Porto + Lisbon With Douro Valley

On arrival at the airport, you’ll be warmly greeted and chauffeured to your choice of first class or deluxe hotel in the heart of town. Nestled on the banks of the Douro River, Porto exudes charm at every turn. Take the rest of this day to relax, enjoy and explore at your own pace.  

Renowned for its stunning riverside views, architectural wealth, vibrant culture, and historic wine cellars, Porto #WHS# is a delight to explore. Personalize your sightseeing today with your choice of included, privately-guided sightseeing. Meals B   Half-Day Tour of Porto with Driver + Guide: Traveling in comfort with your own chauffeured vehicle, you’ll discover some of Porto’s most significant highlights. Begin along Avenida dos Aliados, a grand boulevard lined with impressive Neoclassical landmarks. Then visit the São Bento Train Station, an early 20th-century railway terminal embellished with 20,000 blue and white tiles, each one hand-painted with scenes depicting important moments in Portuguese history. Admire the towering silhouette of Torre dos Clérigos, the symbol of Porto, and discover other city landmarks including the Lello bookshop, Dom Luis I Bridge, and 18th-century Carmo Church.  Tour Duration: 4 Hours   Porto E-Bike Tour: Porto’s contemporary street art scene has emerged as one of the most dynamic and vibrant in all of Europe. After an instructional briefing on how to navigate Porto’s hills and winding streets on an e-bike, you’ll set out with your engaging private guide to discover the city’s colorful street art. The scene emerged in the 1990’s and continues to thrive as both an art form and a powerful tool for social activism. With insights from your expert guide, you’ll learn about the techniques used by different artists and how the art form has evolved over the decades. Beyond Porto’s street art scene, this tour is a great way to experience the city’s architecture and vibrant street life.  Tour Duration: 3 Hours   Portuguese Food + Wine Tour: Porto’s vibrant culinary scene is the focus of this immersive tour, led by our engaging professional guide, a Porto native and passionate foodie. With the city’s history and architecture providing the backdrop, you’ll spend this time savoring traditional Portuguese dishes and sampling fine local wines. From historic landmark restaurants to small, family-run eateries, you’ll sample more than a dozen different foods and enjoy a variety of beverages including a Port wine masterclass featuring three different types of Port. This gastronomic tour is a wonderful way to discover the city’s foodie scene as you engage with friendly city residents.  Tour Duration: 3.5 Hours ​You can also purchase any of these tours in advance for additional sightseeing to enhance your time in Porto. CLICK HERE [/~/getmedia/2150ecd4-0b40-4fa3-8f5a-0928b2fb4b17/Europe-Portugal-Porto-Optional-Tours.pdf.aspx] for a complete list of our Privately Guided Sightseeing Tours.

With the prime, city-center locations of our hotels, you’ll find it easy to get out and enjoy more of Porto’s myriad sites and charms at your own pace. If you prefer to explore farther afield, we offer a variety of excursions to some of the historic towns close to Porto, including ancient Braga and Coimbra. CLICK HERE [/~/getmedia/2150ecd4-0b40-4fa3-8f5a-0928b2fb4b17/Europe-Portugal-Porto-Optional-Tours.pdf.aspx] to see a complete list of our available privately-guided tours from Porto.  Meals B

After breakfast and check-out from your hotel, depart Porto with your car and driver. Sit back and enjoy the scenery as you travel eastward into the lovely Douro Valley. With beautiful terraced vineyards rising above the gently flowing Douro River, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is heralded for both its scenic beauty and enduring wine traditions. Arriving in the heart of the Alto Douro region, check in to your hotel and enjoy the rest of this day.  Meals B

The wine traditions of the bucolic Douro River Valley #WHS# stretch back nearly 2,000 years. This long viticultural tradition has transformed the valley’s cultural landscape, from the topography of its terraced vineyards to the region’s economy and social fabric. Today, you can tailor your exploration of this captivating region with your choice of privately-guided excursion.  Meals B   Deluxe Quinta Nova Wine Tasting, Lunch + Boat Ride: After a leisurely breakfast, enjoy a privately guided tour of one of the most storied wine estates in the Alto Douro region. With a history dating back more than 260 years, Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo has long been an integral part of the valley’s illustrious winemaking legacy. From the original 18th-century wine cellar to the 19th-century manor house, you’ll be captivated by the stories and history of this venerated estate—once owned by the Portuguese Royal Family! After your tour of the estate, including a wine tasting, sit down to lunch at Quinta Nova’s highly-regarded onsite restaurant, Terraçu. Enjoy a 3-course degustation menu accompanied by fine wine. After lunch, embark on a scenic 1-hours cruise along the Douro River. Sipping a glass of sparkling or Port wine, this is a delightful way to experience the region’s scenic landscapes with their terraced vineyards and charming riverside towns.  Tour Duration: 6 Hours   Lamego Walking Tour + Cooking Demonstration: Situated amidst vineyard-covered hills about 7 miles from the banks of the Douro River, Lamego is one of the oldest and most interesting towns in the Alto Douro region. It was here that Alfonso I was crowned as the first king of Portugal in 1139. Then during the 16th to 18th centuries, Lamego prospered as an important wine-producing center. Traveling comfortably with your private car and driver, today’s excursion reveals Lamego’s wealth of historical landmarks including the Moorish castle, Lamego Cathedral, and the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios—famed for its spectacular Baroque staircase. After sightseeing and a tasting of regional delicacies, we’ll take you to Casa Viscondes da Várzea, a boutique hotel set in a restored 17th-century manor house. Learn about the property’s illustrious history and then join the kitchen staff for a culinary workshop featuring a variety of Portuguese dishes. After lunch, enjoy a guided visit to Caves da Raposeira to learn about the production of their excellent sparkling wines. See the subterranean caves where the wines are aged and enjoy a tasting before returning to your hotel. Tour Duration: 7 hours   Hiking in the Douro Valley with Picnic Lunch + Wine Tasting: Setting out after breakfast, this excursion begins with a scenic drive to Favaios. Surrounded by the hills and undulating landscapes of the Douro Valley, this enchanting wine village is the starting point for your guided hike. Without any major ascents or inclines, this trail is accessible for walkers across a range of fitness levels. Delight in dramatic ridgetop views of the vineyard-covered slopes and discover tiny hamlets and small villages that other tourists rarely visit. After the hike, we’ll take you to Quinta do Seixo for a picnic lunch surrounded by the terraced vineyards of this venerable wine estate. These are the vineyards behind the world-famous Sandeman brand of Port wine, and your tour and tasting explores Sandeman’s long history and state-of-the-art production methods. Tour Duration: 7 hours  

