The Best of Northern Portugal
Overview
Discover the highlights of Northern Portugal on this 7-night tour, with visits to historic centres like Porto and Guimarães, the Vale do Coa archaeological sites and the picturesque Douro Valley.
This itinerary features More Moments activities included with your package.
9 days | 7 nights
Format
Trip Highlights
- Destinations that include planned activities and/or overnight stays.
- Portugal
- Porto Viana do Castelo Braga
- The Douro Valley, Portugal
Inclusions
- Round-trip flights to Porto (if Flight & Hotel package option is chosen)
- 7 nights of accommodation in selected category, with breakfast included
- 7-day car rental, including: Unlimited Mileage, Loss Damage Waiver (includes: Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) + Theft Waiver (TW), Vehicle License Fee (LAF), One (1) additional driver & Tax & airport service charge fees)
- More Moments activities included:
- Porto Walking Tour & Gastronomic Experience (approximately 4 hours)
- Douro Valley - Visit to Quinta dos Vallados and wine tasting (approximately 2 hours)
- Douro Rebelo Cruise (approximately 1 hour)
- Earn extra Aeroplan® points per member on this tour
Itinerary
Day 1 | Depart Canada
Day 2-3 | Porto
- Today, you’ll arrive in Porto, pick up your rental car at the airport and make your way to your hotel, where you’ll spend the next 2 nights.
- Spend some time exploring Porto, Portugal’s second-largest city, nestled along the scenic banks of the Douro River, boasting a historic centre, famous wine cellars known for their Port wine, world-class museums and a vibrant downtown area filled with music and art.
- More Moments Activities Included
- Porto Walking Tour & Gastronomic Experience (approximately 4 hours)
- Immerse yourself in Porto's rich culinary heritage, where centuries of history come alive in every bite. This tour is designed to connect you with the authentic flavours and traditions that define Porto’s vibrant culture.
- Join your guides as you wander through the charming streets of Porto's historic centre. At each carefully selected stop, you'll savour mouthwatering dishes and exquisite beverages. From fresh, local ingredients to time-honoured recipes, every tasting tells a story of the region's deep-rooted connection to its land and people.
- Meal(s): Breakfast
Day 4 | Porto / Vila do Conde / Barcelos / Viana do Castelo
- After breakfast, you’ll drive north from Porto along the coast. You’ll stop at Vila do Conde, a quiet city that played an important role in the Portuguese Discoveries as a prosperous ship-building yard. Walk around its narrow streets and see the Santa Clara Monastery and its Romanesque-inspired Aqueduct. Visit the Mother Church of Vila do Conde, one of the most significant Manueline-style churches in the country, featuring elements of Gothic and Renaissance architecture.
- You’ll then continue to Barcelos, one of the most emblematic cities for Portuguese arts and crafts. You’ll have a chance to visit its historic centre, the Pelourinho and Paço dos Condes and enjoy a stop at the Archaeological Museum to learn about the legend of the Barcelos Rooster.
- You’ll press onwards to Viana do Castelo, one of the most beautiful cities in the north of Portugal. Here, you’ll be able to visit the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and admire the stunning views over the Lima River Valley from Monte de Santa Luzia.
- Spend an overnight in Viana do Castelo.
- (approximately 100 kms)
- Meal(s): Breakfast
Day 5 | Viana do Castelo / Ponte de Lima / Braga
- After breakfast, you’ll continue with a visit to ‘Nossa Senhora da Agonia,’ the Shrine of Our Lady of Agony, a Marian devotion that dates to the 18th-century. Stroll through Viana do Castelo’s historic centre and see the 16th century Misericórdia building and fountain, the old Paços do Concelho, Town Hall, and the Romanesque Cathedral. Viana is also known for its filigree gold work, which can be seen in the Museu do Traje.
- You’ll depart Viana do Castelo and continue with your discovery of the Minho region, driving to Ponte de Lima, where the famous ‘Vinho Verde’ is produced. This traditional town is also known for its intricate embroidery and lively fairs that date back to the Middle Ages.
- You’ll then proceed to Braga, one of the oldest religious cities in the world, where you can visit the sanctuaries that constitute the faith triangle: the Cathedral and the Sanctuaries of Sameiro and Bom Jesus.
- Spend an overnight in Braga (or Guimarães)
- (approximately 72 kms)
- Meal(s): Breakfast
Day 6-7 | Braga / Guimarães / Amarante / Peso da Regua
- After breakfast, you’ll visit Guimarães, where D. Afonso Henriques, the first King of Portugal, was born. Walk through its unique historical centre, classified as an UNESCO World Heritage site and see the ‘Paços Municipais’, the Praça de Santiago and the Convent of Santa Clara. On your way to the 10th-century Castle, pass by the Dukes of Bragança Palace, where you’ll glimpse the influence of French seigniorial architecture.
