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Air Canada Vacations

The Best of Northern Portugal

Overview

Discover the highlights of Northern Portugal on this 7-night tour, with visits to historic centres like Porto and Guimarães, the Vale do Coa archaeological sites and the picturesque Douro Valley.  

This itinerary features More Moments activities included with your package.

9 days | 7 nights
See availability and prices

Format

Partially guided tour

Locations

  • Porto
  • Viana do Castelo
  • Braga
  • The Douro Valley, Portugal

Inclusions

  • Round-trip flights to Porto  (if Flight & Hotel package option is chosen)
  • 7 nights of accommodation in selected category, with breakfast included
  • 7-day car rental, including: Unlimited Mileage, LDW (CDW Collision Damage Waiver + THW Theft Waiver), LAF (Vehicle Licensee Fee), ADD (Additional Driver), ASC (Airport Service Charge) & Tax.

More Moments activities included:

  • Porto Walking Tour & Gastronomic Experience (approximately 4 hours)
  • Douro Valley - Visit to Quinta dos Vallados and wine tasting  (approximately 2 hours)
  • Douro Rebelo Cruise (approximately 1 hour)
  • Earn extra Aeroplan® points per member on this tour

 

 

Itinerary

Day 1

Depart Canada

Fly to Porto.

Day 2-3

Porto

Today, you’ll arrive in Porto, pick up your rental car at the airport and make your way to your hotel, where you’ll spend the next 2 nights.

Spend some time exploring Porto, Portugal’s second-largest city, nestled along the scenic banks of the Douro River, boasting a historic centre, famous wine cellars known for their Port wine, world-class museums and a vibrant downtown area filled with music and art.  

More Moments Activities Included

  • Porto Walking Tour & Gastronomic Experience (approximately 4 hours)

    Immerse yourself in Porto's rich culinary heritage, where centuries of history come alive in every bite. This tour is designed to connect you with the authentic flavours and traditions that define Porto’s vibrant culture.

    Join your guides as you wander through the charming streets of Porto's historic centre. At each carefully selected stop, you'll savour mouthwatering dishes and exquisite beverages. From fresh, local ingredients to time-honoured recipes, every tasting tells a story of the region's deep-rooted connection to its land and people.

Meal(s): Breakfast

Day 4

Porto / Vila do Conde / Barcelos / Viana do Castelo

After breakfast, you’ll drive north from Porto along the coast. You’ll stop at Vila do Conde, a quiet city that played an important role in the Portuguese Discoveries as a prosperous ship-building yard. Walk around its narrow streets and see the Santa Clara Monastery and its Romanesque-inspired Aqueduct. Visit the Mother Church of Vila do Conde, one of the most significant Manueline-style churches in the country, featuring elements of Gothic and Renaissance architecture.

You’ll then continue to Barcelos, one of the most emblematic cities for Portuguese arts and crafts. You’ll have a chance to visit its historic centre, the Pelourinho and Paço dos Condes and enjoy a stop at the Archaeological Museum to learn about the legend of the Barcelos Rooster.

You’ll press onwards to Viana do Castelo, one of the most beautiful cities in the north of Portugal. Here, you’ll be able to visit the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and admire the stunning views over the Lima River Valley from Monte de Santa Luzia.

Spend an overnight in Viana do Castelo.

(approximately 100 kms)

Meal(s): Breakfast

Day 5

Viana do Castelo / Ponte de Lima / Braga

After breakfast, you’ll continue with a visit to  ‘Nossa Senhora da Agonia,’ the Shrine of Our Lady of Agony, a Marian devotion that dates to the 18th-century. Stroll through Viana do Castelo’s historic centre and see the 16th century Misericórdia building and fountain, the old Paços do Concelho, Town Hall, and the Romanesque Cathedral. Viana is also known for its filigree gold work, which can be seen in the Museu do Traje.

You’ll depart Viana do Castelo and continue with your discovery of the Minho region, driving to Ponte de Lima, where the famous ‘Vinho Verde’ is produced. This traditional town is also known for its intricate embroidery and lively fairs that date back to the Middle Ages.

You’ll then proceed to Braga, one of the oldest religious cities in the world, where you can visit the sanctuaries that constitute the faith triangle: the Cathedral and the Sanctuaries of Sameiro and Bom Jesus.

