Why an escorted tour is the best way to uncover Portugal's charms

Telegraph

11-03-2025

From the lemon-hued streets of Lisbon to the emerald slopes and quintas of the Douro Valley, Portugal is overflowing with charm and character. Add in exceptional gastronomy, standout natural beauty, and history and culture by the bucket-load and it's hard to find a reason not to come here – all that is left to decide is the best way to explore it.
Great Rail Journeys offers both river cruises and land tours in the region, helping you take in its myriad highlights hassle-free, and with an expert tour manager on hand throughout. Local guides will deepen the experience by offering in-depth insight into the places visited, and experiences – from fado performances to vineyard visits – have been hand-picked to fully immerse you in the culture. We've rounded up key cruises and rail tours in the region to give you a flavour of what you can expect.
Sailing the Douro
If you fancy admiring the Douro Valley's vineyard-carpeted slopes, storybook castles and engineering feats – among them the Carrapatelo Lock, the deepest of its kind in Europe – from the comfort of a ship, look to Great Rail Journeys' eight-day Discover the Douro river cruise.
This grand fly-tour gets off to a strong start as you depart London and arrive in Porto. Exploring this historic city would be enough of an escape on its own, but that is just the start. From here the journey gives you the chance to unwind by taking in the quaint charms of Peso da Régua, a central hub for the region's port wine production. The serenity is maintained with a tour of Mateus Palace – an 18th-century Baroque and Rococo feat that embodies the timeless appeal and character of Portugal.
A brief skip over the border into Spain will bring you to the ancient city of Salamanca – after filling your camera roll with its honey-hued sandstone architecture and its centuries-old university, you'll soon understand why this place is known as The Golden City. Once back in Portugal you'll work on your viniculture skills in the wine-making village of Pinhão, which will be topped off by the opportunity to sample ports at a local quinta. Suitably refreshed, you'll then set sail for the idyllic village of Lamego, known for its striking blue-and-white-tiled Baroque cathedral.
If you feel that one visit to Porto isn't enough then you'll welcome the return to the timeless city. This time around you'll be able to truly dive into the heart of the nation with a visit to the medieval, cobbled city of Guimarães, considered by many to be the birthplace of the country. This will be a truly enriching adventure filled with unique cultural experiences along the way, from an azulejo tile-painting workshop to on-board flamenco dancing and folk entertainment.
Cultural lures in the capital
Portugal is a country that reveals its wonders to those who are happy to take their time and explore, which makes the 11-day Lisbon & The Douro Valley Cruise the perfect choice. After flying in from London, you'll begin in the bustling capital, taking in its many iconic landmarks on a tour of the city aboard a vintage tram, before a free evening to explore its cobblestone streets independently, soaking up the atmosphere and blending in with the locals at its many fine eateries and bars.
A new day kicks off with a trip to the elegant, hillside town of Sintra. You'll quickly discover why it was once the summer retreat for Portuguese royals after gazing at its many ornate grand palaces and impressive gardens, before travelling to the lively Porto by rail to join the Discover the Douro cruise.
On both itineraries, you can expect standout service throughout as you sail aboard MS Gil Eanes, a 132-passenger vessel decked out in bright, contemporary decor, with on-board cuisine inspired by the region.
Great Rail Journeys' new Exclusive Golden Douro tour is perfect for those who want to travel in luxury and embrace the many memorable locations this stunning region has to offer. Sailing round-trip from Porto on a new custom-built five-star ship that can navigate the famously winding river, you'll cover all the highlights featured on the Discover the Douro cruise, notably the opportunity to admire the opulent Bolsa Palace, an Unesco World Heritage Site that is renowned for its architectural extravagance. You'll also have the added benefit of Insider Experiences, which are designed to help you delve deeper into this fascinating area, and will enjoy additional excursion visits, including one to the medieval village of Castelo Rodrigo. The ship holds fewer passengers, which creates a more intimate experience, and means you'll be treated to exceptional cuisine throughout.
Rail explorations
