Rail Tours in Portugal

In Portugal, enjoy a culture of almost perpetual relaxation. Unwind in the shade of a leafy vineyard, glass of port in hand, or soak up views of steep valleys, quaint Quintas and lush olive groves as you sail along the golden Douro. These sun-soaked retreats have enticed holidaymakers for decades.

The Portuguese people are cheerful and friendly, and this is no surprise when Portugal's scenery, climate, and an abundance of beautiful and historic cities and towns are taken into consideration. Exploring Portugal by train with Great Rail Journeys offers the chance to relax and discover the wonderful landscapes along the Douro River as well as visiting the cities of Porto and Lisbon.

Along the way you might uncover the story of Portugal's famous fortified wine, take a pleasureable stroll through villages steeped in tradition, admire a range of magnificent historic architecture and sample some of the fresh and mouth-watering seafood for which Portugal is justly renowned.

Although relatively small in area, Portugal has a huge amount to offer visitors and lends itself perfectly to exploration by rail. Great Rail Journeys has taken great care to put together escorted rail tours of Portugal that are excellent value for money yet offer a full itinerary of excursions and activities that showcase the best of Portugal's attractions.

Everything is covered by the price of your Portugal train tour including each-way rail travel by Eurostar (or, optionally a return flight from Lisbon to London), all travel during the tour, a varied program of exciting and enjoyable excursions, all overnight accommodation and a selection of meals.

You'll also have the services of an experienced and friendly Tour Manager at your disposal. The Tour Manager's role is to provide help and assistance whenever needed, and to ensure that you have the most relaxing, rewarding and memorable rail tour of Portugal possible.

Europe's westernmost country, Portugal is located on the Iberian Peninsula and is bordered by Spain to the north and east and the Atlantic Ocean to the south and west. One of Europe's longest-established nations, Portugal's early history was marked by invasions, conquests and settlements by the Celts, Romans, Visigoths and the Moors. Each of these races shaped the country in some respect: the name Portugal itself, for example, is believed to combine the Latin word portus ('port' or 'harbour') with the Celtic word cale ('tranquil' or 'warm').

Northern Portugal is mountainous and receives more rainfall than other regions. As such it is characterised by dense forests and lush mountain valleys which are ideal for supporting vineyards. In central Portugal, the Atlantic coast is defined by its traditional fishing villages, whilst further inland agricultural land dominates. Southern Portugal is hilly, but inland this region sees the least rainfall making it suitable for livestock grazing but not large scale farming. The Algarve, at Portugal's foot, is renowned for its unspoilt beaches backed by sandstone cliffs and is a key destination for holidaymakers.