Tour highlights
Embark on a journey to discover the hidden gems of Portugal. Explore magnificent cities, sleepy villages and spellbinding coastlines – this western European haven will not disappoint! Start with the birthplace of port in the Douro Valley, then take a peek into history at Coimbra’s ancient university. Navigate Porto’s winding backstreets and lose yourself in Lisbon’s glorious beauty. With help of an experienced local guide, you’ll uncover authentic Portuguese culture; a land rich in heritage, regional customs and exquisite food.
This journey takes you to some of the most amazing cities and attractions in the world, all best experienced through walking. Be sure to pack sturdy shoes and light outfits for your comfort, especially since summertime temperatures can soar above 40°C. Additionally, remember to put on sunscreen and cover up with clothing as appropriate, plus drink lots of water. When planning your trip consider the time of year carefully based on what’s suitable for you. Moreover, be aware that cobblestone streets may make wheeling luggage difficult – read the Packing section in Essential Trip Information ahead of time to ensure a smooth journey!
Start point
Arrival transfer from Lisbon Portela Airport, Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
End point
Depart from your hotel in Porto, Porto, Portugal
Tour itinerary
Day 1 Lisbon
Your journey to Portugal begins today! Following your arrival in Lisbon, the country’s delightful capital city, you’ll be picked up from the airport and taken to a hotel located centrally. In the evening, you will meet with your tour leader and other travelers at 6 PM for an introduction of all that lies ahead on the tour. Before returning for this briefing, take some time to explore one of Lisbon’s many outdoor cafes and capture the vibrant energy emanating from the city. Afterward, join your small party in a welcomed dinner at a lavish restaurant in town as you are introduced to traditional Portuguese dishes and discover what makes its culinary scene so full of flavor.
Accommodation: Figueira by The Beautique Hotels
Day 2 Lisbon
Lisbon, a stunning European city known for its impressive architecture and grand boulevards, is definitely worth a visit. Take an adventure into the exciting capital of Portugal by joining a walking tour with a knowledgeable guide. Start your journey at the Gloria cable car – one of the most recognizable images in all of Portugal – to get amazing views across the entire city. Once on solid ground again, explore Bairro Alto, Chiado and Alfama; three neighbourhoods with unique personalities that converged together to form one vibrant destination for tourists from around the world. Take some time out of your day to sample some traditional Portuguese pastries such as pastel de nata; sure to hit every traveller’s sweet spot!
Step into a piece of history at Lisbon Cathedral, where one of the city’s earliest bishops, Gilbert of Hastings, erected the building in 1150 on the site of an old mosque. No trip to Lisbon would be complete without tasting ginjinha, Portugal’s beloved cherry liqueur. Then prepare to be mesmerized by Sao Jorge Castle and its 18 remaining towers set against an expansive backdrop of white houses and red tiled rooftops. After saying goodbye to your guide for some free time to explore in the afternoon, why not wander among quaint neighbourhood streets, take pictures at Belem Tower or admire the Monastery of Jeronimos – all while feeling the undeniable presence of Lisbon’s past around you!
Accommodation: Figueira by The Beautique Hotels
Day 3 Cascais / Cabo da Roca / Sintra / Coimbra
Venture outside of Lisbon for a full-day excursion to Coimbra. You’ll start the trip by visiting Sintra, an area with lush vegetation and rocky hills that long attracted poets and writers such as Lord Byron. Your leader will explain this area’s legacy before you explore its vibrant Pena Palace for a while. Then, continue on to Cabo da Roca where you can experience the westernmost extent of continental Europe, before heading to Cascais – formerly a fishing village that later became a royal court residence in the 19th century. Peruse its eateries and sample some traditional fare before making your way back to Coimbra with an expected late arrival.
Accommodation: Hotel Vila Gale Coimbra or similar
Day 4 Coimbra
The historic city of Coimbra, perched on the banks of the River Mondego, was once a famous medieval capital. Take a tour with your leader to explore its old cobbled lanes and squares that exude royal grandeur. The most renowned attraction of the city is without doubt its world-renowned university – among the oldest in existence. Later at night, treat yourself to an unforgettable experience: be mesmerized by Fado music performance, Portugal’s version of blues which conveys profound emotion and poignancy. Your leader can suggest some wonderful restaurants in town so you can savor a delicious meal afterwards.
