5-Day Private Cultural Tour of North Portugal

Day 1: Departure from Lisbon to Porto – 300 km. Overnight in Porto

1. Porto
   4h
   Drive from Lisbon to Porto.
   Visit Porto Portugal’s second largest city where houses cling to the banks of the Douro, the legendary river.
   Enjoy a city sightseeing and visit some of the most important monuments like the medieval walls, Food market bollhão, the cathedral, cross the bridge to the other city Gaia.
2. Taylor's Port Wine Cellars
   1h · Admission ticket included
   Visit an authentic wine cellar and get more connected with the history of this wine.
   Port is one of the great classic European wines and its history is a long and fascinating one. One of the fascinating aspects of Port wine is its variety of different styles, each with its own characteristic flavors.
3. Mercado do Bolhao
   1h
   The Bolhão Market is a jewel of Porto: the building, one of the city's most iconic, is municipal heritage and a monument of public interest and preserves the memories and stories of the great fresh produce market, which beats in the heart of the city, of the people of Porto, and of those who visit it. Its character is unique and valuable, and its identity and history have been intertwined for over a hundred years with the identity and history of the city of Porto.
4. World of Wine - WOW
   30m · Admission ticket included
   Cluster of museums, restaurants and cellar bars, which tell the story of the Port wine industry.
5. Porto
   1h
   We had lunch in a typical Portuguese restaurant to learn more about the gastronomy of this region

Day 2: Douro valley & amarante Village of Pinhão. Overnight in the village of Régua

1. Amarante
   2h
   In the morning we visit the city of amarante, When visiting Amarante, in the heart of the picturesque Minho region, look out for the exotic honey-gold granite façade of the church and former monastery of São Gonçalo which dates back to 1540 and houses a lovely interior of painted columns and a dramatic high altar, under which exists a little golden chapel where Saint Gonçalo himself lies buried. Born in Amarante at the end of the 12th century, Saint Gonçalo is mostly revered for his many healing miracles. The church also features a magnificent two-storey Renaissance cloister.
2. Amadeo De Souza Cardoso Museum
   30m · Admission ticket included
   Nearby, the town’s principal museum is dedicated to the life and work of locally-born Cubist artist Amadeo de Souza Cardoso (1887-1918), one of Portugal’s leading 20th-century artists.
3. Pinhao
   2h
   In the afternoon take a ride on the historical train along the Douro River and admire the beautiful landscape that is classified by UNESCO as World Heritage until the village of Regua.
4. 3h
   Visit a vinery in Pinhão Ventozelo and learn more about the Douro wine production.
   Absorb the flavors of the farm in a delicious lunch with products from your own space
5. Peso Da Regua
   30m
   small walking tour in the village from the train station until the museum of Porto wine
6. Museu do Douro
   45m · Admission ticket included
   Casa da Companhia, which today houses the Douro Museum, is one of the most emblematic buildings in the history of the Demarcated Region. Its construction is directly related to the founding of the Companhia Geral da Agricultura das Vinhas do Alto Douro, which in 1756 created the first regulated wine zone in the world.

Day 3: Departure to Vila Real and the national park of Alvão & Guimarães – 112 km. overnight in Guimarães

