< Designed Trips

The Trip

Discover the best of Portugal, from the capital city of Lisbon, to terraced vineyards of the Douro Valley and the riverside city of Porto, on this 9 night, 10 day Designed Trip. Check-in to your downtown Lisbon boutique hotel before meeting a local for a private introductory tour of the city's key sites. Taste the traditional food and drink of Lisboanas and experience on a guided culinary tour around the historic center. Explore the magical village of Sintra and it’s vibrant Pena Palace before stopping at the coastal town of Cascais. After three nights in Lisbon, take the train a couple hours north to Porto, stopping in the University town of Coimbra along the way. Check in to your stylish boutique hotel. Get to know Porto’s small traditional shop owners with your private local guide before touring a few of the city’s most famous port houses to learn about the traditional production of port wine. Take your turn at preparing the famous pasteis de nata cream tarts, or opt for local wine tasting. Then, board the train to the beautiful Douro Valley, home of the world famous port. Check in to your vineyard hotel room before touring the vineyards and tasting the wines produced on site. Kayak down the Douro River with amazing views of hillside vineyards, passing under historic bridges. Finally, cruise back to Porto and spend one more night in the city before your flight home. This 10-day trip is the perfect introduction to Portugal with incredible accommodations, local insights, and active, cultural, and foodie experiences along the way.

The Details

Price
  • From $2,459 per person
Duration
  •  9 nights, 10 days
Inclusions
  • Highly-rated boutique hotels
  • All transportation within Portugal
  • Boutique luxury hotels 
  • Private & small-group experiences
  • Curated Portugal mini-guide
  • Trip preparation & support

​​The Itinerary

Lisbon ​
  • Day 1: Welcome to Portugal! Collect your luggage and meet your private driver who will take you to city center and your boutique luxury hotel (see below). After checking in and getting settled, meet your private local guide for a 90-minute introduction to the city. Visit a few of the city’s main highlights (Sé Catedral, Praca do Comercio and the breathtaking Mirador de Sta Luzia) as you stroll past colorful tiled buildings and along the hilly cobbled streets.  
  • Day 2: Bom dia (good morning), Lisboa! Mid morning, meet a small group and local guide to eat your way through the city. Discover the food that Lisboanas enjoy each day including pastéis de nata,  bacalhau, bifana, and ginjinha, on this food and culture tour. Alternatively, choose to go off-the-beaten path and visit some of the more local areas that are not as visited. The afternoon is free to relax or explore the city. 
  • Day 3: Wake up for an adventure outside of the city. With a small group, you’ll fist visit the fairytale village of Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its beautiful Moorish architecture. Taste one of the famous travesseiro (pillow) pastries and Sintra cheesecakes before a quick stop at Cabo da Roca, a 500-foot cliff that is the western most point of continental Europe. After, head to the coastal town of Cascais, a former fishing village that gained fame as a resort for Portugal's royal family in the late 19th century. Relax and take in the sea breeze before visiting the remarkable hilltop Pena Palace. Return to the city and enjoy a nice dinner out.

Porto
  • Day 4: After breakfast, head to the train station. Hop on a train and head north, up the coast toward Porto. Choose to stop along the way in Coimbra, with a medieval city center that dates back to Moorish times, and home to the oldest and most prestigious university in Portugal (and one of the oldest in Europe). Store your luggage at the train station, grab lunch and explore the city center. After a short train ride, arrive in the picturesque city of Porto. This hilly riverside city is known for its tiled buildings, narrow cobbled streets, up-and-coming food scene, and (you guessed it), port! Check in to your stylish boutique luxury hotel and get settled. In the evening, head to a local fado bar for an intimate performance as you learn about the history and cultural significance of Portugal’s famous melancholy music.
  • Day 5: In the morning, meet your local private guide to visit Porto’s oldest & most authentic shops. Visit a centenary grocery shop, a historic variety shop, a shop dedicated to local linen, a historic pharmacy, a Portuguese coffee shop, the city’s best known watchmaker, as well as a famous toy store, and sweets shop. Meet the store owners, get a feel for the city and enjoy tastes along the way. Late afternoon, meet your small group and local guide for an afternoon of port tasting, including a tour of the cellar of one of the most prestigious Port producers in the world. Learn about the difference between Port wine families, how to best pair port with foods, and what makes port so different from other wines.
  • Day 6: Your morning is free. Wander through the narrow streets with tiled buildings, stop in the beautiful Livraria Lello bookstore, which inspired the Harry Potter books, and swing by Palácio da Bolsa, which dates back to 1842 and many consider to be the most beautiful building in the city. In the afternoon, meet your local host and to learn how to make Portugal’s famous cream tarts - pasteis de nata. After the class, enjoy an early dinner in the home of your host. Alternatively, meet up with a local guide for a wine and bites tour where you’ll visit local hotspots, and sip on various wines paired perfectly with some light petiscos (Portuguese tapas).