Accommodation: Hotel Vila Gale Coimbra or similar
Day 5 Douro Valley
Exploring the spectacular Douro Valley this morning, you set out to learn why it is renowned for producing some of the world’s best wine. A tour at one of the area’s top wineries gives you a chance to discover what makes Port so iconic – both historically and in terms of its flavour – while sipping on delicious vintages created right here in Portugal. You’ll also enjoy a delightful picnic lunch comprised of rustic regional specialities crafted with fresh local ingredients – all perfectly paired, naturally, with more excellent wines from the region. Enjoy a gentle boat ride on the Douro River, stopping by the lovely little riverside village of Pinhao, then continue on to your Feature Stay accommodation, tucked away between the rolling hills and terraced vineyards of the spectacular Douro Valley, boasting unbeatable views of the Douro River. On arrival, you may like to make the most of your hotel’s scenic outdoor pools, or perhaps grab a meal on the terrace and soak in the scenery.
Accommodation: Hotel Vila Gale Douro Vineyards (feature stay) or similar
Day 6 Porto
Arriving in Porto, a bustling city along the banks of the Douro River, you’ll be amazed by its beauty. Kick off your stay with an introductory tour of the cobbled streets, towering bridges and baroque churches. Get lost in the maze of winding alleyways, steep staircases and centuries-old merchants’ homes. Cap off your day with some sunset drinks in nearby Vila Nova de Gaia for a truly romantic experience.
Accommodation: Hotel Moon & Sun or similar
Day 7 Matosinhos / Porto
In and around Matosinhos
Head to the remote seaside haven of Matosinhos by train and enjoy a few hours of relaxation. Indulge in delicious seafood dishes at nearby restaurants, or simply walk along the picturesque promenade. Afterwards, make your way back to Porto and spend an afternoon exploring all it has to offer – why not stop for coffee and pastries at one of the city’s riverfront cafes? In the evening, gather for a final dinner at one of Porto’s highly acclaimed eateries.
Accommodation: Hotel Moon & Sun or similar
Day 8 Porto
Today is a free day, with no activities programmed. Therefore, you can depart whenever suits you best. Should you prefer to stay in Porto a little longer, we would be more than glad to sort out extra lodging for you (subject to availability).
What’s included
Accommodation
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we’re arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn’t always possible which means we won’t be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION:
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.
TWIN SHARE BASIS:
Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multishare basis. We pair up solo travellers with another traveller of the same gender as per the gender marker on each of their passports. Please note there may be times where facilities will be shared rather than ensuite and rare occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on different Intrepid trips than your own.
CHECK-IN TIME:
Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we’re arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn’t always possible which means we won’t be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.
PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION:
If you’ve purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.
FACILITIES:
Your accommodation may not always have private en suite facilities or air-conditioning. European hotels generally don’t provide kettles or fridges.
Comfortable hotel (6 nights),Feature stay (1 night)
Guide
All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leaders. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Premium leaders are Intrepid’s most experienced, with in-depth knowledge and extensive local networks to make it a trip of a lifetime.
Your leader will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. When not already included in your trip, your leader will be able to recommend a local guide service who can share more detailed or specialised information at specific sites should you be interested in delving deeper.
COVID-19 Health & Safety Measures
All Intrepid travellers 18 years and older and Intrepid leaders will be required to be fully vaccinated. Travellers must provide proof of vaccination to the leader at the group meeting on day 1 of the trip.
All children 5 and above must provide proof of vaccination, proof of recovery or a negative COVID-19 test.
Any high-risk customer who is unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons can apply for an exemption. Exemptions will be assessed on a case by case basis. Customers must provide a medical certificate from a medical professional.
Meals
7 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners
This tour offers Vegetarian food option on request. Simply let Intrepid Premium know the food option that you prefer.
Additional Services
Lisbon – Welcome Dinner at Local Restaurant
Lisbon – Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
Lisbon – Walking Tour with Local Guide
Lisbon – Castle of Sao Jorge
Sintra – Pena Palace & Gardens
Sintra, Cascais & Cabo da Roca – Day Trip
Coimbra – Fado Show
Douro Valley – Douro River Boat Ride
Douro Valley – Wine Tasting & Lunch
Douro Valley – Day Trip
Porto – Sunset Drinks in Vila Nova de Gaia
Matosinhos – Half Day Trip by Local Train
Transport
Private vehicle,Local train
What’s not included
Flights
As we have travellers from all over the world, flights before and after the tour are not included in the tour price and you need to arrange these separately by yourself once your tour is guaranteed. As we specialise in organising the best tours around the world for you, we are unable to advise on flight prices or book flights on your behalf. We recommend that you do not book your flights until your place on the tour has been confirmed.
Insurance
Insurance is not included. Please make sure you are adequately covered. TourRadar has partnered up with XCover so that you can travel with peace of mind. You can add TourRadar Travel Protection on the booking page for your tour.
Optional
Optional experiences are available on this tour for an additional cost and will be provided to you with your finalised travel documents. Please contact our team of Travel Experts for more information.
Additional Services
Departure transfer
Entrance fees
Pre and post-tour accommodation
Tipping
Other meals, snacks and drinks
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