Highlights
- Enjoy a food tour through the historic neighborhoods of Porto
- Discover the Douro Valley and enjoy tasting different wine varietals known to Portugal
- Taste Porto's famous port wine at the cellars along the city's riverfront
- Explore the Douro River with a rabelo-boat river cruise
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Porto - Explore the city | Porto |
| Day 2 | Enjoy a food tour of Porto and visit the riverside wine lodges | Porto |
| Day 3 | Visit the Douro Valley for a wine tasting | Porto |
| Day 4 | Depart Porto - Optional train trip to Lisbon |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Porto - Explore the city
Welcome to Portugal!
Today you'll arrive in the lively city of Porto. After settling into your accommodation, set out to explore the city. Tomorrow you'll enjoy a guided tour of the city, so for tonight, you can explore some of Porto's major sights. Start with Liberdade Square where you can wander the streets and pass many major monuments and churches. If you have time, explore the Jardins do Palácio de Cristal, a 19th-century garden with walking paths and views over the city.
For dinner, check out the Ribeira neighborhood for numerous restaurants lining the riverside. Grab an outdoor table to enjoy the sunset while you eat.
Day 2: Enjoy a food tour of Porto and visit the riverside wine lodges
Today you’ll discover the amazing city of Porto with a group food tour. Gastronomy is an important aspect of Portuguese culture, as every meal is a moment for sharing and socializing with friends, family, and new acquaintances. Along the way, you'll explore the different neighborhoods of the city, such as lively Ribeira, the historic Baixa, and the riverside, artsy community of Miragaia. You'll also enjoy regional delicacies, including sausages, fried fish, bread, puff pastry, sardines, and the popular pastel de nata, a custard tart sprinkled with cinnamon.
After your tour, enjoy lunch in one of the neighborhoods you explored earlier. Then you'll meet your guide and head to the popular wine lodges along the bank of the Douro River. Here, you'll learn about the region's famous port wine and enjoy tasting the different varietals.
In the evening, grab dinner along the riverside and enjoy some of the city's famed nightlife.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 3: Visit the Douro Valley for a wine tasting
Awake early for your group tour of the Douro Valley, a lush wine region set just 1.5 hours from Porto. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Douro Valley is set within rocky hills, which lack quality soil needed for winemaking. Throughout the centuries, however, locals revitalized the region, planting vineyards one at a time.
Start the tour with a scenic drive, admiring the passing landscapes of deep valleys, sharp turns along the Douro River, and terraced vineyards that seem to go on forever. You'll have the opportunity to visit one of the many estates that produce the region's famous wines and ports, tasting the different varietals while enjoying lunch.
The Douro River is also known for its difficulty in navigation, challenging boats with its natural barriers. The rabelo boat, a unique and ancient vessel, is the only one able to take on the Douro. Nowadays, these types of boats are used for tourism, offering 1-hour river cruises. Enjoy the views of the valley from a different perspective.
In the late afternoon, you'll return to Porto in time for one last dinner in Portugal.
Day 4: Depart Porto - Optional train trip to Lisbon
Enjoy your final morning in Porto with a leisurely breakfast at your hotel. Afterward, you can either transfer to the Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport in Porto or opt for a train to Lisbon. You can explore the capital city for the day before catching your flight, or extend your trip by a few days on your own.