Lisbon & Porto in Style

Begin your trip by relaxing with your complimentary airport lounge access before your flight to Lisbon. On arrival, you’ll make your way to your luxurious accommodation – the only palace in central Lisbon. Here, opulent lounges host piano recitals and glass chandeliers illuminate stunning neoclassical architecture. And, centrally located, it’s ideal for exploring the city. Watch as Lisbon’s terracotta-roofed drama unfolds over seven hills, summiting terraces for views of the entire city and dipping into secluded courtyards that overlook medieval quarters.

Stay: The One, Palacio da Anunciada, Lisbon (Deluxe)

With two full days in the city, you’ll have time to explore Lisbon’s collection of rich heritage, artistic beauty and gourmet indulgences. Perhaps make like a local and tuck into those oh-so-gooey custard tarts and take the historic Elevador de Santa Justa up to citywide views from the Barrio Alto old town. Or, take in its highlights with the stunningly Gothic Jerónimos Monastery or the ‘floating’ fortifications of Belém Tower. You might also want to turn out into Lisbon’s charming surrounds. Next-door Estoril welcomes with white-sand beaches while Sintra – just a short train hop away – delights with fairytale palaces and ancient castles.

Stay: The One, Palacio da Anunciada, Lisbon (Deluxe)

Collect your hire car and drive north to Porto, perhaps taking the scenic route via the coast and stopping at off-the-beaten-track monasteries. On arrival, you’ll check into the Yeatman. Furnished with Porto’s only restaurant with two Michelin stars and one of the best wine cellars in the country, it’s not hard to see why this Relais & Châteaux gem is considered to be the city’s best-loved getaway. The superb spa and infinity pool even offer spectacular views over the city. And, it’s in good company, too. Set on the south bank of the Douro River, the Yeatman counts the historic lodges of the city’s Gaia district as its neighbours. Here, that famous fortified wine, port, is showcased in cellar tasting sessions.

You’ll have three full days to explore the charms of Portugal’s second city. In its medieval Ribeira district narrow cobbled streets wind past merchants’ houses and riverside cafés; watch as locals gather in tabernas and seafood restaurants that spill out from street-level arcades. But, that’s not to say that Porto’s without its headline-grabbing sights. São Francisco Church is known for its lavish Baroque interior gilded with ornate carvings while the 19th-century Palácio de Bolsa, formerly a stock market, was first built to impress potential European investors. Alternatively, make use of your hire car to explore further afield. Perhaps travel upstream to the Douro Valley where rolling hills are terraced into pretty vineyards, themselves dotted with quiet villages and spectacular medieval towns.

Return your car to Porto Airport in time for your flight home.