Situated at the western edge of the Iberian Peninsula, tiny Portugal packs a mighty big punch when it comes to food, wine, culture, and natural beauty. Soak it all in on this tour that will take you to bustling markets and prestigious Port wine cellars in Porto, rolling vineyards in the Douro Valley, and a family-owned cheese farm in Serra da Estrela—to name just a few highlights. You’ll be welcomed by olive farmers, fishmongers, esteemed chefs, and other locals who have helped Portugal climb the ranks of the world’s most exciting food and wine scenes.
Welcome to Portugal! Settle in to your hotel in the heart of this 2,000-year-old, UNESCO-listed city. Later, meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers at a welcome dinner featuring regional cuisine and local wines.
Hotels
We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.
This modern hotel is located in Porto’s Ribeira neighborhood. Guests enjoy a top-floor pool, a gym, and a restaurant. Nearby, you’ll find Ribeira Square, Jardim Marques de Oliveira, and the Douro River.
Lamego Hotel & Life
This countryside hotel sits on its own orchard and vineyard in Lamego situated in the Douro Valley. Guests enjoy the indoor and outdoor pools, stunning views of the surrounding landscape, and the beautiful garden. Nearby you’ll...
Ecork Hotel Évora
This certified eco-hotel is located just outside of Évora. Guests enjoy the state of the art spa, large garden, and spacious suites. Nearby you’ll find the UNESCO-listed city center of Évora, Roman Temple of Évora, and Royal...
Turim Presidente Hotel
This modern hotel is located along the cliffs of Praia do Vau beach in Portimão. Guests enjoy multiple outdoor pools, solariums, and beach access. Nearby you’ll find Portimão Museum, the Viewpoint of the Three Castles, and...
Turim Boulevard Hotel
This centrally located hotel is located on the posh Avenida da Liberdade in Lisbon. Guests enjoy the rooftop pool, reading room, and bar. Nearby you’ll find Lisbon Botanical Garden, St. George’s Castle, and Mercado da Ribeira.
Round-trip flights are one more thing we handle to make your journey as smooth as possible. Our team of travel experts will find the best flight itinerary for you at a competitive rate, thanks to our partnerships with top airlines.
Add our airfare and you’ll get:
Round-trip flight for your tour
Airport transfers at your destination
A great price locked in today
24/7 support from our dedicated service team
Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes
In order to enter Portugal, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
We recommend having at least one blank passport page for entry stamps.
Beginning in 2025, U.S. and Canadian passport holders must register for an ETIAS travel authorization in order to enter many European countries.
Passport holders from over 60 visa-exempt countries (including the U.S. and Canada) will need to apply for an ETIAS travel authorization in order to visit 30 European countries. That means that even if you’ve previously traveled to any of these European countries without a visa, starting in 2025, you’ll need to get ETIAS authorization to visit them again. If you’re traveling to multiple countries with this requirement, you only need to complete the form once. All Go Ahead travelers are responsible for obtaining their own ETIAS travel authorization before departure. For more details, please visit our Help Center.
If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact your destination country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by logging in to your online account and viewing the “Getting Ready” section.
You will walk for at least 2 hours daily across moderately uneven terrain, including paved roads and cobblestone streets, with some hills.
Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance. Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on your tour.
The terrain in Lisbon is very hilly, with cobblestone streets that are sometimes slippery.
You should feel comfortable managing your own baggage at times, as well as getting in and out of boats.
Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special, individual mobility assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group as a whole enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing, individualized assistance to any one traveler.
If you have any mobility concerns or physical restrictions, please contact our Customer Experience Team.
Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in Porto and depart from Lisbon. A representative from Go Ahead Tours will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Please remain in the arrival lounge, as the representative might be escorting one of your fellow travelers to the bus at the time of your arrival.
Transfers to and from the airport at the beginning and end of the tour are included for travelers who purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who booked their own flights are responsible for securing their own airport transfers.
A boat ride on the Douro River is included in the price of your tour.
All other included transportation is by private motor coach.
Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include train connections or flights.
Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights, which may include on-tour flights in addition to your round-trip flights to and from tour. Please note that your included on-tour flights may have more restrictive baggage limits.
Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage or exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.
We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
It is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).
At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.
You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by logging in to your online account and viewing the “Getting Ready” section.
Portuguese food is fresh, hearty, and delicious. Try seafood stew cooked in a cataplana, a shell-shaped copper pan, or the national dish, bacalhau (salted cod). A couvert, or simple plate of bread, butter, and olives, is often served when you sit down to a meal; while it is free in many restaurants, some will add a charge to your bill for it.
The main notes in Portuguese wines vary greatly based on which region you’re visiting, but the flavors remain robust and full-bodied throughout the country. The grapes used in Port are grown in the UNESCO-listed Douro Valley and give the sweet, red dessert wine its signature flavor. You’ll find both still and fortified wines in varieties like Touriga Nacional, Franca, Tinta Barroca, Cão, and Tempranillo along with international varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Gewürztraminer.
Portugal operates on the European standard 220-240 volts and uses Types C, E, or F plugs with two small, round pins.
We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other electrical device without a built-in converter.
The strength of the air conditioning in European hotels is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada. When air conditioning is available, it is usually regulated seasonally and controlled centrally by the hotel.
Hotels may provide hairdryers, irons, and other small appliances, but these amenities cannot be guaranteed.
Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
There is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.
Portugal is on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and five hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET).
When it’s noon in New York, it’s 5pm on tour.
You will use the euro on this tour.
Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.
At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
We recommend tipping the equivalent of $8USD to $10USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD per person per day for your driver.
If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
Tips can only be paid in cash.
Most optional excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour.
Your Tour Director will only accept cash (in USD only), Visa, or MasterCard as payment for excursions.
Please be advised that if you pay for an excursion by credit card while on tour, it may take up to three months for your card to be charged.
Some optional excursions may only be purchased in advance. See page four of your tour itinerary for more information.
Prices are per person based on double occupancy, before flights, and vary by departure date. Select your preferred departure date and departure city to view your tour price with flights and hotel transfers included. Changes or cancellation will result in a fee of up to the total tour price. Last-minute specials are not combinable with any other promotional discount. Promotional discounts not combinable with any other promotional offer, including Group Coordinator and Group Benefit programs. Applicable airline baggage fees are not included. Please contact the airline for more information. Some countries may require aircraft insecticide treatment for inbound foreign flights. Such countries can be found at goaheadtours.com/insecticide. To view Go Ahead's complete Terms & Conditions, visit goaheadtours.com/terms. The tour operator for your trip is EF Education First International Ltd. CST 2060043-20.
