Overview
Set off on an adventure through the stunning landscapes and rich traditions of Portugal, from floating along the Douro River to listening to fado music in Lisbon. Stroll the waterfront promenades of Porto, hike the mountains of Peneda Gerês National Park, visit the colorful castles of Sintra, and sample port at vineyards in the picturesque Douro Valley.
Days: 10
Best time to visit: April-June, September-November
Ideal for: Couples
Trip Itinerary
Day 1 – Porto
Arriving in Porto, a vibrant and historic port at the mouth of the Douro River, settle into your hotel in the city center, just a short walk from Bolhão Market, Batalha Square, and other cultural landmarks. Enjoy Porto’s refined culinary scene and the chance to sample a variety of rich Port wines in their hometown.
Day 2 – Porto Tour & Port Tasting
Take a guided tour of Porto, beginning with the city’s old quarter, an area collectively recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit elegant churches and monuments along the banks of the Douro River, the neoclassical stock exchange building, the Palácio da Bolsa. Tour the Fundação de Serralves art museum, the Lello & Irmao Bookstore, and end the day across the river with a Port Wine Tour and Tasting.
Day 3 – Guimarães & Peneda Gerês National Park
Start the day in the medieval city of Guimarães, the birthplace of Portugal’s first king and home to the magnificent 15th-century palace of the Dukes of Bragança. Journey back in time along ancient stone streets and through plazas lined with historic homes and buildings. In the afternoon, explore Peneda-Geres National Park, a majestic landscape crisscrossed by streams and waterfalls and dotted with Roman ruins.
Day 4 – Porto to the Douro Valley
Travel inland from Porto into the verdant Douro River Valley; along the way, visit the 18th-century architectural masterpiece, Palácio de Mateus, whose gardens are some of the most regal in the country. Enjoy an afternoon of elegant cuisine and regionally produced wines.
Day 5 – Enjoy the Douro Valley
Enjoy a day on your own to explore the region. Take a drive through Parque Natural do Douro Internacional or visit the Parque Arqueológico do Vale do Côa, on the eastern border of Portugal. But you don’t have to leave your hotel to appreciate the scenery; relaxing with a glass of wine and a book along the river might be just the right pace for the day.
Day 6 – Alto Douro Wine Tour
Today, head upstream to the Alto Douro wine region where the grapes used to make port are grown. Tour a 250-year-old wine producing estate and be an enologist for a day, learning about making wine by blending and bottling it yourself. Enjoy a traditional lunch with the estate’s wine paired perfectly with each course. Afterwards, board a traditional Rabelo boat and float along the river between terraced farms and small towns.
Day 7 – Coimbra en route to Lisbon
On your way from the Douro Valley to Lisbon, stop in Coimbra to visit the sprawling Botanical Gardens and the city’s 700-year-old university, where students wear colored sashes to indicate their faculty. Take a walk along the narrow streets of the riverside Baixa neighborhood, known for its cafes and shops, and then travel onward to Lisbon, one of Europe’s most laid-back and charming cities.
Day 8 – Estates & Castles of Sintra
Drive north of Lisbon for a guided tour of Sintra, a town of palaces and royal estates, wooded lanes, and vineyards. Visit the iconic Palácio da Pena, an ostentatious and colorful hilltop castle, and the similarly quixotic Quinta da Regaleira estate. In the afternoon, head out to the cliffs and beaches of Boca do Inferno and Cabo da Roca, the most western point of the European continent.
Day 9 – Tour Lisbon
Today, enjoy a full-day tour of Lisbon, an historic city spread along the banks of the Tagus River and over a series of undulating hills. Visit the fortified citadel of Castelo de São Jorge, which presides over the river and offers incredible views above the city’s rooftops. Contrast the broad boulevards and 18th-century plazas with the narrow alleyways of the Alfama district, the oldest part of Lisbon. Finish the day on a private sailboat on the Tagus with tapas and drinks.
Day 10 – Departure
Transfer to the airport for your flight home. Now that you’ve seen the beauty of the north, plan your next visit to the wild Alentejo region in southern Portugal!
Remarkable Journeys has partnered with Lost World Adventures to create this journey. We partnered with Lost World due to their well-mannered relationships with tour guides, hotellers, airlines, and ground management services in the region. In our opinion, they offer the best value and experience in the region.
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