Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Portugal - Porto - Pinhao (Douro Valley) - Coimbra - Alcobaca - Lisbon
100% customisable for you
Your Portuguese road trip starts with a direct flight to Porto today, which takes a little over two hours from the UK. After breezing through the airport, a private transfer will whisk you into the city centre and to your hotel for the next two nights.
The hotel is tucked along one of Porto’s smartest pedestrian streets, just moments from the Duoro River, and is set inside an elegant 18th-century building with a sunshine-yellow facade and interiors that mix period charm with contemporary touches. If you fancy unwinding after the journey, make the most of the hotel’s facilities, or you could skip the spa entirely and head straight out for your first glass of port.
Spend the rest of the afternoon settling into Porto life. Wander downhill towards Ribeira, listen to snippets of fado music drifting from restaurants and watch the city glow golden as evening falls over the river.
Today, swap guidebooks for local insights as you explore Porto alongside someone who knows the city inside out. There’s no rigid route or umbrella-following here – the day unfolds according to your interests, whether that mean hidden wine bars, tiled churches, vintage shops or tiny cafes serving dangerously good custard tarts.
The rest of the day is yours to continue exploring. Cross the Dom Luis I Bridge for river views, browse the bookshops and galleries or simply settle into a terrace with a glass of vinho verde and watch Porto do what Porto does best: take its time.
Optional experiences we can arrange include exploring the city by electric bike – helpful when Porto’s hills start making themselves known.
Pick up your hire car this morning and hit the road towards the Douro Valley, one of Portugal’s most beautiful wine regions. The drive itself is half the fun, winding through hills striped with terraced vineyards and sleepy villages perched above the river.
En route, consider stopping at the famous Solar de Mateus, an elegant manor house framed by cypress trees, camellias and immaculate gardens (yes, it’s the one from the wine label).
Your home for the next two nights is a beautifully restored 17th-century quinta overlooking the valley near Pinhao. Vineyards tumble down the hillsides in every direction and the outdoor pool has panoramic views that make lingering very easy indeed.
Spend the evening sipping local port on the terrace as the sun drops behind the vines. Hard life.
If you like, we can also arrange for you to glide along the Douro River aboard a traditional rabelo boat, once used to transport barrels of port downstream.
Today is all about enjoying the Douro Valley at your own pace. You could spend the morning poolside with a book and a cup of coffee or head out to explore the region’s vineyard-covered hills and riverside villages.
Drive between local quintas for tastings of port and Douro wines, stroll around postcard-pretty Pinhao and admire the azulejo-covered railway station or continue on to charming towns like Amarante and Sabrosa. Everywhere you look there seems to be another viewpoint, another terrace and another excuse to stop for lunch…
If you fancy something more active, we can arrange a guided hike through the vineyards, with sweeping valley views and a picnic among the vines. Thankfully, Portuguese wine regions understand the importance of balancing exercise with snacks.
Leave the Duoro behind today and drive south towards Coimbra, Portugal’s historic university city. Along the way, Viseu makes an excellent lunch stop, particularly if you enjoy Medieval streets and good wine, and fancy stretching your legs before continuing on.
You could also pause in the lush Bucaco Forest, where towering trees and winding pathways feel worlds away from the vineyard landscapes of the north.
Tonight’s hotel sits right in the heart of Coimbra, close to the city’s historic centre. After checking in, head out to explore the lively streets around the university, where students in traditional black capes still wander between cafes and bars.
Later this evening, consider attending an intimate fado performance in a centuries-old chapel. Coimbra’s version of fado is traditionally sung by students and has a slightly different mood to Lisbon’s – less tavern singalong, more beautifully melancholic serenade.
Continue south today towards Alcobaca, stopping en route at the spectacular Monastery of Batalha, one of Portugal’s great architectural masterpieces. Built to celebrate a 14th-century military victory, it’s all soaring stonework, intricate cloisters and enough Gothic drama to rival any cathedral in Europe.
Arriving in Alcobaca, you’ll quickly notice the slower rhythm of life here. The town’s UNESCO-listed monastery dominates the centre and tells the story of Portugal’s most famous royal love affair (not one that ends particularly happily, fair warning).
Your hotel for the night sits surrounded by greenery just outside town, with bright rooms, peaceful terraces and a swimming pool overlooking the countryside. The restaurant leans heavily into regional produce and traditional Portuguese cooking, which means dinner is very much sorted.
Before bed, don’t leave town without trying Pao de Lo, the local sponge cake speciality.
This morning, continue south towards Lisbon. On the way, make time for a stop in Sintra, where brightly coloured palaces rise from forested hillsides like something from a particularly eccentric fairy tale.
Pena Palace is the headline act here, though even wandering through the surrounding gardens is worth the detour. Then it’s onwards to Lisbon, where you’ll return the hire car and settle into your hotel for the final two nights, which sits just behind Avenida da Liberdade, perfectly placed for exploring the city’s different neighbourhoods.
As evening falls, head out for dinner along the riverfront or lose yourself in Alfama’s winding streets, where trams rattle uphill and music drifts from open windows late into the night.
Today, explore Lisbon alongside a local, who’ll introduce you to the city beyond the obvious landmarks. One minute you’re wandering cobbled backstreets lined with tiled townhouses, the next you’re stepping into hidden courtyards, independent galleries or tiny churches most visitors walk straight past.
Climb aboard the Elevador da Bica, browse the flea markets around Alfama or stop for coffee beneath the jacaranda trees along Avenida da Liberdade. And yes, there will almost certainly be more pasteis de nata involved somewhere along the way.
The afternoon is free for more exploring. Head to Bairro Alto for rooftop bars, stroll the waterfront in Belem or simply find a sunny terrace and watch Lisbon life unfold around you.
Optional experiences include a private guided tour of Belem or a sunset cruise along the Tagus.
Sadly, it’s time to say goodbye to Portugal today. After breakfast, a private transfer will take you to Lisbon Airport in time for your direct flight back to the UK.
As you head home, expect memories of vineyard-covered hills, late-night dinners and Lisbon’s endlessly photogenic streets to follow you onto the plane – along with a suitcase that might be slightly heavier thanks to the wine and ceramics you picked up along the way…
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
