Enchanting Portugal Lisbon to Porto Journey

Welcome to Lisbon. On arrival, we’ll transfer you to the hotel – then you have free time to settle in or explore nearby at your own pace. In the afternoon, please check the information boards at hotel reception for details about the start of your tour.
Please note: This tour may have travellers joining or departing at various points along the route, meaning group composition can change during the tour. Please also be aware that depending on group composition, guiding may be in additional languages as well as English.

This morning we take a guided tour of Lisbon – the city of seven hills – exploring its historic neighbourhoods and tiled streets. We continue to Belém, the riverside district from which Portuguese navigators set out across the oceans in the 15th century. The afternoon is free – you can stroll through the centre, make your way up to Bairro Alto for its viewpoint, or join an optional excursion to Sintra, Cascais and Estoril. In the evening, we return to the hotel from Restauradores Square – a lively hub of bars and cafés.

From Lisbon we travel north to Fátima – an important pilgrimage site – then continue to Porto, Portugal’s second largest city. After lunch we enjoy a 50 minute cruise on the Douro aboard a traditional rabelo boat, offering a fresh perspective on the city’s riverside. You’ll then have free time to explore the lively medieval Ribeira district, with its narrow streets, historic merchant houses and inviting cafés, before we head to the hotel.

Today we explore the landscapes of northern Portugal, beginning with a stroll in Braga, the country’s religious capital, and its ancient cathedral. We then ride the world’s oldest funicular up to the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus for panoramic views – you can walk back down to appreciate its baroque stairway. We continue to Guimarães, Portugal’s first capital, where the Palace of the Dukes underlines its historic importance – you will have free time for lunch. In the afternoon we head west to Aveiro, the Venice of Portugal with its colourful houses, where we include a trip on a traditional moliceiro to navigate the canals and salt flats, with a tasting of a typical local sweet on board. We finish the day in Coimbra, arriving in the late afternoon – dinner is included at the hotel.

We spend time in Coimbra, Portugal’s third largest city, known for its old university and steep streets. Continuing southwards, we stop at Batalha Monastery – entrance included – an impressive medieval mausoleum of kings. In Nazaré, a fishing town and seaside resort, you will have time for lunch and a stroll. We then take the elevator up to the old city – tickets included – for impressive views of the ocean. As we travel towards Lisbon, we pause in Óbidos, one of the most beautiful towns in Portugal, with picturesque white streets adorned with flowers. We arrive in Lisbon at around 19:30.

After breakfast, we conclude the tour – our services end here. We hope you leave with lasting memories.