Itinerary Highlights
    • Sample Porto’s famous port wine in the prestigious cellars of the Vila Nova de Gaia neighbourhood
    • Sip sundowners on rooftop bars overlooking Coimbra’s historic cityscape
    • Round off your weeklong getaway by uncovering the hidden gems of Lisbon on a guided walk with a local

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The indulgent wines of Porto, the medieval culture of Coimbra and the coastal cosmopolitan feel of Lisbon… each stage of this train journey taps into the soul of cultural Portugal. Your adventure begins in picturesque Porto, where you’ll be delving into the world of port wine production as you sample a collection of delicious wines in the tasting rooms of major port merchants. A scenic train journey through whimsical countryside then lands you in the medieval university town of Coimbra. Spend two days savouring the historic charms of the animated city as you discover old churches, traditional fado music bars and, of course, the showpiece 13th-century university. The final chapter of this journey takes place in the wild picturesque city of Lisbon,
with its never-ending network of hilly cobbled streets lined with classic tiled properties. You only have one full day here, so spend it in style, exploring the city’s hidden gems, contemporary charm and rich artistic heritage with a clued-up local.

Route

Everything is 100% tailored to you
DAY 1

TOUCHDOWN IN PORTO

Your adventure across north-central Portugal begins today with a two-and-a-half-hour flight to Porto. Head to the airport, whizz through security and enjoy some down time in the airport lounge with some nibbles and refreshments as you await departure. A private driver will be waiting for you on arrival to whisk you off to your first hotel: a stylish guesthouse nestled in the heart of the historic centre, where you’ll be hanging your hat for the next two nights. The rest of today is then yours to play with. You can head out and take the pulse of the city with a gentle stroll around town or simply kick back, relax and enjoy the facilities at your hotel.

DAY 2

SIGHTSEEING AND WINE-TASTING

Hit the ground running today with a private walking tour of historic Porto and the wine cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia. Rising up from the shores of the peaceful Douro River, Porto displays its delights through a succession of Art Deco architecture, traditional workshops and charming old-fashioned restaurants, all punctuated by grand monumental historic buildings. Discover emblematic sights like the 12th-century cathedral, the 18th-century Clérigos Tower, the iconic bridge of Ponte Luis and the São Bento station, with its formidable azulejo (traditional tiles) decor. Enjoy a refreshing drink and sit down in the historic centre before heading over to the Douro to Vila Nova de Gaia, the city’s historic hub of the local port wine industry. Here, you can experience the delights of port wine, from the grandiose cellars to the tasting rooms of major port merchants. As for this afternoon, you can continue wining and dining your way around the city, or we can arrange for you to discover more of the city’s must-sees by electric bike.

DAY 3

SCENIC TRAIN JOURNEY SOUTH

Wave goodbye to the bright lights of Porto as you travel just under two hours by train to Coimbra. The journey is extremely scenic, so have your camera at the ready as you pass several picturesque valleys and plenty of charming countryside. On arrival, settle in for two nights in a beautiful hotel located near the iconic university (the oldest in Portugal) and spend the rest of today getting a taste of local life in the medieval centre. You can turn to your destination-specific Dossier, which is full of our top picks for wining and dining in the area. Weather permitting, we recommend hitting one of the city’s classic rooftop bars to enjoy a birds-eye view of historic Coimbra.

DAY 4

COIMBRA SIGHTSEEING

Renowned as being Portugal’s most important university town (think Portugal’s equivalent to Oxford or Cambridge), Coimbra’s showpiece is certainly its 13th-century university. Even today, this medieval institution stands out for the quality of its teaching, traditional black-robe uniform and splendid buildings which were once adorned with gold from Brazil in the 17th century. The famous Joanina Library is particularly beautiful, with its gilded wood and collection of ancient books. After exploring the university, continue on to the Church of the Holy Cross, which also delights with its architectural prowess. You can explore the city at your own pace, or we can arrange for you to follow in the footsteps of a seasoned local guide. As for this evening, why not settle into one of the historic centre’s many traditional bars to enjoy some tapas and drinks to the sounds of Portugal’s iconic, and very melancholic, fado music.

