Picturesque Portugal

Make your own way to Oporto where you can meet us for the scheduled group transfers to your hotel. Or, take advantage of our group airfare offer and fly with your group into Oporto, and join the group transfer to the accommodation. Get to know your fellow travellers over a welcome dinner this evening.​

Oporto, known for its production of port wine, is a lively city set on a great gorge of the River Douro. We’ll explore on today’s tour, taking in the Baroque Clérigos Church, whose soaring bell tower can be glimpsed throughout the city, before stepping inside the famous Lello Bookstore (at additional cost), one of the country’s oldest bookshops and amongst the best in the world.

Perhaps join some of your fellow travellers for lunch before we visit the town’s old quarters, Ribeira, and the neo-classical Stock Exchange Palace.

Enjoy a scenic cruise along the Douro – a chance to enjoy fantastic views of Oporto and Vila Nova de Gaia, which line the banks of the river. Admire the six bridges that unite these two delightful towns before stepping ashore in Gaia, also famed for its production of port wine, which is made exclusively in the Douro Valley. What better way to end the day than with a visit to one of the town’s numerous port wine cellars for a tasting of this sweet red wine, before heading back to the hotel.

With a UNESCO-listed historic centre, Guimarães is the birthplace of Afonso Henriques, Portugal’s first independent king. We’ll head here today, where there will be the opportunity to discover castle ruins, charming narrow streets and the beautiful square of Largo da Oliveira.

​After time to explore and enjoy lunch, we’ll head to Vila Real to discover the 18th century Mateus Palace. We’ll also take in Pinhão’s pretty train station, decorated with tiled panels depicting traditional scenes of the Douro region, before reaching our hotel in the Douro Valley.​

​A delightful city with a well-preserved historical centre and a maze of cobbled streets, Viseu is our destination this morning as we leave the Douro Valley behind us. We’ll then continue to Aveiro, known as the ‘Venice of Portugal’ and one of the world’s most beautiful destinations. Admire the traditional seaweed-harvesting ‘moliceiro’ boats, stunning natural lagoons and elegant 19th century architecture, before we finally reach Coimbra, where we stay tonight.​

Today we’ll explore Coimbra, the medieval capital of Portugal for over 100 years. Discover one of the oldest universities in Europe, with its magnificent baroque-style library and the New Cathedral – the current bishopric seat of the city.

Next we’ll visit Óbidos, surrounded by an old wall flanked by round towers and square bastions. The town was given by King Denis to his young wife, a gesture that was repeated by future monarchs until 1833. We’ll explore the town, which is also known for its unique cherry liqueur. Our final destination today is Lisbon .

The beautiful Alto do Parque Belvedere offers stunning views of Lisbon, and we’ll head here to gaze over the city this morning. Admire the bronze statue of the Marques of Pombal, who rebuilt Lisbon after the 1755 earthquake, and explore the historic Rossio Square. A walking tour of the historic centre will introduce us to the magnificent St George Castle, which watches over the city from a towering hill, and Lisbon Cathedral – the city’s oldest church and a National Monument. Next we’ll explore the cobbled alleys and steep stairways of the ancient Alfama district, the Belém Tower, the imposing St Jerome Monastery and the Monument to the Discoveries. We’ll then have the chance to sample the famous ‘pastéis de Belém’ – a deliciously sweet pastry at Belém’s famous pastry shop.​

Sintra is an enchanting town with a fascinating UNESCO-listed centre, and it’s the first stop on today’s tour. See the spectacular Sintra National Palace, which for an extra cost you can enter, or enjoy a delicious lunch before we begin our journey back to Lisbon. En route, we’ll stop at Cape Roca – the most westerly point of Continental Europe – and Cascais, an ancient fishing village which has been transformed into a cosmopolitan hotspot thanks to its gorgeous beaches, picturesque gardens and pedestrianized Old Town. Just before we reach Lisbon, we’ll take a panoramic tour of Estoril, once a summer retreat for royal families and now known for its sandy beaches and popular casino. This evening we’ll gather together for a farewell dinner.​

Your tour comes to an end today. Scheduled group transfers are available to the airport​.