With its celebrated architecture, inspiring seasonal cuisine and friendly welcoming locals, dynamic 21st century Lisbon attracts visitors from across the world…
As one of Europe’s oldest capitals, historic Lisbon is a city with many faces. In ancient times, it guarded the western fringes of the Phoenician, Roman and north-African empires. As the grand centre of Portugal’s own medieval overseas kingdom, Lisbon battled earthquakes and tsunamis, witnessed the rise of two great royal dynasties, and brought about the fall of one of Europe’s most-oppressive dictatorships. With its celebrated architecture, inspiring seasonal cuisine and friendly welcoming locals, dynamic 21st century Lisbon attracts visitors from across the world.
Our Lisbon City Break puts you right in the heart of the capital. Its most-popular districts right on your doorstep: the wonderfully-jumbled medieval streets of Alfama, the impressive, ostentatious architecture of the riverfront Praca Comercio, and the fabulous restaurants and café bars of Bairro Alto are all a short walk away.
Your holiday begins with an electric tuk-tuk tour – the perfect introduction to central Lisbon, its layout and its history – before heading east to explore historic Belem and the beautiful 16th century Jeronimos Monastery.
You’ll also have a chance to explore further afield with our resident guides, exploring the fairy tale palaces of Sintra, the wild Atlantic coast at Cabo da Roca, and Moscatel vineyards and Moorish castles of Arrabida.
You’ll begin your holiday with a direct flight from the UK to Lisbon. Our driver will transfer into the centre of the city to your accommodation at the My Story Hotel Tejo.
It’s a short walk from your hotel to the riverfront Praca do Comercio, via the impressive Arco da Rua Augusta triumphal arch – Alfama’s famous Fado venues are to the east and the restaurants and café bars of Bairro Alto are to the west. We also have a handy online guide to our favourite restaurants in Lisbon.
You’ll explore central Lisbon on a half-day tuk-tuk tour, with visits to the Se Cathedral, Alfama, Bairro Alto and the Avenida da Liberdade.
Our guide will take you west to the historic Belem district – home to the 16th century Jeronimos Monastery, the Torre de Belem and the Padrao dos Descobrimentos monument.
You’ll have a free day to explore the Moorish Castelo de Sao Jorge which dominates the landscape of downtown Lisbon.
You’ll head east with our guide to the hilltop town of Sintra, famous for its elaborate palaces, mock temples and gothic follies. Your day includes visits to Cabo da Roca – the most westerly point of mainland Europe – and the popular seaside resorts of Cascais and Estoril.
You’ll have free day to explore Bairro Alto and the ruins of the Convento Carmo, or you could take the ferry over to Almada to visit the famous Santuario de Cristo Rei statue.
For your final full day, you’ll head south of the river to explore Arrabida, with visits to the Castelo de Palmela, the city of Setubal and the Fortaleza de Sao Filipe, and the Azeitao vineyards where you’ll have a chance to sample the region’s Moscatel wines.
You’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight home.
A guided tour can be an incredibly useful introduction the layout, cuisine and culture of an unfamiliar city. Our friendly and engaging guides bring the country’s long history to life, whilst giving you an insight into daily life in modern-day Portugal.
Tours often provide you with a list of new sights to see, restaurant recommendations, and an invaluable insight into the dos and don’ts of Portuguese etiquette. You’re also supporting the local economy, local businesses, museums and galleries, and your money helps to preserve many of Portugal’s most-historic buildings.
Portugal’s wonderfully diverse range of landscapes make it the ideal destination for hiking holidays. The granite mountains of the Serra da Estrela are Portugal’s highest range (peaking at 1993 metres), and its high plateaus and deep river valleys are home to over 400km of waymarked trails and a wealth of wildlife: boars, otters, golden eagles, peregrine falcons and the elusive Iberian wolf.
Moving south, the Aldeias do Xisto Schist Villages are a collection of timeless, fairy tale hamlets spread across the peaks of Lousa, Acor and Muradal. Centuries of Portuguese history and tradition are preserved in the region’s hearty cuisine and its convivial B&Bs.
