2024 Tour code: CI-PLPA-24
About the tour
Where the sun meets the sea and centuries of history are presented through architecture, dancing and some of the finest wine and cuisine in the world, Portugal is a vacation destination that calls to travelers of all interests. Find what appeals to you while spending seven days exploring this idyllic piece of Europe. This thoughtfully planned journey shares time between Lisbon and Porto, both waterside cities but each with its own distinct appeal. Begin in the capital city, Lisbon, with guided touring that highlights the city's landmarks and culinary scene. Lesser-known parts of the local culture, including Fado music, are also brought to light as you explore both alongside a knowledgeable local guide and independently. From here, enjoy an in-depth look at Portugal's landscape as you are whisked north by train to coastal Porto. This destination is famed as one of the world's first wine regions, yet the beauty of the Douro River shines just as brightly. Soak in the incredible views while sipping wine in historic homes and dining atop a mountain. Not one, but two, scenic cruises further immerse you in the gorgeous scenery that encompasses the Porto region - a perfect conclusion to a truly memorable trip.
Highlights
What’s included
Itinerary
Arrive in Portugal's capital city and meet your driver for a private transfer by luxury car to your hotel. Once you have settled in, meet your private guide for a walking tour of Lisbon to see popular landmarks, including the Monuments of the Portuguese Discoverers, Jerónimos Monastery, and the Tower of Belem. Overnight Lisbon.
Additional information
Reviews
4.9 / 5 · 11 reviews
ELIZABETH LORRAINE DEATHERAGE
Submitted 01 Nov 2023
Our trip went off perfectly and our guides were fabulous. It exceeded our expectations.
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SHERRI
Submitted 13 Oct 2023
This independent vacation was the perfect introduction to European travel. We felt a bit spoiled with the personal tours and transfers (kudos to guides Samuel, Livramento, and Andrea, plus drivers Bruno and Joah), and enjoyed walking the hills for 8 to 10 miles each day. Every tour guide and transfer were on-time and professional. Highlights included the Douro Valley Quinta Covela tour/tasting, the Quinta das Sequirinhas lunch, the six bridges Porto river cruise, the high-speed train, and the optional Sintra Palace tour with Andrea, the best tour guide we've ever met. The library balcony at the Hotel Heritage was a special place to relax and meet people from many other countries while enjoying a beverage from the honor bar. The hotel's breakfast was also superb. A few items might have been better. As the itinerary was compiled by Century Incoming in Madrid, the second person that we contacted at Vacations by Rail was able to decipher unclear itinerary details (the first VBR rep didn't know and didn't return our call as promised). While booking, we had requested that an additional day be added to our reservation so we could acclimate/recover from the red-eye flight, but the extra day was added in the middle of the Lisbon visit. By the time we received the final itinerary and discovered this error, Vacations by Rail indicated it was too late to change or book an additional hotel day, but that we could ask for early checkin on the day we arrived. We landed at 8 am, having been up/traveling since 6 am the day before, and were unable to check in early. Luckily, we found a quiet spot on library balcony, but had to change clothes in the lobby bathroom in order to meet our 3 pm tour guide, as checkin was at 3. It wasn't the hotel's fault; an additional day should have been reserved and the tour should have been on the second day, as requested. In addition, Century Incoming listed a specific, delicious menu for lunch at Cozinha da Estacao in Lisbon, but we were given a basic lunch menu. The show and dinner at Cafe Luso, as well as the Bodega Burmester tour/tasting, were all okay, but we would not recommend them to other travelers. Finally, on our first day there, the Porto walking tour guide picked us up at the hotel, was enthusiastic about the sights on a hot, late afternoon, but left us, a half hour late, at the river. Our hotel was steeply uphill over a mile away; we opted to walk and find dinner along the way, away from the overcrowded restaurants in the area where the tour ended. Overall, we appreciated that this tour provided independent tours, ease of travel, connections with friendly, local tour guides, local cuisine, and allowed us to experience hidden gems. We look forward to our next adventure with Vacations by Rail.
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Alexandra
Submitted 17 Sep 2023
We had a wonderful trip! The hotel is Lisbon was beautiful and historic. The breakfast was great and the service top notch. I hadn’t heard much about VBR so I wasn’t sure what to expect. The local tour guides were so personable and gave us great experiences. The Douro Valley tour was unforgettable. I never would have found those Quintas without the guides. Definitely recommend!
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PATRICIA DAWN BALL
Submitted 17 Jun 2023
Everything was great. Well managed and easy to book. The hotels were nice and tours were great.
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Sandra REES
Submitted 29 May 2023
We were very happy with the quality of the hotels and guides and with the day trip to the Duoro valley which was the highlight. Only difficulty encountered was in meeting the driver at Lisbon airport.
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WOLFGANG ZIEGLER
Submitted 19 May 2023
The tour was good, great guides
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