DESTINATIONS PORTUGAL | EUROPE
3 live it up in lisbon
City breaks are a hard sell at the moment, but with fewer crowds and a pleasant climate come autumn, the Portuguese capital is a good bet for a last- minute weekend away. Eager sightseers can do the rounds of the Belém Tower, Jerónimos Monastery and more, but the real beauty of Lisbon lies in getting lost amid the labyrinthine streets of the medieval Alfama district, admiring the grand buildings and monuments of Baixa, or ambling through the artsy area of Chiado. And if clients can stretch to an extra day or two, encourage them to get out and explore the city’s surroundings, from steep hiking trails through
Arrábida Natural Park to golden-sand beaches less than half-an-hour away. Book it: Osprey Holidays offers three nights’ B&B at the four-star Lisboa Plaza Hotel from £298 per person, including flights from Gatwick on November 5.
ospreyholidays.com
feel festive in madeira
This week sees the start of a month of celebrations on the Portuguese island of Madeira, which is combining its wine and flower festivals into one giant party from September 3-27. The streets of capital Funchal will be bedecked with exotic blooms including purple-blossomed jacaranda trees, birds of paradise and orchids. Wine-loving locals will also be seen treading the grapes, playing folk music and parading through the streets. Local authorities have pledged to run the festivals in a Covid-safe manner, with face masks in public spaces, social distancing during parades and a requirement for visitors to show a negative test within 72 hours of their departure or to take a test on
arrival, funded by the government. Book it: Sovereign offers seven nights’ B&B at the five-star Pestana Carlton Madeira from £599 per person, based on two sharing a Classic Land View room, including easyJet flights from Gatwick on September 15 and transfers.
sovereign.com
4
sail through the douro valley
While ocean cruising remains in the doldrums, river lines are leading the way for the restart of cruise, and where better to tempt previous passengers back on board than the beautiful Douro Valley? Sail past sloping vineyards and verdant hillsides, and visit family-run quintas (estates) to learn about wine production. Riviera Travel is restarting its Douro programme this month, and says the route is one of its
most popular. Book it: Riviera offers a Douro, Porto & Salamanca River Cruise with sailings from September 2020 to November 2021 from £1,449 for eight days including flights. An alternative will be offered instead of the Salamanca excursion if Spain remains off-limits to UK travellers.
rivieratravel.co.uk
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travelweekly.co.uk 3 SEPTEMBER 2020 35
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