Porto - Architecture, History & Port

5 days from £1,189

Two traditional flat-bottomed rabelo boats moored on the Douro in front of Porto's stacked, colourful riverside houses
Porto and the Douro Rabelo Boats
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Suggested Itinerary#

Your itinerary is exclusively yours to tailor to suit your group's interests and profile of your members. Here is our suggested itinerary:

Day 1 – Porto

Scheduled flight to Porto from your preferred airport – transfer with our professional guide in our private executive coach to the centrally located 3* Grande Hotel do Porto.

Day 2 – Guided tour of Porto, Museu Soares dos Reis, River Douro cruise & dinner at Taylor’s Port Lodge

Guided tour of Porto, Portugal’s second largest city and one of the most ancient in Europe, takes in the São Francisco Church, the Palácio da Bolsa (the Stock Exchange Palace) including the truly lavish Arab Room where heads of state are received, and the azulejo tile panels depicting scenes of Portuguese history at São Bento Railway Station – named after the country’s leading 19th century sculptor, Museu Soares dos Reis is home to a fine collection of art, including paintings by the 16th century master, Frey Carlos and the Impressionist, Henrique Pousão – a 50 minute cruise on the River Douro allows us to see the city from a different perspective – dinner and a port tasting are included at Taylor’s Port Lodge this evening.

Day 3 – Braga, Bom Jesus do Monte & Guimarães

In Braga, the seat of Portugal’s archbishops and the country’s religious capital since the 12th century, Bom Jesus do Monte stands as Portugal’s most spectacular religious sanctuary and is famous for its giant Baroque Escadaria stairway of Bom Jesus which was designed by the Archbishop of Braga in 1722 – framed by gently rising hills and celebrated as the birthplace of the nation, King Afonso Henriques chose Guimarães as his capital in 1139 and a guided tour takes in the narrow streets of the medieval quarter, the cobbled Rua de Santa Maria and the Castelo de São Miguel.

Day 4 – Casa da Música, Majestic Café & the British Factory House

Guided tour of the Casa da Música, conceived in 2001 to mark Porto’s year as Cultural Capital of Europe and a 2007 winner of the European Award of the Royal Institute of British Architects – time for tea at the Majestic Café, a traditional hang out for intellectuals and voted the sixth most beautiful coffee house in the world – the British Factory House was originally founded in 1654 as a commercial association between merchants in Porto engaged in trading wool, cod and wine with Britain and a guided tour explores the present building that was designed in Palladian style and opened in 1790 by the British Consul, John Whitehead.

Day 5 – Porto

Morning at leisure to enjoy Porto – transfer to Porto airport for our scheduled flight home.

Remember, every element of this itinerary can be adjusted. If you'd like to change the days, add different activities, or adjust the pace, just let us know.

Features#

What's included in this tour is entirely yours to customise to suit your group's budget and preferences. Here is what we've suggested:

  • Half board accommodation

  • All excursions & guided tours included

  • Professional local guide in Portugal

  • Scheduled flights to Porto

  • Executive coach in Portugal

  • One free place per 10 paying passengers

Tailor your Features#

If you'd like to adjust what's included, perhaps a different hotel standard, more or fewer days, or different excursions, here are some alternatives:

  • For more (or fewer) days

  • Include UK airport coach transfers

  • Bring a specialist lecturer

  • Include all entrance fees & gratuities

  • Visit more (or fewer) sights*

* See Tailor your Sights for suggestions

Sights#

The places your group visits are exclusively yours to decide. Here are the main sights we've suggested:

  • Guided tour of Porto

  • Museu Soares dos Reis

  • River Douro cruise

  • Dinner at Taylor’s Port Lodge

  • Braga & Bom Jesus do Monte

  • Guimarães

  • Casa da Música – guided tour

  • Majestic Café

  • British Factory House

Tailor your Sights#

If you'd prefer to visit different places, or if you'd like to add extra attractions that match your group's specific interests, here are some more suggestions:

  • Amarante - rows of 17th century mansions with brightly painted wooden balconies line its narrow streets and the spectacular São Gonçalo Bridge dates back to the 13th century

  • Igreja do Carmo - a magnificent example of late Baroque architecture by master Francisco Pereira Campanhã and an extraordinary outside wall covered in blue and white azulejo tiles

  • Santiago de Compostela - combine with a two to three night stay in Santiago de Compostela which in the Middle Ages was Christendom’s third most important place of pilgrimage after Jerusalem and Rome

Accommodation#

Where you stay is entirely yours to choose to match your group's preferences. Here is our suggested accommodation:

Four nights on half board basis at the centrally located 3* Grande Hotel do Porto. Facilities at the hotel include a restaurant and bar and all rooms are en suite.

Tailor your accommodation#

If you'd prefer different accommodation, perhaps a different hotel standard, location, or basis of accommodation, here are some alternative choices:

  • Stay in a 4* hotel

  • With fewer dinners included

Extras#

The costs on top of your tour price can be tailored to suit your group's needs. Here is what we've listed as extras:

  • Single room supplement £169

  • Insurance

  • Entrance fees to places of interest

  • Audio headphones

  • Gratuities

Many of these can be included in the tour price if you'd prefer. For example, we can include entrance fees, gratuities, or audio headphones as part of your overall cost.

Call us on

020 7064 4970

to tailor this tour
for your group

Tailor your tour

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Porto - Architecture, History & Port

5 days from £1,189 per person

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