Portugal for Foodies: Porto, the Douro Valley & Lisbon - 6 Days

Highlights

• Sample authentic dishes and traditional treats in Porto
• Take a road trip through the spectacular scenery of the Douro Valley
• Sit down to an afternoon of lunch and wine tasting at a traditional "quinta"
• See Lisbon's famously steep streets by electric tuk-tuk

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Porto

Welcome to Portugal! Upon arrival at Porto's airport, you will be met by your driver and transferred to your hotel in the city center. Take some time to rest, then head out to start exploring. An excellent place to start is the Ribeira area, which sits right along the Douro River and is one of the city's oldest parts. Famed for its narrow and colorfully-tiled dockside houses and its views of the iconic double-decked Dom Luís Bridge, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is simply a must-see. For an authentic taste of Porto, be sure to explore the warren of historic streets behind the riverside. 

Day 2: History & Gastronomy in Porto

Explore more of Porto today with a private guided excursion, learning about the city's history, heroes, and battles as you make your way through the trendiest and most cultural areas of town. Start in the UNESCO-listed city center to admire its renowned sites, including the São Bento Railway Station, Clerigos Tower, Church of St. Francis, Lello Bookshop, Sta. Catarina Street, Majestic Café, and Bolhão Market. After visiting Porto Cathedral and its surroundings, you'll finish the tour along the banks of the Douro River for sweeping views over the city from the Miradouro da Vitória.

Your afternoon is devoted to the city's gastronomy, starting with a visit to Taylor's, one of Portugal's most renowned port wine cellars. Tour the atmospheric 17th-century cellars and enjoy a tasting of their signature ports. Next, you'll take part in a tour of the city's exciting food scene. This is your chance to get off the well-worn tourist path for a side of Porto that most travelers rarely see. Families will welcome you in their small, authentic restaurants, cafés, and bars as you taste a range of traditional dishes, pastries, and, of course, Portuguese wines.

Day 3: Drive to the Douro Valley, Wine Tasting & Lunch

Pick up your rental car this morning and leave Porto behind as you head east into the mountains and valleys of the famous Douro Valley. The spectacularly scenic route takes you into the heart of the renowned wine region, where lush vineyards blanket hillsides and carved terraces along the winding Douro River. Upon arrival, enjoy a guided visit to a local winery and traditional aging cellars, where some of the Douro Valley's finest Reserve wines and ports are produced. Your expert guide will lead you through the wine cellar and the ancient wine-making process, followed by lunch at a traditional quinta (wine estate). 

Day 4: Explore the Douro Valley

It's time to explore the Douro Valley in any way you wish! This UNESCO-listed area is known for its vineyards chiseled into green mountains and beautiful wine estates dating back to the 18th century. You could spend days exploring idyllic villages, tasting wines, and sampling fantastic regional restaurants—all accessed by driving along the valley's winding scenic roads.

You'll even find some cultural opportunities. For instance, the town of Lamego offers the Museu de Lamego, one of Portugal's best museums. Located in a grand palace, the collection showcases important paintings, tapestries, and chapels dating back to the 16th century.

Day 5: Drive to Lisbon via Aveiro, See Lisbon by Tuk-Tuk

Today you'll get back on the road and drive southwest toward Lisbon, stopping en route in Aveiro. This prosperous town is dubbed the "Venice of Portugal" thanks to its small network of picturesque canals. But where the Italian city has gondolas, Aveiro has moliceiros—colorful boats traditionally used for seaweed harvesting but now repurposed for canal cruises. Explore more of the city on a guided tuk-tuk tour, and try the local pastry delicacy known as ovos moles de Aveiro (soft eggs of Aveiro) before getting back on the road. 

Upon arrival in Lisbon, drop off your car and meet your guide to explore the "City of Seven Hills" by electric tuk-tuk. Zip through the capital's modern and historic districts, from the neoclassical avenues of Baixa to the cobblestone alleys of the bohemian Bairro Alto, discovering the city's fascinating history and hidden corners along the way. As night falls, toast your final night and savor Portuguese specialties like pastéis de bacalhau (cod fritters) and grilled sardines in one of the city's charming neighborhood restaurants.

Day 6: Depart Lisbon

Make like a local today and try a breakfast of pastel de Belém (custard tarts) and coffee. When the time comes, your driver will be waiting to transfer you to Lisbon Airport to catch your departing flight. Safe travels and boa viagem!

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