If you'd rather take in the Douro's charms from land, Great Rail Journeys' 15-day Portugal and the Douro trip might be just the ticket. You'll begin your adventure in the upscale and cosmopolitan Biarritz, after travelling by Eurostar from London to Paris, before boarding another train to this French spa town.
From here you'll cross the Spanish border by rail to reach the beautiful city of Salamanca for a two-night stay, giving you the chance to step back in time, surrounded by centuries-old architecture, before travelling into the Douro Valley to explore the wine regions of Peso da Régua and Pinhão. The three nights you'll spend in vibrant Porto will feel like a city break within your holiday, topped off with a visit to historic Guimarães. Another cultural epicentre awaits in the form of Lisbon, where you'll stay for a further three nights; you could lose yourself in its stunning streets, filled with hidden corners that would make your stay memorable, such as the Belém neighbourhood, which is famous for its pastel de nata.
After a brief sojourn admiring the charismatic hotspot of Sintra, you'll cross the Spanish border to discover the fascinating, lesser-visited university city of Valladolid. After all that culture and history you'll be ready to kick back and spend the final two days in San Sebastián, on Spain's unique Basque coast, where pintxos replace tapas and an atmospheric Old Quarter meets sandy beaches.
There'll be ample opportunity to sample the local gastronomy too, with several included culinary experiences. Highlights include an exclusive private dinner at the family-run Quinta da Casa Amarela – renowned for producing some of the best wines in the region – and a tasting at Taylor's Port wine cellar in Porto's Vila Nova de Gaia.
History, scenery and fine wine
If a shorter jaunt fits the bill, look to Great Rail Journeys' eight-day Lisbon, Porto & The Douro Valley tour. You'll fly into Lisbon and spend four unforgettable nights in the heart of the Old Town soaking up the magic of this historic capital, taking time out for excursions to Sintra and the coastal resort of Cascais. This beguiling fishing town was once a popular holiday spot for royals, and its charms remain intact, thanks to its gold-sand beaches, cobbled streets and an elegant marina that harks back to its lavish past.
The view from your train will bring a constantly changing stream of arresting landscapes on the three-hour train that takes you from Lisbon to Porto, with tempting views of the Atlantic flashing through the windows. From there you'll embark on a one-day rail trip into the fairy-tale region of the Douro Valley. Highlights include stops at Pinhão and the Quinta de São Luiz winery, which will leave you in no doubt why the area's lush, terraced slopes have been luring winemakers for more than 2,000 years.
There's something special about the Douro – and whether you're seeing it by rail or ship, there's really a lot to charm here.
Insider tips from a tour manager
Roger Marsden has been leading escorted tours to Portugal for almost 20 years, 15 of which have been for Great Rail Journeys. He describes the country as one of 'Europe's hidden gems', and encouraged visitors to look beyond the beaches of the Algarve.
'Portugal is so much more than that,' he says, 'with two incredible cities to visit in Lisbon and Porto that each have such different characters. There is a whole range of destinations that are rich in culture, experience, history and gastronomy. It's also surprisingly cheaper than other mainland Europe destinations.'
One of these culturally rich regions he loves to escort people around is the Douro, which is especially wonderful to explore on a river cruise.
'You pass through lush green scenery into the heartland of port wine country where incredibly steep terraces of vineyards rise either side of the river Douro. Here you'll find quintas [port wine lodges], some owned by small holders and others large manufacturers of port wine [such as Ferreira, Grahams and Sandeman etc], and fruit trees and olive groves that sit among the vineyards,' he says.
Marsden strongly recommends guests join the optional excursions to visit a local quinta to learn about the role the fortified wine has had on the region's history and to try some, of course.
His own personal favourite part of this pretty region is the stretch of the river from Barca de Alva to Pinhão. 'It's so tranquil, serene and beautiful,' he says. 'The countryside around the river is scattered with vineyards and the colours are exceptional – the light-brown fertile soil is intermingled with the green of the vineyards and trees. The sky is a bright azure blue and the river is a dark blue winding through the landscape' he says.