Itinerary Expand all Foz do Douro (Porto) to Lisbon Fly to Porto. Fly to Porto; those arriving on the group flight will be collected by the leader on arrival and transferred to our hotel by private minibus. The start hotel is located in the exclusive residential district of Foz do Douro, approx. 5 km from Porto's historic centre, and renowned for its superb views of the Douro River meeting the ocean. Time permitting, we will have a short orientation tour around the hotel before dinner. Day 1 Start Foz do Douro (Porto). This trip starts in the exclusive residential district of Foz do Douro, approximately 5 km from Porto's historic centre, and renowned for its superb views of the point where the Douro River meets the ocean. Time permitting, we will have a short orientation tour around the hotel before dinner. Day 2 Morning guided sightseeing in the UNESCO historic centre; Port wine tasting; free time for optional activities and transfer to Douro Valley. Today starts with a guided tour through the historic centre of Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage site. As we amble along the ancient streets and mediaeval lanes we visit some of the most important monuments such as the St. Bento Station, a neoclassic jewel. In the bustling and colourful squares and the traditional, highly unique cafés we will discover the authentic heart of Porto. We conclude our guided visit by Ribeirinha, the picturesque riverside area, where we enjoy a tour of the historic port wine cellars, ending with a short wine tasting. The afternoon is free for further individual sightseeing of other iconic monuments and sites such as the Porto Cathedral, Saint Francis Church, Lello´s bookshop and library and Clérigos Church and tower. Later, we will transfer by private bus to Mesao Frio in the Douro Valley (approx. 1.5 hrs journey), and spend the night in a beautiful hotel offering views of the world-famous UNESCO vineyards. Meals included: Breakfast Day 3 Panoramic train ride in the Douro Valley; enjoy lunch at a winery with views over the river and its vineyards; optional river cruise. Today we explore the heart of the famous Douro Valley, the world’s first officially designated wine region renowned not only for the excellent port wine but also for the postcard-pretty landscapes made of steeply terraced vineyards carved into the landscape along the river. We start with a short transfer from our hotel to Peso da Regua (20 mins), followed by a short but very scenic train ride to Pinhao. Later, we enjoy a delicious lunch with local wine in an eighteenth-century estate surrounded by terraced vineyards that climb high above the dramatic confluence of the Douro and Tedo rivers. In the afternoon, we have a couple of hours free to enjoy some of the best views of the Douro Valley - you can opt to relax or take a guided tour of the wine estate or enjoy a leisurely boat cruise along the Douro River. We conclude the day with a transfer by private bus into the central region of Portugal (approx. 2hrs drive) to Coimbra. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Day 4 Visit Coimbra and its UNESCO University; transfer to Batalha. Widely known as 'the city of students', Coimbra’s history is closely linked to its university, which was founded in 1290 and is the second oldest in Europe. The city of Coimbra is divided into two distinct areas, the baixa (downtown) by the river, where most of the city’s commercial activity is concentrated, and the 'alta' (upper town), where the city’s oldest and most important buildings Sé Velha (Old Cathedral), Sé Nova (New Cathedral) and the UNESCO University of Coimbra are found. We visit the most important areas and sites this morning during a guided tour. There will be some free time in the afternoon for further independent sightseeing before we transfer (approx. 1hr) to the peaceful little town of Batalha, which was once the setting for Portugal’s most important battle, the Batalha de Aljubarrota (1385). This battle secured Portuguese independence from Castile, and to honour it, King João I constructed the Mosteiro da Batalha, the finest monastery in Portugal. Meals included: Breakfast Day 5 Visit UNESCO Batalha monastery and famous Nazaré beach; transfer to Obidos. This morning we visit the mighty Monastery of Batalha, a masterpiece of Portuguese Gothic that combines various influences from its lengthy period of construction, which lasted several reigns. We will have the opportunity to visit the outstanding interior including the Founders’ Chapel with its fine stained-glass windows, the cloisters, the Unfinished Chapels with their Manueline and Flemish Gothic features and the Chapter House. Our next stop is the charming seaside town of Nazaré, where waves are famed for being among the largest in the world. There will be time for a stroll, lunch and some free time to soak up the lovely atmosphere of this coastal village. Next we move on to Obidos, our base for the next two nights. This small fortified village resembles a medieval film set. It has been carefully preserved by its inhabitants who take pride in maintaining the architectural image of the village, characterised by narrow winding streets and white-washed houses and impressive fort walls, perfect to enjoy after day-trippers have left. Overnight in Obidos. Meals included: Breakfast Day 6 Day trip to Sintra; free time to visit the historic town or the magnificent Pena Palace. Today we take a day trip to the elegant hilltop town of Sintra, once the old residence of kings, nobles, poets, painters and artists. Sintra's beautiful surroundings of forested