On the Waterfront

Lisbon, Coimbra & Porto
 
Embark on a rail journey of discovery as you explore three of Portugal’s most celebrated cities, with cultural notes provided. Experience vibrant and cosmopolitan Lisbon, the ancient city of Coimbra and colourful Porto, staying at 4-star hotels.
Price from
£875pp
On the Waterfront. 6 nights
Price from
£875pp
On the Waterfront. 6 nights
Price from
£875pp
 

Holiday information

 

A touring holiday from Lisbon to Porto by train

Land of intrepid explorers, famous fortified wines and lauded scholars, Portugal has a rich cultural heritage that demands further investigation and exploration. Embark upon our rail journey of discovery and you will soon come to appreciate the bravado, the hard work and the willingness to learn that epitomises the rich diversity of the people of this evocative country.

There’s an old Portuguese adage: ‘Coimbra studies whilst Lisbon shows off and Porto works’. They are certainly very distinctive, and to visit all three delightful cities will give you a taste of the many different faces of Portugal. 
Discover vibrant and cosmopolitan Lisbon, explore Porto’s colourful waterfront, and immerse yourself in the quiet dignity of Coimbra, the oldest seat of learning in the land and birthplace of kings. Our detailed notes will lead you from our hand-picked hotels on self-guided walking tours through both the famous and lesser-known quarters of the cities, sharing our insights and suggestions for a leisurely and enjoyable stay.
 
Gallery

 

Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights.
  • Arrival in Lisbon
    Night 1: at Solar do Castelo (the first of two nights here).
    As your first night's accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of exploration.
  • Explore Lisbon
    When it comes to things to see and do in Portugal’s endlessly absorbing capital, you really are spoiled for choice: take a ride on one of the iconic yellow trams that have been trundling slowly through the city since the 1930s; explore enthralling neighbourhoods like aristocratic Baixo and trendy Barrio Alto; or visit nearby Belém to marvel at the ornate Jerónimos Monastery and taste one of the mouthwatering pasteis de nata (egg custard tarts). Don’t forget to visit the castle, either – it’s right next door to your hotel!

    Please note that museums are usually closed on Mondays.
    Catching the old tram in Lisbon
  • Lisbon to Coimbra
    It’s only a short train ride from Lisbon to little-known but equally fascinating Coimbra, the country’s former capital and seat of its oldest and most prestigious university. Here you stay in the heart of the 'old town', in the elegant Sapientia Boutique Hotel. There is a rich variety of restaurants and bars just a few minutes' walk away.
  • Explore Coimbra
    Take your time to explore this studious city, where Baroque palaces and churches lord it over pastel-fronted houses that tumble down the hillside towards a wonderful Old Town. Pick your way through the maze of alleyways and admire the elegant academic buildings (the University of Coimbra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and delightful flower-festooned balconies, before soaking in the lively, fun atmosphere of the night – Coimbra’s thriving student population ensures an eclectic mix of bars, cafés and restaurants.
    Royal Palace and University Tower in Coimbra
  • Coimbra to Porto
    Today, you move on to Porto. The train journey takes between one and two hours.
  • Explore Porto
    Explore Porto’s many churches, museums and monuments using our self-guided city walk, then head across the river to Vila Nova de Gaia to learn about the history of Port production – and indulge in a tasting or two – at one of the famous lodges. We highly recommend the superb Graham's Wine Lodge – see 'Prices & Travel' for details of pre-booking a tour.

    If you have time, we also highly recommend a ride on electrico no.1 (a vintage tram) out to the pretty suburb of Foz do Douro, where the river meets the Atlantic Ocean. Ultimately though, it is the lively café bars and excellent restaurants of the atmospheric waterfront that will entice you back at dusk. Relax and reflect on your journey through this timeless and charismatic land, savouring a glass of vintage Port wine (of course), as the last rays of the shimmering sun turn this grandest of waterways into a river of gold.
    Porto's waterfront
    Terrace at Graham's Cellar, Vila Nova de Gaia
  • Graham’s Wine Lodge, Porto
    Whether you love port or are simply interested in finding out more about Portugal’s most famous export, we can pre-book a tour and tasting at Graham’s Wine Lodge in Porto's Vila Nova de Gaia district for you. An experience not to be missed, our arrangements include an exclusive personalised tasting in the lodge’s wood-panelled tasting room at your own table with a selection of three special ports. See the Pricing section for prices.
 

Accommodation

Our chosen hotels are well located for exploring their respective cities. 

In each city we work with more than one hotel, as shown below. All are hand-picked by us and, unless there is a price implication (in which case we will contact you to discuss your options), we will tell you which one we have booked for you on your booking confirmation.

Whichever hotels you stay at, we recommend adding an extra night in any or all three cities to give you more time to explore.  
 

