is listed on your invoice. Please add the name of your group or invoice number as a reference and forward a copy of the transfer receipt by email. The bank transfer should clearly state the beneficiary’s name on the wire transfer.
  • J² Adventures reserves the right to automatically cancel your reservation on that date and it may be subject to reconfirmation should the final payment not be received.
  • Cancelation Policy | All cancelations need to be made in writing. The cancelation fee depends on the date when we receive written notification of your request to cancel your booking. Please note that the deposit is non-refundable.
    • Cancelation fees | Cancelations made 90 or more days prior to departure incur the loss of the deposit. Cancelations made 89 to 46 days prior to departure incur the loss of 50% of the full trip cost. Cancelations made 45 days or less prior to the departure incur the loss of 100% of the full trip cost.
    • Cancelation fees may also include: Hotel or supplier cancelation fees. J² Adventures reserves the right to adjust its terms of payment, including cancelation policies and initial deposits.
  • This journey includes walking tours, cultural site visits, and hotel stays that may involve uneven terrain, stairs, and longer distances on foot. While we do our best to accommodate a range of mobility levels, a moderate level of physical fitness is recommended to fully enjoy the experience. For more information, please see the “Travelers with Physical Limitations” section in our full Terms & Conditions.
  • Protect yourself from fraud by being cautious and vigilant when it comes to online theft. It is crucial to note that J² adventures will never send an email requesting you to transfer funds to a new account or to redirect a payment. We will never alter our account number or issue additional payment requests without first personally speaking to you and properly identifying ourselves. If you feel uncertain about any communication (scammers often impersonate legitimate companies via e-mail or by calling), halt and contact us directly through our toll-free number listed on our website to discuss any necessary payments. Refrain from responding to suspicious emails or clicking on links or attachments unless you are completely certain of their legitimacy. By following these guidelines and staying vigilant, you can significantly reduce your risk of becoming a victim of fraud.
  • Please click here to view our full terms (T&C's). These T&C's apply to all reservations created within J2 Adventures.

DISCOVER NEW WORLDS.

JOURNEYS.

A family vacation to Israel. An adventure of a lifetime traveling with friends to Morocco. A  trip to Poland or Portugal with your community. What do these trips have in common? No matter where you go, you will come back with a fresh perspective and appreciation of the place you visited as well as a heightened awareness of your identity as part of the global Jewish community. 

Stuff.

We have everything you need to know before you go. Check out our Instagram my_j2adventures for cool updates and interesting tidbits.