Lisbon, Porto & the Douro Valley

Your holiday starts at London Gatwick where you meet the Tour Manager before boarding a flight directly to Lisbon. On arrival, we are transferred by coach to our hotel with four nights to explore this exciting city. Set in the heart of Lisbon's Old Town, our hotel is conveniently close to the public elevator designed by Gustav Eiffel, which gives us easy access to the Bairro Alto, the higher part of the city.

Tonight, we have our first dinner together at a local restaurant. Afterwards, you could walk through the Old Quarter around our hotel, visiting a local coffee shop or wine bar.

• Dinner

This morning we explore the historic heart of Lisbon on a guided tour by coach and on foot. Lisbon is full of striking architecture, superb food, and fascinating history, from its time as a Roman settlement to its rebirth as a major European city. Our tour starts at Rossio Square, Lisbon's central plaza and social hub. There is a fountain, and the statue of Dom Pedro IV looks across the wave-patterned mosaics, towards the impressive National Theatre of Lisbon.

We continue through the city's narrow streets to the district of Belém and then your afternoon and evening is free. You could sightsee some more, head uphill to one of the city's stunning viewpoints, or simply soak up Lisbon's great atmosphere. For dinner, there are many eating options in the city's Old Quarter nearby, or you could venture into a surrounding neighbourhood.

• Breakfast

We take the train to Sintra this morning, a historic city with a Moorish castle and a number of palaces, nestled in the forested hills above the town. Sintra was the summer residence of Portugal's royal family for over 600 years. With its mixed history, the town has lots to explore, from its fantastical palaces and romantic architecture to its Moorish fortress walls.

Your Day Pass includes travel on Sintra's shuttle bus which takes visitors from the centre to the different palaces. The palace exteriors alone are impressive, but if you'd like to look inside, please note that entrance fees are payable. The town itself has several cafés and restaurants where you can find lunch. You're free to either travel back with the group to Lisbon, or return at your own pace using your Day Pass.

This evening is at leisure to continue exploring and to find an interesting place to eat in Lisbon.

• Breakfast

A rail trip to the coastal resort of Cascais awaits today, known for its golden beaches and pretty marina. The route follows the coast all the way and we pass the glitzy resort of Estoril.

In Cascais, you are free to explore this traditional fishing town which, like Sintra, was used by the royal families of Portugal when they wanted to escape the city. You could stroll down the pretty cobbled streets of whitewashed buildings, walk along the seafront to the picturesque port, relax on the golden sands or take a dip in the sea. Another option is to visit the town's Museum Quarter to learn about the town's local history and lighthouse. We travel back to Lisbon by train in the afternoon and this evening is free to dine independently.

• Breakfast

Our day begins with a three-hour rail trip to Porto. This scenic journey showcases beautiful vistas of the Portuguese countryside and picturesque cities like Coimbra and Aveiro, before following the Atlantic coast as we approach our destination. Our base for the next three nights is an elegant three-star hotel, centrally located.

After free time for lunch, rejoin the group on a guided city tour for the afternoon. We discover Porto's important landmarks and learn about its interesting heritage. The city is built on a set of hills, the peaks of Porto, which means some uphill walking but also plenty of stunning views. You are free to look around independently, before a buffet dinner at our hotel this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We enjoy a highlight of our tour today, a rail journey into the stunning Douro Valley - the best way to experience this spectacular UNESCO World Heritage region. Our route takes us through a landscape of terraced vineyards and lush vegetation, scattered with farmhouses and villages, as our train follows the meandering Douro River. The Douro flows from Spain, across Portugal and out into the Atlantic Ocean through Porto.

Our destination is Pinhão, a pretty town surrounded by rolling hills. The historic port wine estates, called quintas, and terraced vineyards produce some of the finest port wines in the world, and some of the most famous international brands own estates which are hidden away in these hills. After free time to look around and find lunch independently, we visit the traditional estate of Quinta de São Luiz by coach. Here we enjoy a tour of the vineyards and a tasting of the estate's excellent port wines.

At the end of the afternoon, we travel back to Porto by coach, with a free evening ahead.

• Breakfast

Today you are free to discover the charming city of Porto on your own. You could continue sightseeing with a visit to the city's historic heart, medieval Ribeira or 'Riverside'. You could also ride on one of Porto's historic trams (known as Eléctrico) up and down the city hills.

Another great option today is to travel across the Douro to a district called Vila Nova de Gaia. This historic part of the city is where the very first port wine houses were established in the 17th century. This evening we sit down to a farewell buffet dinner at our hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Our exploration of Portugal began with a guided tour of Lisbon and its vibrant neighbourhoods before time at leisure discovering the enchanting palaces of Sintra and the idyllic coastal town of Cascais. On a rail journey into the picturesque Douro Valley, we enjoyed a taste of fine port wines at the esteemed Quinta de São Luiz and ended our holiday discovering the unique historic sights of Porto. After breakfast this morning, a coach takes us to Porto's airport for our flight back to London Gatwick. On arrival, you are free to continue your journey home.

• Breakfast