The jewel in the crown of Portugal’s walking network is the Rota Vicentina. This cross-region trail network was created in 2012 to help boost the local economies of southern Alentejo and the Algarve – its routes are easily adaptable according to the distance and type of hikes you enjoy, traversing remote cliffs and obscure beaches, with the wild Atlantic Ocean as a backdrop.
Portuguese cuisine has experienced something of a renaissance in recent times. Once sidelined in favour of more well-known dishes from neighbouring Spain, Portugal’s locally sourced produce and regional wines have moved out of their Iberian neighbour’s shadow to take their rightful seat at the top table of European cuisine.
The capital Lisbon is where many of the country’s long-held culinary traditions are being challenged by a new generation of chefs, whose exciting and imaginative reinventions of classics such as caldo verde, ameijoas a bulhao pato and bolinhos de bacalhau are allowing the best of the country’s sensational produce to shine. Iberian pork is much-coveted, particularly in the Central and Alentejo regions whose farming heritage give its cuisine rustic, hearty slant. Its organic credentials are impeccable: roaming ancient cork forests and subsisting on a diet of acorns which impart a strong, nutty flavour to the meat.
As the western outpost of mainland Europe and with over 900km of coastline, seafood is the backbone of the country’s cuisine. Grilled sardines (sardinhas assadas) are deeply embedded in Portuguese culture and are often central to many religious celebrations, particularly around the Tejo River basin.
There are also thirty-one Denominacao de Origem Controlada regions across the country, producing over two-hundred varieties of wine. Dao, Estremadura, Bairrada, Portimao, Tavira – Portuguese vineyards are low yield and exports don’t compare to France or Italy, and to truly enjoy these wines, you have to be in Portugal.
Taking on a whole new region of Portugal can be a daunting prospect: studying guidebooks and maps, researching must-see sites and trying to miss those lesser-known hidden gems. Our tours remove the stress of planning and optimise your time, without you feeling rushed or hurried. Our guides will always have a plan, but we prefer private, flexible tours where you’re not tied to a strict timetable.
If you’d like to get your hands dirty in Tras-os-Montes vineyards, with time to savour a glass of local Vino Verde, so be it. If you want to combine out-of-the-way family-run vineyards with the timeless grandeur of medieval Marvao, let us make the arrangements.
Our guides are a treasure trove of local knowledge, and their in-depth insight and passion will unveil Portugal’s extraordinary history, culture and cuisine.
From the ancient vineyards of the Douro valley, via the windswept Alentejo plains and down to the seaside towns of the Algarve. The beauty of exploring Portugal on two wheels is in its slowness – unhurried travel allows you to immerse yourself in your surroundings and to explore the country’s rich cultural heritage and unique traditions.
Whether you’re looking for a self-guided, point-to-point cycle touring holiday, a couple of guided road rides during your family holiday, or if you prefer to be off-road, riding natural and man-made singletrack – whatever your preference, we have the bikes, routes and rides to suit all abilities.
Portugal offers an exciting range of water sports to suit every adventurer: from paddleboarding, kayaking and canoeing, to world-class surfing, kitesurfing and windsurfing,
Northern Portugal is home to many of the best spots for inland water sports – kayaking, canoeing and canyoning are popular thanks to an abundance of lakes, lagoons and waterfalls, and the UNESCO-protected Arouca Geopark is considered one of the best locations in the country for white water rafting. For a more tranquil experience, the calm waters of the Castelo de Bode reservoir are ideal for paddle-boarding, whilst the Aguieira reservoir is a popular destination for sailing and fresh-water fishing.
For would-be adrenalin junkies, the surf schools at Espinho are perfect for surfing newbies. If you’re a seasoned pro, Nazare and Peniche are blessed with year-around consistent swells and a vibrant surf culture. With its exposed location on the far southwestern tip of the Algarve, Sagres has been a mecca for water sports enthusiasts for over fifty years. Its energetic waves and laid-back atmosphere attract old-school surfers and kiteboarders from across the world.
