Lisbon to Porto: Portugal's Atlantic Coast in Style

A private driver will meet you at Lisbon Airport and whisk you along the coast to Cascais. Here, you’ll check into Farol Hotel, a contemporary design hotel set in a 19th-century mansion beside the marina and lighthouse.

The afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure. Linger by the ocean-facing pool or stroll into town. This once humble fishing village has evolved into an elegant seaside resort, ever since Portuguese royalty and aristocracy claimed it as their summer retreat in the 19th century. Unwind on golden sands, dip into small museums and leafy parks, or wander the promenade, pausing for gelato or a chilled glass of vinho by the water.  

Today brings a full-day guided tour of hilltop Sintra, a UNESCO-listed wonderland of fairy-tale palaces and forested slopes. Wander the whimsical terraces of Pena Palace, trace ancient ramparts at the Moorish Castle, and lose yourself amid the tunnels and gardens of Quinta da Regaleira, before continuing to a Colares vineyard for a tour and tasting among vines rooted in Atlantic sands.

The next day, explore at your own pace. Follow the Portuguese Riviera to elegant Estoril with its graceful seafront and famous casino, or head to Cabo da Roca for wild Atlantic views and a clifftop lighthouse at the westernmost tip of continental Europe. Alternatively, hop on a train to Lisbon for rattling tram rides through Alfama, pausing for coffee and pasteis de nata between sights. 

Collect your hire car and begin your drive north along Portugal’s Atlantic Coast. Your destination is Óbidos, a hilltop hamlet and UNESCO City of Literature just over an hour away, where you’ll check into a medieval pousada tucked inside a castle dating back to the 9th century, celebrated as one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal.

Spend the afternoon wandering flower-draped lanes lined with whitewashed houses, browsing bookshops and little boutiques, and sampling cherry ginja liqueur served in edible chocolate cups. For dinner, we recommend booking a table at the pousada’s restaurant, where chef Cláudia Santiago reimagines Portuguese classics with local, seasonal produce and fresh Atlantic seafood, served in a softly lit, storybook setting. 

Continue your drive north along the Atlantic Coast, perhaps pausing at Figueira da Foz, a cosmopolitan seaside resort at the mouth of the Mondego River. Alternatively, head straight to Coimbra, former medieval capital and home to Portugal’s oldest university. Check into Quinta das Lagrimas, a grand hotel set in an 18th-century palace, then meet your private guide.

Your half-day tour reveals Coimbra’s layered history, centred on its UNESCO-listed university. Wander historic courtyards and admire the baroque opulence of the Joanina Library, before continuing to the Sé Velha, a fortress-like Romanesque cathedral. Cross the river to the atmospheric Monastery of Santa Clara for sweeping city views, then finish with a stroll through the cobbled lanes of the historic centre, where you can linger over lunch or a coffee. 

Today, you’ll leave the former capital behind, driving north to Aveiro, a city of canals often dubbed ‘the Venice of Portugal’. On arrival, drop off your hire car and check into 1877 Estrela Palace Hotel, a boutique bolthole in a restored Belle Époque mansion.

The afternoon is yours to explore. Stretch your legs along the boardwalks of the Aveiro Lagoon, watching wading birds feed in the shallows, or admire the artistry of porcelain pottery at Vista Alegre. Alternatively, traverse canalside paths, leafy parks and neighbourhood squares in the historic centre, pausing for coffee with ovo moles, the city’s signature sweet. Later, wander back for a drink in the hotel bar or head out to sample Aveiro’s excellent seafood restaurants.

Delve deeper into Aveiro’s history and traditions on a half-day private guided tour. As you stroll along canals lined with Art Nouveau facades, your guide will trace the city’s journey from thriving coastal port to a centre of saltpans and seaweed harvesting. Watch the colourful moliceiro boats, once used to haul seaweed and salt and, if you wish, join an optional 45-minute shared cruise for a different perspective on the waterways.

Continue into the historic centre to admire blue-and-white azulejo-clad churches, and duck into a traditional confeitaria to sample ovo moles, a sweet egg-yolk treat wrapped in delicate wafer. Then, head out to Costa Nova, where candy-striped fishermen’s houses line the lagoon and wild Atlantic waves roll onto wide golden sands. 

After breakfast, sit back for a private transfer to Vila Nova de Gaia, the riverside town facing Porto across the Douro, with knockout views of the city’s colourful architecture spilling down the riverbank. Your base for the final two nights is a luxury hotel set in the former Kopke port warehouses, where contemporary design meets centuries of wine-making heritage, complete with infinity pool and indulgent spa.

Enjoy a relaxing afternoon. Laze by the pool, pamper yourself with a treatment in the spa, or wander out among Gaia’s historic port lodges for a relaxed tasting. If you feel like stretching your legs, it’s a short stroll to the Dom Luís I Bridge, gateway to Porto’s atmospheric Ribeira district. 

Succumb to the magic of Porto on a full day, private guided tour of its UNESCO-listed old town. We love exploring this city on foot, weaving down steep, cobbled streets where baroque churches rub shoulders with tiled townhouses and neighbourhood cafes spill out onto pavements.

Your guide will trace Porto’s story, as you drift from the grand sweep of Avenida dos Aliados into storybook corners – São Bento Station with its vast azulejo panels, the slender Clérigos Tower and the Neo-Gothic interiors of Livraria Lello. Cross the Dom Luís I Bridge back to Gaia, where you have the option to round off your day with a leisurely river cruise or a tasting in one of Gaia’s atmospheric port lodges. 

Enjoy one final leisurely breakfast, before you hop in your private transfer to the airport.