Exploring Portugal’s Most Romantic Enclaves: Trip for All-Aged Couples

Madeira, view of the coast and vineyards in Portugal

What to expect on this itinerary

During this 10-day journey, you will witness some of the most iconic aspects of Portugal. Portugal is an amazing travel destination that is often overshadowed by some of the larger European countries, but this unique country has something to please everyone and usually always has its guests leaving enamored. Escape to Madeira Island for three days, indulge in a dinner cruise, and spend the night at a 13th-century castle.

Countries Visited

Portugal

Places Visited

Porto, Viana do Castelo, Braga, Guarda, Obidos, Funchal, Madeira Island

Suggested Duration

10 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Porto – Indulge in a River Cruise

Upon your arrival to Porto, you will be met by your private driver, who will transfer you to your luxurious accommodations in the heart of the city. After checking in and having ample time to settle in, you will embark on a romantic dinner cruise on the Douro River. This river tour will prove to be an amazing way to witness the picturesque city from a unique perspective, and during your cruise, you can dine on some of Portugal’s freshest fare. After admiring the gorgeous views as you sail, you will be returned to your luxurious accommodation.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Tour
Dinner
Day 2

Viana do Castelo – Tales of Lore

Day 3

Braga – Private Horseback Ride

Day 4

Guarda – Visit the Jewish Quarter

Day 5

Guarda – Reconnect with Nature

Day 6

Obidos – Sleep in a Castle

Day 7

Obidos – Learn How to Make Ginjinha

Day 8

Funchal – Escape to Madeira Island

Day 9

Funchal – Taste the Flavors of Funchal

Day 10

Funchal – Departure

Trip Highlights

  • Escape to magical Madeira Island for three days of exploring tropical gardens, farmers’ markets, and delighting in picnics
  • Indulge in a dinner cruise in Porto that will have you gliding along the calm waters of the Douro River
  • Venture on a horseback riding tour among the beautiful backdrop of Braga’s scenery
  • Marvel at Viana do Castelo, where you can hear tales of the town’s fascinating folklore
  • Escape to the alluring Estrela Mountains, where you can admire the spectacular views that will surround you on every side
  • Peruse the historical wonders of Guarda’s Jewish Quarter before discovering the beauty of Guarda’s castle and cathedral
  • Spend the night in a 13th-century castle that has been converted into a stunning bed and breakfast

Detailed Description

When it is time for you and your significant other to escape, Portugal provides the perfect destination. From its charming villages that are full of cobblestone streets and medieval architecture to its numerous castles, Portugal presents a wonderland that boasts boundless beauty and boundless marvels to explore. This luxurious, 10-day journey will provide you with some of the most exclusive experiences that this country has to offer.

Your journey will begin in Porto, where you will begin with a dinner cruise, sightseeing the city from a unique perspective as you glide along the Douro. Day two will find you venturing to Viana do Castelo, which is a lovely enclave that is imbued with charm and history. While here, you will listen to fascinating tales of folklore. Later in the evening, you will be provided with the incredible opportunity to craft your own to keepsake.

You will transfer to Braga on day three, and upon your arrival, you will witness the Bom Jesus before embarking on a private, horseback ride. Two unforgettable days in Guarda will be waiting, which is where you will indulge in an escape to the Estrela Mountains. This getaway will give you the chance to reconnect with nature among majestic, mountain scenery. While here, you will enjoy perusing the historical gems that can be found in the Jewish Quarter before become exploring the city’s castle and cathedral.

Obidos will be next on your agenda, and here, you will indulge in a private tour of the city’s highlights. Your accommodation in Obidos will be what was once a royal castle but is now a high-end bed and breakfast. During your second day in Obidos, you will enjoy its many outdoor offerings as you begin the morning by embarking on a stand-up paddleboarding adventure at Obidos Lagoon. Following your SUP session, you can spend the afternoon strolling and sunbathing on the beach before partaking in your exciting evening event. This evening you will indulge in a class that will be taught by a local master on how to craft the famous cherry liqueur known as Ginjinha.

The final leg of your getaway will find you flying to Madeira Island for a three-day adventure. The following day will have you exploring two tropical gardens. Following your foray into the blossoming world of the botanical gardens, you will be led on a gourmet food tour excursion. During your tour, your culinary guide will introduce you to the flavors of the city.

Throughout your vacation, you will stay in luxurious accommodations and have every detail of your journey taken care of, including all private transfers to and from each destination. Nearly everything about this itinerary is customizable, so you can adjust nearly anything and everything to better suit your moods and interests once you are in Portugal.