Options to extend or shorten your stay

 
Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.
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  • 6 nights: 02 January 2024 - 24 December 2024 & 02 January 2025 - 24 December 2025

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    2 Jan - 29 Feb 2024 £875 £460
    1 - 14 Mar 2024 £890 £460
    15 - 31 Mar 2024 £1080 £570
    1 - 26 Apr 2024 £1240 £670
    27 Apr - 11 Jun 2024 £1315 £705
    12 - 30 Jun 2024 £1355 £705
    1 Jul - 31 Aug 2024 £1275 £705
    1 Sep - 31 Oct 2024 £1325 £700
    1 - 30 Nov 2024 £1100 £510
    1 - 18 Dec 2024 £955 £485
    2 Jan - 28 Feb 2025 £910 £480
    1 - 14 Mar 2025 £930 £480
    15 - 31 Mar 2025 £1125 £595
    1 - 26 Apr 2025 £1290 £700
    27 Apr - 11 Jun 2025 £1370 £735
    12 - 30 Jun 2025 £1410 £735
    1 Jul - 31 Aug 2025 £1330 £735
    1 Sep - 31 Oct 2025 £1370 £730
    1 - 30 Nov 2025 £1145 £535
    1 - 18 Dec 2025 £995 £505
    3rd & 4th person discount £0
    Single traveller supplement £0

    Includes accommodation, meals, travel between hotels and any other services integral to the holiday as described, plus a detailed information pack, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Included travel: rail Lisbon-Coimbra-Porto
    Pay locally for travel from/to the airport

    Graham's Wine Lodge: add £26pp in 2023 or £29pp in 2024 for a tour and exclusive private tasting at Graham's Wine Lodge, Porto

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    Solar do Castelo, Lisbon
    Superior 'Alfama': 02 Jan - 24 Dec 2024 £36
    Superior 'Alfama': 02 Jan - 24 Dec 2025 £37
    Sapientia Boutique Hotel, Coimbra
    Apartment: 02 Jan - 31 Mar 2024 £44
    Apartment: 01 Apr - 30 Jun 2024 £55
    Apartment: 01 Jul - 31 Oct 2024 £64
    Apartment: 01 Nov - 24 Dec 2024 £48
    Apartment: 02 Jan - 31 Mar 2025 £46
    Apartment: 01 Apr - 30 Jun 2025 £57
    Apartment: 01 Jul - 31 Oct 2025 £67
    Apartment: 01 Nov - 24 Dec 2025 £50
    Junior suite: 02 Jan - 24 Dec 2024 £20
    Junior suite: 02 Jan - 24 Dec 2025 £21
    Superior apartment: 02 Jan - 31 Mar 2024 £70
    Superior apartment: 01 Apr - 30 Jun 2024 £79
    Superior apartment: 01 Jul - 31 Oct 2024 £86
    Superior apartment: 01 Nov - 24 Dec 2024 £70
    Superior apartment: 02 Jan - 31 Mar 2025 £73
    Superior apartment: 01 Apr - 30 Jun 2025 £82
    Superior apartment: 01 Jul - 31 Oct 2025 £89
    Superior apartment: 01 Nov - 24 Dec 2025 £73
    Hotel Pestana Vintage Porto, Porto
    'Plaza': 02 Jan - 31 Mar 2024 £13
    'Plaza': 01 Apr - 30 Apr 2024 £18
    'Plaza': 01 May - 31 Oct 2024 £20
    'Plaza': 01 Nov - 24 Dec 2024 £15
    'Plaza': 02 Jan - 31 Mar 2025 £14
    'Plaza': 01 Apr - 30 Apr 2025 £19
    'Plaza': 01 May - 31 Oct 2025 £21
    'Plaza': 01 Nov - 24 Dec 2025 £16
    'Vintage' with river view: 02 Jan - 31 Mar 2024 £44
    'Vintage' with river view: 01 Apr - 30 Apr 2024 £59
    'Vintage' with river view: 01 May - 30 Jun 2024 £66
    'Vintage' with river view: 01 Jul - 31 Oct 2024 £62
    'Vintage' with river view: 01 Nov - 24 Dec 2024 £44
    'Vintage' with river view: 02 Jan - 31 Mar 2025 £46
    'Vintage' with river view: 01 Apr - 30 Apr 2025 £61
    'Vintage' with river view: 01 May - 30 Jun 2025 £69
    'Vintage' with river view: 01 Jul - 31 Oct 2025 £64
    'Vintage' with river view: 01 Nov - 24 Dec 2025 £46

    Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    Solar do Castelo, Lisbon (B&B) Double room Single room
    02 Jan - 13 Mar 2024 £88 £165
    14 Mar - 30 Jun 2024 £121 £224
    01 Jul - 31 Aug 2024 £95 £179
    01 Sep - 31 Oct 2024 £135 £247
    01 Nov - 24 Dec 2024 £101 £189
    02 Jan - 13 Mar 2025 £92 £172
    14 Mar - 30 Jun 2025 £130 £237
    01 Jul - 31 Aug 2025 £99 £186
    01 Sep - 31 Oct 2025 £145 £261
    01 Nov - 24 Dec 2025 £105 £197
    Hotel Pestana Vintage Porto, Porto (B&B) Double room Single room
    02 Jan - 30 Mar 2024 £128 £245
    31 Mar - 29 Apr 2024 £165 £315
    30 Apr - 30 Jun 2024 £185 £355
    01 Jul - 31 Oct 2024 £195 £380
    01 Nov - 24 Dec 2024 £145 £273
    02 Jan - 30 Mar 2025 £135 £257
    31 Mar - 29 Apr 2025 £175 £335
    30 Apr - 30 Jun 2025 £195 £375
    01 Jul - 31 Oct 2025 £205 £400
    01 Nov - 24 Dec 2025 £155 £290
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Lisbon for the outward flight; Porto for the homeward flight
    As an alternative to flying, we can arrange rail travel from London

