All of our arrangements have been specially designed to incorporate a reason to travel and, for ease of choice, these have been categorised under the titles shown below.
7 nights from
£1645
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“Porto works, Coimbra studies, Lisbon plays.” This popular Portuguese adage is a deft precis of the trio of cities, complementing each other in character and all serving, historically, as riverside sentinels, on the Douro, Mondego and Tagus respectively. This fascinating tour visits all three, Porto straddling the Douro and the centuries with Baroque churches, beaux-art buildings, merchant houses and an ethos of industry; Coimbra, with 300,000 ancient tomes in the gilded library of its 13thcentury, UNESCO listed university; and Lisbon, with fountains, Fado singers in Old Town cafés, and vintage trams, in sunshine yellow, climbing its steep streets. Three peacefully positioned Pousadas counterbalance the cities, all bringing modern amenities to old-world atmosphere, and each a refreshing retreat, serving regional food and wines; the Mosteiro set on a hillside above Guimarães, Conimbriga Hotel do Paco cushioned in large gardens in Condeixa-a-Nova, and Castelo crowning its Palmela hilltop with serene seclusion and splendid views. From these relaxing bases, varied tours take you to the religious hub of Braga, medieval Tomar, the walled town of Óbidos, Sintra’s royal summer palace and the scenic Arrábida Natural Park.
Visit a Baroque-style garden filled with Camellia trees forming artistic archways and alleyways, built around the 18th century, includes a tour of the splendid 17th-century manor house. Enjoy a Portuguese afternoon tea.
Extra nights are on request, please call to discuss your requirements
Palácio Estoril
(per night) £120 (Sep £145)
Single supplement £95 (Sep £115)
Arrival transfer from Palmela £130
Departure transfer to Lisbon airport £40
An accommodation tax is payable locally in Estoril €2 per person per night.
Located in Coimbra, the show takes place in À Capella, a grand 14th-century chapel of Corpus Christi which served as a small hospital and hostel to support the pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela, later the building was restored in 2001.Fado is a genre of music with origins that date back to the 1820’s, a form of song with guitar accompaniment often about the sea or life of the poor. Includes a three-course menu and drinks.
Air travel and taxes, transfers, 7 nights' accommodation, breakfast daily, 1 dinner, itinerary as described, services of guides and local representatives. If our specially negotiated airfares are unavailable at the time of booking, a supplement may apply.
Travel insurance, optional excursions, tipping, any government taxes or compulsory charges introduced after publication.
Grand Tour of Portugal
By train from south to north visiting remarkable cities, crossing scenic landscapes to regional and cultural capitals, through Portugal’s past, to Roman ruins, Moorish enclaves, and medieval towns
Royal Barge on the Douro
From baroque castles to beautiful bucolic villages, from hilltop medieval ruins to valleys cloaked in the vineyards of age-old wine estates, from mountain scenery to ocean shore, enjoy the ever-changing landscapes of this unique Royal Barge cruise on the Douro
Highlights of the Douro
Cruising the Douro from its mouth on the Atlantic to its crossing into Spain, with daily excursions to medieval towns, majestic palaces, port wine cellars, and vineyard valley landscapes, this beguiling journey includes visits to Guimarães, Lamego, and Salamanca
