Highlights of Portugal: Lisbon, Sintra, Coimbra & Porto

Today you explore Lisbon and the great riverside monuments of Belem, from where Portugal's caravels once sailed to discover the world. You visit the magnificent Jeronimos Monastery, a masterpiece of the ornate Manueline style, its cloisters carved with ropes, shells and exotic motifs, and the elegant Belem Tower, a fairytale fortress rising from the Tagus. You stand before the soaring Monument to the Discoveries, and then, unmissably, queue at the famous Pasteis de Belem for a warm pastel de nata, the original custard tart, dusted with cinnamon. In the afternoon you explore the grand Baixa and the elegant Chiado, riding a historic funicular and browsing beautiful old shops and cafes. The heritage, beauty and flavour of Lisbon are captivating. This evening, savour Lisbon's lively dining. Rest well, ready for fairytale Sintra tomorrow.

Today you escape into the cool green hills of Sintra, a romantic realm of misty forests and fairytale palaces. You climb to the astonishing Pena Palace, a riot of red, yellow and violet towers, domes and battlements perched high on a wooded crag, one of the most exuberant Romantic palaces in the world, with sweeping views to the sea. You explore the mysterious Quinta da Regaleira, with its Gothic mansion, lush gardens and spiralling initiation well descending into the earth, linked by secret tunnels and grottoes. You wander Sintra's cobbled village lanes, perhaps tasting a local queijada pastry, before driving out to the wild Atlantic coast at Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of continental Europe. The romance, mystery and beauty are magical. This evening you return to Lisbon. Rest well, ready to journey north tomorrow.

Today you journey north into the historic heart of Portugal. You leave Lisbon and travel to Obidos, a perfectly preserved medieval village of whitewashed houses trailing bougainvillea, enclosed within honey-coloured walls you can walk atop, where you might taste the local cherry liqueur, ginjinha, served in a chocolate cup. You continue to the awe-inspiring monasteries of Alcobaca and Batalha, soaring masterpieces of Gothic and Manueline architecture and UNESCO World Heritage Sites, with their vast naves, royal tombs and intricate cloisters. You arrive in the ancient university city of Coimbra, set on a hill above the Mondego river, and settle into your hotel. The history and beauty of these places are captivating. This evening, savour Coimbra's atmospheric old streets and student cafes. Rest well amid the timeless charm of historic Portugal.

Today you explore Coimbra before journeying on to riverside Porto. You visit Coimbra's historic university, one of the oldest in Europe, crowning the hill above the city, with its grand ceremonial halls, old cathedral and, above all, the breathtaking Joanina Library, a gilded baroque masterpiece of dark carved wood, painted ceilings and ancient books, its resident colony of bats protecting the volumes from insects. You wander the steep old lanes and perhaps hear a strain of the distinctive Coimbra fado. In the afternoon you journey north to Porto, Portugal's soulful second city, tumbling down granite hills to the Douro river, and settle into your hotel. The learning, history and beauty are captivating. This evening, savour Porto's lively riverside and its famous cuisine. Rest well, ready to explore beautiful Porto tomorrow.

Today you explore soulful Porto, the city of the Douro. You wander the atmospheric Ribeira, a UNESCO-listed maze of tall ochre houses, arcades and lanes tumbling to the riverside quays, and cross the mighty double-decked Dom Luis I iron bridge for sweeping views. You admire the extravagant blue azulejo tiles of Sao Bento railway station and the Igreja do Carmo, visit the towering Clerigos Tower and the beautiful, ornate Livraria Lello bookshop, and take in the baroque churches and granite squares. In the afternoon you cross to Vila Nova de Gaia to tour a historic port wine lodge, learning how port is made and aged and tasting ruby, tawny and vintage ports in the cool riverside cellars. The soul, beauty and flavour of Porto are captivating. This evening, savour a riverside dinner. Rest well, ready for the Douro tomorrow.

Today you journey into the spectacular Douro Valley, the oldest demarcated wine region in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage landscape. You travel along dramatic river roads that wind above the shining Douro, its steep hillsides carved into countless stone terraces cloaked in vines, and visit a family wine estate (quinta), touring the vineyards and cool cellars and learning how port and fine Douro wines are made. You enjoy a leisurely lunch with sweeping views over the terraced valley, tasting fine wines with regional dishes, and take a short cruise on the river beneath the vine-clad slopes, or ride a stretch of the scenic Douro railway. The beauty, serenity and flavour of the valley are spectacular. This evening you return to Porto. Rest well, reflecting on the beauty of the Douro, ahead of your departure tomorrow.

After a final morning in soulful Porto, perhaps a last stroll along the Ribeira quays, a coffee in a grand old cafe, or some final shopping for port and azulejo tiles, you are transferred to Porto Airport for your onward departure. You leave having experienced the very best of Portugal, the trams, viewpoints and fado of luminous Lisbon, the great monuments and pastel de nata of Belem, the fairytale palaces of Sintra, the walled charm of Obidos, the ancient university of Coimbra, and the soulful riverside beauty, port wine and terraced vineyards of Porto and the Douro, all warmed by genuine Portuguese hospitality. The images stay vivid long after you land, the golden light on the rooftops, the exuberant towers of Pena, and the vine-clad terraces of the Douro. Portugal offers beauty, heritage and warmth in abundance, and you depart already dreaming of a return.