Portugal & Morocco Food Tour - 14 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Porto (Portugal), Bolhão Market Food Tour

Welcome to Portugal! Touch down in Porto, where your driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel. Settle in and head out to explore the country's second-largest city, or "second city." Porto is beloved for its colorful Ribeira (riverside), packed with port cellars and cafés, and the colossal Dom Luís I Bridge, which spans the Douro River. Don't miss the Livraria Lello, a bookshop with a distinctive spiral staircase said to be one of the real-life inspirations for Harry Potter's Hogwarts.

In the afternoon, you'll get a taste of the real Porto on a food tour. Head out with a guide who'll take you to five top food locations in the city that locals love, including the bustling Bolhão Market. Other stops include specialty food stores and family-run restaurants where you'll taste local dishes while getting an insight into the history and culture of the city.

Day 2: Porto Vintage Car Tour & Private Cooking Class

This morning, your guide will pick you up in a vintage 1920s car for a tour of Porto. Travel along the cobbled streets lined with tiled churches and pastel-colored historic buildings. You'll pass some of the city's most iconic landmarks, from the Clerigos Clock Tower to Porto Cathedral. En route, your guide will give you an overview of Porto's history, culture, and architectural heritage.

Next, choose between heading toward the San Pedro da Afurada fishing village or exploring the vibrant Foz neighborhood of Porto. Set away from the city's bustling center, Foz is home to pristine beaches and a striking lighthouse. End the trip with a port cellar tour, where you'll learn about Porto's fortified wine production and enjoy a tasting session.

Finish the day with a private cooking class with a top Portuguese chef. This hands-on workshop introduces you to Portugal's traditional cuisine and the techniques used to cook local favorites such as grilled sardines and piri-piri chicken. After preparing several dishes from locally-grown, seasonal products, you'll enjoy a memorable meal paired with dynamic local wines and spirits.

Day 3: Douro Valley Wine Tasting & River Cruise

Today your private driver will be waiting to whisk you into the mountains and valleys of the famous Douro Valley wine region, where you'll visit traditional wineries accompanied by your expert guide. After a wine tasting, you'll have lunch at one of the valley's stately quintas (estates).

After lunch, it's time to hop aboard a riverboat for an hour-long cruise down the tranquil Douro River. Relax and admire the beautiful scenery of the valley and the steep, rolling hills along the riverbanks. Return to Porto afterward, where you can spend a leisurely evening in the city's lively Ribeira area.

Day 4: Train to Lisbon, Guided Tour with a Local

Today you'll take a 3.5-hour train journey to Portugal's buzzing capital, Lisbon. Check into your hotel and then get to know the city with a local on a tour that takes in the highlights and historical landmarks in the city center. Full of winding cobbled streets traversed by yellow trams, Lisbon is awash with medieval towers, Baroque palaces, and dome-topped monasteries. That's not to mention world-class restaurants, buzzing markets, and a lively bar scene.

During the tour, you'll stop at the Elevador de Santa Justa, a thin iron elevator built in 1902, which you can ride to the top of a 150-foot-tall (45 m) tower showcasing city views and the sea beyond. Pass through the grand archway, Arco Monumental da Rua Augusta, which leads into Praça do Comércio (Commerical Square), and discover the colorful Chiado district and bohemian Bairro Alto for hilltop views over the city.

Your guide will end the tour with some restaurant recommendations, and then you can explore independently. Stop for a coffee and pastel de nata, Portugal's signature egg-tart treat, and perhaps head out to the Belém neighborhood to visit UNESCO-listed Torre de Belém and Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, an imposing monastery built in 1501 in a blend of Gothic and Renaissance style.

Day 5: Lisbon Walking Tour & Evening of Fado

Get to know Lisbon's cultural and culinary scene today on a walking tour. Your local guide will take you to six of the capital's top foodie destinations, from colorful local markets to traditional restaurants serving classics like caldo verde (cabbage soup) and bolinhos de bacalhau (cod fritters). Stop in at a bakery known for its homemade chocolate cake and hotspots where locals dine.

End the day with dinner and a fado music performance in the Bairro Alto. You'll dine on local dishes at one of Lisbon's top restaurants, accompanied by the sounds of fado, a traditional Portuguese music form that dates back to the 1820s.

Day 6: Sintra & Winery Tour

Escape the city today and travel half an hour west to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sintra. Set among cool, forested hills, the city acted as a summer retreat for Portuguese royalty and, as such, is dotted with turreted palaces, extravagant villas, and fairy-tale castles. On a guided tour, explore these striking landscapes.

Before exploring Sintra, you'll head to the surrounding vineyards, which are some of Portugal's oldest. Ramisco and malvasia grapes thrive here thanks to the deep sandy soil and Atlantic climate. Visit one of the largest vineyards in the region for a tour and tasting session before enjoying lunch at a family-run restaurant in Sintra.

Afterward, you'll explore Sintra's architectural wonders. These include a Moorish castle dating back to the eighth century and Pena National Palace, a bright yellow and pink building perched on a hilltop with ornate turrets and sculptures. Other Sintra highlights include the Quinta da Regaleira and the Sintra National Palace.

Day 7: Pastéis de Nata Masterclass & Dinner With a Local

Start the day with a private baking class where you'll learn to make Portugal's iconic pastel de nata under the supervision of an experienced pastry chef. This sweet treat was first concocted by monks in Lisbon's UNESCO-listed monastery, Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, several centuries ago.

Spend the afternoon relaxing and exploring Lisbon independently before this evening's dining experience. You'll be welcomed into a local family home to share a traditional meal with your host and chat about life in Portugal, a unique cultural experience where you can build a connection through food.

