Tour Overview
Description
See some of the best Portugal has to offer while immersing yourself in the culinary wonders of the country. This package will take you from Porto in the north, into the city of Lisbon, and then down to Faro in Algarve. You will have the chance to try the traditional foods of Portugal, and learn to cook traditional dishes from expert chefs. Get ready to experience the rich cultural history of Portugal and visit the multiple UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Boston – Porto
Fly from Boston to Porto.
Day 2 - Porto
Transfer Airport Porto - Hotel Pestana Palacio do Freixo
Half Day Tour of Porto
Pick up at the Hotel at 14:00.
Highlights: Cathedral, São Bento Train Station, Lello Bookshop, Historical City Centre – UNESCO World Heritage, Porto Wine Cellar.
Description: Guided tour through Porto, Capital of the North of Portugal and UNESCO World Heritage. Everything in this wonderful city makes this trip memorable, from the cathedral to the Porto Wine Cellars, where you’ll have the chance to do a tasting. You’ll also have the opportunity to visit places filled with tradition and culture and you will be given important details about the streets and squares of its historical centre.
Day 3 - Porto
Full Day Douro Tour (Amarante, Lamego, Régua & Pinhão)
Pick up at the Hotel at 09:00.
Highlights: São Gonçalo Church, Douro Valley Landscapes – UNESCO World Heritage, Remédios Sanctuary, Douro Wine estate and wine tasting.
This charming and unique region of the North of Portugal is defined by having been the first demarcated wine region in the world and having its landscapes classified as UNESCO World Heritage. Our tour takes you to Amarante, Régua, Lamego and Pinhão, with visit and wine tasting. Lunch not included.
Day 4 - Porto
Full Day Minho Tour - Guimarães and Braga
Pick up at the Hotel at 09:00.
Highlights: Guimarães Castle; Guimarães City Centre – UNESCO World Heritage; Braga cathedral; Bom Jesus Sanctuary.
Description: In this unique tour, visit Guimarães, the cradle of Portugal with its unique historical centre – UNESCO World Heritage and the Duques of Bragança Palace. Stop for lunch not included.
In Braga, one of the oldest religious cities in the world visit to the sanctuaries of the faith triangle: the Cathedral and the Sanctuaries of Sameiro and Bom Jesus.
Day 5 - Porto
Check-out from the Hotel Pestana Palacio do Freixo
Full Day Tour to Aveiro and Coimbra on your way from Porto to Lisbon
Highlights: Coimbra Cathedral; Coimbra University area – UNESCO World Heritage.
Description: Short visit to Aveiro, city of the canals, known as the “Portuguese Venice”, where you shall have time to see the graceful boats “moliceiros” and taste the local sweets “ovos moles”. Our tour proceeds to Coimbra – visit of the University, one of the oldest in the world, with its magnificent baroque library and its unique atmosphere characterized by ancient traditions and customs such as the black cape of the students and the melancholic fado music. Visit to the Cathedral and stop at St Clara Church, where lies the tomb of Queen St. Isabel, the protagonist of the “miracle of the roses”. In the center you can admire the exclusive ceramic of Coimbra. Free time to lunch in Coimbra (not included). Drive to the hotel in Lisbon. Cathedral, University and Santa Clara church entrances fees included.
Check in at Hotel Avenida da Liberdade
Day 6 - Lisbon
Full Day Sintra, Roca Cape, Cascais and Estroil
Pick Up at the Hotel at 09:00.
Departure to Sintra, a small village and UNESCO World Heritage Site, built against the northern slope of the "Serra de Sintra" mountains. Visit to the National Palace distinguished by its conical twin kitchen chimneys. Thereafter, we will visit the town historical centre and you will have free time to taste the typical pastry “travesseiros” and “queijadas”. Lunch at Leisure (not included). Keep on to Roca Cape, the western most point of Continental Europe. Return to Lisbon, passing by Cascais and Estoril, important seaside resorts. Sintra National Palace entrance entrance fee included.
Day 7 - Lisbon
Half Day Lisbon City Tour
Pick Up at the Hotel at 09:00.
We will start our visit by Belem quarter, the monumental section of Lisbon, and its monuments: The Tower of Belem (stop for photos and explanations), the monument to the Discoveries (stop for photos and explanations) and the impressive Monastery of Jerónimos (exterior – closed on Mondays). All these monuments represent the “Golden Age” of the Portuguese Discoveries, which began in the 15th century.
Driving to the opposite side of the city, we will visit the downtown area, the busy Rossio Square, the Comércio Square (also known as Black Horse Square) facing the Tagus River and the old Alfama quarter (walking visit through its narrow and tortuous streets). Return to the hotel.
