Trips where food and wine set the rhythm. Think:

• Stays on or near wine estates
• Cellar visits, tastings and long lunches overlooking vineyards or rivers
• Evenings split between local favourites and refined, tasting-menu restaurants (including Michelin-starred options)

Start with: Portugal’s Douro Valley, Alentejo and major cities (Lisbon, Porto) for market visits, bistros and fine dining.

For guests who prefer space, quiet and landscape to city buzz:

• Boutique country houses, farm-style hotels and design-led rural retreats
• Pools, gardens, fireplaces and terraces rather than nightlife
• Slow days with walks, reading, spa time and simple, well-prepared food

Start with: The Alentejo, Douro countryside and selected inland areas of the Algarve and Central Portugal.

Culture-first journeys focused on world heritage and historic layers:

• UNESCO-listed towns, monasteries, castles and historic quarters
• Time for museums, churches, palaces and guided walking tours
• Evenings with classical music, fado, theatre or atmospheric dinners in old-town settings

Start with: Portugal’s heritage cities and towns (Lisbon, Porto, Sintra, Évora, Coimbra, and others), combining them with nearby countryside or coast.

For travellers who could happily spend days between galleries, design and neighbourhood cafés:

• Central hotels with easy walking access to main museums and cultural venues
• Guided or self-guided walks through historic and contemporary districts
• A balance of “must-see” sights and quieter corners – viewpoints, gardens, bookstores, concept shops

Start with: Lisbon and Porto, adding one or two smaller cities or historic towns as extensions.

Trips built around reset and recovery:

• Hotels and retreats with strong spa programmes, saunas, pools and calm common areas
• Gentle activity: yoga, slow walks, light cycling or stretching classes
• Food that can be both indulgent and balanced, depending on your preferences

Start with: Countryside and coastal retreats in Portugal’s Alentejo, Douro and Western Algarve, plus selected city hotels with serious spa facilities.

For guests who like the energy of the ocean, but still want comfort:

• Surf lessons or guiding with quality equipment and small groups
• Stays in design-forward surf lodges, boutique hotels or resorts near the coast
• Mix of surf, beach walks, simple seaside meals and time to rest

Start with: Portugal’s west coast and selected parts of the Algarve, where surf-friendly beaches can be combined with stylish places to stay.

Trips where water is the main axis:

• River cruises (for example, along wine valleys) or coastal day cruises
• Private or small-ship experiences with comfortable cabins and attentive service
• The option to combine a cruise segment with a stay in a city or countryside hotel

Start with: Douro river cruises and coastal or cave-focused boat days in the Algarve, plus Tagus River outings from Lisbon.

For travellers who enjoy seeing landscapes from the saddle:

• Stables connected to countryside hotels or day experiences near rural bases
• Gentle rides through vineyards, fields or along coastal paths, tailored to ability
• Options for non-riders to enjoy spa, pool and walks while others ride

Start with: Rural areas of Portugal such as the Alentejo and parts of the Algarve.