Portugal · Lisbon
Three days of miradouros, pastéis de nata and tram rides, with a half-day in Sintra and a sunset in Belém.
Day 1 · Lisbon
Take the metro in from the airport, drop bags and spend the afternoon lost in Alfama’s lanes.
Getting there Metro red line from the airport to the centre in about 25 minutes.
Day 2 · Sintra
Go early to Pena Palace, then wander the gardens of Quinta da Regaleira.
Getting there Train from Rossio, 40 minutes. Use the 434 bus up the hill.
Day 3 · Belém
Monastery, custard tarts and a sunset walk back along the Tagus to LX Factory.
Keep planning
Portugal · Porto
Three nights in Porto for azulejos and port lodges, then a scenic train up the Douro to a quinta among the terraced vineyards.
Japan
The classic first trip to Japan by train: four nights in Tokyo, a ryokan night in Hakone, then Kyoto’s temples and Osaka’s food.
Peru · Cusco
Acclimatise slowly in Cusco, explore Inca terraces in the Sacred Valley, then take the train to Machu Picchu for a morning visit.