We werken samen met meer dan 250 vertrouwde reisbureaus en bieden een uitgebreid aanbod van vakanties aan om in de behoeften van iedere reiziger te kunnen voorzien. Praat vandaag nog met één van onze experts en maak uw ideale vakantie op maat met Inspire.
This summer, Newmarket Holidays is offering up to 15% off best-selling tours, so you can experience the wish-list moment you’ve been waiting until Thursday, 31 July.
Discover a delightful corner of Portugal, filled with fascination, offering the warmest of welcomes and home to famous wines.
Stay at a choice of excellent hotels close to the historic Costa Verde fishing town of Póvoa de Varzim, beautifully set on the glorious Atlantic coast, and explore this little-known but lovely region on three fascinating included guided excursions: one to Porto, one along the Costa Verde and one into the Minho region just north of Póvoa. Hugely popular with our customers, this holiday also offers opportunities to explore the vineyards of the Douro Valley, Portugal's historic former capital, Braga, and Spain's stunning pilgrimage shrine at Santiago de Compostela on optional tours.
In 2026, this tour will also be added to our Small-Group collection, and will follow a slightly altered itinerary. Further details can be found under the 2026 itinerary section below.
Highlights
Discover Portugal's second city, Porto, in its splendid setting above the River Douro
Experience guided visits to Viana do Castelo and Ponte de Lima in the northern Minho region on an optional excursion
Explore the Vinho Verde's vineyards
A leisurely walking tour of Póvoa de Varzim on an optional excursion
Travel on an optional tour to Barcelos, home to Europe’s largest open-air market and Braga
Visit a port wine lodge
Journey along the scenic Costa Verde
Inclusions
Seven nights' half-board accommodation at your chosen hotel (2025 departures)
Seven nights' bed and breakfast accommodation at your chosen hotel (2026 departures)
A full-day tour of Porto
Tour of the Minho region (2025 departures)
An excursion to Barcelos and Braga (2026 departures)
A trip to Guimarães (2026 departures)
A visit to one of the city’s many famous port wine lodges
A trip to Vinho Verde vineyards and Ponte de Lima
Return flights to Porto
Coach travel and transfers throughout
Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager
Day 1
Fly to Portugal - Arrive in Oporto, meet your tour manager and board the coach for the short transfer to your chosen hotel.
Day 2
Morning walking tour of Povoa or Ofir (depending on hotel booked) and afternoon at leisure - Spend a relaxed day in the hotel and its surroundings, with the chance to join your tour manager for a leisurely guided stroll or the area in which your hotel is based.
Day 3
Included Porto tour and optional boat trip on the Douro River - Our first included excursion, taken in the company of your tour manager, is a full day visit to Portugal’s second city, Porto. The city that gave its name to the country is ancient, time-weathered, and clings haphazardly to the hillside above the beautiful River Douro. During the day, you'll also visit one of the city’s many famous port wine lodges, and have the chance to enjoy lunch in a riverside restaurant. An optional boat trip on the Douro will also be available (payable locally).
You’ll return to your hotel for dinner.
Day 4
Optional Douro Valley excursion - Today, you’ll travel travel into the heart of the Douro Valley. The tour will first make its way to Favious, an authentic wine village, backed by rugged mountains and one of two places in the country where the sweet dessert wine, muscatel is produced. You’ll be able to taste a few glasses and experience a tour of a local adega while taking in the surrounding vista. You’ll then enter a local bakery that creates a distinctive four-cornered loaf from locally grown wheat, which is baked in a wood-fired oven. While sampling this bread, a baker will tell you about how the recipe was passed down through generations and you’ll get to see the original wooden ovens. The Bread and Wine Museum will follow, and it’s housed in an 18th-century building lined with exhibits detailing the area’s culinary history.
A delicious lunch, made with fresh ingredients, will then be served at the winery, Quinta Avessada, as you listen to the owner talk about the production process before tasting a few labels. Afterwards, the tour will travel along the river Douro on the EN222 – considered one of the most beautiful roads in the world.
Day 5
Optional Barcelos and Braga excursion - Today’s full-day optional tour takes in Barcelos, home to Europe’s largest open-air market – a colourful, bustling hive of activity offering a huge range of locally produced goods.
