Edible Nashville Farm-To-Table Travel Series
The Best of Portugal
8Nights/9Days 

Arrive at Lisboa airport. Welcome at the airport and delivery of all the necessary documentation and assistance. Afterwards, a driver will take you to your hotel. 

Check-in at the hotel and if the room isn’t available, drop off the luggage at the reception and take the opportunity to stroll the city on your own. You’ll be staying in the downtown area, close by restaurants and cultural attractions.

In the evening, you will meet your Guide at the hotel reception. After explaining the itinerary for the next few days, it's time to celebrate, at your welcome dinner!

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Overnight in Lisboa

Today you'll discover Sintra, capital of the Romanticism!

As a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995, it's no surprise that Sintra is the most sought-after destination for a day trip from Lisboa! If the mysterious and often misty nature isn't beckoning enough, the bustling town center and the exquisite palaces are sure to tickle your fancy!

When it comes to palaces, Sintra has them by the dozens! The Pena Palace is arguably the most famous, having been many times compared to a Disney palace due to its artful combination of yellow and red and different architectural styles. 

After lunch you’ll stop in the westernmost point of mainland Europe, Cabo da Roca. Then you'll continue your journey towards Cascais, part of the Portuguese Riviera. It’s worth going on a stroll around town and feeling the atmosphere before you make it back to your hotel in Lisboa (45 min direct drive).

Arriving at your hotel, you’ll have time to rest and freshen up before dinner.

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In the evening, you’ll be picked up at your hotel for your private Fado dinner. You’ll have a typical dinner at a Fado house while enjoying a Fado performance. 

Fado is the Soul of the Portuguese music. This music genre officially originated in Portugal around the 1820s, though it is thought to have much earlier origins. Fado is known for how expressive and profoundly melancholic it is. In Fado music, the musician will sing about the hard realities of daily life, balancing both resignation and hopefulness that a resolution to its torments can still occur. It can be described by using the Portuguese word “saudade,” which means “longing” and stands for a feeling of loss. This loss is generally permanent and of long-term consequence. 

Whether you like the style of music or not, dinner by candlelight listening to Fado in Lisboa is an unmissable experience!

After the event, a driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel.

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Overnight in Lisboa

Welcome to the City of the Seven Hills! 

Start this experience by being picked at your hotel by your guide. During this 3-hour, you will discover the histories, the tales, and the funny stories of this stunning city. Be sure to bring comfortable shoes, as it is a hilly town and you will be walking on cobblestones.

Start our tour in Rossio, the heart of the city, enjoying the beautiful Rossio Railway Station, in Manueline style, with windowed doors of horse-shoe shape. Continue walking towards Praça D. Pedro IV, a vast quadrangular space lined on all sides, except the North one, by buildings of the Pombal type. 

Then, following east, you will pass by one of the most picturesque quarters of Lisbon, Alfama. Everything will evoke the past here, the architecture, the type of streets, the arches and stairways, the wooden balconies. Here you will find the Lisbon Cathedral, an old temple, believed that it dates from far before the Moorish dominion. Here you will also find St. George’s Castle, perched atop one of the hills of Lisbon, providing you an extraordinary view over the city. 

Continue the tour walking down, heading towards Baixa, the downtown area, completely rebuilt after the devastating earthquake of 1755. We now reach the largest of Lisbon squares, the Praça do Comércio, formerly Terreiro do Paço. It is a vast space, perfectly square, lined on the three sides by buildings of a uniform type, with high stone arches. In the center, it stands the bronze equestrian statue of King José I, a splendid sculpture by Joaquim Machado de Castro, cast in Portugal, in a single piece, in 1774. 

Finally, you will reach Chiado, a bohemian area, where 19th-century writers and thinkers gathered to discuss intellectual matters in the cafes, where you can find one of the oldest bookstores in the world, Bertrand, founded in 1732.

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At the end of the day, a driver will pick you up at your hotel to take you to your private sunset cruise! 

Enjoy 2 hours aboard a yacht, as you overlook the country’s capital in the sun’s fading light, casting a majestic glow over the city.

When the cruise ends, the driver will be waiting for you to take you back to your hotel, where you can rest or go out for dinner in the bustling capital!

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Overnight in Lisboa

Today you’ll enjoy a Farm to table food experience in Évora!

Although Évora is a city, it is part of the Alentejo region, a large rural area, strongly connected to the land and its customs and traditions. Many still live in country estates and cherish a farm-to-table lifestyle in their daily diet. You will be welcomed at one of those properties that has a small farm to provide for the family's meals and the friendly owner will be happy to tell you all about life, land, crops, and flavors in Évora!

