FV0004 – Standard

Today, and after airport formalities, you will be collected outside customs, and transferred, by Deluxe vehicle with English speaking chauffeur, to your hotel in Porto.

After check-in procedures, take your time to unwind and relax!

This morning, enjoy a tour of Porto escorted by an expert guide, including Stock Exchange Palace and the 14th century Gothic and Baroque construction of the São Francisco Church. You’ll peek into the Lello bookshop, an exquisite landmark dating to the early 1900’s.

For lunch (not included) savor a tapas meal at an informal and cheerful restaurant whit natural blend of the traditional and the modern. The cuisine, largely Portuguese inspired, is nevertheless influenced by travels abroad.

During the afternoon, venture on a special tour. Your driver/guide will take you on a “Mercedez Maria”, a Ural Ranger, a charming vintage motorcycle, with the look of Second World War but with all the modern safety features of an XXI century motorcycle and with room for two each. The rhythm is slow-paced with a lot of conversation, historical facts and curiosities, lots of stops for photos and to enjoy the views. Through the Historical Center, you’ll see places like S. Bento station, along the Douro River with its bridges, the Miragaia neighborhood, and all the way to the beach to understand the connection of the city’s history with the ocean. Return to the city center, explore Cristal Palace and neighborhoods like Virtudes, Vitória, and Clérigos, learn all their history and see the great views that Porto has to offer. 

Cross to Gaia, on the other side of the river and see the D. Luís bridge and the Port wine neighborhood.

Sidecar tour ends at your hotel in Porto.

• For guests overnighting at The Yeatman, we suggest dinner (not included) at your hotel’s Gastronomic Restaurant, one of Oporto’s most inspiring dining experience, with a one Michelin star awarded Chef, which imaginative cuisine reflects the traditional flavors of Portugal interpreted and presented with contemporary flair (closed Sundays and Mondays);

• For guests not overnighting at The Yeatman, we suggest dinner (not included) at a Michelin awarded restaurant, built on the rocks, hand in hand with the sea. Chef Rui Paula surprises customers with his audacity, taking them to the next level of gastronomic experiences, through a symbiotic vision where he really shows his inner self (closed Sundays and Mondays);

• Not feasible on January 1st, Easter Sunday, May 1st, June 24th and December 25th.

Hit the road towards Douro Valley, the world’s oldest wine region. En-route, stop at a lovely property dating back the 13th century and enjoy a magic day around flavors and scents in the family old kitchen learning about Portuguese authentic recipes. 

A full menu, from starter to dessert, will be prepared by participants, who are invited to: Have a coffee and cookies in the garden; Take a basket and pick from the vegetable and herbs garden, the season products; Be dressed with hat and apron; Start the lesson: Taste tapas and wine during the lesson; have lunch in one of the places chosen according to the weather. Inside dining room of the rose garden or outside in the courtyard with a view to the Barrosas mountain.

• For dinner (not included) we suggest a magical experience at Six Senses Douro Valley Hotel. Be part of a perfect journey of flavors through an unique gastronomic experience. Take your seat in the heart of Six Senses Hotel kitchen and let the Chef take control. Not only will you witness meal preparation but also discuss culinary techniques and try some of the selected delicacies. An enriching experience marked by interaction between guests and Chef, combined with the prestige of astonishing and reinvented recipes.

• Not feasible on Sundays and from November to February.

Your journey today begins with a stop on a charming family-owned wine estate, one of the best-known properties in the Douro and also one of the first to bottle wines with its own brand. 

This Wine Estate is mentioned for the first time in a document dated April 1738. However, it was only in 1903 that Dom José Freire de Serpa Pimentel decided to develop his interest in oenology, bought the property and began to devote to the winemaking business.

You will be warmly received and will enjoy a private tour through the cellars, followed by lectured wine tasting. 

Lunch (not included) will be served in the charming restaurant of the wine estate. The building, construction of the 18th century, is decorated in an authentic style, yet with modern conveniences, and offers a gourmet cuisine based on local products, with panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.

During the afternoon, marvel with a private river cruise aboard a typical Rabelo boat.

Until the end of the 19th century, the Douro River was the main access route to the interior regions and the only means of importing foreign products. A difficult river and risky to navigate, there was only one type of boat that could overcome its natural obstacles, the Rabelo Boat. The robustness of the boat and the ability of the first crews made it possible to carry large barrels of wine above the river. 

With the help of a local guide, discover the green vineyards, stratified culture and stunning natural beauty of the Douro Valley. Marvel at the beautiful slopes, heavily planted with vines, which offers breathtaking views of one of the most impressive man-shaped landscapes in the world.

• Possible winery and cruise upgrade;

• • Not feasible on December 24th and 25th;

• Suggested dinner (not included) at an elegant restaurant settled in a building of contemporary lines with a picket based that extends along an elegant wooden deck overlooking the river (closed on Tuesdays).

Drive southwards direction to Lisbon, Europe’s second-oldest capital (after Athens) and one of the world’s greatest natural harbors which attracted different civilizations, now reflected in its architecture and culture recalling Phoenicians, Celts, Romans, Visigoths and Moors.

En-route, stop at Tomar, a charming and historically outstanding town located in central Portugal. It is dominated by a 12th-century Templar castle containing one of the country most significant and impressive monuments, the Convent of Christ (declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO). Your expert guide will lead you on a private visit to the Templar Castle.

Lunch (not included) will be served at a local restaurant.

Next stop (optional) before Lisbon, will be Óbidos, Portugal’s most romantic medieval village.

