Essential Porto and Douro

Porto and Douro Wine Tour

Porto and Douro essential tour

At a glance

Region:Porto and the Douro Valley
Type of Tour:
Duration:5 Days
Guide Price:From £1150 to £1550 per person
Number of Meals:4 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners and 1 food tour
Number of Winery Visits:6 wineries/port lodges
Number of Wines Tasted:Approximately 25
Tour Transport:On foot in Porto, train to Pinhão , transfer from train station to Quinta de La Rosa and transfer back to Porto on departure day.
Dates / Availability:Available midweek and weekends throughout the year

Trip Summary

Elected Best European Destination 2017, and Leading city-break destination in 2023 by the World Travel Awards, Porto is a captivating blend of old-world charm and modern energy. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, its beauty is in the mix of historic architecture, contemporary structures and, of course, Port wine! The city’s unmatched beauty is a magnet for visitors from all around the world. Wander through Porto’s streets to discover colourful houses, bustling cafes, and authentic restaurants serving delightful Portuguese cuisine. Each corner of the city invites you to experience its rich culture and delicious flavours, making every moment in Porto truly special.

This five day break will introduce you to the wines of both Porto and the Douro, staying in both regions. Upon arrival check in to your hotel. The evening is yours to uncover the wonders of this remarkable city. Should you arrive early, we’d love to suggest some exciting activities to make the most of your time in Porto. You might indulge in a delightful wine tasting, embark on a captivating 50-minute journey along the Douro River on a traditional rabelo boat or allow us to recommend some of our preferred restaurants.

Porto tour
Port wine cellar

On day two, making your way independently between each destination, Porto has excellent transportation links, including a highly efficient metro system that allows easy and convenient travel throughout the city you will visit two renowned port wine lodges. The famous Sandeman Port wine lodge boasts a magnificent view of Porto. Here, your English-speaking guide will accompany you through the lodges full of casks of ageing Porto wine and your visit will conclude with a tutored tasting of four ports. You will also enjoy a guided tour and tastings at the renowned Grahams Port wine lodge. Following your visit, you will enjoy a tasting session in style in the lodge’s Vintage Room.

You’ll then make your way independently to the next Port house (the staff at the wine house would be more than happy to assist you in booking a taxi). This particular house stands as a testament to heritage, being one of the rare establishments still owned by a Portuguese family from its founding days. Here you’ll enjoy a tasting of the house’s Ports alongside a selection of Douro wines from one of the family’s estates in the Douro Valley as well as some local delicacies.

 

Porto wine tour - credits Grahams

Returning to Porto, indulge in an unforgettable food tour. This culinary adventure is more than just a tour; it’s an invitation to savour the heart and soul of Portuguese gastronomy. Wander through the city’s bustling streets, discovering the most authentic tascas, traditional eateries cherished by locals. Experience the genuine flavours and culinary marvels that define Porto’s culinary legacy. This experience promises an intimate encounter with the essence of Porto’s rich food culture, ensuring your taste buds are treated to an unforgettable journey!

For the two night stay in the Douro, take the train from Porto São Bento station to Pinhão station. We invite you to take a moment to admire the beauty of this station and appreciate the story telling tiles (azulejos), narrating important chapters of the Portuguese history. We will arrange for a driver to pick you up from Pinhão station and after checking in at the hotel, you will be taken on an introductory tour of the on-site winery, concluding with tastings of three of the estate’s wines in the tasting room (weather permitting). In the evening, a delicious three course wine tasting dinner will be served in the hotel’s restaurant.

Porto tour rabelo boat
Porto tours - Sao Bento station

After breakfast on day four, you will make your way on foot to your first visit ( the hotel would be delighted in assisting you booking a taxi for this journey if you’d prefer). We will arrange for you to visit two premium wineries, who produce both DOC Douro wines and ports. At each estate, enjoy behind-the-scenes tours of the wine-making facilities and cellars, and each tour will conclude with extensive tastings. At one of the estates, a gourmet picnic lunch of meats, cheeses and local delicacies will be served alongside a bottle of wine and a glass of port in a stunning location overlooking the picturesque Douro Valley. The wineries are located less than 10 minutes apart. At the end of the afternoon make your back to the hotel and enjoy a relaxing evening at the hotel. We would be thrilled to recommend you some of our favourite restaurants in the area.

