Essence of Portugal

Your holiday starts at London Gatwick where you meet the Tour Manager and your fellow travellers before boarding a flight to Lisbon. On arrival, we are transferred by coach to our hotel with four nights to explore this exciting city. Our hotel is conveniently close to Parque Eduardo VII, a large, sloped park with tree-lined walking paths, pristine lawns and panoramic views of the city with the Douro in the distance.

Tonight we have our first dinner together at a local restaurant. Lisbon comes alive after dark, and you could enjoy a walk through the Old Quarter around our hotel after dinner, 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

After breakfast, we take the train to Sintra, a historic city with a Moorish castle and several 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 long 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

Today brings a rail trip to the coastal resort of Cascais, 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 you are free to dine independently this evening.

• 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 hotel for the next three nights is in a beautifully removed 1880 building in the city centre.

After free time for lunch, we gather for a guided tour of the city. Strolling along the narrow, cobbled streets of the Old Town, we discover important landmarks and learn about Porto's 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 of the Douro River.

After the tour, you're welcome to explore on your own before dinner at a local restaurant this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

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, the medieval riverside district known as Ribeira.

There are many intriguing places to discover in the city, including Livraria Lello, one of Portugal's oldest bookshops. This shop boats a beautiful Art Nouveau and neo-Gothic façade and its interior features wood panelling, a double spiral staircase, and a striking stained-glass ceiling.

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, and you can still visit the famous wine cellars today. Vila Nova de Gaia is also a wonderful place to admire Porto from a distance. Walk up to the Serra do Pilar viewpoint for sweeping panoramas of the city and the Douro. Later, you may choose to follow this with dinner in one of the city's waterfront restaurants.

• Breakfast

We enjoy some tour highlights today, beginning with 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.

Our destination is Pinhão, a pretty town surrounded by rolling hills and historic port wine estates called quintas. We experience the beautiful scenery in the most relaxing way, on a one-hour boat tour along a peaceful stretch of the Douro. Sailing first towards Romaneira then continuing downstream, we pass several quintas before disembarking for free time over lunch.

Later, we visit the traditional estate of Quinta de São Luiz by coach for a tour of the vineyards and a tasting of the estate's excellent port wines. Back in Porto, we enjoy dinner at a local restaurant, the perfect way to conclude our time in Portugal.

• 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