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Lisbon, Porto & The Douro Valley

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3.9 stars(15 reviews)
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Rich history and cinematic natural landscapes

8 days From £999 per person

2023 Tour code: 23OLF

About the tour

Soak up a rich historical legacy, laid-back culture and cinematic natural landscapes in Portugal. Discover colourful Lisbon, the stunning palaces of Sintra, vibrant Porto and the breathtaking Douro Valley.

Highlights

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - To Lisbon

Fly from London or your local airport to Lisbon, and transfer to your hotel for four nights. Lisbon is bursting with history, filled with renovated palaces, magnificent churches and an impressive castle reflects the city's rich cultural heritage. Set on seven hills, Lisbon's old neighbourhoods have cobblestone pavements and narrow streets, while its more modern area - which opens up onto the seafront - has Art Nouveau cafés and bakeries that are a pleasure to explore.

Includes
  • Dinner
Day 2 - Lisbon

Explore the historic heart of Lisbon on a guided tour. Lisbon is full of diverse architecture, superb food, and fascinating history, from its time as a Roman settlement to its rebirth as a major elegant European city. Begin at Rossio Square, Lisbon's grand central plaza and social hub. The statue of Dom Pedro IV casts a shadow across the mosaics of this beautiful square towards the impressive National Theatre of Lisbon. Continue through steep, narrow streets to Belém. This pretty area of Lisbon is well-known as the aristocratic quarter of the city; a fact made clear by the gentle fountains, extensive parkland, and grand old buildings.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 3 - Sintra

Today you take the train to Sintra, an ancient city with a Moorish castle and several palaces, nestled in the hills of Serra de Sintra. Sintra served as the summer residence of Portugal's royal family for over 600 years. As a result, the town is full of grandeur, from its ornate and fantastical palaces and elaborate Romantic architecture to its Moorish fortress walls.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 4 - Cascais

You take the train to Cascais, a nearby coastal resort town known for its golden beaches and lively marina. You have free time to explore this traditional Portuguese fishing town which, like Sintra, was used by the royal families of Portugal when they wanted to escape to the beautiful coastline around Lisbon. Stroll down the cobbled streets lined with whitewashed buildings, and perhaps head to the Museum Quarter for a dose of culture.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 5 - Porto

Take the train to vibrant Porto. Once regarded as the edge of the known world, Porto bears one of Portugal's greatest legacies, as it was from here that daring explorers set off to discover the New World. Set upon the outlet of the golden River Douro, this extraordinary city takes its architectural cues from all aspects of its history and includes Art Deco flourishes, romantic seafront houses, and 19th-century palaces. The city is built upon a set of hills, the peaks of Porto, meaning that merely walking up a street means you're granted superb views. Check into your hotel for the next three nights before a guided tour that showcases the best of the city's rich history and heritage.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 - Douro Valley

Enjoy an excursion by rail into the stunning Douro Valley. Here, lush, scenic hills and vineyards slope gently upwards from the tracks, each dotted with scattered farmhouses and sleepy villages. The Douro winds through this landscape, originating in Spain and flowing all the way across Portugal and out into the Atlantic Ocean through Porto. Arrive in Pinhao, a pretty little town surrounded by rolling hills. The quintas and terraced vineyards around here produce some of the finest port wine across the world, with many of the world's most famous brands owning a number of quintas which are hidden away in the hills. You visit the historic estate of Quinta da Pacheca, where you're treated to a tasting of this excellent local port.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 7 - Porto

Your day is free in Porto. Perhaps continue your sightseeing with a visit to the city's historic heart, medieval Ribeira or 'Riverside'. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, this central part of the city is the heartbeat of Porto, and is packed with market squares and multi-coloured buildings with flower-filled balconies. Perhaps dip into one of the cafés or wine bars along the route, for a pleasant time soaking up the local life in this bustling part of town.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8 - Home

You bid a fond farewell to Portugal today as you transfer to Porto's airport for your flight back to London, or your local airport. On arrival, your tour concludes.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Please note

Please note that while every departure of this tour features the same excursions, they may not necessarily be in the order listed above.

Departure times

Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We will write to you around 10 weeks before your departure date with the precise meeting times for your tour group.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotels

Exe Liberdade

Exe Liberdade, Lisbon

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Grande Hotel do Porto, Porto

Grande Hotel do Porto, Porto

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Train

Regional Rail

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Reviews

3.9 stars3.9 / 5 · 15 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (4)
  2. 4 stars
    (6)
  3. 3 stars
    (5)
  4. 2 stars
    (0)
  5. 1 star
    (0)

Philip Ashurst

3 stars

Submitted 30 Oct 2022

See previously submitted report

Collected by Trustpilot

Mr Watson

4 stars

Submitted 26 Sep 2022

Lovely experience, mandy tour manager couldn't have been more accommodating. Hectic but seen a lot. Would recommend

Collected by Trustpilot

Mrs. Denise Rickwood

3 stars

Submitted 26 Sep 2022

Too full on and terrible food at hotel. Great tour guide

Collected by Trustpilot

Mr P Carter

3 stars

Submitted 18 Oct 2018

Dirty hotel in Lisbon. Hotel not set up to cater for evening meal. Porterage non-existent Oporto hotel much better.. Tour guide eas excellent. He agreed rooms were not up to standard - carpet was filthy with wine etc stsins and cig. burns

Collected by Rail Discoveries

Mr D Baker

4 stars

Submitted 03 Oct 2018

The two cities were historically most interesting. Lisbon with its castle, mosaics, and wonderful places to eat out, and Porto with the riverside charm and of course the port!

Collected by Rail Discoveries

Mrs H Elliott

4 stars

Submitted 03 Oct 2018

I enjoyed the trip but it was too hectic and not quite sociable enough.

Collected by Rail Discoveries

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Lisbon, Porto & The Douro Valley

Rich history and cinematic natural landscapes

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