Leaving Porto behind with your private car and driver, today’s southward journey to Lisbon will include two of Portugal’s most historic towns. Situated on the banks of the meandering Mondego River, the handsome town of Coimbra is home to the country’s oldest university #WHS#, founded in 1290, and Coimbra Cathedral, hailed as one of Portugal’s most important Romanesque monuments. In Obidos, you’ll discover a charming medieval town tucked behind massive crenellated walls. Arriving in the capital, you will check in to your choice of first class or deluxe hotel.  Meals B  

Nestled along the banks of the Tagus River, Lisbon offers a rich tapestry of history, tradition, culture and modernity. Customize your exploration of the capital to your own personal interests and style with one of these included, privately-guided excursions.  Meals B   Half-Day Tour of Lisbon with Driver + Guide: Begin with a panoramic tour of several iconic sites including Edward VII Park, Liberty Avenue and Rossio Square. Then enjoy a short guided stroll in the medieval Alfama district and see the 12th-century Cathedral. Leaving central Lisbon behind, you’ll discover the imposing Belém Tower #WHS# constructed in the 16th century and marvel at the Monument to the Discoveries, built to commemorate the 500th Anniversary of the death of Henry the Navigator who discovered the Azores, Madeira and Cape Verde. A private tour of Jerónimos Monastery #WHS# reveals a 16th-century architectural masterpiece in the lavish Manueline Gothic style.  Tour Duration: 4 Hours   Portuguese Cooking Class: Portuguese cuisine is a wonderful blend of both historical and geographical influences. Seafood dishes are popular, not surprising given the country’s long Atlantic coastline, as are hearty stews featuring meats and vegetables. You’ll also find Mediterranean influences and flavors inspired by Portugal’s spice trade in the East Indies, Africa and Americas. Led by an engaging chef, this hands-on cooking class will teach you how to prepare a traditional Portuguese meal, including meat and fish dishes and dessert. At the end of class, enjoy the meal you’ve helped to prepare along with fine Portuguese wine. Available for either lunch or dinner.  Tour Duration: 3.5 Hours   Bohemian Lisbon Food Walk + Dinner: This immersive, privately-guided tour begins with a 2-hour stroll through two very different city neighborhoods. With engaging insight from your resident guide, you’ll begin in Chiado. Elegant and sophisticated, this inviting district is home to high-end boutiques, classic theaters, inviting cafes and Michelin-starred restaurants. In contrast, Cais do Sodré is an old fishermen’s district that has been transformed into one of Lisbon’s hottest destinations, filled with trendy restaurants and bars. This guided walk features 3 tasting stops to sample Portuguese cheese, charcuterie, and the famous Pastéis de Nata (custard tart). End your evening in the charming Bica neighborhood where you’ll dine at one of our favorite restaurants, renowned for its traditional tapas-inspired menu.  Tour Duration: 4 Hours ​You can also purchase any of these tours in advance for additional sightseeing to enhance your time in Lisbon. CLICK HERE [/~/getmedia/0e3dfae1-6412-4925-b762-3fc6d3768a74/Europe-Portugal-Lisbon-Optional-Tours.pdf.aspx] for a complete list of our Privately Guided Sightseeing Tours.

From the historic districts of Alfama and Bairro Alto to the inviting waterfront, Lisbon is one of Europe’s most beguiling cities—and our hotels are ideally situated for you to explore on your own. If you prefer the engaging, enlightening company of our guides, we offer a variety of additional excursions in and around Lisbon. CLICK HERE [/~/getmedia/0e3dfae1-6412-4925-b762-3fc6d3768a74/Europe-Portugal-Lisbon-Optional-Tours.pdf.aspx] to see all of the tours that are available to enhance your stay, including privately-guided, full-day excursions to Sintra and Fátima.  Meals B  

After breakfast, our car and driver will take you to the airport or rail station for your onward journey. If you wish to extend your stay, our Travel Experts can help you plan the perfect itinerary anywhere in Portugal, Spain or beyond.  Meals B