Lisbon, Porto & The Douro Valley

To Lisbon

Fly from London to the Portuguese capital of Lisbon today. On arrival into this wonderful European capital, transfer to the Exe Liberdade Hotel where you enjoy dinner later on tonight.

Exploring Lisbon

Explore the historic heart of Lisbon on this morning's guided tour.

Resplendent, exquisite and unique, Lisbon is full of diverse architecture, superb food and fascinating history. From its time as a Roman settlement, to its destruction by one of the worst earthquakes in history, to its rebirth as a major European city of taste and elegance, it is a wonder to explore.

Begin at Rossio Square, Lisbon's grand central plaza and social hub. Casting a shadow across the wave mosaics of this beautiful plaza is the enormous plinth and statue of Dom Pedro IV and at the end of the square is the impressive National Theatre of Lisbon.

Continue through steep, narrow streets to Belem. 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

Sintra

Take the train to Sintra, nestled in the hills above Lisbon. Composed of charming pastel-coloured buildings and hidden deep in the pines and hills of Serra de Sintra, this town is a true delight to explore.

Beautiful Sintra was the summer residence of Portugal's royal family. As a result, the town is full of grandeur and sophistication, from the majestic palaces and Romantic architecture to the ruins of ancient Moorish castles.

At Leisure in Lisbon

Today is free for you in Lisbon and the surrounding area - perhaps take the train to nearby Cascais. Like Sintra, this small town was used by the royal families of Portugal as a holiday destination on the beautiful coastline around Lisbon.

Porto

Today you take the train to vibrant Porto. Once 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 including art-deco flourishes, romantic seafront houses and 19th century palaces. Built upon a set of hills, the peaks of Porto, mean that upon ascending a street,you are granted superb views across the entire city.

Enjoy a guided tour here, then check in to Grande Hotel do Porto for three nights.

Douro Valley

Enjoy an excursion by rail into the stunning Douro Valley. 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 into Régua, a town known for its spectacular scenery where you visit a vineyard for a wine and cheese tasting. The vineyards here, or quintas as they are known, produce some of the finest port wine across the world, with many of the most famous brands owning a number of quintas which are hidden away in the hills.

At leisure in Porto and Home

Your day is at leisure in Porto so 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, packed with market squares and multi-coloured buildings, bedecked with flower filled balconies lining the cobbled streets. Perhaps dip into one of the cafés or port wine bars along the route, for a pleasant time soaking up the local life in this bustling part of town.

On Day 8 we bid a fond farewell to Porto and Portugal as you transfer to Porto's airport for your flight back home. On arrival, your tour concludes

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.