Lisbon, Porto and the Douro Valley
Lisbon, Porto and the Douro Valley
Lisbon, Porto and the Douro Valley
8 Days Starting in Lisbon, Portugal and ending in United Kingdom
Visiting: Lisbon, Sintra, University of Coimbra, Porto, Douro River, Óbidos, Cascais
Tour operator:
Tour code:
PO
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 25
Physical rating:
Please contact Riviera Travel if you have any concerns regarding the suitability of the holiday due to reduced mobility.
Age range:
18-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Please contact Riviera Travel with specific dietary requests.
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Activities:
From:
$1798 (USD) including Flights from the UKTourhub Members Discount - Sign In
Tour Overview
Many visitors to Portugal head straight to the beaches of the Algarve, overlooking the many historical and cultural highlights of this fascinatingly varied country. For the discerning traveller, however, there is so much to discover, including vibrant cities, majestic palaces and cathedrals, the beautiful Douro Valley and delicious produce, most famously port dessert wine.
Today Portugal is a country of great contrasts; it's modern in many ways yet still has one foot firmly set in its past. Full of history and appeal and spared from large-scale industrialisation, its well-preserved medieval towns with their tiny cobbled streets are delightful to explore.
Portugal's landscapes are stunning. You'll experience them in full - from coastal forests, wild seascapes, fertile fields and dramatic valleys to sweeping biscuit-coloured hillsides covered with olive trees, fragrant pine forests and lush meadows.
Experience the best of Portugal, from the maritime heritage of Lisbon to the National Palace of Sintra and Coimbra's ancient university. Plus Porto's port lodges, the beautiful Douro Valley and the chic resort of Cascais.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1
Location: Lisbon
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: No Meals
You should arrive at the airport to take your flight to Lisbon from your selected airport. On arrival, you will be taken to your hotel. The rest of the day will be spent at leisure, allowing you time to settle into the hotel and start exploring if you wish.
Our Lisbon hotel will be either the four-star Tivoli Oriente or the three-star MyStory Tejo.
Day 2
Location: Lisbon
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
After a leisurely breakfast we set out to discover Lisbon’s highlights, many of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. On our tour we’ll see the strikingly modern Monument to the Discoveries and its 16th century fortified counterpart, the Belém Tower, then visit the church of the Monastery of Jerónimos. One of the most magnificent buildings in Europe, the Monastery is a symbol of Portuguese wealth and power during the Age of Discoveries. Founded by Prince Henry the Navigator and containing the tomb of Vasco da Gama, it is an enormous, dazzlingly white edifice in classic Portuguese Gothic style, intricately decorated throughout with maritime motifs. We also see the impressive Terreiro do Paço square facing out to sea. There’s also Alfama, the Moorish quarter of timeless cobbled streets, and the wonderful garden at São Pedro de Alcântara with its expansive views across the rooftops.
Part of Lisbon’s appeal is its mix of old and modern, bustling and peaceful, and this afternoon is free to explore. You might be tempted by the chic shops of the elegant Baixa quarter, rebuilt after the devastating earthquake of 1755, or decide to seek out a café to enjoy a bica – an espresso – often taken with a pastel de nata, the city’s devilishly moreish custard tart. Art-lovers can savour the Gulbenkian Museum, established by an Armenian oil magnate who bought art from Saint Petersburg’s Hermitage after the Russian Revolution for bargain prices. This world-class institution has exhibits ranging from ancient Egyptian treasures to Impressionist paintings to a superb collection of Lalique jewellery and glass. And don’t forget to take a ride on one of the clanging, rattling yellow trams; seemingly well past their sell-by date, they’re still the best way to negotiate the sharp bends of the old quarter.
Day 3
Location: Sintra
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
We take a short drive to the lovely town of Sintra. Perched on a spectacular hillside with panoramic views towards the nearby Atlantic coast, where Henry the Navigator grew up and doubtless gazed out to sea not knowing where his destiny was eventually to lead him. Famous for its Royal Palace, once the residences of the Portuguese monarchy, today it’s a wonderful museum with grand rooms, priceless collections including portraits of Charles II of England, and reflections of its Moorish ancestry plus more modern styles. Entrance fees to the Royal Palace are included.
You can also see the 19th century romantic Pena Palace, built as a summer residence, is a living fairy tale. Its turrets, ramparts, gargoyles and domes are a mystical mix of styles, while the interior is extravagantly decorated with a superb ballroom and a magnificent Arab Room. The surrounding park displays exotic plants from the former Portuguese colonies. Returning to Lisbon late in the afternoon, you have time at your leisure to explore this fascinating city.
Lisbon has an amazing old quarter; still following the centuries old Phoenician street grid, so spend this evening wandering through its charmingly tangled, cobbled lanes, lined with ancient bars and tiny restaurants. Many will be buzzing with the sound of ‘fado’ – a unique and infectious musical mix evolved from traditional folk, colonial African and Brazilian styles. Don’t leave Lisbon without experiencing this.
Day 4
Location: University of Coimbra
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning we drive north through olive groves and wheat fields to Fatima, once an unremarkable small town, until three children experienced an apparition of the Virgin Mary, it suddenly became one of the most important of Catholic pilgrimages and a national shrine. Whatever your religious views, the extraordinary sanctuary complex is certainly impressive and well worth the visit.
Continuing north, we reach Coimbra, renowned for its impressive Roman aqueduct striding across the city. But it’s most famous for its historic university, one of Europe’s oldest along with Salamanca, Bologna and the Sorbonne. Once Portugal’s capital, Coimbra became a major cultural centre in the Middle Ages with the university at its heart and it’s not hard to imagine the cloak-clad learned of the age wandering its tiny medieval streets little changed since that time.