Essential Porto and Douro
Essential Porto and Douro

Outline Itinerary

Day One

  • Upon arrival in Porto, check into your hotel in the city centre.
  • Free afternoon and evening to explore the city and relax or, if time permits, indulge in a selection of suggested activities.
  • Overnight at your preferred hotel

Day Two

  • Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at your hotel.
  • A tour and tastings of four Ports at Sandeman Port wine lodge
  • A visit to Grahams Port wine lodge for a tour and three tastings
  • A tour and tastings at a family-owned Port House
  • Food tour in the city centre.
  • Overnight at your preferred hotel

Day Three

  • After breakfast, check out of your hotel
  • Travel by train from Porto to Pinhão The journey time is around two hours.
  • Check into your preferred room grade at Quinta de La Rosa.
  • After settling in, you will be taken on a full tour of the estate’s winery, concluding with tastings of three red wines
  • In the evening, a four-course wine tasting dinner will be served in the hotel’s gastronomic restaurant.
  • Overnight at your preferred hotel.

Day Four

  • After breakfast, make your way independently to your visits.
  • In Pinhão, we will arrange tours and tastings and two premium wineries, and a picnic lunch will be served at one of the estates.
  • You will also have some free time to explore the quaint riverside town centre independently.
  • Make your way back to the Hotel at the end of the day.
  • Overnight at your preferred hotel.

Final Day

  • Breakfast and check out of the hotel.
  • You will be taken back to Pinhão station in time for your return train to Porto and your onward journey.

(ii) The outline itinerary is indicative and is subject to minor changes depending on supplier availability. Availability cannot be guaranteed until we have received a confirmed booking, together with the deposit payment (or payment in full where the dates of travel are in less than 60 days). If the named accommodation / visits are not available, we will endeavour to find suitable alternatives of a similar grade; this may be subject to a supplement or a rebate depending on the price available.

Douro valley tour
Port house

Accommodation

Package Prices

  • These prices are per person and based on two people travelling together and sharing a twin or double room.
  • These are realistic guide prices, based on travel in standard season (usually April to the end of October). Considerable discounts often apply for travel out of season (usually November to the end of March). Please let us know your preferred travel dates for a definitive price.
  • Although we propose specific hotels as part of our standard packages, we enjoy excellent relationships and preferential rates at the majority of the hotels in each of our featured destinations. Therefore if you would prefer to
  • stay in a different hotel, this can be arranged. Please contact us for the relevant supplements/discounts.
  • Other room grades are available at most of the hotels that we work with. Just let us know which hotel you prefer and we will send you the relevant supplements for the various room grades.
  • Single supplements and extra night prices are available upon request.
Hotel NameRoom GradeStar RatingDurationPrice Per Person
Essential Porto and Douro hotelsClassic4*5 Nights£1550Book Now

Enhance your Experience/Tour Upgrades

Please contact us to request further details and a full list of tour upgrades.

If you would like to make your Porto and Douro wine tour holiday even more special, there are a number of additional activities that we can arrange for you. To complement the experience, these could be arranged to fit in/around your current itinerary or we can arrange additional nights and room upgrades at your hotel, as well as your travel arrangements, a stop-over en route and even a visit to another part of Portugal! See below for some of the most popular upgrades.

  • Stay longer! Just let us know your preferred hotel and room grade, and we will provide you with the relevant supplement for extra nights with breakfast.
  • Spend a night in Lisbon. Why not stay a little longer in Portugal and spend some time in Lisbon, the largest city in Portugal and a vibrant, cultural and gastronomical hub? We would be pleased to arrange your accommodation in the city.
  • Discover more Portuguese and Spanish wine regions. As well as trips to Porto and Douro, we also arrange holidays to Vinho Verde, Rioja, Navarra, Ribera del Duero, Priorat and Penedès, If you would like to extend your trip to take in more regions, just give us a call to discuss your requirements for a tailor-made trip or alternatively, please see grapeescapes.net for information about all of our wine tours.
Douro wine tour- Credits Feel Douro
Douro wine tour- Credits Feel Douro

Further Information

Travel

Given the wide range of travel options, our standard package prices do not include travel. Please see our Porto travel page for detailed information.

About Essential Breaks

For more information on our Essential tours please see our Essential tours page.

Further Information / To Book

To secure your booking, a deposit of £100 per person is required (or 20% if the total price of your trip exceeds £500 per person). Your remaining balance will then be due 60 days before you travel. Please call us on +44 (0) 1920 46 86 66 or e-mail info@grapeescapes.net to request a booking form.

Douro wine tours

The support and information from Grape Escapes was very good.

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Groups

From birthday weekends and hen trips to bespoke tours for wine clubs, car clubs and U3A’s, our group trips are always tailor-made.

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