Porto, dramatically perched at the mouth of the Rio Douro, has a wonderful and vibrant atmosphere. It is city filled with stunning vistas over the river, grandiose buildings and breathtaking monuments seemingly around every corner – a lasting legacy of a place steeped in a rich history but still bustling with modern Portuguese life.
The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Extras
On arrival at Porto Airport, we hop on a private coach transfer to our centrally located hotel. We gather for a welcome meeting and drink, followed by dinner at a nearby restaurant.
Today we’ll discover Porto, starting with a city walk through the old town. We explore the Stock Exchange Palace (Palacio da Bolsa), enjoy a visit to the St. Francisco Church and the catacombs, and the Porto Cathedral.
Then we walk down to the Ribeira Quarter for lunch.
This afternoon, we visit a Port Wine cellar with wine tasting. At the end of the day we enjoy a spectacular cruise along the Douro River.
In the morning, we depart towards the coastline by Boavista as we travel to the Fort of S. Francisco Xavier. The Fort was built in the 17th Century to protect the coast from the pirates of North Africa. It is located on a wedge-shaped rocky hill, hence the name Castelo do Queijo (Cheese Castle).
Our walk starts here and follows the restless Atlantic coastline all the way to the river Douro estuary.
After lunch, we get back into town and continue the walk, including a visit to São Bento Station to view the beautifully tiled panels, the Carmo Church, Clérigos Church and tower (entrance optional), the frontage of Lello bookshop.
After breakfast, we have some time to ourselves to further explore the city and shop for souvenirs before we transfer to airport for our afternoon flight.
A few minutes away from the historic center and the main tourist attractions, as well as from Lordelo do Ouro, a picturesque fishing area, Vila Galé Porto Ribeira is a boutique hotel, resulting from the rehabilitation of four buildings in the area of Cais das Pedras, near the Old Customs House of Porto and about 15 kilometers from the Sá Carneiro airport.
The hotel features accommodation with a bar, private parking and a terrace. Among the facilities at this property are a 24-hour front desk and room service, along with free WiFi throughout the property.
The hotel will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms offering a wardrobe, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a shower.
Frequently Asked Questions
The transfer time from Porto Airport to your hotel is approximately 20 minutes by bus.
The dress code for during the day is casual. In the evenings the dress code is smart casual. Comfortable shoes for walking and sightseeing are recommended.
There is often confusion on the question of gratuities, since it frequently depends on the type of holiday, location and, of course, your attitude towards tipping, as to what is normally expected. To give you a rough idea, we have given appropriate guidance below.
The Tour Leader will be on hand to offer advice or suggestions if required but gratuities are offered entirely at the sole discretion of the individual. We suggest a group collection at the beginning of your holiday to cover drivers, guides, porters and hotel staff of approximately £15. Your Tour Leader will collect this on your behalf and distribute it accordingly, thus relieving you of the burden of who, when and how much to tip.
To enter Portugal or Madeira your passport must meet 2 requirements. It must be:
Check both the issue date and the expiry date in your passport. If you renewed your passport early, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. This could affect the requirement for your passport to be less than 10 years old.
A visa is not required by holders of passports endorsed “British Citizen” for stays of upto 90 days in any 180-day period. Please note that stays in other EU countries counts towards this 90 day period.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct visa, a valid passport and any other travel documents for your holiday. All information provided relates to British citizens who hold or are entitled to apply for a British passport. For the most up-to-date visa information please visit; Portugal Foreign Advice
If you are not a British citizen and do not hold a British passport, you must make your own enquiries as to the applicable requirements.
Compulsory vaccinations: None.
All clients are responsible for acquainting themselves with up to date health information of the countries being visited and where necessary take the required precautions. We recommend that you check with your doctor prior to departure as this information can change. You can also visit the travel health website for more information; Travel Health Portugal
Euro
A reasonable level of fitness/mobility is required as we include plenty of sightseeing/travelling.
Itinerary is subject to change according to traffic, weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances beyond control.
Average Temperatures
| Month(s) | Highest temperature | Lowest temperature |
|---|---|---|
| April | 18 °C | 10 °C |
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