100% customisable travel idea
Portugal by rail Art, history and port wine
Portugal - Porto - Coimbra - Lisbon
100% customisable travel idea
Portugal - Porto - Coimbra - Lisbon
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.
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