7 nights. France, Spain

Day 1

leixoes/oporto (portugal)

Departure: 22:00

Traditional Meets Modern

Porto, northern Portugal’s biggest city, has long lived in the shadow of Lisbon and the Algarve. But it’s this quieter pace that makes it special – tradition still reigns, and modern additions blend seamlessly. Visiting Porto gives you a taste of authentic local life, rather than a tourist-only experience.

Even in its most modern areas, Porto is rooted in tradition. Wine cellars line the Ribeira and Gaia districts, terraces hug the Douro River, and the iconic Dom Luís I Bridge arches overhead. Cobblestone streets are filled with everything from glitzy fast-food spots to cafés serving hearty francesinha sandwiches.

Porto’s architecture is a feast for the eyes. The Avenida dos Aliados showcases Gothic grandeur, the Clérigos Tower offers sweeping city views, and the Porto Cathedral combines castle-like fortifications with ecclesiastical elegance. Don’t miss São Bento train station, famous for its stunning azulejo tiles, or Livraria Lello, whose carved interiors inspired Hogwarts.

Though best known as a city, Porto also boasts beaches. Praia do Carneiro, near the Douro’s mouth, features a historic lighthouse and a 16th-century fortress. For a river adventure, take a boat trip beneath the seven bridges spanning the Douro.

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Day 3

bordeaux (le verdon) - france

Arrival: 08:00 - Departure: 19:00

Bordeaux is an exhilarating and sprawling city where wine still flows and churches still stand. Attractive shopping arcades and handsome 18th century riverfront facades decorate its streets. This city is a paradise for wine lovers and it’s a perfect choice for a romantic gateway. Perhaps the most remarkable feature of the Cathédrale St-André is the wide variety of flying buttresses that encircle it. To the right of the main portico is a 16th century buttress composed off a string of slender columns. Adjacent to the Church of St-Michel is the equally beautiful, free-standing bell tower, an imposing and hollow shell. If you ever wondered what Flamboyant Gothic was all about, these edifices provide an unsurpassed definition of that style. Also not to be missed is Bordeaux’s Romanesque representative, the Church of Ste-Croix, with its richly ornamented façade. And of course you cannot leave Bordeaux without visiting the Maison du Vin that offers free tastings of regional wines. The city is also within striking distance of the sublime, immensely enjoyable Dune du Pilat, a gargantuan mountain of silken sand that seems to bring out the acrobat in everyone.

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Day 4

bilbao, spain

Arrival: 08:00 - Departure: 21:00

Bilbao is the capital of Biscay in the Basque Country, in northern Spain. The city is situated on the banks of the Nervión, a tidal river. Bilbao was till the 90s a grey big industrial town, the economical heart of the Basque Country. But since the opening of a new Guggenheim Museum by the river, the city has become an arty and stylish city and is now a major touristic destination. The main attraction that put Bilbao on the map was the construction of the Guggenheim Museum by Frank Gehry, it is now one of Spain’s most visited attractions. The building is impressive and there are some very interesting sculptures outside the museum and in the atrium. Centred on the Plaza Nueva, a busy and colourful square, and the Santiago Cathedral the old quarter of Bilbao is pretty compact and a walk around its streets doesn't take long. The impressive church of San Nicolas, built in 1743 in honour of the sailors from Bilbao, stands at the entrance to the Casco Viejo. Located in the very heart of Bilbao's old centre, the cathedral of Bilbao is the oldest church in the city and the main Gothic construction in Biscay. Vital and exciting Bilbao is famous for its great food, its culture and its active nightlife.

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Day 6

la coruna, spain

Arrival: 07:00 - Departure: 19:00

It is part of the Spanish autonomous community of Galicia, a region of vast green landscapes with a rich Celtic and Roman heritage which keeps, still today, a mystic and magic allure. Today La Corunna is a modern city, which combines its traditional agricultural and fishing industries with new successful industries, such as fashion and textile. Situated beside the Atlantic Ocean, A Coruña is a historic city whose history has maintained close links with its old fishing and commercial port. The peninsula on which the Old City stands also contains the Tower of Hercules, one of the symbols of the city, which is an interesting Romanesque collection of streets, squares and medieval churches.

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Day 7

vigo, spain

Arrival: 08:00 - Departure: 19:00

Vigo is a city and municipality situated in the province of Pontevedra, in the Spanish autonomous community of Galicia, on the Atlantic Ocean. The Porta do Sol is a shopping center historical quarter and the site of many cultural centers, modern museums and arts foundations in Vigo. La Playa de Samil is Vigo's largest beach and is the location of the mouth of the Lagares River. Las Islas Cies (The Cies Islands), are a cluster of islands situated just off the coast of Pontevedra in Galicia, Spain. These islands were declared a nature reserve in 1980 as well being added to the Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park in 2002. Vigo, the Gateway to the Atlantic, is a great combination of ancient history, beautiful beaches and a modern cosmopolitan outlook. A truly amazing city, that offers a warm welcome along with beautiful surroundings. Which together with its water reforms, amazing landscapes and friendly atmosphere will give even the seasoned traveler a truly unique experience to take home.

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Day 8

leixoes/oporto (portugal)

Arrival: 04:00

Traditional Meets Modern

Porto, northern Portugal’s biggest city, has long lived in the shadow of Lisbon and the Algarve. But it’s this quieter pace that makes it special – tradition still reigns, and modern additions blend seamlessly. Visiting Porto gives you a taste of authentic local life, rather than a tourist-only experience.

Even in its most modern areas, Porto is rooted in tradition. Wine cellars line the Ribeira and Gaia districts, terraces hug the Douro River, and the iconic Dom Luís I Bridge arches overhead. Cobblestone streets are filled with everything from glitzy fast-food spots to cafés serving hearty francesinha sandwiches.

Porto’s architecture is a feast for the eyes. The Avenida dos Aliados showcases Gothic grandeur, the Clérigos Tower offers sweeping city views, and the Porto Cathedral combines castle-like fortifications with ecclesiastical elegance. Don’t miss São Bento train station, famous for its stunning azulejo tiles, or Livraria Lello, whose carved interiors inspired Hogwarts.

Though best known as a city, Porto also boasts beaches. Praia do Carneiro, near the Douro’s mouth, features a historic lighthouse and a 16th-century fortress. For a river adventure, take a boat trip beneath the seven bridges spanning the Douro.

Read more

Read less

7 nights. France, Spain

Traditional Meets Modern

Traditional Meets Modern

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