Everyone knows Portugal for its beaches. But from October to April, while the Algarve coast quietens, the rest of the country comes into its own — and it is, quite simply, so much more than beaches.
This is the Portugal we love to plan for: golden river valleys terraced with vines, cobbled cities built for slow exploring, thermal spas tucked into granite hills, and some of the best-value fine dining in Europe. Cooler days make for perfect walking weather, historic towns without the crowds, and harvest-time cellars pouring their new vintage.
Whether as a fly-drive, taking in several of these destinations at your own pace, or a flight-and-train itinerary linking Lisbon, Porto and the Douro, we tailor every detail — cars, drivers, private tastings, spa bookings, and the best tables in town.
Lisbon & the coast
Where azulejo-tiled streets tumble down to the Tagus and every neighbourhood has its own character, from the fado bars of Alfama to the design studios of Chiado. A few nights at Vermelho, Christian Louboutin's exuberant, colour-drenched hotel on the coast at Melides, add a dash of glamour and a superb spa before you head south to the quieter charms of Tavira. Here, whitewashed streets and a Roman bridge feel a world away from the Algarve's resort strip, and the Palácio de Tavira offers boutique, historic-building luxury in the heart of town — ideal for out-of-season exploring, market visits, and long lunches with nowhere else to be.
Aveiro & Arouca
Aveiro's canals and Art Nouveau facades have earned it the nickname "Portugal's Venice," and the beautifully restored Palacete de Valdemora is the perfect base for gentle days on the water and forays into the surrounding Ria. Nearby, the Mosteiro de Arouca — a former Benedictine convent turned five-star hotel — pairs monastic grandeur with modern spa treatments and access to the dramatic granite landscapes and walkways of the Arouca Geopark, one of Portugal's most striking and least-visited corners.
Porto & the Douro
No trip to northern Portugal is complete without Porto and the Douro. Stay at The Yeatman, perched above the river with panoramic views over the port lodges of Vila Nova de Gaia, and spend an afternoon tasting your way through the cellars that put this city on the wine map. Then follow the Douro upstream by train or by road, through terraced vineyards that rank among the most beautiful landscapes in Europe, to Pinhão and the Vintage House Hotel — the classic base for wine estate visits, river cruises, and long autumn lunches overlooking the valley. A detour to Amarante, with its riverside monastery and elegant bridge, makes a lovely final stop before returning to Porto for home.
Madeira
Madeira sits 600 miles south-west of Lisbon, roughly four hours' flight from the UK, and its subtropical climate makes it a natural choice between October and April. Daytime temperatures in Funchal typically settle between 19°C and 23°C through the winter, warm enough for lunch outdoors and cool enough for serious walking. The island's levadas (irrigation channels cut into the mountainsides) give access to laurel forest and high ridges, though the north coast and uplands see more rain in these months. Funchal rewards slower days: the Mercado dos Lavradores, the old town, and wine lodges where Madeira is aged in cask.
Our out of season breaks to Portugal offer
● Touring holidays● Single centre holidays
● Two-centre combinations
● Travel by air, hire-car and train
● Choice of departure date and duration
● Stays in our personally selected hotels of character
Included in all our holidays
● Concierge service● Handcrafted helpful hints and local information provided with all our holidays
● Personal service by your sales consultant who looks after all aspects of your holiday
● Full financial protection with our ATOL (3076) for all holidays including a flight and our AFPS (6104) for all non-air holidays
