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Old Town, Porto

Northern Portugal

Sun-soaked landscapes, world-class wines

Northern Portugal tailor-made holidays

Introduction

Northern Portugal is often bypassed by the crowds in favour of popular resorts in the Algarve, however this beautiful, if overlooked, region has plenty to merit an inclusion in any Portugal holiday. The coastal town of Porto, with its world-renowned Old Town, is particularly stunning.

Porto

Running out of Porto, all the way from the coast to the Spanish border, is the Douro River Valley. Fringed on either side by stunning mountainous scenery, this river passes through some of the most important port grape vineyards in the world. Interrupting these agricultural terraces, castles rise behind the region's small hill villages, where the modern world has intruded very little.

Douro Valley vineyards

Large areas of the inland woods fall within Peneda Geres National Park. One of the last places on the continent where wolves still roam among the hills, this park is also littered with evidence of ancient human habitation, with megaliths and old dolmen graves haunting the atmospheric forest.

Peneda-Geres National Park 

 

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Special offers in Northern Portugal

Portugal's Douro River Valley aboard MS Estrela, APT Travelmarvel

Douro Discovery with APT Travelmarvel

8-day river cruise from £1,895 pp incl. flights

Special
cruise offer

Save up to 35%
Book by: 31 March 2024

Explore the rich history and world-leading wines of northern Portugal and Spain on this superb-value APT Travelmarvel cruise, sailing aboard their brand-new river ship, MS Estrela, along the picturesque Douro River.

Top itineraries in Northern Portugal

Traditional boats on the Douro River, Porto

Porto & the Douro Valley

5-day tailor-made break from £1,240 pp incl. flights

The perfect introduction to Portugal, this short break combines the historic charm of Porto and the rolling viticulture of the Douro Valley with stays in some of the region's finest hotels.

Pinhao

Porto & Douro Valley in Style

6-day tailor-made self-drive from £1,350 pp incl. flights

Stay at the luxurious Yeatman Hotel overlooking Porto and the Douro River, then hit the scenic roads into the Douro Valley for three nights surrounded by the vineyards of Portugal's preeminent wine-making region.

Porto, Douro River, Portugal

Porto, Lisbon and the Algarve

9-day tailor-made self-drive from £2,035 pp incl. flights

With included car hire and stays in luxurious accommodation this is your chance to combine Portugal's two greatest cities, Porto and Lisbon, with five days relaxing on the beaches of the Algarve.

Old Town, Porto, Portugal

Historic Porto and Madeira

8-day tailor-made holiday from £1,090 pp incl. flights

Famous for its friendly people, wonderful local flora, and year-round mild climate, Madeira must be one of the most beautiful islands in Europe. It makes a perfect pairing with Portugal's second city, Porto. Overlooking the mouth of the Douro River, UNESCO-listed Porto has a rich and varied history.

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Top places to stay in Northern Portugal

Infinity Pool, The Yeatman, Porto

The Yeatman, Porto

4-night luxury holiday from £1,115 pp incl. flights & transfers

Between private balcony views of the city and a Michelin-starred restaurant, it’s not difficult to see why the Yeatman is an exalted member of the Relais and Châteaux collection of luxury hotels.

The Vintage House Hotel, Douro

The Vintage House Hotel, Pinhao, Douro Valley

Guide price from £1,240 pp

Packed full of character and charm, this historic house complete with its own wine academy for tours and tastings, is a wonderfully intimate base for exploring Portugal's Douro Valley.

Vidago Palace

Vidago Palace

Historic hotel

With a whole suite of awards recognising everything from its golf course to its thermal spa, this grand Belle Époque dame is a gem hidden among the forests of northern Portugal.

Douro Royal Valley Hotel & Spa

Douro Royal Valley Hotel

Contemporary hotel

Lining the banks of the Douro River, the Royal Valley enjoys privileged views from its designer rooms, spa and bar terraces. It’s delightfully accessible seclusion.

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Where to go in Northern Portugal

Douro Valley, Portugal

Douro River

The Douro River Valley abounds with natural beauty, making it a popular spot for river cruises. Many of these cruises start out in the historic city of Porto, taking you past Gustave Eiffel's Dom Luis Bridge, before heading out into the countryside. From here you can travel the breadth of Portugal.

When to go to Northern Portugal

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Northern Portugal articles

Madeira, Portugal

10 driving holidays in Spain & Portugal

From wild coastlines and beach curves to mountain peaks and rolling countryside, the charms of the Iberian Peninsula are seemingly endless. To help point you in the right direction our destination experts have put together the following self-drive routes that showcase the best of it all.

Best Food and Wine in the World

The best food and wine holidays in the world

From nectorial white wines to ambrosial game meats, we have hand-picked our favourite food and wine holidays around the world, including highlights from South Africa, Chile and France.

Meet our Northern Portugal experts

Speak to a tailor-made specialist on 020 7664 2268

Meet the team

Why book with Wexas Travel?

At Wexas, we specialise in bespoke travel experiences. Our itineraries are just samples of what we can arrange, and can be changed depending on your precise needs, finances and ideas by our experienced destination specialists.

Contact one of our consultants on 020 7664 2268 to discuss how we can tailor your holiday.

Learn why Wexas is the leader in creating luxury holidays. What is tailor-made travel?

Expert advice & support

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Every step of the way

Every step of the way

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