From here you’ll continue to Braga, the former Catholic capital of Portugal. Set in the heart of the verdant Minho region, this ancient university seat is one of the country’s oldest settlements. See its great cathedral, and explore the verdant acres of Bom Jesus park and the Escadaria (Baroque staircases) which climbs through it, past chapels, fountains and statues, to the hill-top church.
Day 6
Day at leisure - You can embrace a free day, taking advantage of your hotel’s facilities or exploring the surrounding area.
Day 7
Included tour of the Minho region - Your final included tour takes in the beautiful coastal region of the Minho. Your first stop will be the typical seaside town of Viana do Castelo, on the northern bank of the estuary of the River Lima. One of the town's highlights is the Basilica de Santa Lucia, which has wonderful views over the surrounding area.
You'll also head further inland, through the Vinho Verde vineyards, to the historic market town of Ponte de Lima, famous for its 18th-century fountain and Roman bridge.
Day 8
Fly home to the UK - Bid “Adeus” to this delightful region of Portugal, and head back to the airport to check in for your flight home, at the end of a hugely enjoyable holiday.
Day 9
Fly to Portugal - Arrive in Oporto, meet your tour manager and board the coach for the short transfer to your chosen hotel.
Day 10
Full day at leisure - Spend your first full day in Portugal relaxing in your chosen hotel and its surroundings. You'll also have the chance to join your tour manager for a leisurely guided stroll or the area in which your hotel is based.
Day 11
Included Porto tour and optional boat trip on the Douro River - Our first included excursion, taken in the company of your tour manager, is a full day visit to Portugal’s second city, Porto. The city that gave its name to the country is ancient, time-weathered, and clings haphazardly to the hillside above the beautiful River Douro. During the day, you'll also visit one of the city’s many famous port wine lodges, and have the chance to enjoy lunch in a riverside restaurant. An optional boat trip on the Douro will also be available (payable locally).
You’ll return to your hotel for dinner.
Day 12
Optional tour of the Minho region - Enjoy breakfast this morning ahead of a full day at leisure. If you'd prefer, you can also take in the beautiful coastal region of the Minho on an enthralling optional excursion. Your first stop will be the typical seaside town of Viana do Castelo, on the northern bank of the estuary of the River Lima. One of the town's highlights is the Basilica de Santa Lucia, which has wonderful views over the surrounding area.
You'll also head further inland, through the Vinho Verde vineyards, to the historic market town of Ponte de Lima, famous for its 18th-century fountain and Roman bridge.
Day 13
Included Barcelos and Braga excursion - Today’s full-day tour takes in Barcelos, home to Europe’s largest open-air market – a colourful, bustling hive of activity offering a huge range of locally produced goods.
From here you’ll continue to Braga, the former Catholic capital of Portugal. Set in the heart of the verdant Minho region, this ancient university seat is one of the country’s oldest settlements. See its great cathedral, and explore the verdant acres of Bom Jesus park and the Escadaria (Baroque staircases) which climbs through it, past chapels, fountains and statues, to the hill-top church.
Day 14
Day at leisure - Embrace a free day, taking advantage of your hotel’s facilities or exploring the surrounding area.
Day 15
Included tour of Guimarães - Start the final full day of your tour with breakfast at the hotel and head east for a fascinating trip to Guimarães, the ‘Birthplace of Portugal’. Upon arrival in this historic city, you’ll have the chance to take in its beautifully preserved medieval centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
From here, you’ll be free to explore under your own steam, perhaps with a stop at Guimarães Castle, the fortress where Portugal’s first king, Afonso Henriques, was born. Another major sight, the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza, shouldn’t be missed with its grand 15th-century architecture and elegant interiors. If you have an interest in history and art, consider visiting the Alberto Sampaio Museum or the Centro Internacional das Artes José de Guimarães.
Alternatively, browse local boutiques for Portuguese crafts and souvenirs or sip a coffee in one of the squares before returning to the hotel for dinner.
Day 16
Fly home to the UK - Bid “Adeus” to this delightful region of Portugal, and head back to the airport to check in for your flight home, at the end of a hugely enjoyable holiday.
