Portugal’s Best: Culinary Escapade for Seasoned Travelers

What to expect on this itinerary
Many people do not realize how remarkable Portugal’s cuisine is, and you can indulge in the best that this country has to offer during this luxurious 10-day journey that will lead to Portugal’s palate-pleasing establishments. Portugal has increasingly become one of the trendiest destinations in Europe and for excellent reasons. Every year, a plethora of tourists travel to Portugal to witness its magnificent castles, to stroll down its cobblestoned streets through charming villages, and to learn about its storied history.
Customizable Itinerary
Lisbon – Culinary Adventures
Upon your arrival in Lisbon, your private driver will be waiting for you at the airport to transfer you to your luxurious accommodation in the heart of the city. Once you have had some time to settle in, you will meet your private guide for a food tour of Portugal’s capital city. You will spend most of your time in Belem, where you will witness the iconic wonders of Jeronimos Monastery and Belem Tower. Afterward, you will stop at the famed Belem pastry shop, which is known as being the original bakery that introduced Pasteis de Nata to the country. After touring the bakery, you will be able to sample the dessert. Then, you will have the incredible opportunity to learn how to create your own Pasteis de Nata from scratch.
What's Included:
Lisbon – Exclusive Wine Tour
Lisbon – The World of Berries
Lisbon – A Shiitake Mushroom Farm
Cascais – Fishing with a Local
Constancia – Amazed by Almourol Castle
Evora – Break Bread with Locals
Evora – Olive Oil Experience
Serpa – Serpa’s Signature Cheese
Serpa – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Learn how to craft Portugal’s most beloved pastry, Pasteis de Nata, during a private baking class with a master baker
- Savor every sip during a relaxing wine tour through the Cheleiros and Bucelas region
- Craft Portuguese bread before sharing a meal with the locals in Evora
- Venture to Lisbon’s countryside and harvest fresh berries in addition to being provided with a hands-on glimpse at the inner workings of a raspberry and blueberry farm
- Marvel at the beauty of Almourol Castle before satisfying your sweet tooth in the charming village of Constancia
- Indulge in a tour of Lisbon with your expert guide, lingering in the ancient alleyways while being inspired by the capital city’s wealth of history
- Partake in a glamping experience at a fascinating shiitake farm, shadowing a farmer and his family through their local harvesting operation
Detailed Description
This luxurious, 10-day culinary adventure has been handcrafted with you in mind, ensuring that no gastronomical gem of Portugal goes undiscovered. From learning how to bake the country’s most beloved pastry in Lisbon to preparing Serpa’s world-famous, spicy sheep’s cheese, your palate and spirit will be delighted throughout every moment of this mouthwatering adventure.
Your European getaway will begin when you land in Lisbon, where you will spend your first afternoon and evening on a private tour, including visiting the site where the country’s most popular pastry, Pasteis de Nata, originated. Following your tour, you will be provided with the opportunity to bake your own Pasteis de Nata from scratch with the help of a master baker.
The following morning, you will leave the city behind and embark on an excursion that will delight the sommelier in you. You will journey through the Cheleiros and Bucelas wine regions, where you will sample the finest blends while visiting a pair of private wineries. Day three will find you diving into the flavorful world of fresh berries as you make your way to Lisbon’s surrounding countryside to visit two working berry farms. Whether you favor the red or blue variety, you will learn more than you ever thought possible about the two fruits. You will also be able to sample nearly endless treats that have been made with their juices, such as jams, syrups, and preserves.
An overnight luxury glamping experience will be waiting for you the following day, but before you indulge in your glamping experience, you will visit a shiitake mushroom farm. Far from roughing it, this outdoor adventure that has you sleeping under the stars in elite cabanas will have you wondering why you ever preferred to stay in a hotel.
On the morning of day five, your private driver will whisk you away to the stunning, seaside haven of Cascais. You will spend the morning on a boat with a master fisherman before learning the fascinating history of the area and trying your hand at casting out a line to catch some of the famed Cascais fish. Afterward, you will venture back to your gracious host’s home, and that evening, you will be taught how to prepare a local dish with your catch of the day. Once you have cooked your catch of the day, you will be wined and dined at your host’s personal abode.
