Porto District

Culture & History

Acquaint your taste buds with the gastronomy and wine of the Douro region on this relaxing day trip from Porto. Sit down to an authentic Portuguese lunch and enjoy the countryside at two local wineries and on a river cruise. Delight your sense as you try regional wines and olive oils. Be picked up from your accommodation in Porto and sit back and relax on the drive to a winery that is nestled in the countryside of the Douro valley. Savor a lunch with typical dishes of the region. Sample some of the wines from the winery. Marvel at the scenery during a panoramic cruise on the Douro River. Stop at a second renown winery for another guided tasting.  Have the chance to try local port wine, table wines, and olive oil. Return to your accommodation in Porto at the end of your tour.

The Associação Comercial do Porto started the construction of the Palácio da Bolsa, its headquarters, and property in 1842. Over three generations, many masters and craftsmen worked to build this architectural jewel of the 19th century in neoclassical style. Great names in architecture, painting, sculpture, and decorative arts contributed to the construction of the building, which is now classified as a National Monument and one of the main attractions of Porto e Norte, receiving more than 450,000 visitors annually. During this 30-minute guided tour with a certified guide from Palacio da Bolsa, you will visit the authentic and impressive rooms of a building that is now over 180 years old, has received governors from almost every country in the world, and which is the location of most of the official state receptions held in the north of Portugal.

Navigate on a unique river, in the heart of the oldest wine demarcated region in the world and also a UNESCO world heritage site. You start from Pinhão, pass under the Eiffel iron bridge going up stream until the Roncão area where you turn around and return to Pinhão. Along the way you’ll see hills of terraced vineyards until the river, with no national roads or traffic in sight. Although you do the same stretch up and down, it could very well be a different one, because seeing it in one direction and then on the other creates two completely different points of view and sights. The traditional rabelo boats have open and closed areas, so navigation can be comfortably made in all kinds of weather, all year long.

Visit the Cockburn’s cellars, also known as ‘lodges’, and discover the most extensive wine cellars in the historic quarter of Vila Nova de Gai. Located opposite the twin city of Porto across the Douro River, this region is known for its beauty. Take this unique opportunity to watch the dedicated team of coopers disassemble barrels stave by stave for maintenance and then reassemble them. Go inside the sturdy granite walls of the Cockburn’s lodge house which boasts 6,518 seasoned oak barrels of maturing Port and the equivalent of a further 10,056 barrels held in tones and vats. This sizeable and priceless stock provides the basis for the creation of Cockburn’s renowned Ports, including the famous Special Reserve. In this guided tour, you will have an authentic experience of a fully working Port cellar. Start your visit with a trip to the Cellars museum which charts Cockburn’s fascinating 200-year history. A series of exhibits reveal the stories of the families that built Cockburn’s; their planting of vineyards in the Douro Valley and the making of legendary Ports that turned Cockburn's into a world-renowned producer. Your visit continues through the working sections of the buildings where thousands of oak barrels and vats hold Cockburn’s valuable stocks of maturing wines. At this point, you will pass through the longest aging gallery of any Port cellar in Vila Nova de Gaia. Filled with the impressive sight of thousands of barrels, stacked 4 high you'll learn about the importance of maturing Port in seasoned wood as well as the central role of the cooper. In the tasting room, you will enjoy a classic tasting, or if you select the premium tasting option then you will have the following: • Cockburn's Fine White paired with Passion fruit chocolate  • Cockburn's 10 Years old paired with Yuzu cinnamon chocolate • Quinta dos Canais Vintage paired with Raspberry chocolate 

Learn about the uniquely Portuguese musical form of fado with a live show in the intimate surroundings of the Casa do Fado. Enjoy a glass of port wine as you hear more about this aspect of Portuguese identity, declared ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity’ by UNESCO. Be transported to the Porto of old with a trip to Casa do Fado, a project developed by friends who love the music genre. Choose between two Casa do Fado venues in the historic center of Porto: the Ribiera, a 19th-century cellar, or the Sé, a former guitar luthier workshop. Listen to outstanding musicians as they perform live in a venue with acoustics ideally set up for fado. Sip on a glass of port wine, the drink that Porto is famous for, as you hear more about the music and its origins.