Axis Vermar Beach Hotel, Povoa De Varzim
Boasting a fantastic location next to the beach and close to the centre of Povoa de Varzim, the four-star Axis Vermar Beach Hotel provides a relaxing home-from-home for guests wishing to soak up the sun. The hotel offers a wonderful range of amenities, including two tennis courts.
Further Information
Hotel transfer times
The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately 30 minutes.
Foreign Office Travel Advice
Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.
Special requirements
If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.
Disabled access
The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
Combining hotel transfers
We sometimes need to combine transfers to and from your hotel. We always try to keep any wait to a minimum, but you may be asked to wait at the airport for up to an hour, while other incoming flights arrive, before the transfer to your hotel. Similarly, we may need to transfer you back to the airport up to three hours before your flight home departs.
Itinerary changes
Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.
Airport development fees
An Airport Development Fee has been introduced at a few UK Airports. You will be required to pay this charge at the following airports prior to checking in for your flight: Blackpool, Newquay and Norwich. The amount varies from airport to airport, but it is generally between £5 and £10 per person. Please visit the airport's website for further information.
Room tax
Some hotel have introduced a room tax of between 1 € and 3 € per person per night, payable directly by the guest to the hotel on check-out. You'll be advised by your tour manager at your destination if a particular hotel is implementing this charge.
Visas & Passports
Rules may have changed since you last travelled to European Union countries as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The following are useful guidelines which will help you prepare for your next adventure. You do require government issued passport to travel.
Names - It is very important that all passenger names are exactly as per your passport although we do not require middle names.
Passport - Your passport must meet two requirements to travel to an EU country and to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. It must be: Less than 10 years old on the day you return home (please check the "date of issue") and valid for at least 3 months after the day you return home (please check the "expiry date").
Visa - You do not need a visa for short trips to most EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. You’ll be able to stay for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period.
European Entry/Exit Scheme (EES)
EES is a new digital border management system for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay, each time they cross the external borders of most European countries. Once introduced, when you go through passport control on arrival, as well as producing your passport for checking, you will also have your photograph taken and fingerprints scanned. The system will register your entry on arrival and your exit when departing. You will only need to do this on your first entry into Europe after the scheme starts.
The EES scheme is not live yet - the latest information can be found at https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees_en. We recommend keeping yourself updated on the planned commencement date and, once live, ensure you are familiar with the process.
For those travelling via Eurostar, there is a dual British and French/Belgian border in operational at St Pancras International. Therefore the EES system will be in place at the station, you will not need to be checked again on arrival at the other side. For further information please visit the ABTA website here.
Please note: Irish passport holders or British Passport holders with an EU residency are currently excluded.
European Travel Information & Authorisation System (ETIAS)
Following the UK's withdrawal from the European Union, changes have been planned which affect the eligibility of citizens of the United Kingdom to have visa free travel to the EU. ETIAS travel authorisation is a new entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals travelling to any of the European Union and Schengen counties.
The ETIAS system is not live yet - the latest information can be found at www.etias.com. We recommend keeping yourself updated on the planned commencement date and, once live (and if applicable to you), apply for your ETIAS in good time prior to travel.
Newmarket Holidays will not be able to undertake ETIAS applications on your behalf, so have instead instructed the services of the Travel Visa Company to provide help, should you need it. You can find more information about this service here.
Please note: ETIAS will not be required for UK citizens travelling on our UK and Ireland tours.
Terms and conditions
Terms and conditions: 'Wish-list moments save up to 15%' applies to new bookings on selected tours made between 31st May to 31st July 2025 inclusive, and cannot be applied retrospectively to bookings already confirmed. This offer does not apply to holidays with late availability pricing and excludes André Rieu events, Lapland, Wimbledon, Tattoo, Ocean Cruise and River Cruise. Maximum discount of 15% is applied to our best-selling tours. This offer does not apply to child pricing. This offer cannot be combined or used in conjunction with any other discount, promotion, or concession. When booking a holiday as described above, prices shown will automatically have the discount applied. The discount applies to the original tour price (excluding extras and holiday insurance) at the time of booking. This offer is subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time. Newmarket Holidays reserves the right to cancel, change or amend any tour. Holidays booked with Newmarket Holidays, are financially protected in accordance with ABTA, ATOL & ABTOT regulations. Newmarket Holidays Limited is a company registered in England and Wales. Registered number: 02238316.
