Savour the flavours of Portugal on this delicious journey through Porto, the Douro Valley, and the Algarve. Taste Porto’s famous port wine and fresh seafood. Then explore the Douro Valley’s terraced vineyards and local wines. Finally, unwind along the Algarve’s sun-kissed coast, indulging in fresh seafood and crisp white wines.
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Description
3 Nights – Porto
2 Nights – Douro Valley (Extend to explore more of this region)
5 Nights – Algarve
✈ UK to Porto (3 nights): You’ll start your journey in Porto, known for its pretty riverside setting and legendary port wine. A great place to begin exploring is the UNESCO-listed Ribeira quarter, with its medieval maze of narrow streets and bustling waterfront promenade, Cais da Ribeira. Nearby, the Praça da Ribeira is a lively square surrounded by shops and bars and a great spot to watch the world go by with a glass of vinho verde or a chilled port. A great way to see the city is by taking a traditional rabelo boat tour along the Douro River, passing under Porto’s famous bridges including the Dom Luís I Bridge, an iconic double-deck metal arch structure. Just a short walk uphill you’ll find the magnificent Porto Cathedral (Sé do Porto). The city’s other iconic landmarks include the stunningly beautiful Livraria Lello bookshop – which reportedly inspired JK Rowling’s description of Hogwarts – and the São Bento Station with its breath-taking blue and white tilework. Of course, no visit is complete without exploring the port wine cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia, where you can learn about the region’s processes of storing and ageing port wine – enjoy a tasting or two. And when hunger strikes, head back to the lively Praça da Ribeira or nearby Mercado do Bolhão market to feast on fresh seafood, slow-cooked stews, and the city’s signature francesinha sandwich, layered with meat, melted cheese, and rich sauce.
🚗 or🚆Porto to Douro Valley (2 nights with possible extension): The Douro Valley is renowned for its terraced vineyards and stunning landscapes, where you can explore the world of wine to your heart’s content by visiting local quintas for wine tastings and learning about the rich winemaking history. You have two exciting options for exploring the Douro Valley. If you prefer a more direct route, a private transfer will take you to Guimarães, a charming town near the valley, for a two-night stay. Guimarães is a lovely medieval town with beautifully preserved historical sites, including the impressive Guimaraes Castle and the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza.
Alternatively, if you’re looking for a more scenic way to experience the Douro Valley, a great option is to take the scenic train from Porto to Pocinho. This stunning route winds its way through Régua, Pinhão and Tua, offering picture-perfect views of terraced vineyards, the glistening Douro River, and pretty villages nestled within dramatic cliffs. For a quick two-night escape, Pinhão is an ideal stop en route to soak up the scenery and vineyards. It’s considered one of the prettiest towns in the valley. You can then complete your trip by taking a day trip to Pocinho to complete the rail journey, with the stretch between Tua and Pocinho offering some of the most jaw-dropping views of the whole journey. If you’d like to fully embrace the rail adventure and enjoy the valley at a more leisurely pace, you could consider adding a few extra nights. You could even mix things up with a boat trip between some of the stops.
✈ Douro Valley to Algarve (5 nights): You’ll take a private transfer to Porto airport for an onward flight to the Algarve – Portugal’s golden coast. You might want to head east to Quinta do Lago or Vale do Lobo for a taste of luxury – think stylish resorts, pristine beaches, world-class golf courses, and plenty of restaurants and nightlife. Or go west to Lagos for a blend of history and beach life, with cobbled streets, lively squares and pretty coves like Praia Dona Ana on your doorstep. The whole of the Algarve is known for its freshly caught shellfish (grilled sardines or clams in garlic sauce) which is perfectly accompanied by a glass of crisp Algarve branco. The local markets are a feast for all the senses and overflowing with citrus fruits, almonds, and freshly baked local pastries such as pastéis de nata. For a quieter, more relaxed vibe, try Porches or Sagres. These laid-back spots offer traditional whitewashed streets, peaceful surroundings, and secret coves tucked beneath cliffs. Nearby, Praia da Marinha is one of the Algarve’s most photogenic beaches – and a great place for a swim or snorkel. From here, you can set out on the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail, a cliffside walk with incredible views of the coastline.