Spend an overnight in Braga (or Guimarães)

(approximately 72 kms)

Meal(s): Breakfast

Day 6-7

Braga / Guimarães / Amarante / Peso da Regua

After breakfast, you’ll visit Guimarães, where D. Afonso Henriques, the first King of Portugal, was born. Walk through its unique historical centre, classified as an UNESCO World Heritage site and see the ‘Paços Municipais’, the Praça de Santiago and the Convent of Santa Clara. On your way to the 10th-century Castle, pass by the Dukes of Bragança Palace, where you’ll glimpse the influence of French seigniorial architecture.

You’ll continue on to the Romanesque town of Amarante, set on the Tâmega River, and rich in history, architecture and natural beauty. See the 16th-century stone bridge, a symbol of its resistance to Napoleonic forces. Visit São Gonçalo Church and convent, a blend of Gothic, Manueline and Baroque styles built in the 16th century.

Continue on to Vila Real for a visit to Casa de Mateus, an exquisite 18th-century Baroque manor house.

Finally, you’ll head towards the Douro Valley, admiring the stunning landscapes of green and golden terraced slopes covered with vineyards.

Spend the next 2 nights in the Douro Valley.

(approximately 136 kms)

More Moments Activities Included

  • Visit to Quinta dos Vallados and wine tasting (Douro) (approximately 2 hours)

    Learn about the culture and identity of the Douro region, the birthplace of Port wine, known as the first demarcated wine region in the world. If you wish, you can visit the Douro Museum (not included). You’ll then drive to Pinhao and admire the beautiful views and terraced slopes where vines grow along the river. Pause to visit the historic train station, famous for its azulejo (tile) panels depicting the history of wine in the region.

    In the afternoon, visit the Quinta do Vallado vineyard for a tour and wine tasting (included). Quinta do Vallado, established in 1716, is one of the oldest and most famous “Quintas” in the Douro Valley. It once belonged to the legendary Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira and has been run by descendants for the past six generations.  

     

  • Douro Rebelo Cruise( approximately 1 hour)

    Enjoy a scenic boat cruise along the Douro River on a traditional “Rabelo” boat in Porto. See the city's most iconic landmarks, including the Dom Luís Bridge.

Meal(s): Breakfast

Day 8

Douro Valley - Viseu – Aveiro – Porto

Today, you’ll check out of your hotel and drive to the Catholic pilgrimage town of Lamego to see the Nossa Senhora dos Remedios Sanctuary. You’ll continue to Viseu, a crossroads since the Roman occupation of the Iberian Peninsula, and home to the Dao wine region. You’ll then head to Aveiro, a city of river channels known as the Portuguese Venice. You’ll have a chance to see its 15th-century Cathedral and the Convento de Jesus.

Spend an overnight in Porto.

(approximately 230 kms)

Meal(s): Breakfast

Day 9

Return to Canada

After breakfast, drop off your rental car at the Porto airport and board your flight home to Canada.
 

Meal(s): Breakfast

Accommodations

Where you'll stay

The hotels listed below are presented as examples for your reference only. Hotel accommodation details will be communicated to you or your travel agent prior to departure.

4 Star Superior Accommodation

Location

Hotel

Porto
Arts Hotel Porto (or similar)
4
Viana do Castelo
Flor de Sal Hotel (or similar)
4
Braga
Vila Gale Collection Braga (or similar)
4
The Douro Valley, Portugal
Vila Gale Vinyards (or similar)
4

Room details

Type of bed(s): 1 double bed or 2 twin beds

Room occupancy: Maximum 3 people (  2 adults and 1 infant)

Unless otherwise specified, guests will stay in a standard room at all hotels during the trip. 

Important Information

  • June 1, 2026 – September 30, 2026

  • Not included

    • Meals and Beverages, unless noted
    • Fuel, parking fees, traffic Violation tickets, car upgrades, toll fees, road assistance, additional insurance coverage, personal accident insurance, car seats, luggage racks, late drop-off fees
    • Gratuities
    • City Taxes, if applicable, payable at hotels in local currency
    • Porterage

  • The More Moments activities/excursions mentioned in the itinerary are all included in the package but may be rescheduled to take place on an earlier or later day, depending on availability and operational day.

    Sightseeing tours are only provided in English 

  • Car Rental  

    • EDMR      ManualSeat Ibiza a/c 
    • CWMR     ManualRenault Megane a/c  
    • CDMR     M Ford Focus 
    • IFAR        A Peugeot 3008 

  • The order of the itinerary may vary, including the number of consecutive nights per city

  • City taxes, if applicable,  are payable in local currency upon checkout. Rates vary depending on hotel star rating and location and are calculated per person, per night. Rates are subject to change without notice.

     

See availability and prices