Portugal Cruise from Lisbon to Belfast — 13 Days

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon is a city best approached with time and comfortable shoes. Its seven hills rise above the Tagus, linking tiled lanes, grand squares and viewpoints with wide river views. In Alfama, narrow streets preserve the feel of old Lisbon. In Belém, the Jerónimos Monastery and Tower recall Portugal’s age of discovery. Pause for coffee and a warm pastel de nata between sights.

At Sea (At Sea)

Cherbourg, France

Step ashore in Cherbourg, a working harbour at Normandy’s northern tip, and find a city shaped by the sea. Its deep-water harbour has long anchored life here. The Cité de la Mer brings maritime history to life in a former transatlantic terminal. Beyond town, the Cotentin Peninsula offers quiet beaches, cider farms and stone villages. Cherbourg rewards time ashore, whether you follow the waterfront or explore the countryside.

Plymouth UK

Plymouth faces the open waters of Plymouth Sound, where naval history and a working harbour shape the city’s character. The Hoe opens broad views across the Sound to Drake’s Island. The Barbican’s historic quays include the Mayflower Steps, commemorating the Pilgrims’ 1620 departure for America. Independent shops and waterfront restaurants make this old port rewarding to explore on foot.

Lundy Island England

Three miles long and a world apart, Lundy rises from the Bristol Channel off north Devon. Seasonal ferries sail from Bideford or Ilfracombe; helicopter flights operate from Hartland Point in winter. Follow granite paths to 13th-century Marisco Castle, historic lighthouses and expansive cliff-top views. Watch for seals and seabirds, including puffins in season. The surrounding waters became England’s first Marine Conservation Zone in 2010. Lundy rewards visitors who trade shops and schedules for wildlife, open air and genuine solitude.

Skomer Island

Just off the Pembrokeshire coast, Skomer Island rewards the short boat crossing with wildlife on an extraordinary scale. In spring and summer, puffins gather here; after dark, Manx shearwaters return to nest in burrows. Paths cross open grassland and clifftops, revealing seals, seabirds and wide Atlantic views. Boats leave from Martin’s Haven, but landings are limited; book ahead and check conditions before travelling.

Bantry (Ask Travel Agent)

Schull (Ask Travel Agent)

Cape Clear Island Ireland (Scenic Area)

Kinsale (Ask Travel Agent)

Isle of Man

Douglas, the Isle of Man’s capital, welcomes visitors with a broad seafront. Its Victorian promenade and Manx Museum offer a concise introduction to the island’s history. Ride the electric railway north to Ramsey, or visit Tynwald Hill, where the island’s parliament holds its annual open-air sitting. Beyond town, rugged cliffs, sandy bays and quiet roads reward exploration on foot or by car.

Belfast

Belfast pairs a proud maritime past with a lively, walkable centre. At Titanic Belfast, the story of the famous liner unfolds beside the shipyard where she was built. Nearby, grand City Hall and the Cathedral Quarter reveal different sides of the city, from civic confidence to café-lined lanes. Across west Belfast, political murals offer a vivid perspective on its recent history. With the Giant’s Causeway within reach, Belfast also makes a compelling starting point for Northern Ireland’s dramatic coast.