    Travelling from the UK

    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Lisbon.  To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Outward route Airline
    Aberdeen - Lisbon (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Aberdeen - Porto (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Aberdeen - Porto (via Paris CDG) Air France,  KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Birmingham - Lisbon easyJet 
    Birmingham - Porto Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Bristol - Lisbon easyJet 
    Bristol - Porto easyJet,  Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Edinburgh - Lisbon easyJet,  Ryanair 
    Edinburgh - Porto Ryanair 
    Edinburgh - Porto (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Edinburgh - Porto (via Barcelona) Vueling 
    Edinburgh - Porto (via Geneva) easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Glasgow - Lisbon Ryanair 
    Glasgow - Porto easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Leeds Bradford - Lisbon (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Leeds Bradford - Porto (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Liverpool - Lisbon easyJet 
    Liverpool - Porto Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    London City - Lisbon TAP Air Portugal 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Lisbon Air Europa,  Azores Airlines (SATA),  easyJet,  TAP Air Portugal 
    Gatwick - Porto British Airways,  easyJet,  TAP Air Portugal 
    Gatwick - Porto (via Geneva) easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Lisbon Azores Airlines (SATA),  British Airways,  TAP Air Portugal 
    Heathrow - Porto British Airways,  TAP Air Portugal 
    Heathrow - Porto (via Lisbon) TAP Air Portugal 
    Outward route Airline
    Luton - Lisbon easyJet,  Wizz Air 
    Luton - Porto easyJet,  Wizz Air 
    Outward route Airline
    Stansted - Lisbon Ryanair 
    Stansted - Porto Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Lisbon easyJet,  Ryanair,  TAP Air Portugal 
    Manchester - Lisbon (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Manchester - Porto easyJet,  Ryanair 
    Manchester - Porto (via Brussels) Brussels Airlines 
    Manchester - Porto (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Manchester - Porto (via Lisbon) TAP Air Portugal 
    Outward route Airline
    Newcastle - Lisbon (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Newcastle - Porto (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Newcastle - Porto (via Brussels) Brussels Airlines 
    Newcastle - Porto (via Paris CDG) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Norwich - Lisbon (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Norwich - Porto (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Lisbon.  To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you for any of the options listed above. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service. Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.

  • Prices below are based on 2 people travelling together. If you are travelling solo or as a party of 3 or more and our arrangements include a taxi, please contact us for prices; additional passengers often pay less.

    Unless otherwise stated, connecting travel by rail or bus tends to be from the city centre station, rather than from its airport, and connections between the two should be paid for locally.

    Where a price range is given, the price you pay depends on your date of travel.

    Connecting travel options - flying via Lisbon

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    own taxi/bus/metro from Lisbon airport to hotel pay locally flexible
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    taxi hotel to Porto Campanha (0h15, pay locally), rail Porto Campanha to Lisbon Oriente (2h40), taxi/bus/metro Lisbon Oriente to Lisbon airport (0h05-0h15, pay locally) £46-£48 1430

    Connecting travel options - flying via Porto

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    metro Porto airport to Porto Campanha (0h40, pay locally), rail Porto Campanha to Lisbon Santa Apolonia (2h50), walk (0h15) or taxi (0h05, pay locally) to hotel £46-£48 1800
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    own taxi/bus/metro from hotel to Porto airport pay locally flexible
What is included
  • 6 nights
  • 6 breakfasts
  • city maps and notes for walking tours
  • detailed cultural information
  • rail travel Lisbon-Coimbra-Porto
 
Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

 

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.
  • The information that we send to you 2-3 weeks before your holiday includes practical information about each stage of your journey so that you can travel confidently from one hotel to another, recommendations for places to visit and eat out in each place, plus cultural information about the area. Where applicable, we also provide notes for a self-guided walking tour of most cities, and some large towns. Sample travel pack >
  • We can book a wide range of routes from the UK with a variety of airlines. As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. The fee for this service is £35 per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). More information on flights >
  • We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted to book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can incur a five or six-figure bill.

    Many insurers offer travel insurance (you can find details on our insurance page of a policy that you may like to consider if you are a UK resident), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    When you purchase a policy, be sure to check that it covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to Portugal, Madeira and the Azores, but not a visa (please note, however, that a new travel authorisation system is being introduced). If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice for UK citizens can be found through the Travel Health Pro website. You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). You should also apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) if your EHIC has expired (if you have a still-valid EHIC, you can use this until it expires).
  • The official language is Portuguese. The currency is the Euro. Portuguese time is the same as GMT/UTC. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on the same time as BST.
  • For information on the practicalities of travel now that the UK is no longer part of the European Union, visit www.gov.uk/visit-eu-switzerland-norway-iceland-liechtenstein.
  • The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.

    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
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