hills are the perfect frame to the town's collection of elegant palaces, castles and museums. Our tour leader will provide a short orientation tour of the historic centre on arrival but the remainder of the day is free to visit the site and palaces that most suit your interests. You may opt to visit the iconic National Pena Palace, the most complete and notable example of Portuguese architecture in the Romantic period. The palace lies in a picturesque setting, perched on one of the rocky peaks of the Serra de Sintra, and blends in with its natural background of greenery and crags, testifying to the aesthetic potential of the project. There will also be time to explore other splendid buildings such as the Sintra Palace or the Moorish Castle. Finally, enjoy a stroll and some shopping opportunities in the historic centre before travelling back to Obidos later in the afternoon. Meals included: Breakfast Day 7 Guided sightseeing in Lisbon. This morning we transfer to Lisbon (approx. 1hr journey), Europe's second-oldest capital after Athens, and once home to the world's greatest explorers like Vasco da Gama, Magellan and Prince Henry the Navigator. Lisbon today is one of the most sought-after destinations offering everything you would expect from a trendy capital: delicious food, ancient monuments, quirky cafés, charming neighbourhoods, and a stunning riverside view over the Tejo river. Lisbon is known as the city of seven hills, so wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for a few steep climbs and steps during today’s walking tour. We start by visiting the famous neighbourhood of Belem, with its UNESCO Monastery of Jeronimos and the iconic bakery serving the original Pateis de Belem (custard tarts). Next, we transfer to the elegant area of Graça, and descend on foot through Alfama, one of Lisbon’s oldest neighbourhoods boasting a maze of colourful alleyways, old buildings and breath-taking viewpoints. We conclude our busy guided tour in the heart of the city, Rossio. The remainder of the afternoon is free for relaxation or further independent sightseeing. With so much to see and do in Lisbon, we recommend adding some extra days at the end of the tour in order to truly appreciate the many attractions this city offers. Meals included: Breakfast The trip ends in the morning. Those travelling on the group flight will be transferred to the airport for their inbound flight to London. Meals included: Breakfast Day 8 The trip ends in the morning Meals included: Breakfast
Portugal: Walking & Wine 10 reviews Premium A perfect introduction to Porto and the UNESCO Douro wine region Walking & Trekking Suitable for: Age 18+ Activity level: Leisurely 8 Days from $2,349 USD Guided (Incl. Taxes) View More Details
Portugal No visa required for British passport holders. For further Brexit travel advice please visit https://www.abta.com/tips-and-advice/brexit-advice-for-travellers
Comfortable hotels All hotels on this trip have been specially selected for their location, character and comfort. We stay mostly in modern buildings located within or in proximity of the historic centres we visit. Some hotels have a pool. List of hotels normally used: 3* Hotel Boavista or similar, Foz do Douro (Porto) 5* Hotel Douro Scala (Mesao Frio) 3* Hotel Dona Ines or Hotel Tryp (Coimbra) 4* Hotel Lis Batalha (Batalha) 4* Hotel Literary Man (Obidos) 4* Hotel Sana Malhoa or Ramada (Lisbon)
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Reviewed October 2019 Dennis Jenkins Trip: Highlights of Portugal Highlights of Portugal Although described as a fast paced tour(which it was), it was a good introduction to visiting Portugal with many highlights as well as vising some lesser known parts. As someone who had not been to Portugal before and as it is so easy to get to from the UK, it was a taster for maybe visiting the country again and exploring other regions. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? With all these tours, it is difficult to highlight just one moment that was inspirational, especially on a short tour like this. Lisbon was very inspiring especially as we stayed on for an extra 3 days as was our short stay in the village of Ferraria de Sao Joao. What did you think of your group leader? Goncalo was an excellent guide who always made sure we were away early to avoid the worst of the crowds. This was particularly important in the case of the Pena Palace in Sintra. He explained the history of the various sites very concisely which kept our interest and he would always try to accommodate any of our requests. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? The Fado evening was very good indeed being in a small establishment in the Alfama district of Lisbon so was not only authentic but was a very pleasant farewell evening, Strongly recommended. Also, I would certainly recommend staying on in Lisbon for some extra days as there is so much to do and see and the atmosphere is very appealing. Is there anything else you would like to add? We didn't have many local guides on this trip but mention should be made of the excellent young lady who guided us round the Douro Museum in Peso da Regua. Her command of English and the clarity of her voice as well as her interest in what she was conveying to us was a model of how a guide should be.
Portugal: Walking & Wine 10 reviews Premium A perfect introduction to Porto and the UNESCO Douro wine region Walking & Trekking Suitable for: Age 18+ Activity level: Leisurely 8 Days from $2,349 USD Guided (Incl. Taxes) View More Details
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