Northern Portugal with its unspoilt countryside, uncrowded beaches, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, historic towns and religious monuments has much to offer the visitor. Here are a few of the activities available to whet your appetite!
Guided City Tour of Porto
Guided visits are highly recommended for those wishing to gain more than just a superficial impression of Porto, the capital of the north. The expert guides are enthusiastic, extremely knowledgeable and provide fascinating insights into the past and present of their home town. Half-day and full-day guided city tours are available. Please telephone us for a quotation.
Helicopter Flight
Sunvil are able to organise sightseeing tours by helicopter over Porto, Portugal’s second city. A 10-minute flight, based on 2 persons, costs £80 per person. Longer tours are available on request.
Douro Cruise
Sunvil are able to pre-book sightseeing cruises along the meandering Douro river. There are a number of cruise itineraries available to suit all interests and time scales ranging from a 55-minute sightseeing cruise of Porto, to a 1-day cruise to the picturesque village of Pinhao (returning to Porto by train) or an 8-day river cruise. The prices quoted below are guidelines and vary depending on the date of the excursion. Please telephone us for further information and a quotation.
Cruise Prices:
Sightseeing cruise of Porto (50-minutes – Daily) £8 per person.
Porto 7-night cruise (8-days – Saturday) £1066 per person. This price is based on 2-sharing a standard cabin -main deck on full board basis, and inclusive of flights with TAP Portugal to Porto and transfers.
Full details of the Porto 7-night cruise can be found here >
Day trips from Porto
The capital of the north provides an ideal base from which to explore the surrounding area. Driving in the city is not recommended but, there is a good, regional train service operating to the historic towns of Viana do Castelo, Braga and Amarante.
On a Tuesday and Friday, there is a full-day excursion to the Minho region of Portugal. This is a group excursion by coach, and visits Braga, the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus and Guimaraes. An English speaking guide and lunch are included in the tour. The price is £61 per person.
Festivals in Porto
Throughout the year the city of Porto plays host to a number of festivals, the largest being the Festa de Sao Joao in June (23-24 June). Celebrating the patron saint of lovers, this is one of Europe’s largest street festivals and sees the streets of the historic centre bustling with life. Stalls selling grilled sardines and peppers, musical performances, streets adorned with bunting and illuminations and local residents (old and young) celebrating together. As the night progresses fireworks begin to rumble through the night sky above the port wine cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia – This is a spectacular sight!
Port Wine
On the south bank of the River Douro, is the city of Vila Nova de Gaia. Reached from Porto by the Ponte Luis I bridge, this area has been dedicated to the production of port wine since the 18th century, and today is home to more than 50 port companies. The hillside of Vila Nova de Gaia is dominated by port lodges - Calem, Noval, Sandeman, Offleys, Ramos Pinto, Ferreira, Graham’s, Cockburn, Barros, Kopke, Fonseca, Taylor’s, Rozes and Osborne. Almost, without exception, all offer tastings and tours.
The Alto Douro region, more widely known as the port wine region, is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stretching 100km from Regua to the Spanish border the region has been synonymous with the production of port wine for over 2000 years, and it is this long tradition of viticulture that has produced a cultural landscape of outstanding beauty. This region is a delight to explore by car and the scenery breathtaking.