Douro Valley
  • Day 7: Wake up and head to the train station for your train into the incredible Douro Valley. Relax and take in the views as the train winds along the river to one of the many wine-producing villages. Check in to your winery hotel and get settled. In the late afternoon, take a short tour of the vineyard, which dates back to 1738, and sample four of the wines and olive oil that is produced on site. 
  • Day 8: Wake up in wine country and enjoy a relaxed morning at the pool or exploring the quaint village. In the afternoon, jump in a kayak for a relaxed, downstream paddle along the amazing Douro River. Take in views of the terraced vineyards from the valley floor as you paddle to the town of Caldas do Moledo. You’ll then be driven back to the hotel, arriving in plenty of time to grab dinner in town. 

Porto
  • Day 9: Check out of the winery hotel and make your way back to the river for a cruise down to Porto. Enjoy lunch on board and stop at two dams, the Carrapatelo Dam, where the sluice rises 115 feet, and the Crestuma-Lever Dam, where the sluice rises 46 feet, before arriving back in Porto and sitting down to your final Portuguese dinner.
  • Day 10: It’s your final day. Either talk to us about extending your trip (possibly explore some of the smaller towns in Northern Portugal) or meet your private driver who will take you to the airport for your flight home.

Pricing & Inclusions

Inclusions
  • 3 hotel nights in Lisbon
  • 4 hotel nights in Porto
  • 2 hotel nights in the Douro Valley
  • Private arrival airport transfer in Lisbon
  • Train tickets from Lisbon to Porto
  • Train & cruise (round-trip) from Porto to the Douro Valley 
  • Private departure airport transfer in Porto
  • Private introduction tour in Lisbon with local guide
  • Small group day trip to Sintra and Cascais 
  • Small group Portuguese food tour -OR- Off the beaten path with local tour
  • Intimate fado performance at a local venue in Porto
  • Private traditional shops and tastings experience in Porto
  • Small group port wine lodges tour with tastings
  • Pasteis de nata cooking class -OR- Portuguese wine tasting experience with a local
  • Three bridges down-river kayaking on the Douro River
  • Vineyard tour and wine tasting 
  • Curated Portugal mini-guide
  • Trip preparation & support

Exclusions
  • International flights to Portugal
  • Meals & activities not listed above
  • ​Travel insurance

Pricing 
  • With boutique hotels
    • From $2,459 per person
  • With luxury boutique hotels
    • From $3,201 per person
  • ​Pricing for Cohica Designed Trips is based on double occupancy and may vary depending on travel dates and total number of travelers.
  • This Designed Trip offers the flexibility to make date changes after booking (ask us for details)
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This Designed Trip was developed based on our personal travels, with local contacts, favorite hotels and authentic activities we've experienced first-hand.
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FAQs

​WHAT IS A DESIGNED TRIP?
A Designed Trip is a pre-designed travel plan based on our personal, first-hand travel experiences in each destination. As they are pre-designed, our Designed Trips have been created as a turnkey travel option and can be booked and delivered in as little as one week. ​
CAN I MAKE ANY CHANGES TO A DESIGNED TRIP?
Absolutely! Pre-designed doesn’t mean there isn’t any flexibility. Whether you want to shorten or lengthen your trip, switch out a destination or change an activity, let us know. If, however, you want a trip built around your specific desires, a Custom Trip might be more appropriate. We can help you decide, so get in touch.
​HOW LONG DOES THE PROCESS TAKE?
Once you’ve selected your Designed Trip and chosen between a Boutique, Luxury Boutique or Luxury experience, your trip can be booked and delivered in as little as one week. If you would like to make some changes to your trip, such as including an alternative activity, shortening or lengthening your trip, then this can take a bit longer.
HOW DO I KNOW HOW MUCH MY DESIGNED TRIP WILL COST?
Once you have decided on your Designed Trip, your dates, and any adjustments we will provide a personalized itinerary and pricing for your trip. We have included base pricing on each Designed Trip page to give you an idea as to what the final cost might be, but prices can fluctuate depending on time of year and any personalization. Get in touch and we can help.
If you have any other questions, feel free to check out more FAQs or send us an email.