Portugal

9-day Portugal Food, Wine & Culture Private Journey

Itinerary Highlights

✔ A private food, wine, and cultural journey through Portugal, tailored to you
✔ Porto and the Douro Valley: terraced vineyards, food tatings and boutique wine estates
✔ Braga and Guimarães: Roman and medieval heritage of Portugal
✔ Lisbon and the Atlantic coast, from Sintra and Estoril to Cabo da Roca
✔ Óbidos, a traditional windmill, and breads and flavors of Portugal’s West Coast

This 9 day private tour starts from $8649 pp. Your trip is tailored for more or less days

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Itinerary

Day One

Porto: Historic Center, Azulejos & Foz do Douro

Your driver meets you at the airport and takes you to your hotel. In the afternoon, your private guide joins you for a first walk through Porto’s UNESCO-listed historic center, where the city’s merchant past, religious legacy, and riverfront setting are still clearly visible. The route begins at the Palácio da Bolsa, the 19th-century stock exchange built by Porto’s merchant class, whose Arab Room remains one of the city’s best-known interiors. Next door, the Igreja de São Francisco dates to the 14th century and is celebrated for its richly gilded interior. From there, the afternoon continues with a private workshop with a local azulejo artisan, offering an introduction to one of Portugal’s most distinctive artistic traditions. The day ends at Foz do Douro, where the river meets the Atlantic and Porto takes on a quieter, more residential character.

The storefront of "A Pérola do Bolhão," a vintage shop with ornate yellow signage, displays various bottles, teas, and packaged goods in its large front windows.

Day Two

A Private Cooking Class and the Food of the North

Your private guide introduces you to the flavors of Porto and northern Portugal through a hands-on cooking class with a local chef. Depending on the season and your preferences, the session may include dishes such as caldo verde, bacalhau à Gomes de Sá, or tripas à moda do Porto, each closely tied to the city and the wider north. As you cook, the chef explains the history and preparation behind each recipe before you sit down together to enjoy the meal with local wines.

Santa Bárbara Garden behind the Episcopal Palace in Braga, Portugal

Day Three

Braga, Guimarães & Citânia de Briteiros

Today, your private guide takes you north of Porto to Braga and Guimarães, two of the most historic cities in Portugal. In Braga, founded by the Romans as Bracara Augusta, the visit includes the Roman Thermae of Maximinus, Bom Jesus do Monte, Braga Cathedral, and the historic center. Continue to Guimarães, where the castle and UNESCO-listed medieval center are closely tied to the early formation of Portugal. In the afternoon, continue into the countryside to Citânia de Briteiros, an important Iron Age hillfort settlement outside Guimarães. Your driver brings you back to Porto by early evening

Spain & Portugal Private Luxury Journey - Aerial view of a vineyard-covered hillside with buildings and a church, bordered by a winding river and surrounded by trees—an idyllic scene perfect for luxury Spain private tours.

Day Four

Douro Valley: Wineries & Villages

Out with your private tourism driver guide to explore the breathtaking Douro Valley, a UNESCO recognized natural paradise of natural beauty and vineyards. You can choose to focus on wine or historic towns or a bit of both. For wineries, we have a handful of smaller boutique wineries we find are especially charming to visit and taste some of the best Douro wines. Other options include the historic pilgrimage town of Amarante where houses are perched over the river and the 16th-century Church of Saint Goncalo. Another memorable stop is Pinhao for a visit of its famous blue-tiles railway station. In the Douro Valley. We can arrange a reservation for an authentic local meal in a restaurant or a winery. Finally, your driver guide will take you safely back to your Porto hotel.

Day Five

Coimbra: Roman Coimbra, the University, and Quinta das Lágrimas

Your driver takes you south from Porto, stopping in Coimbra before continuing to Lisbon. With your private guide, begin at the Cryptoporticus beneath the Machado de Castro Museum, the Roman galleries that supported the ancient forum of Aeminium. Continue through the university quarter, including the Biblioteca Joanina and the Sala dos Capelos. The visit then moves to Quinta das Lágrimas, long associated with the story of Pedro and Inês de Castro. By late afternoon, your driver continues south to Lisbon.

Day Six

Lisbon: St. George’s Castle, Chiado & Belém

Your private guide introduces Lisbon through the districts and landmarks that best explain the city’s character. The day begins at St. George’s Castle, the medieval fortress above the old city, with sweeping views over Lisbon’s rooftops and the Tagus below. From there, the route descends toward Chiado, passing through the upper quarters and into one of Lisbon’s most elegant and culturally significant neighborhoods. Along the way, you see the Elevador de Santa Justa, Praça do Comércio, and the Arco da Rua Augusta, where the city opens onto the river. In the afternoon, continue west to Belém, where the Jerónimos Monastery and the Padrão dos Descobrimentos recall the period that shaped Portugal’s maritime identity. If desired, a traditional Fado performance can be arranged for the evening.

Pena Palace in Sintra rising above the clouds

Day Seven

Sintra, Estoril, Cabo da Roca & Azenhas do Mar

Your private guide takes you into the UNESCO-listed Cultural Landscape of Sintra, one of Portugal’s most distinctive historic landscapes. The morning centers on Palácio da Pena, the 19th-century royal palace that rises above Sintra and remains one of Portugal’s most recognizable landmarks. From there, continue to Estoril, where the casino and Hotel Palácio Estoril became associated with exiled royals and wartime intrigue during the Second World War. In the afternoon, continue to Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of continental Europe, before ending at Azenhas do Mar, the whitewashed village on the Sintra coast, known for its clifftop setting and seawater pool. Your driver returns you to Lisbon by early evening.

Óbidos medieval town in Portugal with castle, fortified walls, and whitewashed houses

Day Eight

Óbidos and the West Coast: Windmills, Bread, and a Medieval Walled Town

Your private transfer takes you north from Lisbon to Portugal’s West Coast, where the morning begins at a traditional windmill. Here, the miller’s family welcomes you into the making of the region’s traditional bread: mixing, kneading, and baking in a wood-fired oven before sitting down to enjoy homemade bread, preserves, regional pastries, organic products, juices, wines, and a selection of local specialties. From there, continue to Óbidos, one of Portugal’s best-preserved medieval walled towns, where the castle, fortified walls, and narrow cobbled streets still shape the historic center. Before leaving, stop for a glass of Ginja de Óbidos, the sour cherry liqueur closely associated with the town. Your driver brings you back to Lisbon by early evening.

Private driver opening the door of a Mercedes sedan

Day Nine

Departure Transfer

At the arranged time, your private driver meets you at the hotel and takes you to the airport.

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What's Included

A Very Personalized Itinerary, Just For You and Your Schedule

Hand-Picked Ultra-Luxury & Boutique Hotel Options

Insider Experiences + Inspiring Sightseeing + Magical Upgrades

Private Touring with Your Own Personal Expert Guide

Private Airport & Train Station Luxury Transfers

Full Breakfasts + Food & Wine Tasting Options

Your Choice of Activities on “Design Your Days”®

Expert Advice, Restaurant Ideas & Reservations

24/7 Support & Concierge Service from Spain, Portugal & Morocco

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