You may wish to hire a car so you can venture off the beaten track to discover hidden fishing villages where you can enjoy sunset dinners of the day’s catch paired with a glass of crisp white wine. Or you could try a cooking class or a wine tasting tour along the coast to get a real taste of Portugal.
✈ Algarve to UK: You’ll head to Faro airport for your flight back to the UK.
Why choose eShores?
One to One Service
Our experienced personal travel consultants will ensure you find the most suitable holiday, whilst taking care of every last detail. Everything from start to finish will be effortless.
100% Tailor Made
We can use any hotel, in any destination, so we will craft an itinerary to suit your exact needs. Also, as we can provide any itinerary, the only holiday we'll offer, is the one that's right for you.
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Our ATOL bonding provides you with the financial protection you need and as a member of the Travel Trust Association, you'll have 100% financial protection. Covering you for any eventuality.
Competitive Pricing
As a tour operator & travel agent, we'll search the market to ensure that we find you the best price. Also as an online business, we can ensure our prices are as competitive as possible.
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Anonymous
We contacted eShores having visited the website to discuss a tailor made holiday to the Sporades islands. We spoke to one of the Travel Consultants, Kadie Ryan, who was friendly, efficient and knowledgeable. We received a quote shortly following our conversation and with Kadie's help were able to book our holiday with ease the next day. We are very happy with our experience booking this holiday.
Posted 19 hours ago -
ColinMichael
Fantastic Holiday. Just returned from a great South African holiday, Cape Town 3 nights, Pilanesberg Safari 3 nights and a week in Zanzibar. Big thanks to Chris again, his knowledge helped organise and plan this vacation. This is the second long haul holiday he has booked for us. Each holiday has been faultless even though we have changed the itinerary to suit . The Safari he recommended on this trip, Ivory Tree in Pilanesberg was 5 STAR and made the holiday, another tick on the bucket list. Eshores customer service is second to none. I recommended this company to my daughter who is presently on a Canadian fly drive with them and is thoroughly enjoying it. Based on previous experience Chris has now helped us book Australia, Hong Kong & Dubai for next February, can’t wait. All their trips are good value for money, would not have any hesitation in recommending them.
Posted 1 day ago -
Julie
First time booking with eshores, so far So good, everything seems to be going smoothly, our adviser Chris is really helpful and communication and itinerary’s are all great.
Posted 1 day ago -
Susan
Gavin truly understands what we like but isn't worried about suggesting new countries or places of interest. All his suggestions have been spot on and enriched our holidays, he is a pleasure to work with. We look forward to many more adventures.
Posted 3 days ago -
Paul
Very knowledgeable and helpful Prompt replies and very quick to answer any questions
Posted 3 days ago -
DarrenBoyd
Very happy with what we booked, ( we asked for a trip/experience to Egypt), and Rachel put something together and within the budget we asked for. Once we reviewed it, we tweaked it several times for what we wanted in parts and Rachel did the rest. Very personable and pleasant to deal with. I think we will be looking at other experience holidays through E Shore in the future rather than your standard package holiday.
Posted 4 days ago -
Helen
Excellent service from Andy.
Posted 1 week ago -
Ian
Emma did significant grafting on my behalf, and remained understanding when my requirements involved quite a bit of chopping & changing.
Posted 1 week ago -
Jacqueline
Cannot recommend our booking experience enough with Anna, friendly, very efficient and took time to help us get the trip we wanted. Would use exhorts next time we book for certain.
Posted 1 week ago -
Claire
Booked with eshores last year. Holiday was excellent and everything ran smoothly. We had one problem with one of the transfers in which we missed the plane and had to pay for the next flight but that was sorted and refunded when we returned home. Booked with them again for next year. Matt has been extremely helpful (and patient. We are a nightmare). Eshores are very competetive and I would not hesitate in recommending them and I hope to be using them for years to come.
Posted 1 week ago
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