Food Tours · Tour
Twenty Thousand Tiles, Six Bridges, and a Pergola Copied from Nice
Ten hours that cover the whole city, half of it on foot and half by coach, starting beside the cathedral where the staff wear red.
The morning is walking. Avenida dos Aliados for the architecture, then the Clérigos tower, Nicolau Nasoni's baroque bell tower and the thing you navigate by from anywhere in Porto; the architect asked to be buried in it and was. São Bento station, whose hall holds about twenty thousand tiles painted by Jorge Colaço showing Portuguese history and the arrival of the railways, and which is still a working commuter station. The cathedral, seen from outside, begun in the twelfth century when Porto and the north were where Portugal was being invented. And the Fernandine wall, for the view over the river and the Gaia cellars.
From Batalha you take the bus across to Vila Nova de Gaia, where the port ages, for a guided cellar visit and three wines. Then free time for lunch, which is not included.
The afternoon starts on the water: an hour on a rabelo boat under all six bridges, which is the only way to see how the city sits on its gorge. At Foz do Douro, where the river meets the Atlantic, there is time on the promenade and the Blue Flag beaches, and the Pérgola da Foz, built in the 1930s because the mayor's wife had seen the one on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice and wanted the same thing at home. The beach beside it is still called Praia dos Ingleses.
The last stretch is a drive through Boavista, past Rem Koolhaas's Casa da Música and the Serralves park, ending near Praça da Batalha.
Cellar entry and tasting included, cruise included, transport air-conditioned. Clérigos tower and the Lello bookshop are not included and are seen from outside. Groups up to twenty-seven, guided in Portuguese, English, French or Spanish. Booking also gives you a free Porto walking tour from the following day.
What's included
- Porto City Walking Tour (available from the day after your experience)
- 50 minutes river cruise of the 6 bridges on a traditional "Rebelo" boat
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Professional Guide
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- Admission ticket and Guided visit to a renowned Port Wine Cellar with tastings
Itinerary
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Calçada de Vandoma, Porto
Calçada de Vandoma, right next to Porto Cathedral (Sé do Porto). Staff dressed in red wait there.
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Porto
Porto and the North are where Portugal was founded in the 12th century. The World Heritage city is known for Port wine and for a heritage that mixes old churches and monuments, such as the Cathedral and the Church of São Francisco, with modern buildings such as Casa da Música and the Serralves Museum.
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Catedral do Porto
The cathedral dates to the 12th century, founded by the city's first bishop, D. Hugo, like the first ring of city walls. It is also known as Santa Maria do Porto and Nossa Senhora da Vandoma. The guide explains the architecture from the outside and points out views of the river and the Gaia wine cellars.
Extra fee
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Sao Bento Railway Station
Built in the early 20th century on the site of the Convent of S. Bento de Avé-Maria, with a glass and iron structure by the architect Marques da Silva. The vestibule has twenty thousand tiles painted by Jorge Colaço, showing the evolution of transport and episodes of Portuguese history, which the guide explains.
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Historic Centre of Porto
The Historic Centre, the oldest part of the city, has been UNESCO World Heritage since 1996 and covers the parishes of Sé, Vitória, São Nicolau and Miragaia, including the Port wine lodges. A walk through its medieval streets.
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Torre dos Clerigos
Baroque church and tower from the mid-18th century, designed by Nicolau Nasoni, an architect of Italian origin. At his own request, Nasoni was buried in a small chapel here, with its gateway level with the top of the double stairway.
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Vila Nova de Gaia
A guided visit to a Port wine lodge in Gaia, with the history and production of the wine. The wine is made in the Douro valley but ages in lodges beside the quays of Vila Nova de Gaia. The morning ends with a tasting of different ports.
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Lunch break in Porto
Back in Porto, free time for lunch.
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Douro River
A cruise on a traditional rabelo boat under the 6 bridges of Porto, with views of Porto and Gaia from the river.
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Promenade Foz do Douro
The promenade facing the Atlantic, with Blue Flag beaches and the Pérgola da Foz, built in the 1930s after the pergola of the Promenade des Anglais in Nice. The beach here is called Praia dos Ingleses.
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Rotunda da boavista
The tour closes in the modern Boavista area, with the Casa da Música building, Avenida da Boavista, the biggest avenue in the city, and the city park.
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R. de Alexandre Herculano, Porto
Rua de Alexandre Herculano, next to Praça da Batalha.
Not included
- Entrance to Clérigos Church and Tower or to Lello Bookshop
- Extra Food and drinks
- Personal expenses, Gratuities
Good to know
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
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- Tours are usually in one language, but a second language may be used.
- Tour services (wine estates, restaurants, etc.) depend on 3rd party availability and may include other groups.
- Group size maximum capacity is 27 people.
- The first part of the tour takes place on foot, allowing a closer and more detailed exploration of the main points of interest.
- Up to 15 travelers per booking.
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Guiding available in: pt, en, fr, es.
Reviews
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