From Portugal’s capital of Lisbon to Porto, explore Sintra's palaces, travel by rail into the breathtaking Douro Valley and visit the coastal town of Cascais

Your holiday starts at London Gatwick where you meet the Tour Manager before boarding a flight directly to Lisbon. On arrival, we are transferred by coach to our hotel with four nights to explore this exciting city. Set in the heart of Lisbon's Old Town, our hotel is conveniently close to the public elevator designed by Gustav Eiffel, which gives us easy access to the Bairro Alto, the higher part of the city.

Tonight, we have our first dinner together at a local restaurant. Afterwards, you could walk through the Old Quarter around our hotel, visiting a local coffee shop or wine bar.

Please Note - For departure 29th April we will stay at the Turim Europa Hotel in Lisbon.

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.

We take the train to Sintra this morning, a historic city with a Moorish castle and a number of 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 mixed 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.

A rail trip to the coastal resort of Cascais awaits today, 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 this evening is free to dine independently.

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 base for the next three nights is an elegant three-star hotel, centrally located.

After free time for lunch, rejoin the group on a guided city tour for the afternoon. We discover Porto's important landmarks and learn about its 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. You are free to look around independently, before dinner at a local restaurant this evening.

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. At the end of the afternoon, we travel back to Porto by coach, with a free evening ahead.

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, medieval Ribeira or 'Riverside'. You could also ride on one of Porto's historic trams (known as Eléctrico) up and down the city hills.

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. This evening, we sit down to a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

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.

Our Discoveries range offers everything you need at a great price so you can travel with confidence. It provides comfortable, locally run accommodation*, standard rail or economy flights and expert-led group tours. You'll be in groups with an average of 30-35 travellers and a maximum of 40. *where available

On this tour, you will travel between destinations on regional rail services. More information about the type and class of travel can be found in the 'What's Included' section and in the itinerary. Please call for more information.

In Porto, your hotel is the 3-Star Grande Hotel do Porto, located next to São Bento train station. This romantic 19th century hotel features an à la carte restaurant which serves delicious Portuguese cuisine, a bar, gym and coffee shop.

Guest rooms are air conditioned and equipped with a satellite TV, a desk, free Wi-Fi, a hairdryer.

This traditional 3-Star hotel is conveniently close to the Elevador da Glória - Lisbon's city elevator which links the Old Town with the Bairro Alto. The beautifully refurbished building has a historic exterior and a modern interior. It has a restaurant and bar. Guest rooms are modern with views of Lisbon's hills, including the Castelo de São Jorge. Features include a flat-screen television, air-conditioning, a safe, mini bar, tea and coffee making facilities, and ensuite bathrooms with a hair dryer and complimentary toiletries.

Flight upgrades are available. For information regarding the types of upgrades offered by the various airlines we use, call our expert team for details.

Spending a night in London before your tour can make such a difference to the first day of your holiday - you can arrive in the capital in good time, relaxed and ready to join your Tour Manager the next morning. You may even want to take in a show on the West End or dine in one of London's famous restaurants. Perhaps on your return to London, you would like to break your journey with an overnight stay before continuing home.

We can book a wide range of hotels in central London or, for our holidays beginning with a flight, at Heathrow, Gatwick, or Manchester Airport for the night before or after your holiday. If you require a quote for single occupancy at any of the hotels, please contact us on 01904 734 805.

Buying tickets for UK train services can be a tricky business - there are so many fares to choose from, each with different rules and restrictions. As you are connecting with an international departure, we strongly recommend that you book a fully flexible ticket to ensure that should the departure times for your holiday change, your rail ticket can allow for these changes.

We can book fully-flexible UK rail tickets from your local station to join your holiday whether this be a European holiday from St Pancras or a UK holiday. The prices are competitive and tickets are not restricted to a particular train or time of day, and in most cases offer you a free choice of routes.

For an up to date quote from your local station, please ask one of our Tour Advisors.