- You’ll continue on to the Romanesque town of Amarante, set on the Tâmega River, and rich in history, architecture and natural beauty. See the 16th-century stone bridge, a symbol of its resistance to Napoleonic forces. Visit São Gonçalo Church and convent, a blend of Gothic, Manueline and Baroque styles built in the 16th century.
- Continue on to Vila Real for a visit to Casa de Mateus, an exquisite 18th-century Baroque manor house.
- Finally, you’ll head towards the Douro Valley, admiring the stunning landscapes of green and golden terraced slopes covered with vineyards.
- Spend the next 2 nights in the Douro Valley.
- (approximately 136 kms)
- More Moments Activities Included
- Visit to Quinta dos Vallados and wine tasting (Douro) (approximately 2 hours)
- Learn about the culture and identity of the Douro region, the birthplace of Port wine, known as the first demarcated wine region in the world. If you wish, you can visit the Douro Museum (not included). You’ll then drive to Pinhao and admire the beautiful views and terraced slopes where vines grow along the river. Pause to visit the historic train station, famous for its azulejo (tile) panels depicting the history of wine in the region.
- In the afternoon, visit the Quinta do Vallado vineyard for a tour and wine tasting (included). Quinta do Vallado, established in 1716, is one of the oldest and most famous “Quintas” in the Douro Valley. It once belonged to the legendary Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira and has been run by descendants for the past six generations.
- Douro Rebelo Cruise( approximately 1 hour)
- Enjoy a scenic boat cruise along the Douro River on a traditional “Rabelo” boat in Porto. See the city's most iconic landmarks, including the Dom Luís Bridge.
- Meal(s): Breakfast
Day 8 | Douro Valley - Viseu – Aveiro – Porto
- Today, you’ll check out of your hotel and drive to the Catholic pilgrimage town of Lamego to see the Nossa Senhora dos Remedios Sanctuary. You’ll continue to Viseu, a crossroads since the Roman occupation of the Iberian Peninsula, and home to the Dao wine region. You’ll then head to Aveiro, a city of river channels known as the Portuguese Venice. You’ll have a chance to see its 15th-century Cathedral and the Convento de Jesus.
- Spend an overnight in Porto.
- (approximately 230 kms)
- Meal(s): Breakfast
Day 9 | Return to Canada
- After breakfast, drop off your rental car at the Porto airport and board your flight home to Canada.
- Meal(s): Breakfast
Accommodations
- The hotels listed below are presented as examples for your reference only. Hotel accommodation details will be communicated to you or your travel agent prior to departure.
4 Star Superior Accommodation
Porto: Arts Hotel Porto (or similar)
Viana do Castelo: Flor de Sal Hotel (or similar)
Braga: Vila Gale Collection Braga (or similar)
The Douro Valley, Portugal: Vila Gale Vinyards (or similar)
Departure Dates
- June 1, 2026 – October 17 , 2026
Not included
- Meals and Beverages, unless noted
- Gratuities
- City Taxes, if applicable, payable at hotels in local currency
- Porterage
- Fuel, Parking fees, traffic violation tickets, car upgrades, road assistance, inter-city toll fees, mandatory transponders, additional insurance coverage, child car seats, luggage racks, additional rental nights, late drop off fees.
- Personal Accident Insurance
- Important Notes:
- Transponders (*) to be used on Portuguese highways is a mandatory rental and fees are calculated based duration, distances travelled, and number of tool crossing used.
- Upon collecting your car and signing your agreement / contract, please read all terms and conditions as some charges could be delayed and billed to your credit card, Following your return from Portugal.
- (*) Via Verde - This system allows you to pass through toll gates without stopping, which helps avoid queues and delays.
Activities
- The More Moments activities/excursions mentioned in the itinerary are all included in the package but may be rescheduled to take place on an earlier or later day, depending on availability and operational day.
- Sightseeing tours are only provided in English
Transportation
- Car Rental
- EDMR ManualSeat Ibiza a/c
- CWMR ManualRenault Megane a/c
- CDMR M Ford Focus
- IFAR A Peugeot 3008
Important Note
- The order of the itinerary may vary, including the number of consecutive nights per city
City Tax
- City taxes, if applicable, are payable in local currency upon checkout. Rates vary depending on hotel star rating and location and are calculated per person, per night. Rates are subject to change without notice.
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