All of Óbidos has been declared a national monument. It is known as the “Wedding Present Town” because it was a gift King Dinis gave to Queen Isabel on their wedding day in 1282, but that alone is not what makes it such an extraordinarily romantic place – what make it one of Europe’s most romantic medieval villages are its incredibly picturesque cobblestone streets lined with colorful houses filled with geraniums and bougainvillea, Gothic doorways and windows, whitewashed churches, flowerpots and dazzling tiles all encircled by the walls of a 12th century castle.

• Dinner (not included) suggested at your hotel’s restaurant;

• Not feasible on January 1st, March 1st, Easter Sunday, May 1st, December 24th and 25th.

Boasting springtime temperatures during the winter and cool summers freshened by a breeze blowing in from the Atlantic, Costa de Lisboa, on the southwestern coast, offers a rich and impressively integrated diversity. The capital of Portugal since its conquest from the Moors in 1147, Lisbon is a legendary city with over 20 centuries of History.

Start your journey in Belém with a stop at a local pastry store dated back from early 19th century. Nowadays it serves an average 10,000 Pasteis de Belém (custard tarts) a day, a specialty made with a secret centuries-old recipe. Indulge in a special gourmet treat on one of their rooms covered with 17th-century tiles.

Follows a panoramic tour to Belem area with Discovery Monument and the XVI century Belem Tower. You will take into a private visit to the XVI century Jeronimos Monastery, the incomparable monastery that exemplifies the Manueline style, a highly decorative form of architecture that emerged during the reign of Manuel I (1495-1521). 

Lunch (not included) at one of the best fresh fish restaurants in Lisbon, created with the purpose to pay tribute to the old fish shops. Let yourself be seduced by their fresh fish and seafood display cabinet, by the charm of its cuisine and by the irreverent and funny ambiance that define this restaurant.

During the afternoon, enjoy a private guided visit to National Tiles Museum, one of the most important of the national museums by the singularity of its collection, Azulejo (tile), an artistic expression that differentiates Portuguese culture, and by the uniqueness of the building in which the Museum is set, former Madre de Deus Convent, founded in 1509 by Queen D. Leonor.

End your day at Alfama, the Lisbon’s heart during Moorish times. The Moors have moved on, but the neighborhood retains an exotic atmosphere. You’ll find yourself wandering through colorful XVIII century squares downtown and getting lost in the medieval maze of the Alfama district overlooked by an ancient castle. 

• Suggested dinner (not included) at a one Michelin star restaurant with a sober, sophisticated atmosphere, a discrete and attentive service, and a delightful cuisine. Its singular location at the historic center of Lisbon soon won over Lisbon’s elite who turned the Belcanto into the place to be seen (closed on Sundays and Mondays).

• Not feasible on Sunday’s mornings, Mondays, January 1st, Easter Sunday, May 1st, June 13th and December 25th.

Your driver will take you to Cascais. Upon arrival, meet your private Chef and venture on a tour to the local market. Purchase fresh ingredients for your lunch preparation. 

The narrow maze of century-old streets opens up onto a splendid space lined with bars, cafés and fish restaurants on either side and market stalls down the center. While you stroll through the market, admire the vivid displays of flowers, candied fruit and seasonal produce. 

You will have the privilege of being a guest at one of the noblest houses in Cascais, with the sun and sea always present, it was, originally, an aristocratic residence dating from the XIX Century and now is a charming hotel located by the sea, the Cascais Bay. 

Portuguese cuisine is simple, characterized by a rich variety of regional dishes. You will have the opportunity to “get your hands dirty”. Under the guidance of the Chef and with the help of a booklet, you will see yourself preparing a recipe you thought were reserved only for the professionals. After you have prepared your dishes, you’ll be able to eat it, and drink some of our finest wines. Each one will have an apron so you can feel free to cook, without worries and at the end you will receive, further to the recipe a Diploma, proving your new skills. Good Luck!

After class, pamper your taste with lunch (pre-set menu with wines).

Afterwards, meet your expert guide and marvel with the quaint and aristocratic, World Heritage by UNESCO, town of Sintra – where Lord Byron lived and considered it to be “Paradise in Earth”. You’ll see castles, fortresses, forests, and beautiful scenery. 

Sintra and its mystical hills dotted with fairytale palaces and extravagant villas have bewitched visitors for centuries. The Romans made it a place of cult moon worshiping and named it “Cynthia” after the goddess of the moon. They were followed by the Moors who also fell in love with the lush vegetation and built a hilltop castle, a palace, and several fountains around the town. Later it became the summer residence of the Portuguese royal family and attracted a number of wealthy aristocrats who built huge mansions and villas.

You’ll visit the 19th century Pena Palace, one of Europe’s most fantastic palaces. It includes a drawbridge, a conglomeration of turrets, ramparts, and domes, and a gargoyle above a Neo-Manueline arch, all washed in an array of pastel shades. The extravagant interior is decorated in late Victorian and Edwardian furnishings, rich ornaments, paintings, and priceless porcelain preserved just as the royal family left them.

End your day with a stop at a wine-cellar and shop, located in Sintra’s historical center, with over 30 years’ history. There, you will have the opportunity to taste Sintra’s famous ‘Queijada’ and local cheese paired with a glass of Port Wine.

• Visit to local market only possible on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Not feasible on Sundays and Mondays.  

According to your flight departure time, and after check-out procedures, your private chauffeur will meet you at the lobby and take you towards Lisbon International Airport.