Food Tour of Portugal - 5 Days
Highlights
- Explore Lisbon's history and traditions in a 4-hour culinary tour
- Wander the charming cobblestone streets of Óbidos and its ancient castle
- Enjoy a private tour of Porto's landmarks and its food scene
- Take a private cooking class with an esteemed Portuguese chef
- Go wine tasting in the spectacular Douro Valley
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Lisbon & Culinary Excursion | Lisbon |
| Day 2 | Visit Òbidos & Vintage Porto Cuisine | Porto |
| Day 3 | Get to Know Porto & Cooking Class | Porto |
| Day 4 | Day trip to Douro Valley | Porto |
| Day 5 | Depart Porto |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Lisbon & Culinary Excursion
Welcome to Portugal! Upon your arrival in Lisbon, you will be met by a driver who will transfer you from the airport to your hotel. Take some time to rest before you start exploring this incredible city.
When evening hits, you'll take part in a gourmet food tour in Lisbon — a great way to experience the city for the first time! Wear a good pair of walking shoes because you, along with your English-speaking guide, will meander through a series of authentic winding alleys tasting the incredible flavors of Portuguese gastronomy, especially in the neighborhood of Campo de Ourique — practically a city within the city — that sets the food culture and culinary trends of Lisbon.
Over the course of four hours, you will visit seven spots that brilliantly link tradition with modernity. Experience ways that locals have reinvented restaurant concepts, including a market and hotel school while getting a taste of culinary recipes that have become world-famous.
Day 2: Visit Óbidos & Vintage Porto Cuisine
Today you'll stop in adorable Óbidos for a self-guided tour of this incredible town. Surrounded by a classic crenelated wall, Óbidos’ gorgeous historic center is a labyrinth of cobblestoned streets and flower-bedecked, whitewashed houses livened up with dashes of vivid yellow and blue paint.
Explore at your leisure, then treat yourself to a delicious traditional Portuguese lunch. If you dine al fresco, situate yourself so you'll have a great view of the historic village and its stunning castle, which dates back almost a millennium. Stroll around the fortification and see if you can stop to check out the wares of local vendors around town. If you're lucky, you may be able to find a cart slinging ginjinha, a traditional Portuguese cherry liquor.
Later, you'll continue on to Porto, which you'll discover through its incredible flavors. In the late afternoon, you'll embark on a 3.5-hour epicurean extravaganza via a private walking food tour of the city's historic downtown. This tour is for those who enjoy experiencing the best of the past with a modern twist. Guided by a Porto native, you'll explore the culinary renaissance overtaking the city. Learn about the rebirth of specialty food shops and the new restaurants adopting old techniques, as well as traditional buildings finding new purposes. You'll also meet the families that own these places and will learn why they are an integral part of what makes gastronomy in Porto so unique.
Along the way, you'll sip and sample products and dishes made by people passionate about what they do. The tour, of course, would not be complete without an introduction to the famous drink of Porto: Port wine. While you taste three different Port wines — including a pour of a vintage — will learn about the history of this drink and why it is a timeless favorite.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 3: Get to Know Porto & Cooking Class
Today is a great introduction to Porto! After breakfast at the hotel, you'll join a half-day tour of the city with a local guide. This excursion will lead you through the most important landmarks of Portugal’s second most populous city as you travel from place to place in a comfortable private vehicle.
Your guide will explain the rich history of Porto, also called Invicta (the Unbeaten City), with stories of heroes and battles, as you make your way to the trendiest and most cultural area of town. Here you'll explore Boavista Avenue, one of the city's most important streets, and Foz, home to important museums and modern local treasures.
Next, you'll head to the city center — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — to admire the most renowned Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque and Neo-Classical monuments and sites, including the São Bento Railway Station, Clerigos Tower, Church of St. Francis, Lello Bookshop, Sta. Catarina Street, Majestic Café, and Bolhão Market, to name a few.
After visiting the imposing Porto Cathedral with its superb silver altarpiece, you'll finish the tour along the banks of the immense Douro River with views of Ribeira Plaza and the gorgeous D. Luís Bridge.
Take the afternoon to explore on your own; check out chic shops, sample the delicious goods at the famed market, wander the gardens of the Serralves Foundation and explore the museum's contemporary artwork, or work up your appetite with a stroll along the river as you sink into the rhythm of this beautiful city.
In the evening, you'll head downtown for a unique, laid-back cooking class with a top Portuguese chef. Your three-hour hands-on workshop introduces you to the flavors of traditional cuisine, along with the techniques used to cook them up. After, you'll sit down to the dinner you've prepared, paired with dynamic local wines and spirits.
Day 4: Day trip to Douro Valley
After you enjoy a delicious breakfast at your hotel, you'll be picked up for a full-day private excursion to discover the enchanting Douro Valley, Portugal's stunning northern wine region. In fact, the area is considered the most beautiful wine region in all of Europe. Explore the valley today on a customizable day trip suited to your interests in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
If you're interested in the region's famed wineries, spend some time tasting. At one of the valley's best vineyards, you'll learn all about history, flavor profiles, and production processes of the local varietals, including Port; you'll then sip and savor wines, appreciating your sample with your newfound knowledge. If Port's not your thing, your specialist can tailor your tour to the area's superb blends and table wines.
You can also visit a local olive oil producer, as olive oil is also one of the most regarded products in the region; learn about harvesting the fruit, pressing techniques, and of course, sample the goods! Once you've excited your appetite, you can tuck into a divine lunch at a traditional Portuguese restaurant, where you can pair your meal with stellar wines from the valley.
If nature beckons, explore the incredible outdoors on a leisurely boat trip, then stop to take in the magnificent views of the river from above; there are myriad viewpoints from which you can look out onto the valley, so be sure to bring your camera!
After your excursion, you'll return to your hotel in Porto, where you can relax or head back out into town for dinner and nightcap.
Day 5: Depart Porto
It's time to say goodbye to Portugal!
Depending on the time of your flight, you may be able to squeeze in one more walk through the streets of Porto or perhaps pick up some last-minute souvenirs. At the designated time, you'll be picked up at your hotel and transferred to the airport for your departure onwards.
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