As one of Europe’s oldest capitals, historic Lisbon is a city with many faces. In ancient times, it guarded the western fringes of the Phoenician, Roman and north-African empires. As the grand centre of Portugal’s own medieval overseas kingdom, Lisbon battled earthquakes and tsunamis, witnessed the rise of two great royal dynasties, and brought about the fall of one of Europe’s most-oppressive dictatorships. With its celebrated architecture, inspiring seasonal cuisine and friendly welcoming locals, dynamic 21st century Lisbon attracts visitors from across the world.
Our Lisbon City Break puts you right in the heart of the capital. Its most-popular districts right on your doorstep: the wonderfully-jumbled medieval streets of Alfama, the impressive, ostentatious architecture of the riverfront Praca Comercio, and the fabulous restaurants and café bars of Bairro Alto are all a short walk away.
Your holiday begins with an electric tuk-tuk tour – the perfect introduction to central Lisbon, its layout and its history – before heading east to explore historic Belem and the beautiful 16th century Jeronimos Monastery.
You’ll also have a chance to explore further afield with our resident guides, exploring the fairy tale palaces of Sintra, the wild Atlantic coast at Cabo da Roca, and Moscatel vineyards and Moorish castles of Arrabida.
You’ll begin your holiday with a direct flight from the UK to Lisbon. Our driver will transfer into the centre of the city to your accommodation at the My Story Hotel Tejo.
It’s a short walk from your hotel to the riverfront Praca do Comercio, via the impressive Arco da Rua Augusta triumphal arch – Alfama’s famous Fado venues are to the east and the restaurants and café bars of Bairro Alto are to the west. We also have a handy online guide to our favourite restaurants in Lisbon.
You’ll explore central Lisbon on a half-day tuk-tuk tour, with visits to the Se Cathedral, Alfama, Bairro Alto and the Avenida da Liberdade.
Our guide will take you west to the historic Belem district – home to the 16th century Jeronimos Monastery, the Torre de Belem and the Padrao dos Descobrimentos monument.
You’ll have a free day to explore the Moorish Castelo de Sao Jorge which dominates the landscape of downtown Lisbon.
You’ll head east with our guide to the hilltop town of Sintra, famous for its elaborate palaces, mock temples and gothic follies. Your day includes visits to Cabo da Roca – the most westerly point of mainland Europe – and the popular seaside resorts of Cascais and Estoril.
You’ll have free day to explore Bairro Alto and the ruins of the Convento Carmo, or you could take the ferry over to Almada to visit the famous Santuario de Cristo Rei statue.
For your final full day, you’ll head south of the river to explore Arrabida, with visits to the Castelo de Palmela, the city of Setubal and the Fortaleza de Sao Filipe, and the Azeitao vineyards where you’ll have a chance to sample the region’s Moscatel wines.
You’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight home.
A guided tour can be an incredibly useful introduction the layout, cuisine and culture of an unfamiliar city. Our friendly and engaging guides bring the country’s long history to life, whilst giving you an insight into daily life in modern-day Portugal.
Tours often provide you with a list of new sights to see, restaurant recommendations, and an invaluable insight into the dos and don’ts of Portuguese etiquette. You’re also supporting the local economy, local businesses, museums and galleries, and your money helps to preserve many of Portugal’s most-historic buildings.
Portugal’s wonderfully diverse range of landscapes make it the ideal destination for hiking holidays. The granite mountains of the Serra da Estrela are Portugal’s highest range (peaking at 1993 metres), and its high plateaus and deep river valleys are home to over 400km of waymarked trails and a wealth of wildlife: boars, otters, golden eagles, peregrine falcons and the elusive Iberian wolf.
Moving south, the Aldeias do Xisto Schist Villages are a collection of timeless, fairy tale hamlets spread across the peaks of Lousa, Acor and Muradal. Centuries of Portuguese history and tradition are preserved in the region’s hearty cuisine and its convivial B&Bs.
