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Lisbon and an Enchanting Douro River Cruise

£3,195.00

Stepping straight into the storybook pages of Sintra, with its gem-coloured castles and hilltop palaces. Sipping a glass of port on deck as we cruise past the terraced vineyards of the beautiful Douro Valley.

Port tastings and riverside lunches, city tours and castle visits, fado and flamenco shows… a whole host of crowd-pleasing experiences await on this tour of Lisbon and the Douro Valley. Begin with a Lisbon city break. It&s one of the oldest capitals of the world – we&ll enjoy a city tour and a side trip to the fairytale palaces at Sintra. Then, travel north to Porto to embark on a Douro River cruise. Admire UNESCO-protected landscapes of steeply terraced vineyards and traditional towns from the sun-drenched deck, and step ashore to explore medieval towns and cosy wineries. The perfect mix of sightseeing, scenery and relaxation.

  • 5 excursions & visits
  • 25 meals
  • Easy going pace
Category:

Description

Day 1 – Lisbon

Our door-to-door travel service collects you from home for your flight to Lisbon.

Hotel Mundial, Lisbon (4-star)

Today includes…

Dinner

Day 2 – Lisbon

A canvas of canary yellow trams, periwinkle-blue tiles and white-domed churches, Lisbon is a colourful city – and one of the oldest capitals in the world. It’s built across seven hillsides, with historic neighbourhoods linked by winding cobbled streets. We spend the morning exploring on an included Lisbon city tour, stopping to admire painted shopfronts, ornate squares and medieval backstreets. The cherry on the top will be ginjinha tasting – it’s a delicious local liqueur of sour cherries, sugar and cinnamon. The afternoon is free to explore on your own.

Hotel Mundial, Lisbon (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Walking tour of Lisbon with ginjinha tasting (morning)

Breakfast

Free time

Cable car in Lisbon, Portugal

Day 3 – Sintra

Nestled in the cooler foothills of the Serra del Sintra outside Lisbon, visiting the UNESCO-listed town of Sintra is like walking into a childhood fairytale. Studded with Arabic-inspired palaces, intricate villas and pine-scented gardens, this long-standing royal resort has inspired writers and artists for centuries. If there’s time, we’ll stop off in the coastal towns of Estoril and Cascais too.

Hotel Mundial, Lisbon (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Excursion to Sintra, including Sintra National Palace (all day)

Breakfast

Palace of Pena in Sintra. Lisbon, Portugal.

Day 4 – Coimbra – Porto

We come to the end of our Lisbon stay this morning and travel to Porto, stopping in the medieval town of Coimbra for lunch on the way. We’ll embark our ship on the outskirts of Porto, ready to begin our Douro river cruise tomorrow. There’ll be time to settle into your surroundings before we enjoy a welcome cocktail and dinner. This evening, perhaps take an optional excursion by coach to see Porto by night.

MS Amalia Rodrigues (4-star)

Today includes…

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Historical European University: Coimbra, Portugal

Day 5 – Porto – Régua

Wonderfully charming pathways lead you through the centre of the beautiful city of Porto. Gaze up at the medieval landmarks and ornamentation as you go. We’ll stop for a visit at a local port winery for a tasting (when in Porto…). After returning to the ship for lunch, take a seat on the sun deck for this afternoon’s scenic sailing. We’ll glide through the beautiful Douro Valley, passing sleepy villages and peaceful countryside on our way to Régua.

MS Amalia Rodrigues (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: City tour of Porto, including wine tasting (morning)

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Collection of port in Oporto (Porto), Portugal

Day 6 – Régua – Vega de Terrón

This morning, perhaps choose an optional excursion to visit the sleepy university town of Vila Real and the 18th-century Casa de Mateus Palace. You might recognise the palace’s beautiful baroque façade from the label of Mateus Rosé wine. Take a wander through the vast gardens, considered some of the country’s finest. Later on, we’ll sail towards Vega de Terrón and enjoy an evening of flamenco entertainment on board.

MS Amalia Rodrigues (4-star)

Today includes…

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Free time

 beautiful Vila real castle (museum) in Portugal - Solar de Mateus

Day 7 – Barca d’Alva – Salamanca

Awash with golden sandstone and littered with cathedrals, palaces and churches, UNESCO-listed Salamanca is simply beautiful. On our excursion, we’ll nip across the border into Spain for the day and enjoy a guided walking tour to all the best bits. Wander through the narrow, cobbled streets that open into one of Spain’s most magnificent squares: Plaza Mayor. Following lunch at a local restaurant, we return to the ship and dock overnight in Barca d’Alva, enjoying an evening of entertainment on board.

MS Amalia Rodrigues (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Tour of Salamanca (all day)

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Small boats in Salamanca´s river, Spain

Day 8 – Barca d’Alva – Pinhão

Enjoy a relaxing cruise along the Douro this morning before we arrive in Pinhão. Here, you might like to join an excursion to explore the town, famous for its railway station (look closely at the beautiful azulejo tiles, which depict scenes of nearby vineyards). We’ll finish up with a tasting of locally produced wines.

MS Amalia Rodrigues (4-star)

Today includes…

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Free time

Douro Valley. Vineyards and landscape near Pinhao town, Portugal

Day 9 – Pinhão – Porto

Perhaps choose to join an optional excursion to visit one of the most attractive cities in Portugal, Lamego, nestled among the terraced slopes of the Douro Valley. The ruins of a 12th-century castle give an indication to the ancient city’s importance, as this is where Afonso Henriques was officially declared Portugal’s first king. At the top of the city’s second hill is the elaborate Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios, which is set atop nine steep and beautifully crafted terraces. This afternoon, the ship will sail to Porto, where we dock overnight. We’ll enjoy traditional fado entertainment on board this evening.

MS Amalia Rodrigues (4-star)

Today includes…

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Free time

View of church in Lamego, Portugal

Day 10 – Porto

Following a leisurely morning, we visit historic Guimarães this afternoon, which has been called the ‘Cradle of the Portuguese Nation’. The wonderfully preserved Old Town is dominated by Afonso Henriques’ grand castle. We’ll also visit the 15th-century Palace of the Dukes of Braganza.

MS Amalia Rodrigues (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Tour of Guimarães (afternoon)

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Free time

Toural Square, Guimaraes, Portugal

Day 11 – Porto – Departure

We&ve ticked off an unforgettable Lisbon city break and Douro River cruise – now, it&s time to bid farewell to Portugal. Transfer to the airport for your return flight. Upon arrival, our vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.

Today includes…

Breakfast