Lisbon, Porto & The Douro Valley

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.

• Dinner

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.

• Breakfast

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.

• Breakfast

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.

• Breakfast

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.

• Breakfast, Dinner

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.

• Breakfast

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.

• Breakfast, Dinner

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.

• Breakfast