The jewel in the crown of Portugal’s walking network is the Rota Vicentina. This cross-region trail network was created in 2012 to help boost the local economies of southern Alentejo and the Algarve – its routes are easily adaptable according to the distance and type of hikes you enjoy, traversing remote cliffs and obscure beaches, with the wild Atlantic Ocean as a backdrop.
Portuguese cuisine has experienced something of a renaissance in recent times. Once sidelined in favour of more well-known dishes from neighbouring Spain, Portugal’s locally sourced produce and regional wines have moved out of their Iberian neighbour’s shadow to take their rightful seat at the top table of European cuisine.
The capital Lisbon is where many of the country’s long-held culinary traditions are being challenged by a new generation of chefs, whose exciting and imaginative reinventions of classics such as caldo verde, ameijoas a bulhao pato and bolinhos de bacalhau are allowing the best of the country’s sensational produce to shine. Iberian pork is much-coveted, particularly in the Central and Alentejo regions whose farming heritage give its cuisine rustic, hearty slant. Its organic credentials are impeccable: roaming ancient cork forests and subsisting on a diet of acorns which impart a strong, nutty flavour to the meat.
As the western outpost of mainland Europe and with over 900km of coastline, seafood is the backbone of the country’s cuisine. Grilled sardines (sardinhas assadas) are deeply embedded in Portuguese culture and are often central to many religious celebrations, particularly around the Tejo River basin.
There are also thirty-one Denominacao de Origem Controlada regions across the country, producing over two-hundred varieties of wine. Dao, Estremadura, Bairrada, Portimao, Tavira – Portuguese vineyards are low yield and exports don’t compare to France or Italy, and to truly enjoy these wines, you have to be in Portugal.
Taking on a whole new region of Portugal can be a daunting prospect: studying guidebooks and maps, researching must-see sites and trying to miss those lesser-known hidden gems. Our tours remove the stress of planning and optimise your time, without you feeling rushed or hurried. Our guides will always have a plan, but we prefer private, flexible tours where you’re not tied to a strict timetable.
If you’d like to get your hands dirty in Tras-os-Montes vineyards, with time to savour a glass of local Vino Verde, so be it. If you want to combine out-of-the-way family-run vineyards with the timeless grandeur of medieval Marvao, let us make the arrangements.
Our guides are a treasure trove of local knowledge, and their in-depth insight and passion will unveil Portugal’s extraordinary history, culture and cuisine.
From the ancient vineyards of the Douro valley, via the windswept Alentejo plains and down to the seaside towns of the Algarve. The beauty of exploring Portugal on two wheels is in its slowness – unhurried travel allows you to immerse yourself in your surroundings and to explore the country’s rich cultural heritage and unique traditions.
Whether you’re looking for a self-guided, point-to-point cycle touring holiday, a couple of guided road rides during your family holiday, or if you prefer to be off-road, riding natural and man-made singletrack – whatever your preference, we have the bikes, routes and rides to suit all abilities.
Portugal offers an exciting range of water sports to suit every adventurer: from paddleboarding, kayaking and canoeing, to world-class surfing, kitesurfing and windsurfing,
Northern Portugal is home to many of the best spots for inland water sports – kayaking, canoeing and canyoning are popular thanks to an abundance of lakes, lagoons and waterfalls, and the UNESCO-protected Arouca Geopark is considered one of the best locations in the country for white water rafting. For a more tranquil experience, the calm waters of the Castelo de Bode reservoir are ideal for paddle-boarding, whilst the Aguieira reservoir is a popular destination for sailing and fresh-water fishing.
For would-be adrenalin junkies, the surf schools at Espinho are perfect for surfing newbies. If you’re a seasoned pro, Nazare and Peniche are blessed with year-around consistent swells and a vibrant surf culture. With its exposed location on the far southwestern tip of the Algarve, Sagres has been a mecca for water sports enthusiasts for over fifty years. Its energetic waves and laid-back atmosphere attract old-school surfers and kiteboarders from across the world.