Luxury Portugal Flavors & Culture Tour - 7 Days

Highlights

• Stay exclusively at luxurious and iconic 5-star hotels
• Explore Portugal's culinary heritage with walking tours in Lisbon and Porto
• Dine at Michelin-starred restaurants like Fifty Seconds and The Yeatman
• Access top port wines with an exclusive cellar and tasting experience
• Experience the best of the Douro Valley with a premium private day trip

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Lisbon, Free Time to Explore

Olá and welcome to Lisbon, the colorful capital of Portugal. On arrival, a private driver will be waiting to transfer you to one of Lisbon's most prestigious 5-star hotels, the Tivoli Avenida Liberdade. This landmark hotel has seen celebrities, heads of state, and royalty walk through its doors since opening in 1933, and over the next three nights, you'll enjoy its exceptional hospitality (and views) too. Drop your bags and wander down to the oasis swimming pool and tropical garden, then step out to explore Lisbon.

Lisbon is one of Europe's most charming capitals, with friendly locals, delicious cuisine, and gorgeous terracotta-roofed buildings that cling haphazardly to its seven hills. You'll step out of the hotel and onto Avenida Liberdade, Lisbon's chic tree-lined avenue that houses top restaurants and luxury boutiques. Follow the flow toward Baixa-Chiado, where you'll find souvenir shops, small markets, and centuries-old delicacies. If you have your walking shoes on, continue down to Praça do Comercio to the Tejo River, where you can watch sailboats and the sunset.

Day 2: Lisbon Guided Walking & Tasting Tour, Dinner & Fado Performance 

Today you'll experience the best of Lisbon with a private gastronomic walking tour. As you explore the historic neighborhoods with a knowledgeable guide, you'll pause to taste gourmet delights. Wear good walking shoes to traverse the hilly streets as you visit iconic landmarks and learn about the city's history and culture. You'll explore Baixa-Chiado, where the great 20th-century writers and philosophers used to gather, and Alfama, one of the oldest districts in Lisbon. You'll end at a scenic winery where you'll taste a range of wines paired with Portuguese delicacies.

After lunch, return to your hotel to refresh ahead of this evening's special dinner experience. A private driver will collect you for the transfer to a fado house, where you'll experience one of Portugal's greatest art forms. Everything stops when fado is performed. Silence rules the room, the lights dim, and only then the show begins. More than a traditional style of music, fado is an emotional experience that will be further enhanced with your creative and contemporary Portuguese meal. Enjoy the meal with paired wines, then wait for the show to begin.

Day 3: Day Trip to Sintra's Palaces & Parks, Dinner at Fifty Seconds Restaurant 

Today you'll experience the charms of Sintra and its crown jewel, Palácio da Pena (Pena Palace), in the lap of luxury. A private driver will collect you for a full-day tour through this beloved region's enchanting landscapes and historic wonders. Journey from Lisbon to the picturesque mountain town, starting with a visit to the fairy-tale Pena National Palace. After exploring the famous red-and-yellow Disney-like palace and Pena Park, venture into the historic Sintra village for lunch and delicious local pastries. Continue exploring winding roads through the verdant Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, then head toward the coast.

On the return journey to Lisbon, you'll stop at the towering cliffs of Cape Roca, the westernmost point of continental Europe, and then follow the coastline. Cruise past the dramatic Guincho Beach, a paradise for surfers and windsurfers, and stroll through Cascais, an upmarket resort town made popular in the 19th century. Back in Lisbon this evening, you have a reservation at Fifty Seconds, a Michelin-starred restaurant that marries Portuguese flavors with international influences. Savor its multicourse tasting menu as you look out over the city from its perch atop the Vasco da Gama Tower. 

Day 4: Transfer to Porto via Óbidos & Nazaré

After breakfast at your hotel, it's time to make the journey to Porto, Portugal's second-largest city. A private driver will make a day of the three-hour drive by stopping at the medieval village of Óbidos and the fishing town of Nazaré. An hour north of Lisbon, Óbidos is a charming medieval walled village where the historic center is a small maze of cobblestoned streets and flowerbeds, and the whitewashed houses are livened up with dashes of vivid yellow and blue paint. Try the local liqueur—ginjinha—a sweet, sour cherry drink often served in a small chocolate cup.

Continue north to Nazaré, where you'll stop for lunch. The coastal town is famous for its long, sandy half-moon-shaped beach and some of the largest waves in the world. Admire the beautiful wooden fishing boats and the local women who still wear the traditional seven skirts. If you're lucky, the world-record-breaking waves might be pumping, attracting top surfers from all over the world. Finally, continue to Porto, where you'll check into The Yeatman, a timeless and elegant 5-star hotel with spellbinding views over Porto's Old Town from its location across the river in Gaia.

Day 5: Gastronomy & Culture Tour, Port Cellar Tasting, The Yeatman Restaurant

Get to know the city of Porto and its most famous monuments on a three-hour private walking tour this morning. Your local guide will lead you past landmarks like the Cathedral, the Torre dos Clérigos, and the São Bento train station, famed for its elegant azulejo tiles. From bustling central squares to treasured secret corners, you'll quickly see why Portugal's "capital of the north" is worthy of its UNESCO World Heritage Site designation. Best of all, as you explore, you'll get a taste of the city as you pause to try traditional jams and jellies, port wines, cheeses and sausages, codfish, and rojões (fried pork).

No visit to Porto is complete without delving into its famous fortified wine. Port wine is born in the Douro Valley, but the wine ages at cellars in Gaia, across the river from Porto. This afternoon, you'll take a private tour of a wine cellar to learn about the famous exports, then taste very special port wines that have aged for 10, 20, 30, and 40 years. After, return to your opulent hotel for a gastronomic journey. With two Michelin stars and panoramic views of Porto, enjoy a romantic meal as the sun sets at The Yeatman Restaurant.

Day 6: Day Trip to the Douro Valley, Wine Tasting & River Cruise

Explore the picturesque Douro Valley on a full-day private tour from Porto, where you'll explore elegant wineries, savor a delicious lunch at a renowned quinta (a country estate), and unwind on a scenic river cruise. A private driver will take you from the city streets to the vineyards and valleys of this famous wine country, which is the oldest demarcated wine region of the world, dating back to 1756. You'll spend the day visiting wineries and learning about the region's fascinating UNESCO-protected wine heritage as you walk through the vineyards and taste local wines.

Next, you'll dive deeper into the region's winemaking heritage with a special tasting and sumptuous lunch at a local estate. Then it's time to hop aboard a boat for an hourlong cruise down the tranquil Douro River. Relax and soak up the lush scenery of the valley, where the vines roll down to the riverbank while sipping on a glass of port wine. At the end of the day, return to Porto, where you can spend your final evening at leisure.

Day 7: Depart Porto

Your week of luxury in Portugal comes to an end today. 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 collected from your hotel by a private driver and transferred to the airport for your departing flight. Safe travels!

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