Join us to learn about Portuguese food and culture

April 28 to May 6, 2024

Come along to Porto to learn about Portuguese food and culture, a city that packs cuisine, culture and history into one engaging experience.  The focus of this trip is food, but we’ll see and learn so much more about Portugal. 

The cuisine ranges from hearty soups to fish, shellfish and meats. The Portuguese were explorers who were first in sailing the oceans of the world. They brought home spices and influences that continue to be featured in Portuguese cuisine.

Given the name of the city, Porto is most often associated with Port wine, but there is more to it than this, as we’ll see as we travel up the Douro River for time on the river and a visit to some vineyards. There is a full range of red wines that may not be as well known but are equally worthy of attention.  And throughout the north of Portugal, you’ll find Vinho Verde, a young white wine that’s quite agreeable with fish and more.

When we’re not eating or cooking, there will be much time to learn about the country, its culture, and its people. We will start with a walking tour of the city, explore the city’s varied neighborhoods on foot, and make our way out to the beaches just at the mouth of the Douro River. We’ll admire churches and houses faced with lovely tiles. We’ll visit the cathedral and other historic buildings. We will also walk across the Dom Luís I Bridge, high above the river.

We’ll take a relaxed pace throughout this trip, leaving you some time to yourself to explore and shop for souvenirs.

What we will do

Here is a selection of possible activities we’ll undertake on this trip:

• Walking tour of historic Porto
• Boat trip up Douro River to explore Port production and visit vineyards
• Visit to Porto public market
• Visit to Port Museum and Port tasting
• Portuguese cooking class
• Dining at top Porto restaurants
• Excursion by train to Viana do Castello near Spanish border
• Ride on an historic tram to the beach
• Visit to the Majestic Café
• Tapas tour of the city

What makes Porto special

Portugal has attracted a growing number of visitors in recent years, with Porto one of the country’s most popular attractions. The city is located on the banks of the Douro River which flows from Spain, across Portugal and into the Ocean. The center of the city is just a few miles from the beaches of the Atlantic.

Porto is smaller and more manageable than Lisbon, making it easier to explore and enjoy this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Porto is perhaps best known for its Port, with vineyards that lie up river providing the grapes, with the Port traditionally aged in the tile-roofed warehouses that line the far side of the river from Porto.

Porto’s food scene is quickly growing as popular as its fortified wine.  Here is where traditional Portuguese dishes meet the bounty of the ocean, providing visitors with a wide selection of dishes.

And when we’re not focused on food and drink, there are many other things to see and do.  We’ll walk on the historic metal bridge high above the Douro River, visit the cathedral, have a drink at a café beside the river, view the blue and white tiles that line the entry hall of the train station, and eat as many Pastéis de Nata as we physically can.