100% customisable travel idea
Portugal by rail Art, history and port wine
Portugal - Porto - Coimbra - Lisbon
Railways and azulejos
Your trip
None of your hotels offers private parking. Does it matter? Not at all. You will travel by train (after arriving by plane). Rail travel is all about relaxation and pleasure - and one less thing to worry about. Depart from one city, arrive in another. And stations themselves have a way of speaking directly to the traveller's soul. Your tickets are booked in comfort class. Journey times? Barely one or two hours. You don’t get that in a car… Once there, it’s easy to get around as needed. Your hotels strike a balance between historic charm and contemporary style, perfectly suited to these heritage-rich cities. They’re right in the heart of town, placing everything within easy reach - sightseeing starts at your doorstep. You never lose time - quite the opposite. We’ve included two key highlights in your itinerary: old Porto, city and wine, and Lisbon seen through local eyes. Private guides accompany you on both occasions. If you’d like to explore Porto by electric bike, have a personal guide in Coimbra or discover Sintra, just let us know. And should a sudden idea or minor setback arise along the way, you’ll have access to the contact details of our on-site concierge.
Itinerary
100% customisable for you
Private transfer and accommodation for two nights on Rua das Flores, in the historic centre. This is one of the city's most chic pedestrian streets. The building is a beautiful 18th-century structure with a yellow and grey façade, but the interior designers have veered away from that a bit, while respecting the spirit of the place. Contemporary motifs are integrated throughout. The colour scheme is warm browns with well-balanced golds. The rooms are a little less formal than the common areas, but their elegance contributes to the overall comfort. And the level of amenities is excellent. Guests have access to a sauna, swimming pool and gym. To round it all off, there is a bar-restaurant with a terrace.
One does not naturally associate Portugal with Art Deco. Yet, as you walk through the streets, buildings, garages, workshops, shops and cinemas bear witness to this era. You can even imagine a former effervescence, a Portuguese version of the Roaring Twenties. Lovers of this style, which so skilfully combines rigour and seduction, will be pleasantly surprised. Others will be captivated.
Already on your itinerary - Old Porto and its wine cellars. Your guide will walk with you through the narrow streets of the old town and teach you about the importance of its iconic buildings, including the 12th-century cathedral, the 18th-century Clérigos Tower, the Ponte Luis bridge, which was designed by a student of Gustave Eiffel, and São Bento railway station, with its stunning azulejo tiles. After a short break for a drink, you will continue on to Vila Nova de Gaia, which is home to the major port wine merchants and their tasting rooms. You will taste the wine and become a little bit Tripeiro.
Optional - Porto’s highlights by electric bike.
Train to Coimbra. Stay for two nights between Arcos do Jardim and the university. The minimalist hotel has bright, airy, fluid rooms and common areas decorated in shades of white, grey and light wood. It has a light and airy feel. Nothing is missing, especially when it comes to comfort. References to literature and books appear everywhere. The Joanina Library obliges! The bar is no exception to the overall theme. It specialises in Portuguese wines. You can take your glass to one of the terraces: in the courtyard garden or on the roof. The latter allows you to sit in the heart of old Coimbra. You can do the same with your breakfast.
Coimbra is university city like Oxford or Bologna, for example, and it is located on the banks of the Mondego River. The university was founded at the end of the 13th century. Today, it stands out for the excellence of its teaching, the black uniforms worn by its students and its splendid buildings, which have benefited from Brazilian gold since the 17th century. The famous Joanina Library in particular has benefited, with its gilded woodwork and incunabula. There are two cathedrals in the city, an ancient one in monumental Romanesque style and a new one in Jesuit Baroque style. The Manueline style of the Church of the Holy Cross is breathtaking in its decorative virtuosity. And, in addition to being exciting and studious, Coimbra is a very pleasant city. Walking around the city is a constant pleasure thanks to its picturesque and harmonious surroundings. Perhaps you’ll do it with a tune of the fado, which is so characteristic of this region, playing in your head.
Optional - Coimbra on foot with a private guide.
Train to Lisbon. Stay for two nights in the historic centre. A pretty pink façade hints at something sweet. The lobby is all white and gold, playing with metallic reflections and intertwining contemporary shapes. It’s nothing aggressive or flashy, but something smooth and harmonious. In the rooms, interior designer Cristina Santos Silva opted for white and blue azulejos. It wasn't a question of putting tiles everywhere - a few touches are enough - but of using the colours in different ways. The furniture effectively alternates between straight lines and curves. Everything is comfortable and technically very well done. You'll be fine. There is a room set aside for a breakfast of Lisbon delicacies to give you the energy boost you need to explore the city. The bright, cool bar is a great place to plan your visits, especially as the staff are helpful, friendly and happy to share tips.