With its charming Moorish quarter and pleasant squares, Coimbra is a lovely place in which to immerse yourself in the old city’s labyrinth-like lanes. This afternoon we’re privileged to enjoy a visit to the university, a wonderful seat of learning, with entrance fees included. Its superb library is rich in baroque gilt work and houses a staggering 300,000 volumes. Situated on a hill, the views are stunning.
Later this afternoon, we continue to Porto, where we stay for three nights in either the four-star Royal Bridges Hotel, or the four-star superior Sheraton Hotel & Spa.
Day 5
Location: Porto
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Set on the Douro estuary and once Roman, Porto’s wealth derived from its knowledge of the sea routes to India. Spices, silks and other fine goods made the fortunes used to build today’s city – Portugal’s second largest. Our tour unveils its surprising, as well as the major sights. You’ll experience the splendid Praca da Ribeira square, with its characteristic tiled town houses and fine views to the wine lodges across the river.
You’ll see the imposing Dom Luis Bridge and the tangled lanes of the medieval quarter. You’ll gaze up at the city’s imposing fortress, its fine cathedral and baroque Clerigos Tower. One of the six bridges over the river was designed by Gustav Eiffel - and you can immediately see the connection with his more famous Parisian creation! Free of the chain shops dominating other countries, you’ll enjoy the tiny antiquated shops specialising in fine art, antiques, ceramics and some of the most wonderful cakes you’ll ever taste.
But no visit to Porto is complete without seeing one of the city’s world famous port wine lodges. So we are guests of Taylor’s - perhaps the greatest of all them all. You’ll learn the fascinating history of port wine, and its close British connections. Taking its name from the city through which it’s shipped, this fortified wine, is made with grapes from the terraced vineyards along the Douro valley which are still staggeringly trodden by foot! The wine is lovingly tended and matured, sometimes for decades, before you can enjoy its subtle flavours. Of course you’ll get the chance at the end of a fascinating visit to sample this wonderful drink.
You're free to spend the rest of the day exploring at your leisure.
Day 6
Location: Douro River
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today we explore the sinuous and scenic River Douro – the river of gold, spending a leisurely day exploring its delightfully peaceful villages and intricately terraced valley sides. After leaving the Atlantic’s influence behind, the climate becomes noticeably warmer and dryer, and the landscape changes from verdant greens to Mediterranean sun-kissed ochre. The route is nothing short of spectacular! The winding road, sometimes almost in the water, sometimes hugging the lofty valley sides, gives us wonderful views of the shimmering ribbon of the river and its classic vine-clad terraces. At Peso da Regua, you’ll have time to wander along the quayside, watching the occasional river traffic or enjoying a refreshing glass in one of the many cafés. The overwhelming feeling here is one of wonderful isolation in one of Europe’s most scenic and as yet undiscovered valleys. Winding our way round the twisting roads, every bend gives us another stunning view. Just a few kilometres further upstream is the delightful small town of Pinhao, the heart of the port wine producing region. Port truly dominates the life here, with even the station tiles depicting the wine harvest. We also visit one of the local Quintas and sample some of the wines that are produced in this region.
Day 7
Location: Óbidos, Cascais
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Leaving Porto, we head south, past olive groves to remarkable Obidos, a fortified town surrounded by imposing medieval walls encompassing a maze of narrow streets and alleys. With its whitewashed houses, abundant flowers and splashes of bright paint, this is a delightful place to just lose yourself. Feel yourself stepping back in time - to the days of the Moorish Arabs who once ruled from the town’s castle. If you’re feeling brave, take the somewhat daring walk around the fortifications themselves. But do try the town’s own special way of serving southern Portugal’s favourite cherry liqueur Ginjinha– in an edible chocolate cup.
Continuing to Cascais a chic coastal town near to Lisbon, for our final night's stay, at the five-star “Pousada”, one of Portugal’s classic hotels. Converted from historic buildings (similar to Spain’s Paradores) the hotel is set within the impressive walls of a 16th century coastal citadel overlooking the famous marina. Some buildings were actually a royal residence and a stylishly sympathetic restoration of centuries-old buildings and stone work - completed at a cost of 18 million Euros in 2013 - combines historical legacy with modern comfort, art and stunning style. The public rooms are very stylish, the rooms contemporary and there is a pool too.
Day 8
Today you join your transfer to the airport for your return flight back home after a memorable tour.
What's Included
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The price of this holiday is per person, based on two people sharing a twin room. Single rooms are subject;to availability at the relevant supplement. The price includes: Return flights Seven nights accommodation Daily breakfast and three dinners (or one dinner if staying at the Royal Bridges Hotel); All tours as mentioned All local accommodation taxes All transfers The services of a Riviera Travel tour manager
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Accommodation
Seven nights accommodation
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Airport Transfers at Destination
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All Domestic Transportation (including internal flights)
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Local Taxes
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Meals
Daily breakfast and three dinners (or one dinner if staying at the Royal Bridges Hotel)
What's Not Included
Check out our Q&As
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Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?
Yes
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
Yes
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
No
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Are flights included in this tour?
No
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Are all entrance fees included in the price?
Yes
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How long has the tour company been trading?
For almost 40 years
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I have reduced mobility; can I still travel?
We want to ensure you make the correct choice before you book your holiday with us. If you have any concerns regarding the suitability of the holiday due to reduced mobility we would encourage you to contact us to discuss these concerns
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Do I require travel insurance?
It is a condition of booking that you carry suitable travel insurance.
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What is my luggage allowance?
You will receive details of your luggage allowance with your final travel documents, which are sent approximately 10 days prior to your date of departure.
Reviews of this Operator
Dates & Availability
Tuesday - Tuesday
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Sep 26, 2025 - Oct 03, 2025Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
Riviera Travel requires a minimum deposit of 250 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 75 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of riviera travel charges.
Up to 75 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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