Cities, Palaces & Wine

From colourful Porto to captivating Lisbon
 

Holiday Highlights

Douro Valley | Enjoy an included tour and tasting at a unique Douro winery.
Majesty of Coimbra | Uncover the oldest seat of learning in Portugal.
Seafaring legacy | Portuguese explorers brought back great wealth, resulting in the magnificent palaces and monuments you can still see today.
Hotels of character | Stay within the walls of Lisbon’s famous castle.
Historic Sintra | A succession of hilltops capped by ornate summer palaces.
Price from
£1605pp
Cities, Palaces & Wine. 10 nights
Price from
£1605pp
Cities, Palaces & Wine. 10 nights
Price from
£1605pp
 

Holiday information

 

A touring holiday in Portugal

The fabulous cities of Porto, Coimbra and Lisbon, for which we provide notes for self-guided walking tours, will enthral you, as will the Douro valley, where you can taste the region's world-famous Port wine, and Sintra, with its magnificent palaces. Stay at hotels of character, travelling between them by train.
The legacy of Portugal’s seafaring adventurers lives on today, particularly in the country’s iconic cities, where magnificent historical monuments and sumptuous palaces abound, and the cultural influences of Portugal’s former African and South American dominions are clear to see.

These cities deserve leisurely exploration, from wine-producing Porto’s colourful waterfront and the quiet dignity of Coimbra, the oldest seat of learning in the land and birthplace of kings; to historic Sintra with its succession of hilltops capped by ornate summer palaces; and bustling Lisbon, where two nights may not be enough to explore all this lively capital has to offer.

By combining all this with a journey upriver from Porto along the Rio Douro (‘river of gold’) to one of Europe’s most beautiful wine-producing regions, this journey allows you to appreciate much of the best that Portugal has to offer.
 
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 Porto
    Night 1: at Hotel Pestana Vintage Porto (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 Porto
    Follow one of our self-guided walking tours through the city, picking your way through the maze of churches, museums and restaurants, before perhaps heading across the river to the famous port lodges of Vila Nova de Gaia.

    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.
    Ride the old tram in Porto
    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.
  • Porto to Pinhão
    Leaving Porto, you take a trip upriver on what is widely considered one of Europe’s most scenic rail journeys into the heart of port-wine country. Alight at Pinhão and spend your next two nights at the Quinta de la Rosa, a working winery on the banks of the Douro.
    Pinhão station
  • Explore Pinhão, with included wine visit and tasting
    Given that your hotel is effectively a ‘quinta with rooms’, you could not be better placed to gain an understanding of viticulture and wine production in this fabulous vineyard region. We include a visit to the winery itself (up to 1hr 30mins; guided in English): Quinta de la Rosa is unique as its port is made, matured and bottled on the quinta and not in Vila Nova de Gaia as is the case with other shippers – so you get to understand the whole process, from grape to glass, including how they still tread the grapes by foot.

    Afterwards, we recommend that you stroll the short distance into Pinhão for lunch, then perhaps take a boat trip further upriver to see the picturesque vine terraces from the water.
    Quinta de la Rosa
    Enjoy the included wine-tasting
  • Pinhão to Coimbra
    Return to Porto by rail and connect with a southbound train to Coimbra. Here you spend two nights at the Sapientia Boutique Hotel.
  • Explore Coimbra
    Coimbra, formerly the Portuguese capital, is a fascinating if little-known city – a redoubtable seat of learning that is home to the country’s oldest and most prestigious university, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Baroque palaces and churches lord it over pastel-fronted houses which tumble down the hillside towards a wonderful Old Town – a maze of alleyways where elegant academic buildings are interspersed with a delightful jumble of flower-festooned balconies and hidden courtyards. Use our self-guided tour to discover the city’s many charms on foot; then enjoy the lively, fun atmosphere during the evenings – Coimbra’s thriving student population ensures an eclectic mix of bars, cafés and restaurants.
    Coimbra Royal Palace and University Tower
    Soak up the atmosphere at the café bars
  • Coimbra to Sintra
    Continuing south, you skirt Lisbon to reach Sintra, the former summer retreat of Portuguese nobility. Here you spend two nights at the historic Lawrence's Hotel whose former guests include Lord Byron, who wrote of “Cintra’s glorious Eden”.
  • Explore Sintra
    Sintra presents you with an incredible array of sights – the only difficulty is choosing which to visit! The well-preserved National Palace, fantastical Quinta da Regaleira, and the exotic gardens of Biester Palace, are just a few steps from your hotel, while the hills above the town host the imposing Moorish Castle and romantic Pena Palace, whose brightly painted turrets and onion-domed towers are pure fairy tale.
    Central Sintra
    Moorish Castle above Sintra
  • Sintra to Lisbon
    Today you journey by train to Lisbon, the country’s flamboyant, modern-day capital, where you spend your final two nights in the historic Alfama district at the wonderful Solar do Castelo. It is only a short journey from Sintra, leaving you plenty of time for sightseeing; we suggest beginning your exploration at the 11th-century Castelo de São Jorge – these towering castle ruins are located right next door to your hotel and offer fantastic views over Lisbon!
  • Explore Lisbon
    In Lisbon, you really are spoiled for choice: take a ride on one of the iconic yellow trams that trundle slowly through the city; 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 pastéis de nata (egg custard tarts).