Day 8: Fly to Marrakesh (Morocco), Evening Street Food Tour

Say goodbye to Portugal today and take a four-hour flight to Morocco. Your driver will be waiting at the airport in Marrakesh to take you to your hotel. Settle into this colorful oasis, known for its vibrant bazaars crammed with spices, ceramics, rugs, and Moorish riads (traditional townhouses). Experience it all by wandering through Jemaa el-Fna, the central market square.

Head out with a local guide to experience the hidden gems of the city's main square. You'll weave through the medina's (old town's) back alleys, stopping to taste street food favorites and visit spots beloved by locals. A visit to the Souk Mamma is a highlight, where you'll get a crash course in Moroccan cuisine and enjoy a traditional meal.

Day 9: Marrakesh Guided Tour

Discover the "Red City" on a half-day guided tour. You'll visit Marrakesh's most famous historic sights, from the ornate Koutoubia Mosque to the eerie Saadien Tombs, which date back to 1557. Continue to Bahia Palace, famed for its intricate woodwork and painted ceilings, and wander through the vibrant Mellah (Jewish quarter). Along the way, you'll hear about the city's history and wind through souks (markets) filled with artisans.

The rest of the day is yours to explore Marrakesh at your leisure. For a glimpse into local life, visit the tanneries just east of the medina, or head to the south of the city to admire El Badi Palace. Built in the early 17th century, the palace has extensive courtyards and sunken gardens. For some peace and quiet, retire to Majorelle Gardens, an oasis of subtropical plants and palm trees. End the day with a wander through the market and a traditional Moroccan tajine.

Day 10: Essaouira Food Tour

Take a day trip to the coastal city of Essaouira, which translates to "fortified palace" in Arabic. The port city is protected by the Skala de la Kasbah, 18th-century seafront ramparts lined with brass canons that offer sweeping sea views. Strong alizé trade winds draw kitesurfers and surfers to the city, who launch from the crescent-shaped beach, and fishermen haul their fresh catch into the lively harbor.

Enjoy a food-focused city tour, stopping to try local specialties like ma'akouda (Moroccan potato cakes), sfinge (local doughnuts), and nougat. Watch sky-blue boats bobbing in the port and head to a local Saouri home for a mini-cooking class and meal. Finish with a walking food tour through the city and some free time to wander the UNESCO-listed medina before returning to Marrakesh.

Day 11: Transfer to Rabat, Guided Tour

Transfer 3.5 hours north this morning to Morocco's capital, the coastal city of Rabat, which is recognized as a UNESCO site for its historic, sugar-white architecture. Explore the city on a guided tour, starting with a visit to the Royal Palace of Rabat and the Chellah Necropolis, where you can wander Roman and Islamic ruins. Continue to the Hassan Tower and Mausoleum of Mohamed V, an abandoned 12th-century project that features the minaret of an incomplete mosque and some 200 columns.

You'll have time to stroll through the historic medina and peruse the souks, where you'll find everything from rugs and spices to jewelry and leather goods. Your guide is on hand to help you barter for goods. Take a break from the crowds next at the peaceful Andalusian Gardens, which has paths leading through exotic flower gardens and fruit tree groves reminiscent of Spain's Alhambra gardens.

The tour ends at the grand doorway to the Kasbah des Oudaïas, the heart of the original city center. The Kasbah des Oudaïas is home to the city's oldest mosque and Musée des Oudaïas handicrafts museum. Spend time admiring the white and blue architecture and learning about traditional regional crafts. Return to your hotel afterward for a restful evening.

Day 12: Day Trip to Chefchaouen

Embark upon a day trip to one of Morocco's most photogenic cities: Chefchaouen, known as the "Blue City" for its maze-like medina filled with blue-washed buildings. Perched beneath the raw peaks of the Rif mountains, the city's name translates to "two horns," a reference to the twin peaks that shadow the city.

Chefchaouen is a holy city founded in 1471 by Idrissid Shorfa, descendants of the Prophet Mohammed, as a stronghold in the fight against the Portuguese. Revered as a holy mecca, the city is home to eight mosques and several zaouias (an Islamic place of worship, school, monastery, or mausoleum) and marabouts (Muslim religious leaders).

Discover Plaza Uta el-Hammam, the main square named for the number of hammams (public baths) that used to encircle it. Take a break for a two-course lunch at a local restaurant and then visit the Grand Mosque, a striking landmark built in 1560. In the late afternoon, return to Rabat.

Day 13: Transfer to Casablanca, Tour Hassan II Mosque & Dinner with Locals

Continue an hour south today to the coastal city of Casablanca, where you'll settle into your hotel before heading out to explore. Visit the famous Hassan II Mosque, which is the largest in Morocco and sits on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. Inaugurated in 1993, the mosque's 650-foot (200 m) minaret is the tallest structure in Morocco and the tallest minaret in the world.

What makes this mosque even more unique is it is one of the few in the country where non-Muslims are permitted to enter. Tour the historic complex, which includes a museum, baths, Quranic school, a library, and a prayer room that can hold 25,000 people, supported by 78 granite and marble pillars. Tour the historical complex and marvel at the mosaics, decorative wood, and ornamental ceilings created by skilled artisans from across Morocco.

This evening, you'll be invited into a Moroccan home for a traditional, family-style meal. As you dine, you'll have the chance to chat with your host and get an insight into Moroccan life.

Day 14: Depart Casablanca

Today your Portugal and Morocco adventure comes to an end. You'll be transferred to the airport in time to catch your homebound flight. Safe travels!