• All accommodation as described
• Meals as described in the Meal Plan
• Self-guided information pack containing your map and route notes
• Park and Palace tickets
• Private guided tour of Lisbon on day 2
• Train tickets from Lisbon to Sintra on day 3
• Train tickets from Sintra to Lisbon on day 5

• Travel insurance
• Travel to/from Lisbon
• Visas (if applicable)
• Tourist Taxes may apply and are usually under 5 Euros per person per night
• Some meals as described in the Meal Plan
• Personal equipment
• Any additional activities/excursions indicated as optional
• Entrance fees not listed as included
• Transport on day 4

Each self-guided holiday comes with comprehensive route notes and a map or pocket guidebook of the area you are exploring. The route notes contain information about the places you will visit and the local transport you might need, along with the detailed route notes for your daily walks or cycle rides. We even include some tips for the best places to stop for lunch.

You can expect to receive your Self-Guided Pack containing your route notes, a map or guidebook, and all your relevant documents, no later than 3 weeks before your holiday start-date. We will send your documents using a signed-for courier so that you can track your package and know that it is safely on its way to you. For bookings of more than 4 people we will send an additional Self-Guided Pack. If you do not need this additional pack please inform our Sales Team. Your pack will be sent to the lead booker, so please remind them to pack it before setting off.

Should your self-guided trip be part of a longer adventure requiring you to leave home more than three weeks before your holiday start-date, please inform our Sales Team so that we can make alternative delivery arrangements.

Our Self-Guided Holidays are perfect for your next family holiday and are suitable for children of all ages.

Our partner hotels and accommodations are able to provide cots for young children, and some offer family rooms. We can also arrange hire of children’s bikes and tag along bikes for most of our self-guided cycling trips and with trips such as Lake Constance and the Danube offering routes on designated cycle paths you can rest assured in keeping your family safe.

As a parent we trust that you know your own child’s capabilities, so please read the itinerary details to ensure the distances covered each day are suitable for your family. If this is a first time walking holiday for your family, a centre based trip is a fantastic option as it allows you to easily opt out of a days walking if a day of building sand castles, swimming in the pool or visiting museums is calling instead.

Please discuss this further with our sales team who will be happy to assist in picking the best trip for your family.

The trip starts at your hotel in Lisbon and ends at the train station in Lisbon on on your return from Sintra. All of our self-guided holidays are sold on a land only basis allowing you the flexibility to choose the travel method which best suits you. The nearest airport for this trip is Lisbon Airport with many departures from regional UK airports.

Lisbon airport is just 6 miles from the city centre and transport connections between the airport and the city are extremely good. It is possible to take the metro from Terminal 1 to the city centre with one change. The journey takes approximately 25 minutes and tickets can be purchased from ticket machines in the station. Tickets cost approx. €1.50 for a single journey or it is possible to purchase a daily ticket for €6. For more information visit www.metro.transporteslisboa.pt

Another option is to take the bus to the city centre from outside the arrivals hall. The bus services run regularly with limited stops in the city. For more information on the routes please visit www.carris.transporteslisboa.pt

Alternatively, we offer a private transfer from Lisbon Airport to your accommodation. Please ask our sales team for a quotation.

This trip is on a bed and breakfast basis to allow you the most flexibility during your holiday.

Water from the taps is perfectly drinkable on this holiday - please use this to fill your personal bottles for your daily activities. We do not encourage the purchase of single-use plastic bottles.

The Portuguese are passionate about food. It is a reason for celebration, time with family and socialising with friends, and as is typical on the Med, evening meals are enjoyed late into the evenings with a glass of wine. Portugal’s national obsession is Bacalhau, a dried salted cod which will feature heavily on menus alongside other delicious seafood. After all Portugal has almost 1800km of coastline. But it is not all just seafood as Portuguese cuisine is all about simple, fresh cooking with many meaty stews such as Cozido a Portuguesa which includes beef, pork and chicken served with fresh vegetables and usually accompanied by one of the countries fantastic wines.

And it’s not just savoury dishes and wine the Portuguese are passionate about. The pastel da nata is not just a dessert but a constitution, served in almost every café. This delicious custard filled pastry topped with cinnamon is flaky, creamy and utterly delicious. Originally known as a Pasteis de Belem this delicious pastry is the creation of the Masteiro des Jernimos monks and you can still enjoy this delicious treat in the building next to the monastery where they have been sold since 1837.

During your trip you will stay in the 3* Lisbon Central Park Hotel in the heart of Lisbon city centre for two nights and the fantastic family run 2* Hotel Nova in Sintra, run by the Bernardo Family for four generations. All hotels have been specially selected for their warm hospitality and excellent locations.

Lisbon Central Park Hotel is situated opposite the Eduardo VII Park with the lively Avendia da Liberdade just a short walk away where you will find many shops and restaurants to enjoy. The hotel itself offers comfortable ensuite rooms, a restaurant and bar, perfect for unwinding at the end of the day.

In Sintra you will spend 2 nights in the beautiful Nova Sintra. Mario and his family have been welcoming guests to their small boutique hotel since 1946 and look forward to your visit. The hotel rooms are well appointed with ensuite bathrooms while the communal areas include a peaceful terrace, lounge area and breakfast room.

Both hotels are booked on a bed and breakfast basis in twin or double rooms.

For this holiday you should take one piece of luggage and a daypack. Luggage with wheels is useful for this holiday. For international flights please check your baggage allowance with your airline.