The small enclave of Constancia will beckon to you on day six, and upon your arrival to this charming village, you will visit and admire the enchanting Almourol Castle before venturing back to Constancia to indulge in its signature treat of Queijinhos do ceu. Evora will be the next stop on your epicurean adventure, and as you depart Constancia on the morning of day seven, you will make your way to this lovely enclave that is known as the “Portugal’s Bread Basket.” Here, you will break bread with the friendly locals in addition to sharing a meal with them after they have graciously taught you how to bake some of their bread from a secret family recipe.
The following day will find you escaping to a nearby olive oil farm, where you will be able to witness every step of the process of olive oil production. Serpa is your final destination, and you will make your way here on day eight. Here, you will be able to sample and learn how to make Serpa’s world-famous sheep’s milk cheese, which will culminate your European adventure with a spicy kick.
Throughout every stop on your trip, you will be housed in luxurious accommodations and have every detail of your vacation absolutely taken care of in advance in addition to private transfers to and from all destinations. Nearly everything about this itinerary is entirely customizable, so you can adjust anything and everything to better suit your moods and desires once you are in Portugal.
Starting Price
$9,800 per person (excluding international flights)
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Verified Traveler Reviews
Based on 1407 reviews
My husband, our two adult sons, and myself had the pleasure of going to Spain for 11 nights. We didn’t know much about the country, so we relied on Zicasso’s travel specialist to guide us. From the start, she explained the history, culture, food, etc.
We traveled to Madrid, Granada, Seville, Barcelona, and Costa Brava! We also took day trips to Toledo and Córdoba. We had excellent tour guides and drivers. Our trip flowed nicely, as we were on the go a lot of the time.
It was a trip of a lifetime for our family. We looked forward to the tapas, paellas, Jamón Ibérico, gazpacho, empanadas, rabo de toro, and, of course, the seafood every evening. The Spanish people were great and some we’ll never forget!
We learned so much about the ancient and early history, including the Roman conquest through the Medieval and early modern history. We were taking in this information all week, including the Prado Museum, the Picasso Museum, and the Dalí Theatre-Museum!
A simple family moment was sitting on our rooftop in Seville by the pool looking out at this beautiful city, which was difficult to leave!
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Zicasso’s travel specialist and her team were amazing! We developed a great itinerary that included diverse activities and beautiful accommodations. Everyone was knowledgeable, pleasant, attentive, and flexible to adjust to changing conditions, such as intermittent bad weather. We highly recommend the whole team!
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Our trip to Portugal was outstanding. Zicasso, the tour operator, and our travel specialist were excellent. I worked with our specialist for over a month planning our trip. We did this via email and one phone call. She responded to every change I requested promptly and organized the itinerary to exactly how my wife, Jacki, and I wanted it.
The hotels she picked were excellent. The private drivers we had were always on time and were very friendly and professional. The tour guides she provided were great; very informative on the history of Portugal. The wine tours and city tours were exceptional.
Jacki and I have the utmost gratitude for our specialist's efforts in organizing this vacation. I would rate her a 10 of 10. Her expertise was invaluable, which made our vacation so enjoyable. We experienced so much that we couldn't have done on our own.
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Zicasso’s travel specialist and tour operator are fantastic. They planned a great adventure for us. We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Spain and Portugal. When little hiccups came up, our agents took care of everything. This was our second vacation planned through Zicasso and they have delivered both times. I would not hesitate to recommend this tour operator to any of my friends who are planning a vacation to Spain or Portugal.
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Zicasso's travel specialist planned a wonderful trip. All entrance tickets were purchased in advance, so we never had to wait in a line. Our tour guides were very informative and always answered our questions. I walk with a cane and they all took their time with us. We never felt rushed. The personal service was excellent. The cars (Mercedes-Benz) were very comfortable.
The travel agency is an excellent company to deal with. Each step of the trip, we were well taken care of. We were also taken to some sights that were not on the itinerary. They are very flexible.
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Zicasso's travel specialist could not have been better to work with. As we planned the trip, his knowledgeable and patient demeanor came to the forefront. He always had good suggestions and solutions to our questions. There was no pressure and everything involved in planning the trip was very relaxing and enjoyable.
While we were in Portugal, our agent was incredibly communicative (and timely in his communication), helpful, and able to help us pivot when something came up on our end—he was very solutions-oriented and focused on us just enjoying our time there. We appreciated it immensely—the trip was worry-free.
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