Starting Price

$3,300 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

The starting price is based on travel during the low season for a minimum of two travelers staying in shared 3-star accommodations. Please inquire for a custom trip quote based on your travel preferences and travel dates.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 1413 reviews

Henry A.
Spain, Portugal Tour Review: Sevilla, Malaga, Food Tours, 3-Week Trip

Zicasso’s travel company took care of all our needs and if we needed to make changes or find reservations at great restaurants, they responded quickly and set us up in some fantastic restaurants.

The guides and drivers were all super-knowledgeable and nice. We would definitely use the travel company again for trips to Portugal and Spain, and also use Zicasso to help us find tour companies in other countries.

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Peggy C.
Spain, Portugal Travel Review: Douro Valley, Ronda, Sagrada Familia, Picasso Museum, Flamenco Show, Bullring, Bull Farm, Vineyard, River Cruise, 17-Night Trip

Zicasso’s travel company designed a fabulous 17-day Spain and Portugal tour for us. It was a pleasure to work with our travel specialist during the entire design process. First, the travel specialist spent time talking to us over the phone so she could get to know what each of us wanted to get out of the trip. Armed with that information, she was able to come up with a recommended agenda. We went back and forth a few times until she designed a trip that suited both of our interests. This trip turned out to be the perfect balance between learning about the history of the area, experiencing the culture, and enjoying our surroundings in rural and urban environments.

The week before we left on the tour, we reviewed our entire trip with the travel specialist over the phone. She wanted to answer any questions we may have had and to make sure we understood how to use our trip app. The trip app made it easy to see what we were doing each day. It contained descriptions of each tour and what was significant about the sites we were visiting. We had access to all our tickets through the app. There were Google Map links, so we could easily navigate to the location we needed to be. Recommendations for various restaurants and other things to do in the area were also included in the app.

The travel specialist provided her contact information and back-up contacts in case we needed anything during our trip. She made it clear to us that if our guide or driver was more than five minutes late to contact her. The travel company was there to support us 24/7.

The travel specialist pays attention to details. I highly recommend the travel company for designing a trip to Spain and Portugal.

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David B.
Spain, Portugal Trip Review: Douro Valley, Cordoba, Toledo, Madrid, Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, Casa Batllo, Alhambra, 18 Days

It is hard not to be overly effusive in praise of the trip. The hotels, travel, guides, and itinerary were all wonderful. The trip was tailored to our needs and interests very well. We loved our app and Zicasso’s travel specialist checking in on us.

So what were the favorites for me? The Douro Valley, Córdoba, and Toledo. Not saying that I did not enjoy all the rest, but those were the standouts and might merit a return. I think being there during the Christmas season was special, though the crowds in Madrid were a little much for us. It was colder than we expected, but better than sweltering heat.

So what could I have lived without? The Metropol Parasol (recommended by someone else, not the travel company) was underwhelming and the Royal Palace in Madrid was not as interesting as other landmarks. The Alhambra and the Retiro Park in Madrid were more enjoyable.

That said, the travel specialist did a wonderful job accommodating our lifestyle and interests, making for a wonderful travel experience.

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Anna V.
Portugal Trip Review: 9 Days

We had one of the best trips. We never expected so much attention from any travel agency, from the beginning to departure.

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Jane M.
Spain, Portugal Vacation Review: Madrid, Toledo, Granada, Seville, Lisbon, Porto, 10 Nights

We loved our trip to Spain and Portugal! We enjoyed each of our private tours with our tour guides in the various cities we experienced. They went above and beyond to share their knowledge of the planned sites, plus they added in individual unique sites and information along our walking route.

Zicasso’s tour company took all of our requested activities, venues, and interests to customize a trip that fit us well. They were in communication with us during our trip when a planned site was not available due to construction. Our tour guide provided us with other possible replacement options and let us choose what was of interest to us rather than them making the decision.

We tremendously enjoyed all of the cities, Madrid, Toledo, Granada, and Seville in Spain and Lisbon and Porto in Portugal. Our trip went smoothly and the activities were scheduled at a good pace for us! An extra bonus for us was seeing King Felipe VI by being in the right place at the right time near the opera house in Madrid while we were on our walking tour. We highly recommend Zicasso and the tour company.

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Carole B.
Portugal Tour Review: Sintra, Obidos, Suspension Bridge, 9 Nights

Zicasso’s travel specialist was a class act, very responsive and reliable, and able to adjust on the fly when we needed. She was generous and an absolute class act. We asked for a more spacious room for part of the trip and she delivered, and, I believe, paid out of pocket for the upgrade (which we didn't expect and offered to pay). We were needy at times and she handled it all with professionalism and grace. Well done. I highly recommend the travel company!

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

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