How much does it cost?

From £1,599 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $2,160 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is train travel included?

Yes. Great Rail Journeys includes all rail and coach travel throughout the tour in Standard Class, plus return flights from London Gatwick to Lisbon and Porto to London Gatwick.

What trains will I travel on?

Regional rail services to Sintra and Cascais from Lisbon; a three-hour rail journey from Lisbon to Porto; and a scenic rail trip into the Douro Valley to Pinhão.

Is it escorted or independent?

It is escorted; a UK Tour Manager accompanies the group from London to London. However, several days (Sintra, Cascais, and a full day in Porto) offer free time to explore independently.

What meals are included?

Breakfast every day, plus three dinners at local restaurants. Other meals are at your own cost.

How many nights do I spend in hotels?

Seven nights: four nights in Lisbon at the Turim Restauradores Hotel (three-star) and three nights in Porto at the Grande Hotel do Porto (three-star).

What is not included?

Palace entrance fees at Sintra, travel insurance, optional flight upgrades, UK rail connections to London Gatwick, and most lunches and snacks.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Essence of Portugal

Great Rail Journeys operates an eight-day escorted holiday through Portugal, departing London Gatwick and ending in Porto. The tour opens with four nights in Lisbon, where you receive a guided tour of the city's historic streets, squares, and the Bairro Alto district, with free time to explore further. Day trips by regional train take you to the hilltop palaces and Moorish fortress of Sintra and the coastal town of Cascais with its beaches and marina. The journey then moves to Porto via a three-hour scenic train ride that passes through Coimbra and Aveiro before reaching the Atlantic coast. From Porto's three-night base, a rail excursion carries you into the UNESCO World Heritage Douro Valley, where terraced vineyards frame the river. At Pinhão you board a boat tour and later visit Quinta de São Luiz vineyard for a guided tour and port wine tasting. A Tour Manager leads the group throughout; breakfasts and three dinners are included, and all rail and coach transfers are arranged.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has risen £200 since 4 Jul, to £1,599.

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

Palace entrance fees in Sintra are paid locally and not included in the package price
Group size is capped at 40; some free days (Days 3, 4, 7) are unsupervised and you explore independently

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Lisbon
Arrival in Lisbon
Fly from London Gatwick to Lisbon and transfer by coach to the hotel near Parque Eduardo VII, for four nights. First group dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 2overnight: Lisbon
Guided tour of Lisbon and an afternoon to explore
A guided tour by coach and on foot starting at Rossio Square and continuing to Belém, with the afternoon and evening free.
Day 3railovernight: Lisbon
Sintra's vibrant palaces
Train to Sintra to explore its palaces and Moorish fortress walls, with a Day Pass for the shuttle bus between palaces, returning to Lisbon at your own pace.
Day 4railovernight: Lisbon
The coastal town of Cascais
A rail trip along the coast past Estoril to Cascais, free time to explore the beaches, marina and Museum Quarter, returning to Lisbon by train.
Day 5railovernight: Porto
Arrival in historic Porto
A three-hour rail journey to Porto via Coimbra and Aveiro, checking in to the hotel for three nights, followed by a guided tour of the Old Town.
Day 6overnight: Porto
At leisure in Porto
A free day to explore Porto independently, such as the Ribeira district, Livraria Lello bookshop, or Vila Nova de Gaia's port wine cellars and the Serra do Pilar viewpoint.
Day 7railovernight: Porto
The picturesque Douro Valley & Quinta de São Luiz
A rail journey into the Douro Valley to Pinhão, a one-hour boat tour along the Douro, and a visit to Quinta de São Luiz for a vineyard tour and port tasting, returning to Porto for dinner.
Day 8
Homeward bound
After breakfast, a coach takes you to Porto's airport for the flight back to London Gatwick.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 3Train to Sintra to explore the royal summer palaces and Moorish fortress set in forested hills; Day Pass includes shuttle bus to the different palaces
Day 4Rail journey along the Portuguese coast to Cascais; free time to walk cobbled streets, stroll the marina, and relax on golden beaches
Day 5Three-hour train journey to Porto following the Atlantic coast past Coimbra and Aveiro; arrival at the elegant harbour city for a guided tour of its landmarks
Day 6Rail into the UNESCO Douro Valley to Pinhão; one-hour boat tour on the Douro past quintas, followed by vineyard tour and port wine tasting at Quinta de São Luiz

Included

Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
7 nights' 3 & 4-Star hotel accommodation
Standard Class rail travel; all rail and coach travel throughout your tour
Flights from London Gatwick to Lisbon, Porto to London Gatwick; Manchester departures available
Breakfast each day, 3 dinners
All guided tours and excursions

Not included

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

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £1,599 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $2,160 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is train travel included?: Yes. Great Rail Journeys includes all rail and coach travel throughout the tour in Standard Class, plus return flights from London Gatwick to Lisbon and Porto to London Gatwick.
What trains will I travel on?: Regional rail services to Sintra and Cascais from Lisbon; a three-hour rail journey from Lisbon to Porto; and a scenic rail trip into the Douro Valley to Pinhão.
Is it escorted or independent?: It is escorted; a UK Tour Manager accompanies the group from London to London. However, several days (Sintra, Cascais, and a full day in Porto) offer free time to explore independently.
What meals are included?: Breakfast every day, plus three dinners at local restaurants. Other meals are at your own cost.
How many nights do I spend in hotels?: Seven nights: four nights in Lisbon at the Turim Restauradores Hotel (three-star) and three nights in Porto at the Grande Hotel do Porto (three-star).
What is not included?: Palace entrance fees at Sintra, travel insurance, optional flight upgrades, UK rail connections to London Gatwick, and most lunches and snacks.