DAY 5

CAPITAL CALLING

Swap the medieval relics of Coimbra for the coastal cosmopolitan delights of Lisbon. Your blink-and-you’ll-miss-it train journey (less than two hours) will get you into the city just in time for lunch. Check in to your classic hotel nestled in the historic centre and spend the rest of today taking the pulse of the vibrant capital. We recommend once again turning to your handy Dossier for our recommendations for wining and dining. If you enjoyed getting a taste for fado in Coimbra then make sure to head to the atmospheric Chiado district for a dose of soulful sounds to round off your first evening in Lisbon.

DAY 6

LISBON LIKE A LOCAL

Rise and shine, you only have one full day in Lisbon and there’s not a moment to waste. After a delicious breakfast at your hotel this morning you’ll be met by a clued-up local guide who’ll be taking you on an insider’s tour of the city. The walk is relaxed and based around you, which means you can be totally spontaneous. We recommend sticking to the cultural theme of the holiday by visiting some of the city’s renowned hubs of artistic heritage. There’s the National Museum of Ancient Art, which houses the Temptation of St. Anthony painting by Hieronymus Bosch; the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, which contains one of the world’s most important private art collections, including the Hours of Catherine of Cleves, a Gothic-style manuscript; and the National Tile Museum, which displays and celebrates azulejos, traditional tiles that have come to characterise Portugal’s particular architecture. Those keen for a dose of contemporary entertainment could opt to visit the Electricity Museum, a sort of science-culture centre in Belem, or the Oceanarium, which houses over 15,000 marine creatures from 500 species. Round off your walking tour with a stroll through the wonderfully renovated docks along the backs of the Tagus, which now feature a motley collection of micro-breweries, concept stores and market stalls. The rest of today is then yours to spend further discovering the delights of Lisbon at your own pace. You can browse the designer boutiques of Bairro Alto, sail across the Tagus to the pretty town of Cacilhas for a different view of Lisbon or give your taste buds a treat with a bite to eat in one of Lisbon’s many fabulous seafood restaurants. If you fancy something a little more small-town, you could instead opt to spend your final day in Portugal discovering the cultural heritage of nearby Sintra with a private guide.

DAY 7

JOURNEY HOME

Sadly, the time has come to bid Portugal a warm adeus (farewell) and embark on the journey home. After one last morning sipping on coffee and scoffing pastel de natas (traditional cream tarts), you’ll be collected from your hotel and privately transferred to the airport. After whizzing back through security, take the opportunity to stock up on any last-minute souvenirs and specialities before retreating to the airport lounge to await the departure of your three-hour flight back to the UK.

A la carte

Electric bike ride in Porto

If there’s one place that fully warrants the need for an electric bike, it’s Porto. Spend a day leisurely riding from the banks of the Douro River right to the heights of the city in the company of a passionate local guide. You’ll make plenty of stops along the way to admire everything from classic tiled buildings and gothic churches to tucked-away gardens, traditional boutiques and trendy concept stores. There will also be stops of the gastronomic variety – fresh coffees, custard tarts, and perhaps even a glass of sparkling red are all presented to you on the winding cobbled streets of Porto.

Coimbra walking tour

Delve into the rich historic heritage of Coimbra as you discover the city’s top sights with a knowledgeable guide. Begin in the old town, soaking in the charm and atmosphere of yesteryear before heading to the Monastery of the Holy Cross. Founded in 1131, this fascinating monastic house claims fame as the burial site of kings Alfonso and Sancho. Other unmissable sites on the agenda include the university and the Joanina library, the cathedral and an iconic fado house.

Discover the treasures of Sintra

Located 15 miles from the vibrant capital is Sintra, an oasis of 19th-century architectural charms and a proud UNESCO World Heritage site. Spend a day here soaking in the highlights of the city in the company of a passionate guide. Begin at the iconic Pena Palace, which displays a dazzling combination of bright red and yellow facades built around an old convent. Continue on to the Regaleira Palace, a flamboyant Belle Epoque creation steeped in Western spiritualism, and round off your day admiring the eclectic style and monumental conical fireplaces displayed at the Bourg Palace.

A Rough Idea of Price

Dependent on season, accommodation and activities
The cost for this trip starts from £1,710 to £2,300 per person.

The final cost of the trip depends on the way we tailor it especially for you. The final cost varies according to several factors, which include the level of service, length of trip and advance booking time. The exact price will be provided on your personalised quote.

The average starting price for this trip is £2,000 per person.

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