TOUR 1
Half Day Porto
Pick up at the hotel in Porto with local official tour-guide. Panoramic tour of Porto city, passing by the maritime avenue and “Foz”, the city centre (classified World Heritage zone) with the city hall and clock tower, the Clérigos church and tower. Time for a visit to the cathedral located in the heart of Porto where the city appeared, the downtown where one can find the well-known Santa Catarina commercial street and the visit to the Bolsa Palace.
TOUR 2
Cruise under the bridges
Embark on a 50 minutes cruise in the river Douro enjoying the views over the city from a traditional river boat – the Rabelo. The cruise takes us under the most famous bridges of the city including the Arrabida bridge (the biggest concrete arch in the World), D. Luis I bridge (built in 1886 by a disciple of Eiffel), the Infante bridge (2003), the Dª Maria bridge (built in 1877 by Gustave Eiffel) and the two newer S. João and Freixo bridges.
TOUR 3
Half Day Guimarães
Pick up at the hotel in Porto with local official tour-guide. Half day tour to the World Heritage city of Guimarães, visiting the Ducal Palace (built in the 15th century) and the S. Miguel chapel where its said that the Portuguese first was baptised. Time for a walk from the Ducal Palace to the centre, passing by the old quarters in the Santa Maria Street. Arrival in the centre of the city, in Santiago square where one can find the former city hall (built in the 14th century), the Srª da Oliveira church and the Salado monument. Time to see the tower that commemorates the birth of Portugal, the former city tower walls, as Guimarães was the first country’s capital and the new centre.
TOUR 4
Full Day Minho
Pick up at the hotel in Porto with local official tour-guide. Full day tour to Minho, the green wine region, starting in the World Heritage city of Guimarães, visiting the Ducal Palace (built in the 15th century and the S. Miguel chapel where its said that the Portuguese first king was baptised. Time for a walk from the Ducal Palace to the centre. When leaving the city, time to see the tower that commemorates the birth of Portugal, as Guimarães was the first country’s capital and the new centre. Arrival in the City of Braga and visit the Bom Jesus do Monte belvedere where one can find a water funicular and the Bom Jesus church (1811), and appreciate the beautiful view overlooking Braga.
In the afternoon, time to visit the Cathedral with several styles that where inserted across the centuries, like the Romanesque, the Gothic-Flemish, the Manueline style and the Baroque. Time for a walk in the historic centre where one can see the Archbishop’s palace as well as several other churches and palaces (around 27), as Braga is considered the capital of the Gothic style.
TOUR 5
Full Day Douro
Pick up at the hotel in Porto with local official tour-guide. Full day tour to the Douro’s Valley, where the Port wine is produced, passing by Amarante. Time for a stop in the city of Amarante with its Romanesque architecture, where one can see the S. Gonçalo Bridge) and the S. Gonçalo Monastery and also taste the special traditional egg-yolk pastry. Continue to Mesão Frio and Peso da Régua, famous for the departure of the Rabelos boats to Porto, with a precious cargo – barrels filled with port wine.
Time for a visit of one Douro estate, specialised for the production of Port and Douro table wines.
In the afternoon, visit the city of Vila Real, famous for its black pottery, where one can see the S. Domingos cathedral, the house in medieval style of the Portuguese navigator Diogo Cão and several other manor houses. After the visit to the city, visit of the Mateus palace, one of the finest aristocratic residences in Portugal with beautiful gardens.
TOUR 6
Full Day Coimbra & Aveiro
Pick up at the hotel in Porto with local official tour-guide. Full day tour to the university city of Coimbra. The university is one of the oldest in Europe, dating from the 13th century, being established in the royal palace in 1537 by the order of King João III. Inside the university one can find the Library in baroque style and the university tower in baroque style. Leaving the university for a walk to the lower part of the city, passing through the old city passing by the famous “quebra-costas” steps (famous for its high inclination), the Almedina arch, a former entrance in the city walls and for a visit to the old cathedral (built in the 12th century).
In the afternoon after lunch visit to the city of Aveiro for a tour in a traditional boat on the canals of the city, also known as the Venice of Portugal. The city of Aveiro is well known for its production of extraction of salt along the cost and the Ria, a 45 kilometres (28 mi) long lagoon considered as one of Europe’s last remaining untouched coastal marshland. It is also a haven for numerous bird species.
