Porto & the Douro Valley

Flying to Portugal’s second largest city, a private transfer will bring you to your hotel - found within historic Vila Nova de Gaia, a district that lines the south side of the Douro River. It’s here that port houses have aged their valuable wine for over three centuries. Rooms combine contemporary furnishings with pieces borrowed from various museums around the city. Facilities include indoor and outdoor infinity pools. UNESCO-listed Porto has a rich and varied history, a terracotta tumble of narrow alleyways, you’ll lose yourself in a heady mix of medieval cathedrals, palatial gardens and sombre Gothic churches that hide golden interiors. It’s all host to a spectacular gastronomic scene, with everything from Michelin-starred restaurants to cosy bistros offering the best in Portuguese cuisine – washed down with a glass of port, of course. 

After breakfast, you’ll set off along the Douro Line. An engineering marvel of the late 19th century, its skipping bridges and plunging tunnels trace green contours to follow the Douro River into its vineyard-lined valley. Here, you’ll alight at Pinhao, and walk the short distance to your chosen hotel. With private balcony views of its river neighbour. You’ll spend your time here enjoying gourmet dining, poolside relaxation and bar-terrace views, perhaps booking onto a port-tasting workshop if you’re feeling inspired. There’s also the chance to explore the valley’s majestic landscapes, stopping off at pretty whitewashed villages for a hearty boar stew in between tasting your way through the region’s beautifully terraced vineyards.

After breakfast, begin your journey home. Catch the train back to Porto and to make your onward connection to the airport as you finish your Portugal holiday.