Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Porto
You'll land in Porto and get settled at your hotel. After checking in, depending on when you arrive, there's time to walk around the colorful streets and get a first sense of the city. Later in the evening, you'll meet your tour guide and have dinner together to kick things off.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner with tour guide)
Optional Activities
- Discover Porto on a first walk
- Day 2
Porto
This morning you'll check out Porto's cultural sites, starting with the cathedral that overlooks the old town. From there, head to the Stock Exchange Palace to see the marble staircases and gold-decorated walls inside. You'll learn how Porto developed as a major trading hub over the centuries. In the afternoon, cross over to Vila Nova de Gaia and spend time learning about port wine production, then taste some of the region's famous sweet wines.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Stock Exchange Palace visit
- Port wine tasting in Vila Nova de Gaia
Optional Activities
- Cathedral visit
- Old town exploration
Landmarks/POIs Stock Exchange Palace Porto Cathedral Vila Nova de Gaia - Day 3
Ponte de Lima - Braga - Guimarães
Head out early toward the coast to Viana do Castelo and climb up to Santa Luzia hill for views over the area. Continue inland to Ponte de Lima and try Vinho Verde, the light refreshing wine grown there. Next stop is Bom Jesus do Monte near Braga, a Baroque church set in forests with excellent views. You can walk the steps or take the old rack railway up. Later, walk through Braga's narrow streets past baroque buildings and the cathedral, one of the oldest in Portugal. End the evening in Guimãraes, where Portugal's first kings ruled.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Wine tasting in Ponte de Lima
- Ride on the rack railroad to Bom Jesus do Monte
- Guimarães walking tour
Optional Activities
- Santa Luzia hill panoramic views
- Climbing the steps to Bom Jesus do Monte basilica
- Braga cathedral visit
- Braga old town exploration
Landmarks/POIs Santa Luzia Ponte de Lima Bom Jesus do Monte Braga Cathedral Guimarães - Day 4
Penafiel - Amarante
Spend time in Guimãraes walking through historic squares and cobbled streets with traditional houses. This UNESCO site is where Portugal's Kingdom started back in 1139 under Afonso Henriques. Later, head to nearby Penafiel for a short visit, then travel to Quinta da Aveleda to learn how they grow grapes and taste their wines. By evening you'll reach Amarante, a riverside town known for the iconic São Gonçalo bridge.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Quinta da Aveleda with wine tasting
Optional Activities
- Guimarães monuments and historic buildings exploration
- Penafiel village tour
- Amarante old town exploration
- São Gonçalo bridge visit
Landmarks/POIs Guimarães Historic Center Penafiel Quinta da Aveleda Amarante São Gonçalo Bridge - Day 5
Peso da Régua
Drive to Casa de Mateus manor house in Vila Real, a well-known winery in northern Portugal. Walk through the large gardens and taste the region's rosé wine. Then head south into the Douro Valley's vineyards around Peso da Régua, where you'll see steep hillsides of grapevines and the Douro River below. You'll learn about how wines historically traveled downriver to Porto and get a better understanding of winemaking in this region.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Casa de Mateus manor house visit with wine tasting
Optional Activities
- Casa de Mateus gardens exploration
Landmarks/POIs Casa de Mateus Peso da Régua Douro Valley - Day 6
Lamego - Pinhão
You'll spend time in Lamego, an old town with roots going back to Roman periods and a 12th-century cathedral. Grab lunch in the Douro Valley with regional wines while taking in the landscape around you. In the afternoon, board a boat and cruise the Douro River to see the scenery from the water. The boat starts and ends in Pinhão village, where you can see the famous blue and white azulejo tiles decorating the old train station.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in the heart of the Douro Valley with regional wines)
Included Activities
- Lunch in the Douro Valley
- Boat trip on the Douro
Optional Activities
- Lamego cathedral visit
- Lamego town tour
- Pinhão village tour
Landmarks/POIs Lamego Lamego Cathedral Douro River Pinhão Pinhão Train Station - Day 7
Porto
Travel to Aveiro, a port city with three canals that give it a Venice-like character. Board a traditional moliceiro boat and hear about the city's maritime history while trying Ovos Moles, local pastries made with eggs and sugar. Afterward, head back to Porto and return to your hotel with free time for shopping or another walk through town. Later that evening, gather together for a farewell dinner to reflect on the week.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Farewell dinner)
Included Activities
- Moliceiro boat trip in Aveiro
Optional Activities
- Aveiro city exploration
- Last-minute shopping in Porto
- Porto city stroll
Landmarks/POIs Aveiro Aveiro Canals - Day 8
Departure from Porto
Your trip through Portugal wraps up today. Transfer to the airport for your flight home, taking with you memories of the Douro Valley, the wines you tasted, and all the historic sites and culture you've seen.
- Meals
- Breakfast