On your itinerary - Lisbon through the eyes of a local. No pre-planned itinerary, just a relaxed stroll through the capital at your own pace and according to your own desires. City of great navigators, city of the great earthquake. And above all, city of the 21st century. There are the classics, of course, such as the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga (where you can see The Temptation of Saint Anthony by Hieronymus Bosch), the Museu Calouste Gulbenkian (where you can see The Hours of Marguerite de Clèves), and the Azulejo Museum (where you can see lots of ceramic tiles). There is also the wonderful Electricity Museum in the Central Tejo de Belém and the Oceanarium - Peter Chermayeff, 1998 - with its main 5,000 cubic metre aquarium where you can see a mole... And then there is the renovation of the docks and the banks of the Tagus, which is a pleasure to see. The delicious little things at the Mercado da Ribeira are amazing, and Kais, which is housed in a former warehouse, is a spectacular restaurant. And then, from Bairro Alto, for example, you can enjoy superb views of the city lights. Designer boutiques have sprung up everywhere. There is movement in all areas, fashion, sound, design, graphics, etc. Lisbon is buzzing.
Not to be missed - Take the boat to Cacilhas alone, on the other side of the Tagus. The crossing is delightful between the 25th of April and Vasco de Gama bridges. Once you arrive, enjoy the beautiful view, sample some fish, and take a seat at Ponto Final.
Optional - The treasures of Sintra.
Private transfer to the airport and return flight.
À la carte
This suggested itinerary can be customisable down to the smallest detail, including duration, stops and content. An à la carte menu of experiences is also available to create a journey that reflects who you are.
Porto - Highlights by Electric Bike
First of all, Porto’s terrain makes using an electric bike a smart choice. It carries you effortlessly from the banks of the Douro to the tops of its steep slopes. With the help of a private guide, you weave your way along the hillsides, from panels of azulejo tiles to Baroque flourishes, from leafy gardens to narrow, steep streets, and from traditional shops to contemporary concept stores. Cafés and pastry shops entice cyclists indoors, whether for a glass of sparkling red wine - low in alcohol, we promise! - or one of the many cakes that are the despair of dentists and the delight of everyone else. A bike is the perfect tool for the stop-and-go rhythm required to take in Porto’s major sights.Optional - Half-day
Coimbra on foot
Accompanied by a private guide, you set the pace you prefer for exploring Coimbra's key districts. First come the narrow lanes and stairways of the old town, for atmosphere and charm. Then it’s on to the Monastery of the Holy Cross to pay respects to Kings Afonso and Sancho, who are buried there. The university and the Joanina Library are, of course, on the programme, as are the Sé Velha and the Fado house. The latter provides a perfect introduction to what Fado represents in music, just as port does among fortified wines. This guided visit allows you to delve deeper, ask questions freely and make the most of a remarkable heritage. Coffee and pastries - essential components of a proper stroll - bring the visit to a close.Optional - Half-day.
Lisbon - The treasures of Sintra
Just 16 miles (25 km) from Lisbon, UNESCO has listed the 19th-century follies of Sintra as a World Heritage Site. - along with their joyful use of colour. With a private guide, you will discover the Pena Palace in awe. Built on a hilltop around an old convent, it displays a striking troubadour style in vivid reds and yellows. The Regaleira Palace is a flamboyant Belle Époque creation steeped in esotericism, a house of mystery with an initiatory well leading from darkness (ignorance) to light (knowledge) - hardly surprising, given its Masonic roots. The Palace of Mafra stands out for its eclecticism and its two monumental conical chimneys. There is a sense of play in this architecture — a kind of royal exercise in imagination, reminiscent of the grand architectural fantasies of Ludwig II of Bavaria. The day includes a detailed visit of the sites.Optional - Full day.
Why visit Portugal with Voyageurs du monde?
Every day, our travel specialists craft bespoke experiences shaped around each traveller's profile, desires and budget. These passionate experts design experiences delivered on the ground by a local network of Concierges and trusted contacts. These fully customisable, made-to-measure trips are complemented by a wide range of high-end services (lounges, 24/7 assistance, travel booklet, app, Wi-Fi, restaurant booking, etc.)
Let us create your tripA few of the advantages of travelling with us to Portugal
- Globally unique concierge service
- Gourmet Voyageurs
- Adjust your trip while travelling
- 24-hour assistance
- CO2 absorption
