Highlights
- Explore the coastal city of Porto on a private sidecar tour
- Sample locally produced wines at wineries in the Douro Valley
- Cruise down the Douro River on a traditional boat
- Step inside a beautifully preserved castle in Óbidos
- Learn how to make Portuguese food in a cooking class
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive & Explore Porto on a Guided Sidecar Tour | Porto |
| Day 2 | Discover the Douro Valley | Porto |
| Day 3 | Sightsee in Aveiro & Óbidos | Lisbon |
| Day 4 | Enjoy a Private Tour of Old Lisbon | Lisbon |
| Day 5 | Take a Portuguese Cooking Class | Lisbon |
| Day 6 | Depart Lisbon |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive & Explore Porto on a Guided Sidecar Tour
Welcome to Portugal! Your adventure begins in Porto. Today you will enjoy a sidecar tour through the city. You will start in Ribeira, the oldest neighborhood in the city, located by the river. Here, you will stop to explore and take photos. Ride through narrow cobblestone streets and follow the river all the way to the ocean, stopping a few times at beautiful viewpoints over the river.
You'll go through the neighborhoods of Miragaia and Virtudes, then stop at a lookout point in Vitória. Continue uphill to Clérigos, where you will take a break at a traditional café to taste some sweet and savory Portuguese pastries. From there, cross the bridge to Gaia, the city on the other side of the river. Take in the best view of Porto before getting some rest at your hotel.
Day 2: Discover the Douro Valley
Today you will discover the amazing Douro Valley and visit some of the region's best family-owned wineries. During your tours of these wine estates, you will learn more about Douro wines, from reds and whites to port wines. You'll have the opportunity to taste several varietals, too. Enjoy lunch at one of the wineries.
On the drive back, enjoy a scenic ride through the mountains. You'll have the option to stop along the way for a boat ride on the Douro River. Then transfer back to Porto for the evening.
Day 3: Sightsee in Aveiro & Óbidos
After breakfast, your driver will pick you up at your hotel in Porto and transfer you to your hotel in Lisbon. Along the way, you will make two stops, one in the medieval town of Óbidos and the other in "the Portuguese Venice," Aveiro.
Aveiro is the capital of the Ria, a vast lagoon where the freshwater of the Vouga River joins with the sea. It was originally founded in the time of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius and is now one of the most interesting cities on the Portuguese coast. Canals intersect the town, and you'll have the chance to explore them while riding on a brightly colored boat. You can't leave this village without trying the regional pastries known as ovos moles!
Next, visit the medieval town of Óbidos, one of the most picturesque and well-preserved in Portugal. The town had strategic importance in the region. It had already been settled prior to the Romans' arrival in the Iberian Peninsula, and the town prospered after being chosen by the royal family. King Dinis offered it to his wife, Queen Isabel, in the 13th century, and it became part of Casa das Rainhas (Queens' Estate). You will visit a historic castle and stroll around the maze of streets and squares within the walls, passing by the traditional white houses.
Continue to Lisbon, where you'll check into your hotel and have dinner before getting some rest.
Day 4: Enjoy a Private Tour of Old Lisbon
Today your guide will meet you at your hotel for a private walking tour of Old Lisbon. Travel back in time as you uncover the history and culture of this vibrant city. You will visit St. George Castle, Alfama, Baixa, Chiado, Bairro Alto, and Cais do Sodré. Baixa is the heart of Lisbon and was completely rebuilt after the devastating 1755 earthquake. The district is focused on magnificent plazas and grand avenues that reveal the wealth and influence of 18th-century Portugal.
Have a Portuguese dinner in a restaurant near your hotel tonight.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 5: Take a Portuguese Cooking Class
Day 6: Depart Lisbon
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