1. Vila Real
   2h
   Discover the city of Vila Real, inside the national park Alvão with the river passing in the middle of the city you will be surprise by the views and landscapes.
2. Casa de Mateus
   1h · Admission ticket included
   Casa de Mateus was built in the first half of the 18th century by the 3rd Morgado of Mateus. The project for this palace was presumably designed by the architect Nicolau Nasoni. The Palace consists of the main house, the gardens, the wine cellar and a chapel.
   Inside the House there is a library with 6000 volumes, where the famous illustrated edition of Lusíadas by Luís de Camões.
   Mateus Palace has been classified as a National Monument since 1910
3. Parque Natural de Alvao
   1h
   It is close to Ermelo that there is one of the most impressive Portuguese waterfalls. Known as Fisgas de Ermelo, they are an abyss shaped by the force of water and time, in the middle of the Alvão National Park, a protected area, rich in diversity of landscape and life.
4. Guimaraes
   2h
   Arrive to Guimarães considered the birthplace of Portugal, the historical centre was classified a World Heritage site. We will do a walking tour on the historical centre before the end of the day.
5. Paco dos Duques de Braganca
   1h · Admission ticket included
   Three national monuments are located on Monte Latito: the Castle of Guimarães, the Church of S. Miguel do Castelo and the Paço dos Duques.
   Paço dos duques It was built by the 8th Count of Barcelos (and, later, 1st Duke of Bragança), D. Afonso, natural son of King D. João I.
   Guimarães Castle Recognized as the castle that, par excellence, is most linked to the origins of Portugal.
   Church of S. Miguel The Romanesque Church of S. Miguel do Castelo is traditionally associated with the baptism of first king D. Afonso Henriques.

Day 4: Day at Braga city departure to Viana do Castelo – 25 km. Overnight in Viana do Castelo

1. Braga
   2h
   The former Roman city of Bracara Augusta is now the capital of Northern Portugal’s Minho region and is well and truly steeped in history and architectural treasures
2. Sanctuary of Our Lady of Sameiro
   40m · Admission ticket included
   Visit Bom Jesus do Monte sanctuary and ride its 19th century funicular, discover a sanctuary which is one of the most beautiful works of European Baroque.
3. Barcelos
   3h
   In the afternoon we will visit the city of Barcelos and discover Why the ruster is such a symbol of Portugal. Time for a cooking class and lunch
4. Santuario de Santa Luzia
   1h · Admission ticket included
   We will finish the day with a spectacular view of the city Viana do Castelo from Santa Luzia sanctuary.
5. Viana do Castelo
   45m
   The unparalleled richness of Viana ethnography, which makes the city the capital of Portuguese folklore, the originality and functionality of its crafts, with special emphasis on crockery and embroidery, are other attributes that make Viana do Castelo is an extremely attractive city for all aspects of tourism.
6. O Navio Gil Eannes
   1h · Admission ticket included
   The Gil Eannes Hospital Ship, built at the Viana do Castelo Naval Shipyards, began its activity in 1955, supporting for decades the Portuguese cod fleet that operated on the banks of Newfoundland and Greenland.

Day 5: Ponte de Lima and Geres Park departure to Lisbon

1. Ponte de Lima
   1h
   Departure to village of Ponte de Lima, The Roman bridge that crosses the Lima River in this location gave rise to the name of this ancient village.
   The first charter was granted in 1125 by D. Teresa, the mother of the first King of Portugal, even before the founding of the kingdom.
   In the center of a rich agricultural region, where the famous Vinho Verde is produced, its heritage includes a large number of manor houses and palatial houses.
2. Geres
   1h
   Visit the GERES national park Peneda - is in the north of Portugal, in to the Spanish border. Its rugged hills are home to deer, wolves and golden eagles. The trails include a Roman road full of landmarks. The 7th-century thermal resort of Gerês is nearby. To the north, the 19th-century Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora da Peneda sits at the top of a huge staircase.
3. Brufe
   30m
   Brufe is a traditional parish with a medieval castle and stone granaries.
4. Germil
   30m
   Germil is a typical mountain village located in the middle of the Peneda-Gerês National Park, which preserves the rural environment and community life of other times.
   Concentrated in two clusters of typical granite houses, with reddish brown doors and windows.
5. Rio Caldo
   45m
   Time to go on a boat trip in Homem River right in the middle of Geres national Park.
6. Lisbon
   3h
   Time to go drive back to Lisbon.

Pickup details

Meeting Point – At your Hotel
Ending Point – Lisbon City

• Specialized infant seats are available
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Traveler will book or find their own hotel to stay at night
• We provide a baby seat for the car