    Please note that museums are usually closed on Mondays.
    Praca da Figueira square in Lisbon
    Ride the iconic yellow tram
 

Accommodation

Your accommodation is as delightful as it is varied.

In each place 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 extra nights in Porto and Lisbon to explore these fascinating cities more fully; in Pinhão to make the most of the hotel facilities or enjoy a boat ride along the river; and in Sintra to visit more of the town's remarkable palaces.
 

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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  • 10 nights: 01 November 2024 - 24 December 2024 & 02 January 2025 - 24 December 2025

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

    Starting Price Single room
    1 Nov - 14 Dec 2024 £1725 £775
    2 Jan - 28 Feb 2025 £1605 £780
    1 - 24 Mar 2025 £1745 £870
    25 Mar - 30 Apr 2025 £2055 £1005
    1 May - 12 Jun 2025 £2200 £1065
    13 - 30 Jun 2025 £2255 £1065
    1 Jul - 31 Oct 2025 £2135 £1060
    1 Nov - 14 Dec 2025 £1875 £810
    3rd & 4th person discount -£20 to -£21
    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 Porto-Coimbra-Sintra
    Pay locally for inexpensive rail Porto-Pinhão-Porto & Sintra-Lisbon

    Graham's Wine Lodge: add £26pp in 2023 or £47pp 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)

    Hotel Pestana Vintage Porto, Porto
    '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: 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
    Quinta de la Rosa, Pinhão
    Deluxe: 02 Jan - 24 Dec 2024 £22
    Deluxe: 02 Jan - 24 Dec 2025 £23
    Traditional suite 'D. Clara': 02 Jan - 24 Dec 2024 £22
    Traditional suite 'D. Clara': 02 Jan - 24 Dec 2025 £23
    'Two floor' suite double: 02 Jan - 24 Dec 2024 £22
    'Two floor' suite double: 02 Jan - 24 Dec 2025 £23
    Sapientia Boutique Hotel, Coimbra
    Junior suite: 02 Jan - 24 Dec 2024 £20
    Junior suite: 02 Jan - 24 Dec 2025 £21
    'Loft': 02 Jan - 24 Dec 2024 £13
    'Loft': 02 Jan - 24 Dec 2025 £14
    Lawrence's Hotel, Sintra
    Suite: 01 Nov - 24 Dec 2024 £80
    Suite: 02 Jan - 31 Mar 2025 £83
    Suite: 01 Apr - 31 Oct 2025 £83
    Suite: 01 Nov - 24 Dec 2025 £83
    Solar do Castelo, Lisbon
    Superior 'Alfama': 02 Jan - 24 Dec 2024 £36
    Superior 'Alfama': 02 Jan - 24 Dec 2025 £37

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

    Hotel Pestana Vintage Porto, Porto (B&B) Double room Single room
    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
    Quinta de la Rosa, Pinhão (with dinner) Double room Single room
    02 Jan - 24 Dec 2024 £185 £302
    02 Jan - 24 Dec 2025 £195 £317
    Lawrence's Hotel, Sintra (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 Nov - 24 Dec 2024 £68 £123
    02 Jan - 31 Mar 2025 £71 £128
    01 Apr - 31 Oct 2025 £116 £196
    01 Nov - 24 Dec 2025 £71 £128
    Solar do Castelo, Lisbon (B&B) Double room Single room
    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
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Porto for the outward flight; Lisbon 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
    rail Lisbon Oriente to Porto Campanha (2h40), taxi Porto Campanha to hotel (0h15, pay locally) £46-£48 1800
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    own travel arrangements from hotel to Lisbon airport pay locally flexible

    Connecting travel options - flying via Porto

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    own travel arrangements from Porto airport to hotel pay locally flexible
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    rail Lisbon Santa Apolonia to Porto Campanha (2h50), metro Porto Campanha to Porto airport (0h40, pay locally) £46-£48 1430
What is included
  • 10 nights
  • 2 dinners
    10 breakfasts
  • city maps and notes for walking tours
  • detailed cultural information
  • rail travel Porto-Coimbra & Coimbra-Lisbon
  • winery visit & tasting
 
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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