Explore the stunning beauty of the Douro Valley on a tour to 2 wine estates. Visit the town of Amarante and taste regional wines at both wine estates. Sit down to a delicious lunch before sailing through the lush landscapes of the Douro Valley on a river cruise. Begin your tour in Porto and learn about the region's history and wine while driving to the Douro valley. Stop for a coffee break in the historic town of Amarante and admire the town's Church and Convent of São Gonçalo, or purchase some of the pastries at one of the iconic pastry shops. Continue to a wine estate in Sabrosa. Enjoy a guided tour of a family-owned wine estate. Learn about and try 3 of the estate's wines during a guided tasting. Savor a lunch paired with red and white Douro wines while overlooking the vineyards. After lunch, drive to Pinhão, with a photo stop at São Cristovão viewpoint. Take in panoramic views of the Douro valley. See where the Pinhão river joins with the waters of the Douro River before embarking on a cruise at Pinhão.  In the afternoon, take a guided tour of a famous wine estate (Quinta da Roeda – Croft/Taylor’s group or Quinta São Luiz – Kopke/Burmester group). Uncover the history of the vineyard and the secrets if the wine-making processes. Taste 3 of their fine wines before returning to Porto by one of the world's most scenic roads, the N222.

Explore the calm delights of the Douro River by traveling on a typical Rabelo Boat along the pastel-hued riverbanks of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia. On this 50 minute cruise, you'll get to breathe Porto's faded but rich history, and glimpse architectural wonders such as the Gustav Eiffel Bridge. The program includes an audio guide for the tour (Portuguese, English, Spanish, and French).

Your Jewish heritage tour begins by meeting your guide at a central location. Get ready and follow your guide into the hear of Porto's Jewish community. On the journey, learn about how Porto's Jewish history dates back to the 12th century, when its community coexisted harmoniously with local Christians.  Explore the old Jewish quarters, secret synagogues, and all the places where the Jewish influence was strong. Find out where the wealthiest Jews settled and the good trade relations between Jews and Christians. Hear captivating stories about key figures like Captain Arthur Carlos de Barros Basto (Abraham Israel Ben-Rosh), founder of the Porto's Jewish community and the major contributor to the construction of the Kadoorie Mekor Haim synagogue. Continue along Sant'ana Street, Comércio do Porto Street, and S. Bento da Vitória Church. Take in the beauty of Vitória view point, the Esnoga stairs, Virtudes garden, and Jewish Mountain before concluding your tour.

Begin your 9-hour Douro Valley tour with a drive to Regua, a small village in the Vila Real district. Take in the views and cross the main bridge. Continue to the National 222 and stop along this road to visit a traditional farm, learn about wine production and enjoy a taste of port wine. Continue to Pinhão, a lovely village known for its wine production. Tour winemaking facilities and taste some of the wines. Sit down for a delicious lunch of traditional regional dishes, depending on the option chosen. If lunch is not included in your tour, enjoy some free time to have lunch. After lunch, you can take a scenic river cruise, or visit the train station to admire its tiles depicting wine production and local scenes. Visit a small farm to taste delicious table wines, almonds, olive oil, and honey. Take in the spectacular views on the drive back to Porto.

Fado is an important part of the collective Portuguese soul, born in the taverns of the 19th century and an iconic symbol of the Portuguese culture. This 75-minute program includes a visit to the Cálem wine cellars to learn about ancestral traditions. The visit is followed by a tasting of two port Wines (white and special reserve), which are served to you while you enjoy a Fado performance. The Fado performance features both male and female voices accompanied by traditional Portuguese guitar and classic guitar. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear to the music and experience the soul of the country.