Cooking Class (18:30 – 22:30)
Transfer to the Cooking lesson. During four hours you can prepare your Portuguese traditional meal, learning with a local chef the steps to taste wonderful. At Cooking Lisbon’s Cooking Classes you will learn all the secrets of some of the most traditional Portuguese recipes with a local chef/instructor in a cozy and fun environment!
In our Cooking Classes the chef/instructor will teach you how to prepare a traditional Portuguese meal: fish dish, meat dish, dessert main dish and dessert in a hands-on experience!
Then you will seat down and enjoy the meal you have prepared with your new foodie friends together with excellent Portuguese wines. The group will be helping during the process.
Fresh ingredients are the basis of the Portuguese cuisine. You will use fresh ingredients like vegetables, fish, shellfish and meat. Olive oils, cheeses and cured sausages are also important ingredients of the Portuguese cuisine that you will use in Cooking Lisbon’s kitchen. You will be able to take home the recipes with the ingredients, portions and every detail allowing you to replicate them at home and impress your friends!
Day 8 - Lisbon
Full Day Obidos, Alcobaça, Nazaré, Batalha and Fátima
Departure to Obidos, medieval township authentic museum, carefully preserved, surrounded by high walls and winding streets (walking visit). Proceed to Alcobaça and visit its 12th century Monastery. This is one of the most beautiful Cistercian abbeys dating from the middle ages. Continue to Nazaré, attractive and picturesque fishing village, with busy narrow streets where we can find the fishermen and the women wearing typical multicolored costumes. Stop for lunch in a local restaurant (not included). In the afternoon proceed to Batalha to visit the Monastery of Santa Maria da Vitória, a masterpiece of the Portuguese Gothic Architecture, named “Manueline”. Continue to Fátima to visit the Catholic shrine of Our Lady, one of the most famous in the world. Return to the hotel. Entrance fees at Alcobaça Monastery and Monastery of Santa Vitoria included.
Mainland farewell dinner at Restaurant Club de Fado
The Restaurante “Clube de Fado” is in the heart of Alfama and just a "stone's throw away" of the renowned Sé de Lisboa (Lisbon Cathedral). If you enjoy excellent Portuguese traditional cooking, the sound of a Portuguese Guitar and to hear the greatest Portuguese Fado voices, come to our "Fado Club". As you cross our thresholds you feel immediately a different atmosphere: Warm, Romantic, almost mystical! 3 Course Menus with drinks.
Day 9 - Lisbon – Faro
Transfer from Hotel Avani Avenida da Liberdade (Lisbon) to Faro
Full Day Tour to Evora ending at the Hotel in Evora
Highlights: Roman Temple, Cathedral, Bones Chapel
Description: One day discovering the town of Évora, mosaic of culture, history and traditions. Leaving Lisboa, we cross the bridge over the river Tejo where by a beautiful and bucolic landscape of olive trees, cork oak trees and vineyards we arrive at Évora – World Heritage of UNESCO. In the narrow streets of the whitewashed town of Évora we walk along the time visiting some of the most important monuments: the Roman Temple, the Romanesque-gothic Cathedral and Saint Francis Church whit the “Bones Chapel“. Along the visit we also admire the diversity and authenticity of local handicraft with cork, ceramic and copper objects. Free time to lunch and some shopping. Drive to the hotel in Faro.
Entrance fees at the Cathedral and Saint Francis Church included.
Day 10 - Faro
Full Day Eastern Algarve (Olhão, Tavira, Vila Real de Santo Antonio)
Pick up at the Hotel at 09:00.
Visit the Moorish town of Olhão and its traditional fruits and fish markets.
Visit to the attractive and charming old town of Tavira with a 4th Century Roman Bridge and its many churches. Free time for lunch.
Stop at Cacela Velha and finally visit Vila Real de Santo António, the border town with Spain, separated by the generous mouth of the River Guadiana.
Free Dinner Included
Day 11 - Faro
Half Day Faro City Tour & Shopping
Pick up at the Hotel at 09:00.
Admire one of the most unusual towns in the Algarve: Faro.
Visit to Cathedral from the 13th century. Stroll in the small alley of the capital; discover the walls surrounding the medieval town and then use your spare time as you desire: shopping, having a drink at the bars of the marina or visiting the fishing port. Many things to discover! Entrances at the Cathedral included.
Faro Cooking Lesson
Day 12 - Faro – Lisbon
Check out from the Hotel and transfer to the Lisbon Airport
