Port, Pasteis & the Presidential Train

Portugal Gourmet Adventure

Lisbon & Around, Porto & The Douro

Duration: 7 nights

Price: From £3,850 per person in low season based on two adults travelling together and including all flights in economy class, accommodation, some meals, experiences as stated, private transfers and taxes

Portugal is a paradise for food lovers, with a rich cuisine which fuses influences from across the world thanks to the country’s seafaring past. Seafood plays a big part, while there’s also the small matter of Portuguese wine, most famously port from the Douro Valley. This gourmet adventure will see you sampling the best cuisine that the country has to offer, and doing it in the ultimate style. Begin with multi-Michelin-starred restaurants in Porto, before taking the unforgettable Presidential Train to the vineyards of the Douro Valley. After a stop in picturesque Sintra, your journey ends in the capital, Lisbon, where you can take in some traditional folk culture while exploring the country’s very finest restaurants.

Perfect forGourmands looking to tour Portugal in the very finest style.

In the knowAdd a few days in the Alentejo region, where you can get off the beaten track and into the Portuguese countryside.

Best for

Food & Wine
Train Journey
History & Heritage
Landscapes & Scenery

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Itinerary details

1 nightPorto

Your Portuguese gourmet holiday begins in the historic city of Porto, the namesake of port wine and as good a place as any to dive in to the country’s cuisine. You’ll spend one night at The Yeatman, a luxurious hotel overlooking the Douro River, and kick off your gastronomic adventure in style at the property’s two-Michelin-starred restaurant. Here, you’ll enjoy exquisite Portuguese dishes served up using fresh seafood and other local produce, paired with the finest wines from the Douro Valley and beyond.

If you can manage to tear yourself away from the restaurant, try to make time to visit some of Porto’s iconic historic buildings, such as the Se cathedral and Lello Bookshop.

1 nightDouro Valley

The next leg of your journey sees you travelling in ultimate style as you board the Presidential Train to the Douro Valley. This vintage train originally dates back to the 19th century and, as its name suggests, has played hosts to presidents, kings and queens from Portugal and beyond through its long life. Today, it’s luxuriously appointed while retaining a classic feel; the star attraction, though, is the food.

A roster of world-class chefs share cooking duties, bringing together the finest flavours of Portuguese cuisine in a tantalising four-course tasting menu with wine harmonisation. As if that wasn’t enough, you’ll get off the train in the Douro Valley, the home of port wine.

You’ll spend the night at the Casa do Rio, a five-star retreat on the banks of the Douro River where, once again, magnificent food and wine await. You’ll have the exclusive opportunity to participate in the authentic wine treading ritual, before enjoying a multi-course dinner of delicacies from land and sea, all paired with the finest Douro wines.

1 nightPorto

A scenic boat trip will take you from Casa do Rio along the Douro to Pinhao, including an expertly-designed lunch menu. Then, boarding the Presidential Train once more, you’ll ride in luxury back to Porto for one more night at The Yeatman, enjoying more exquisite food and wine on board.

This stopover is a great opportunity to take in some of the city’s sights that you might have missed the first time around. The historic waterfront district of Ribeira is a good place to start to get a feel for the city; if your time in the Douro Valley has whetted your appetite for port, then cross the Douro to the wine cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia for endless tasting opportunities and cellar tours.

Other gastronomic highlights can be found in the beachfront neighbourhood of Matosinhos, where you can try classics of Portuguese cuisine. Among the most famous are bacalhau (salted cod) and pasteis (a traditional egg tart). If you’re feeling brave, go for a francesinha – a sandwich of sausage, steak and ham covered in melted cheese and a sauce made from tomato and beer.

2 nightsSintra

Your journey continues as you travel to the pretty town of Sintra. Nestled in the foothills of the Sintra Mountains, this place is a photographer’s dream, famous for its pastel-painted houses set against a backdrop of rugged mountains and dense forest.

Your culinary adventures continue here, as your visit includes a trip to the market with a local chef followed by a cooking class back at your hotel, Penha Longa – you’ll learn to whip up cataplana, a classic Portuguese seafood dish. Penha Longa is home to eight fantastic restaurants, one of which has a Michelin star, and a luxurious spa where you can put your feet up and relax.

2 nightsLisbon

Your final destination is the Portuguese capital, Lisbon. One of the oldest cities in the world, Lisbon is also consistently ranked as one of the most popular in Europe among tourists and expats alike. As the capital, it’s also home to some of Portugal’s very finest restaurants and hotels, one of which – the Four Seasons Ritz Lisbon– is your home for the final two nights of your trip.

On your first evening, you’ll enjoy dinner accompanied by a fado show – a form of traditional Portuguese folk music. On your last day, explore the city at your leisure and take in some of its famous historic and cultural attractions. Particular highlights include the magnificent Jeronimo Monastery and the imposing Castelo de Sao Jorge.