Portugal Secret Wine and Food Tour

Overnight flight to Portugal.

Arrive in Portugal’s capital, Lisbon, and prepare to be transported to the Old World, where time seems to stand still. Embrace a stress-free existence with long coffee dates and leisurely strolls through winding cobblestone streets.

Our home away from home, Hotel Principe Real, located in the Santo Antonio district of Lisbon, is less than 1 km from the city centre and a 12-minute walk from Rossio Square.

Depending on the arrival time, for lunch, we’ll savor authentic Portuguese cuisine at a quaint restaurant close to the hotel, O Marques. We are perfectly positioned in the Santo Antonio district of Lisbon, a vibrant neighborhood known for its charming streets, historic architecture, and lively local markets, offering a delightful blend of traditional and modern Lisbon life.

Post-lunch, we’ll relax and digest while touring central Lisbon in a tuk-tuk, exploring the historic Alfama district, chic Chiado, and the majestic Lisbon Cathedral. We’ll disembark on the elegant and glamorous Avenida da Liberdade where we can peruse designer shops such as Gucci and Louis Vuitton and sip espumante at an outdoor cafe.

Our day will conclude with dinner at As Salgadeiras, a cozy Portuguese restaurant set in a cave-like building with rustic brick walls. The menu features a variety of fish, especially bacalhau (cod), and succulent meat dishes, including cabrito (goat).

After breakfast, there’s no better way to explore a city than to walk it. We’ll be joined by a local guide as we indulge in the rich flavors of Portugal in an intimate food and wine tour of Lisbon. We’ll enjoy tasting an array of traditional delicacies including Portuguese cheese, Chouriço, bifana, and traditional rice dishes. We’ll also sip on the finest Port and enjoy a wine tasting from the renowned Alentejo region, known for producing some of the world’s best wines.

In the afternoon, we will experience a unique perspective of Lisbon on a small-group sunset sailing tour, complete with Vinho Verde (Green Wine) aboard a sailboat for a sightseeing cruise that passes by iconic landmarks such as the Belem Tower and the National Museum of Ancient Art.

The evening is free so you can choose a restaurant that our guide has recommended, or you can stumble upon a local eatery on your own.

Today we will discover the charming village of Sintra, where there are five beautiful palaces and a Castle (Palácio da Pena, Palácio da Regaleira, Castelo dos Mouros, Palácio de Monserrate, Palácio Nacional de Sintra and Palácio de Seteais). We’ll enjoy the sounds of Portuguese music, savor the famous Portuguese cuisine, and try the traditional sweets, the famous pillows and the queijadas of Sintra. After visiting the Palaces, we will continue our journey along the magnificent beaches along our coast, starting in Sintra and ending in Cascais, all with a local guide.

Dinner with outstanding seafood at the Baia do Peixe, a favourite haunt of the Portuguese.

We bid farewell to Lisbon and embark on a high-speed train to Porto, where a luxury van will take us to the Douro Valley, the oldest demarcated wine region in the world. Halfway, we make a delightful stop in Amarante to enjoy coffee and their doces falicos (literally “phallic sweets”) pastries, and explore the charming town and its cathedral. Our journey continues at Quinta do Portal with the “Art of the Taster” premium experience, featuring a 90-minute barrel tasting and a guided tour of the vinification area. For lunch, we indulge in the exquisite “Sensory Memory” menu. Then we check into our lovely hotel, LBV House Hotel and have dinner near the hotel at one of many wonderful nearby restaurants.

We’ll embark on a captivating exploration at Quinta das Carvalhas, part of the storied Real Companhia Velha, operating since 1756. Here we’ll traverse the estate’s sprawling vineyards, where ancient vines yield wines of unparalleled character. We’ll be led by local experts to uncover the terroir’s nuances and the estate’s storied legacy, culminating in a tasting of white, red, and port wines paired with regional cheeses and charcuterie.

Lunch at Bomfim 1896 with Michelin-Starred chef Pedro Lemos promises to be a culinary odyssey, where wood-fired ovens infuse locally sourced ingredients with irresistible flavors. Sample dishes like smoked trout with brioche or roasted wild boar, each meticulously prepared to showcase the Douro’s gastronomic finesse.

Later, we take a leisurely cruise along the River Douro and view its terraced vineyards and ancient landscapes, an UNESCO World Heritage site, from the water’s perspective. Then we’ll wander through Pinhao, a charming town renowned for its rich viticultural heritage and historic train station adorned with hand-painted tiles illustrating Douro’s winemaking legacy.

Dinner unfolds at your leisure in the Douro Valley, ensuring a fitting conclusion to a day immersed in Portugal’s vinous splendor.

Today we depart from Douro Valley and head towards the famous city of Porto. But first, we’ll stop for lunch at the stunning property of Six Senses. Here we’ll embark on an immersive culinary journey, beginning with a tour of their organic garden where we’ll harvest fresh ingredients and then join the chef to prepare a meal steeped in local tradition. Learn the stories behind each dish, perfectly complemented by fine wines—a quintessential Douro experience.

Then we’re off to Porto, to the Hotel da Bolsa, situated conveniently in the União de Freguesias do Centro district.

We begin the day with a light Portuguese breakfast, a delightful prelude to exploring Porto’s Ribeira district. On our walk, we’ll capture the essence of this picturesque locale overlooking the Douro River, before crossing the iconic Dom Luis I Bridge to Vila Nova da Gaia.

Lunch is at Bacalhoeiro, nestled along the riverbank with panoramic views of Porto. We will skip dessert for now, opting instead to stroll along Gaia’s waterfront to Churchill’s for a port wine tasting and tour, unveiling the region’s storied viticultural heritage.

We conclude the day in Afurada, a quaint fishing village renowned for its fresh seafood, where we’ll discover a culinary gem amidst its rustic charm.

We explore the heart of central Porto by strolling down Rua Catarina, visiting the bustling Bolhao Market, and savoring a warm pastel de nata fresh from the oven at Manteigaria. We’ll then enjoy a drink at Bosco, followed by an enchanting Fado performance. Fado music, often referred to as the soul of Portugal, is a deeply expressive and melancholic genre that conveys the essence of “saudade,” a profound sense of longing and nostalgia. Originating in the early 19th century in Lisbon, Fado is characterized by its poignant lyrics, which often speak of love, loss, and the hardships of life. The music is typically performed by a solo singer, known as a “fadista,” accompanied by the haunting melodies of the Portuguese guitarra and a classical guitar.

We conclude the day with a farewell dinner at Meia Nau Porto, creating lasting memories of this vibrant city.

Pack your memories and depart for the airport, bidding Portugal a fond farewell enriched by its culture, cuisine, and timeless landscapes.