How much does it cost?

From £2,499 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $3,376 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is this an escorted or independent tour?

This is a fully escorted tour. Great Rail Journeys provides an experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director team throughout, with scheduled guided tours, included excursions, and group meals.

Which cruise ship is used?

The five-night Douro cruise is operated by Croisi Europe on the MS Gil Eanes or MS Amalia Rodrigues. The specific ship is assigned at booking.

What hotels are included?

Great Rail Journeys includes three nights' accommodation at a four-star hotel in Lisbon (property to be confirmed). The remaining five nights are spent on board the river cruise ship.

What meals and drinks are included?

The package includes eight breakfasts, four lunches, and seven dinners. A drinks package with dinner is complimentary every night of the cruise.

When does this tour run?

Great Rail Journeys operates departures in June 2027 and October 2027.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour & river cruise

Lisbon & the Essence of the Douro

Nine-day escorted Lisbon and Douro river cruise from Portugal to Spain

Great Rail Journeys offers this nine-day escorted journey through Portugal and Spain, combining Lisbon's urban exploration with a five-night Douro river cruise. The trip begins in Lisbon, where you spend three nights at a four-star hotel and take a guided tour aboard a vintage 1930s tram, sample Belém egg tarts, and make a day excursion by train to Sintra's hilltop palaces. A train journey from Lisbon carries you to Porto, where you board the MS Gil Eanes or MS Amalia Rodrigues for the cruise downstream. Over five nights on the river, you drift through the Douro Valley's terraced vineyards, calling at villages and historic towns. An experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director lead all excursions: to Mateus Palace's 18th-century Baroque interiors and gardens, to the ancient sandstone city of Salamanca across the Spanish border, and along the Port wine route with tastings at a local quinta. Meals, drinks with dinner throughout the cruise, and all transport are included, making this tour ideal for escorted travellers seeking cultural discovery and river scenery without logistical complexity.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has fallen £500 since 4 Jul, to £2,499.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 3 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

The single supplement from GBP 4,499 is substantially above half the double price of GBP 2,999, adding GBP 1,500 for solo travellers.
Day 7's Salamanca excursion is listed as optional; check with Great Rail Journeys whether this is included or an add-on cost.
The four-star Lisbon hotel is marked 'TBC' (to be confirmed); the final property may vary.

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Lisbon
Arriving in Lisbon, Portugal's capital
Meet the Tour Manager at London Gatwick and fly to Lisbon, transferring by coach to the hotel for a welcome drink and first dinner together.
Day 2overnight: Lisbon
Exploring Lisbon
A guided tour including a ride in a chartered 1930s/40s tram, finishing in Belém to sample egg tarts, with the rest of the day free to explore independently.
Day 3railovernight: Lisbon
The colourful palaces of Sintra
Travel by train to Sintra to discover its summer palaces, including Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira and Monserrate Palace, returning to Lisbon for dinner.
Day 4railovernight: Onboard (Porto)
To Porto, where we join our cruise ship
A rail journey to Porto, transferring to the cruise ship, followed by a welcome dinner onboard and a panoramic evening coach tour of Porto's UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Day 5overnight: Onboard (Régua)
A day in Porto and Régua
A guided tour of Porto including a wine cellar tasting, then rejoin the ship for lunch and cruise along the Douro to Régua.
Day 6overnight: Onboard (Vega de Terrón)
The beauty of Mateus Palace and Gardens
Disembark to visit Mateus Palace and the town of Vila Real, then cruise through scenic landscapes to Vega de Terrón, with an onboard flamenco performance in the evening.
Day 7overnight: Onboard
Into Spain to the golden city of Salamanca
A coach excursion into Spain to Salamanca for a guided city tour including the House of Shells and Plaza Mayor, with a free afternoon before returning to the ship for dinner.
Day 8overnight: Onboard (Pinhão)
Uncovering the renowned Porto wine route
Cruise downstream to Ferradosa, then an excursion along the Porto wine route to São Salvador do Mundo and São João da Pesqueira, with a port tasting at a local quinta, rejoining the ship in Pinhão for dinner and a folklore performance.
Day 9
Homeward bound
Disembark in Porto and transfer by coach to the airport for the flight back to London Gatwick.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2Ride a vintage tram from the 1930s and 40s through Lisbon's historic streets, squares and boulevards, then sample authentic Belém egg tarts at the waterfront.
Day 3Train journey to Sintra to explore Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, and the lush gardens of Monserrate Palace at leisure.
Day 5Guided tour of Porto's winding streets, azulejo-adorned townhouses and ornate churches, followed by a tasting at a port wine cellar.
Day 6Coach excursion to Mateus Palace, an 18th-century Baroque masterpiece with grand halls, chapel, and winery, set in lush gardens.
Day 8Follow the Porto wine route with visits to São Salvador do Mundo and São João da Pesqueira, and taste the region's finest ports at a local quinta.

Included

Escorted throughout your tour by an experienced Tour Manager/Cruise Director team
3 nights' 4-Star hotel accommodation
5-night cruise onboard MS Gil Eanes or MS Amalia Rodrigues, operated by Croisi Europe, with excellent service and complimentary Wi-Fi
Standard Class rail travel; all rail and coach travel throughout your tour
Flights from London Gatwick to Lisbon, Porto to London Gatwick
8 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 7 dinners
Drinks package with dinner every night of the cruise
Superb excursions included

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour

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Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £2,499 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $3,376 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is this an escorted or independent tour?: This is a fully escorted tour. Great Rail Journeys provides an experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director team throughout, with scheduled guided tours, included excursions, and group meals.
Which cruise ship is used?: The five-night Douro cruise is operated by Croisi Europe on the MS Gil Eanes or MS Amalia Rodrigues. The specific ship is assigned at booking.
What hotels are included?: Great Rail Journeys includes three nights' accommodation at a four-star hotel in Lisbon (property to be confirmed). The remaining five nights are spent on board the river cruise ship.
What meals and drinks are included?: The package includes eight breakfasts, four lunches, and seven dinners. A drinks package with dinner is complimentary every night of the cruise.
When does this tour run?: Great Rail Journeys operates departures in June 2027 and October 2027.