13-Day Authentic Culinary Tour of Portugal

Porto is an enchanting city rising out of the banks of the Douro River. The collection of narrow streets empty onto the waterfront and wind between cherished architecture representing preserved historic design. Baroque perspectives and Neoclassical rooftops create a picturesque skyline as your flight lands at Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport. Your private transfer will greet you at customs and escort you to your luxurious hotel. The remainder of the day is at your leisure to get acquainted with Porto as you prefer from strolling down the riverfront Ribeira district at sunset to finding the azulejo artwork in the Baixa neighborhood.

Your guide will meet you at the hotel for a walking tour of a city easily discovered on foot. History spans approximately 2,000 years along the edge of the Douro River with cobblestone streets carrying hints of medieval drama. The Sáo Bento railway station may glow with a unique version of Portuguese history told with more than 20,000 azulejo tiles while Sáo Francisco Church reflects elements of the Baroque with exuberant gilded veneer. As you sample typical Porto cuisine you may find distinctive aromas of cured meats, hearty stews, and typical pastries accentuated by charismatic local wines.

After breakfast, your private transfer will escort you into the gorgeous landscape of the Douro Valley where you can relax in the comforts of a 19th-century manor overlooking the sunkissed dale. You have your choice of exploring the surrounding scenery by electric bike or a 4x4 jeep to uncover the breathtaking views of terraced vineyards and olive groves. The unpaved trails will take you along tracks used for centuries by farmers highlighting the scent of sugar from the vines and nutty olives from the groves ending with a tailored picnic on a plateau for an essential taste of the valley.

Your driver will meet you at your hotel in a classic car setting the tone for the day exploring the Douro Valley. The enchanting landscape will fill your views as you wind along country roads visiting a selection of vineyards curated to your preferences. You may find aromas of wild fruits and spice filling the glass. At the antique train station in Pinháo, you can find traditional tiles creating glazed mosaics featuring classic wine production in the region. You can end the tour with a port tasting indulging in the berry notes for a sweet end to the day.

After breakfast, the day is at yours to enjoy the Douro Valley’s majesty and the comforts of your accommodations. You can bask in the soothing ambiance of the hotel spa as you embrace a hot stone massage or immerse yourself in valley grandeur with a visit to the Baroque Casa de Mateus. The manor reflects centuries-old traditions with historical gardens outlined with formal flowerbeds and manicured hedges. The scent of cedar may carry in the breeze from the trees near the rising staircase overlooking the reflective lake. You can return to your hotel to enjoy the cellar featuring local vintages.

Portugal’s Alentejo region is a mixture of historic grace and contemporary innovation bringing together the grandeur of the Atlantic Coast and the picturesque rural hills touching the Spanish border. You will travel to Alentejo after breakfast where you will find a paradise for wine lovers tucked into the quiet countryside giving rise to some of the most sophisticated and distinctive wines in Europe. You can relax in the charm of your accommodations on a 200-year-old estate connected to a small farming village where the aromas of ancient oaks, olive groves, and vineyards establish a comforting atmosphere.

The day is yours to explore the countryside surrounding your estate. You could also choose to enjoy an aerial panorama of the region on a hot air balloon ride at dawn. The balloon will rise with the sun as the light bathes the landscape in a golden glow. Nature is at your fingertips as you choose to plunge into the pool or spend time cycling through the vineyards connected to the property. The vines on the property are known for producing first-class vintages for the chance to enjoy a luscious glass of wine while overlooking the olive groves and fields.

You will set out into the rolling plains of Alentejo with your guide during a private tour away from the popular regional destinations uncovering the captivating beauty of cork forest, olive groves, and vineyards. Your guide will introduce you to local winemakers and farmers, giving way to the aromas of tropical fruits and tangerine peel. Traditional bakeries may reveal flavors of spongy pao de lo as you wander hilltop towns like Castelo de Vide. The town embodies romance with a remarkable view over the landscape, whitewashed buildings crowned by red-tiled roofs, and a crowning castle adorned with a spiral staircase.

Alentejo’s natural beauty will take center stage after breakfast with a guided hike taking you into the open spaces connecting ancient villages. The scent of grass and vines may fill the air as your guide leads you through woodlands and olive groves. The gentle hills will create dynamic terrain filled with the calls of Azure-winged magpie. You can visit Monsaraz to find the town perched on a hill and adorned with a castle offering views of Alqueva Lake. Under the night sky, you will have a stargazing experience with a guide eager to point out constellations, planets, and distant galaxies.

Your self-drive to Lisbon will let you travel at your own pace stopping along the way as you prefer. You may choose to spend time in the fascinating city of Evora, where you can enjoy a stroll through the charming cobbled streets set beneath intricate wrought-iron balconies. The Roman Temple of Evora will shine with Corinthian columns while the cathedral resembles a fortress with Romanesque and Gothic embellishments. Once in Lisbon, your guide will take you on a private tour of the distinctive neighborhoods blending the bohemian ambiance of the Bairro Alto with the historic village-like atmosphere of the Alfama.

You will feel like a local of Lisbon with your guided tour of culture and cuisine in the Mouraria neighborhood. You may feel the shift in atmosphere as you find aromas of orange trees drifting through the web of lanes. Your guide will be a local expert who will share with you the authenticity of the birthplace of Fado music and the aromas of neighborhood cuisine. You will uncover the typical flavors of savory dishes as you sample cured ham, the luscious texture of olive oil, the sweet tastes of custard tart, and the explosive bitterness of espresso.

The charismatic city of Lisbon will become even more vibrant at your leisure as you spend the morning exploring the cobbled lanes and hills at your pace. You can wander the dramatic walls of Castelo de Sáo Jorge to find the mid-11th-century hilltop fortress overlooking the city’s famous red rooftops or climb the narrow spiral staircase of the Belem Tower. In the afternoon, you will head to the port and board a sailboat for a sunset cruise. You can embrace the sea breeze and the view of Lisbon as the sunlight creates a reflective golden color spreading across the water.

The morning is yours to enjoy your remaining time in Lisbon as you please. The city has one of the highest concentrations of cafes out of anywhere in Europe making it a wonderful place to indulge in local coffee traditions or sample sweet treats before you leave for the airport. When you are ready, your private transfer will meet at the hotel and escort you to Lisbon’s Portela Airport for your flight home, bringing an end to your ultimate culinary guide to Portugal.