Discover Porto & Douro Valley

Your 9-nights Portugal journey begins with your arrival into Porto’s airport where you’ll be welcomed by your private driver for transfer to your accommodation. After settling in, you’ll meet your friendly local guide for a 3.5-hour walking tour through the city’s historic downtown area, focused on its culinary delights with many new restaurants here adopting traditional methods to create their highly lauded cuisine. Enjoy several tastings at family-owned eateries and food speciality shops while learning about what makes the dishes here so unique. In the evening you’ll be introduced to Porto’s renowned Port wine, with a tasting of three different versions.

Your private driver/guide will bring you on a half-day tour for an in-depth look at the city. You’ll explore Boavista Avenue and Foz, which hosts some of the most popular museums and modern treasures while your guide fills you in on Porto’s rich history Visit the UNESCO-listed historic center to marvel at many famous Gothic, baroque, Romanesque and neo-classical monuments, including Porto Cathedral, finishing along the Douro River with a visit to a fish canning factory. This evening, local families will welcome you to their authentic cafes, restaurants and bars to sample a variety of traditional dishes and Portuguese wines on a culinary tour.

Leaving Porto for Viana do Castelo, enjoy a self-guided visit to the resort town of Esposende along the way. Located along the Cavado River Estuary near many beautiful beaches, part of the North Cast Natural Park stretching in both directions from town, play in the waves, relax on the powdery white sands, or take a stroll through the dunes. In the town itself you’ll find several outstanding museums and a 17th-century church. In the granite-filled mountains you can discover ancient villages and religious sanctuaries tucked deep into the forest. Your final destination, Viana do Castelo, also boasts some of its own fabulous beaches.

Today you’ll enjoy exploring Viana do Castelo, often referred to as the “jewel of the Costa Verde.” Depending on your interests, you can take a stroll through the medieval center, along the riverfront and enjoy the leafy boulevards and narrow lanes with rococo palaces and Manueline manors which lie under the shadow of the dazzling white neo-Byzantine Santa Luzia church. Visit Gil Eannes, a war hospital ship converted into a museum, and be sure to sample some of the city’s favourite speciality treats like bolas de berlim, a custard-filled donut topped with sugar.

Your destination this evening is Braga, but you’ll embark on a full-day small-group tour of Peneda- Gerês National Park first with its lush mountains, spectacular views, abundant flora and fauna, and magnificent waterfalls. Your excursion includes a leisurely trek to view the stunning lagoons and Tahiti Waterfall where you can enjoy a refreshing if chilly dip. A traditional lunch will be served at one of the most iconic viewpoints in the park, Pedra Bella, where you can feast while soaking up the breathtaking scenery. Afterwards continue to charming Braga where you’ll have time to enjoy dinner – your guide can recommend the best options.

Discover the highlights of Braga on a tour that visits the sanctuaries that make up the “Triangle of Faith.” Admire one of Portugal’s most significant buildings, Braga Cathedral, along with the important pilgrimage destinations of Our Lady of Sameiro and Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte. After touring you’ll have time to enjoy a tasty traditional lunch and do some shopping before continuing to Guimaraes. Visit its medieval castle and captivating historic center, a UNESCO-listed site. Enjoy gazing up at the fortified towers of the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza from nearly every vantage point, with it looming above the skyline.

Your private driver will pick you up for a full-day tour of the Douro Valley, renowned for producing some of the country’s very best wine after you enjoy your breakfast this morning. You’ll visit a winery to take a tour of the production facilities and vineyards before enjoying a wine tasting. Afterwards, head to a town in the countryside nearby where your guide will suggest the best restaurant for enjoying a traditional local lunch which will be followed by another wine tasting. Next, hop aboard a riverboat for a cruise along the Douro River. Sit back and soak up the gorgeous scenery.

You’ll have the entire day to yourself to enjoy the delights of the Douro Valley, from its charming villages to the beautiful vineyards and world-renowned wine estates dating all the way back to the 18th-century. There are plenty of wine tasting opportunities, from the country’s signature Port to fabulous blends. Or perhaps you want to learn more about the olive oil harvest and olive oil pressing by visiting one of the local olive oil producers. If you’re interested in the culture culture, visit one of the top museums in Portugal, Museu de Lamego in the town of Lamego, housed within a magnificent palace.

Travel with your private driver/guide back to Porto, enjoying the rest of the day on your own, exploring sights you missed at the start of your trip or revisiting some of your favourites. If you want to spend the day at the beach, there are some great ones nearby, with some of the most accessible the string of sand and pebble beaches in Foz. Porto is home to many museums worth exploring like the massage Fundacao de Serralves which includes a gorgeous villa, park and contemporary art museum. This evening we recommend a celebratory dinner of locally caught seafood with wine.

You’ll want to savour your last moments in Portugal this morning as today your unforgettable trip comes to an end. When it’s time to head to the airport to catch your flight back home, your private driver will meet you at your hotel for the transfer. If you don’t have to return just yet and would like to extend your journey, contact our travel experts about creating a bespoke addition to your itinerary.