Day 1 – Arrival in Porto
Airport Collection & Arrival in the City
As you arrive in Porto, you’re met at the airport by your private guide and driven into the city. The approach to Porto introduces its steep streets, tiled façades, and glimpses of the Douro River cutting through the historic center. After checking in, the rest of the day is intentionally relaxed.
First Evening in Porto
Your first evening is about settling in rather than sightseeing. A short walk near your hotel lets you stretch your legs and get a first feel for Porto’s atmosphere, small wine bars, locals chatting outside cafés, and the sound of the river in the distance. Dinner is taken at an easy pace, marking the beginning of your time in Portugal without rushing into a full schedule.
Drop off at your Porto accommodation.
Day 2 – Porto on Foot & In the Kitchen
Private Walking Tour of Porto
After a good night’s sleep, you’ll spend your first full day in Portugal exploring Porto’s historic center on a walking tour. You move through Baixa and along Rua das Flores, step inside the Cathedral, and pause at São Bento Station to see its blue-and-white azulejo panels up close.
Clérigos Tower rises above the rooftops as you walk through the surrounding streets, and you pass Livraria Lello before continuing toward Praça da Batalha and Café Majestic. The walk gives you a real sense of Porto’s layout, narrow lanes opening into squares, tiled façades, and everyday life unfolding alongside major landmarks.
Portuguese Cooking Class
In the afternoon, you step into the kitchen for a hands-on cooking experience focused on traditional Portuguese dishes. Seasonal ingredients are used throughout, and you prepare a four-course meal together, following classic recipes rooted in regional cooking.
Once everything is ready, you sit down to enjoy the meal you’ve prepared, paired with Portuguese wines. It’s relaxed, social, and practical, and something you can recreate at home long after the trip ends.
Drop off at your Porto accommodation.
Day 3 – Day Trip to Peneda-Gerês National Park
Scenic Journey into the Mountains
Leaving Porto behind, the drive north gradually shifts from urban streets to winding mountain roads. Hills rise higher, villages become smaller, and granite houses begin to blend into the landscape as you enter Peneda-Gerês National Park.
Hiking Through Ancient Landscapes
You head out for a gentle walk along part of an ancient Roman road, still visible beneath your feet. The trail passes waterfalls, rocky outcrops, and open valleys where wild horses and grazing cattle are sometimes visible in the distance.
The pace is unhurried, allowing time to stop at viewpoints and take in the scale of the park’s terrain.
Picnic & Traditional Village
A picnic lunch is enjoyed outdoors before visiting a traditional village built entirely from local stone. Walking through its narrow lanes gives insight into how life has continued here for generations, shaped by agriculture and mountain conditions.
Natural Lagoon & Free Time
In the afternoon, you stop at a natural lagoon fed by clear mountain water. There’s time to relax by the water’s edge or take a refreshing swim before returning south.
Drop off at your Porto accommodation.
Day 4 – Day Trip to Aveiro & Viseu
Aveiro’s Canals & Coastal Character
Departing Porto, you head south toward Lisbon and break the journey in Aveiro. You walk along the canals and into the old center, seeing the traditional moliceiro boats up close before continuing into streets lined with early 20th-century Art Nouveau houses. Along the way, your guide shares how the lagoon supported fishing, salt production, and trade, giving the town a clear identity beyond its pretty appearance
Scenic Drive to Viseu
The drive toward Viseu moves away from the coast into rolling countryside and vineyards. As the landscape changes, the atmosphere becomes quieter and more rural.
Viseu Cathedral & Historic Center
In Viseu, you visit the Sé Cathedral, stepping inside to see its layered architecture and detailed interior. The surrounding historic center is compact and easy to explore, with medieval streets leading to small squares and stone buildings that reflect centuries of history.
Grão Vasco Museum & Jardim das Mães
The afternoon includes a visit to the Grão Vasco Museum, home to important Portuguese Renaissance paintings. Before leaving, a short walk through Jardim das Mães offers a quiet pause in the heart of the town.
Drop off at your Porto accommodation.
Day 5 – Coimbra, Nazaré & Óbidos – Journey to Lisbon
Óbidos Medieval Town
Today, you depart Porto and travel toward Lisbon, making meaningful stops along the way. In Óbidos, you walk through a walled medieval town where whitewashed houses and bougainvillea line narrow cobbled streets.
The castle walls offer views over the surrounding countryside, and the atmosphere feels preserved but still lived-in.
Nazaré & Atlantic Views
Continuing to Nazaré, you reach the Atlantic coast where enormous waves have made the town famous. From the Sítio viewpoint, the ocean stretches wide and powerful below, and the cliffs give a clear sense of the region’s scale.
Coimbra & University
In Coimbra, you explore one of Europe’s oldest universities, walking through courtyards that have educated Portuguese scholars for centuries. The Joanina Library stands out for its ornate Baroque interior and rows of historic volumes, while views from the university area overlook the city and the Mondego River.
By evening, you arrive in Lisbon, marking a clear shift from northern Portugal to the capital.
Drop off at your Lisbon accommodation.
Day 6 – Lisbon Roots: Food & Cultural Walk
Exploring Lisbon Through Its Flavors
Your final full day in Portugal is spent exploring Lisbon through its food and neighborhoods. Walking through the historic center, you stop at traditional cafés and gourmet shops to taste codfish cakes with green wine, sample São Jorge cheese with Port, and learn how bacalhau, cured meats, and spices became central to Portuguese cuisine.
You step into a local tasca for a classic bifana with a draft beer, then try Ginjinha in the very place it first became popular in the 19th century. Along the way, you move through lively streets known for nightlife and local gatherings, seeing Lisbon in motion rather than just visiting monuments.
Final Evening in Lisbon
As this is your final night in Lisbon, the evening is left open. You may choose to revisit a favorite neighborhood or enjoy dinner with a view over the river. It’s a chance to take in the atmosphere of the city one last time before departing Lisbon on Day 7.
Drop off at your Lisbon accommodation.
Day 7 – Departure
Airport Transfer
Today you depart Lisbon. A private transfer brings you to the airport in good time for your onward flight, concluding your 7-day journey through Portugal.