Discover Historic Cascais, Coimbra & Aveiro

These Portuguese gems offer a journey through coastal charm, academic grandeur, and canal-side elegance. Salt air drifts in from the Atlantic as cobbled lanes and painted façades catch the light. From clifftops to canal banks, this is a journey through Portugal’s past – shaped by conquest, devotion and quiet beauty.

Wander through the palaces of Sintra, the narrow medieval streets of Óbidos, admire Lisbon’s monuments to maritime history, and glimpse academic life in Coimbra’s baroque library. Cruise canals aboard a moliceiro, taste ovos moles, and explore the beachfront of Costa Nova.

ITINERARY

Day 1: Travel to Portugal
Fly from London Gatwick to Lisbon. Transfer to our hotel in Cascais, this seaside town just west of Lisbon was once a royal retreat and is now a haven of cobbled streets, elegant mansions, and golden beaches. Welcome drink and dinner at the hotel.

Day 2: Sintra
Full-day tour of Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit the Moorish-style Sintra National Palace, with its conic chimneys and Manueline style windows as well as its tile panels and the romantic Pena Palace. Free time for lunch and exploring Sintra’s charming streets and shops. Stop at Cabo da Roca, Europe’s westernmost point, and Boca do Inferno, a recess of the coast surrounded by craggy rocks and caves, before returning to Cascais.

Day 3: Lisbon
Discover Lisbon’s historic highlights. Starting in Belem, where Lisbon’s maritime soul comes alive and the Discoveries Quarter, from which the Portuguese Caravels sailed off to the epic maritime discoveries. Visit Belem’s Jeronimos Monastery and Tower of Belem. After lunch, enjoy a private tram ride through the old quarters, followed by a guided walk through Aflame, the city’s oldest neighbourhood. Explore a maze of cobbled alleys, pastel-hued houses, and hidden courtyards with its medieval layout and Moorish roots largely preserved. Enjoy views of St. George’s Castle and the Cathedral.

Day 4: Cascais to Coimbra
Depart Cascais for a visit to Óbidos, a medieval town known for its typical white houses, flowered windows and narrow streets paved with beautiful stone. You will taste the typical Ginginha (cherry liqueur) in a chocolate cup! Then continue to Nazaré a picturesque fishing village, and then to Sítio da Nazaré, and its famous cliffside viewpoint. Travel onward to Coimbra, once the medieval capital of Portugal, it’s now a city where academic tradition, Roman ruins, and poetic melancholy blend into something uniquely enchanting.

Day 5: Coimbra
Explore Coimbra’s historic charm, rich history and stunning architecture with  monuments, medieval churches and Cathedrals, and of course one of the Europe's oldest universities. Discover  the Santa Cruz Monastery, where Portugal’s first kings are buried, explore the Roman aqueduct, walk through  the city’s medieval streets and discover its academic traditions. Visits will include the 12th-century Old Cathedral and the University of Coimbra, including the Joanina Library.

Day 6: Coimbra to Aveiro
Depart for Ílhavo, where maritime heritage and artistic flair flow and visit the Vista Alegre porcelain museum and workshop. Continue to Costa Nova, nestled on a slender sandbar between the Atlantic Ocean and the Ria de Aveiro lagoon to see  the tallest lighthouse in the country and its colourful striped houses. Later head to Aveiro, known as the “Portuguese Venice.”

Day 7: Aveiro
Cruise Aveiro’s canals on a famous 'moliceiro' boat. Enjoy a walking tour of the city’s Art Nouveau architecture, visit the local market, the beautiful church of Aveiro's Mercy, the Museum of Arte Nova, and the old train station which is a stunning example of traditional Portuguese design. Taste “ovos moles”, one of Portugal’s most iconic and indulgent sweet at a traditional pastry shop. Farewell dinner this evening at a local restaurant.

Day 8: Departure
Free time before transfer to Porto Airport for your return flight to London Gatwick.

NB: Exact order of excursions may vary according to local conditions and tour manager’s discretion.

Please note the maximum group size on this tour is 23 passengers.

Tour Grading: This tour has been graded as moderate due to the walking tours and time spent standing for viewing. 

INCLUDED

• Return scheduled flights from London Gatwick to Lisbon
• Three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Vila Gale Cascais, based on shared occupancy of a twin/double room
• Two nights' accommodation at Hotel Vila Gale Coimbra, based on shared occupancy of a twin/double room
• Two nights' accommodation at Hotel Melia Aveiro, Redondo, based on shared occupancy of a twin/double room
• Five dinners and three lunches included as detailed in the itinerary
• All tours and entrance fees as detailed
• Airport transfers and full coach touring itinerary
• Tour manager Ellen Walker throughout

NOT INCLUDED

• Double for sole use supplement - £485
• Meals other than those stated
• Items of a personal nature such as drinks, laundry, telephone calls etc
• Porterage and gratuities

HOTELS

Hotel Vila Gale Cascais
Hotel Vila Galé Cascais offers a serene coastal retreat just steps from Cascais Marina and Boca do Inferno. Spacious, well-equipped rooms—many with sea‑view balconies—provide a peaceful sanctuary. Enjoy a hearty buffet breakfast, unwind in the pool or spa, or sip a drink in the lounge. With charming seaside promenades, historic centre, local museums and beaches within easy walking distance, it’s a delightful base for relaxed exploration of Cascais and leisurely day trips to Lisbon.

Hotel Website

Hotel Vila Gale Coimbra
Set beside the River Mondego, Vila Galé Coimbra offers a calm and elegant base for discovering one of Portugal’s oldest cities. The historic university, Joanina Library, and Roman ruins are within easy reach, while nearby riverfront walks and the Buçaco Forest provide scenic landscapes ideal for gentle exploration and reflection.

Hotel Website

Hotel Melia Aveiro 
Hotel Meliá Ria, nestled alongside Aveiro’s scenic Ria canals, offers a serene retreat with a spa, indoor pool, sauna, and Turkish bath. Guests can stroll past colourful canal boats, explore coastal dunes and the nearby Costa Nova beach. The contemporary comforts and restful waterside setting provide a graceful base for gentle exploration of Portugal’s "Venice."

Hotel Website