You will start by exploring the property, say hello to the animals. Upon arrival you will immediately feel the warm pure breeze and the different aromas in the air, and definitely enjoy how nature tones in Alentejo seem to multiply in infinite ways. There is something special about the landscapes and the people there. Already holding your glass of wine, you will- if you wish- help pick the last elements needed to cook a wonderful "alentejana" meal and bring them to the kitchen and the open fire where the magic happens. There, a few local flavors will be served as appetizers and also conversation topics, because this region is also known for its cheeses and fantastic smoked meats. Your journey continues as you follow a traditional recipe and get your hands on the best regional produce- going from first-class protein to fresh aromatic plants, juicy sauces, and old techniques. Dessert will sweeten up what should already be a fond moment and the experience will be completed when the whole group is united at the table sharing the meal as friends. A relaxing experience where you will learn about the culture in Alentejo through food, wine and the conversations that will flow with your hosts!

After the cooking class, we invite you to walk in the streets of Évora. This town maintains a very picturesque look in its buildings and you’ll be able to admire not only beautiful churches, but also the remains of a Roman temple, still standing proudly! Founded in Roman times, Évora is a true book of Portuguese art history. Évora's golden age started when it was chosen as the residence of kings and nobles in the 15th century. 

After your tour, you’ll return to your hotel to rest before dinner.

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Overnight in Lisboa

It's time to leave Lisboa and continue your journey north, towards Porto.

To make the trip enjoyable, we recommend stopping in Óbidos and Coimbra.

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Óbidos, a picturesque medieval town

As soon as you arrive, the imposing city walls will leave a lasting impression. From the cobblestoned streets, to the whitewashed houses and its century old bougainvillea, your eyes will feast on all the beauty of this town!

This is a great place to take amazing pictures and do some shopping. Not to be missed is the local liqueur, Ginjinha, made from Morello cherries and usually served in a chocolate cup.

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Coimbra, the city of students

Today you are going to use the morning to visit Coimbra. After breakfast, your guide will pick you up to start your tour.

Rising scenically from the Rio Mondego, Coimbra is an animated city steeped in history. It was Portugal’s medieval capital for more than a century and it's home to the country’s oldest and most prestigious university. Its steeply stacked historic centre dates to Moorish times and is wonderfully atmospheric, with its dark cobbled lanes and monumental cathedral.

Coimbra is the city of students! Here, you will also visit the University, the oldest in Portugal and one of the oldest in Europe, also visiting the Joanine Library, with more than 300,000 works dating from the 16th to the 18th centuries arranged in beautiful gilt-covered bookcases. It's also worth climbing its tower, the Pátio das Escolas courtyard and gaze at the Sala dos Capelos hall where the most important ceremonies are held.

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Overnight in Porto

Today you’ll discover the amazing city of Porto. In the morning, you’ll be picked up at your hotel. Be sure to wear comfortable clothes and shoes, as Porto is an extremely hilly town.

Porto has something mystical that is difficult to describe, and which varies according to the place, the time of day and the light. There are some places in this city that cannot be missed, namely the S. Bento railway station and its 20,000 blue and white glazed tiles, the Cathedral, the Ribeira (riverfont) area, the Clérigos Tower and the Lello Bookshop.

At lunch time, you’re going to enjoy a francesinha cooking class!

"Francesinha" is the Portuguese take on the croque-monsieur French warm sandwich, typical from the Northern region of Portugal, mainly in Porto. The ingredients vary but it normally includes: linguiça, pork sausage, cold cuts and lean beef steak. It is served on white bread, that is then covered all around with cheese, before being “drowned” in the sauce (a tomato base with beer and piripiri), and taken to the oven to warm the ingredientes and melt the cheese.

At a cooking atelier learn from a professional chef how to make this staple in Porto’s culinary and enjoy tasting the fruit of your labor after the class.

After your class ends, a driver will be waiting to safely return you to your hotel.

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Overnight in Porto

Today you’ll go on a day trip to the famous Douro Valley. A recognized World Heritage Site since 2001, the Douro Valley is home to sloped and steep vineyards which are a delight to the eyes of those who visit! You’ll be impressed by the breathtaking landscape of the valley, punctuated by the blue of the Douro River, the terraced vineyards and the overall natural charm of this area.

During the day, you’ll learn all about how the wine production drastically changed the course of history for this region in the 18th century and, best of all, try the delicious nectar that is produced here!

Because there's no better place to admire the beauty of the valley than from the river, welcome aboard a Douro river cruise. The perfect way to begin the your day in a high note!

Then, you’ll visit one of the most prestigious wine estates of the Douro region, a historical winery which dates back to the 17th century, before the Douro was established as a wine region! This quinta has been owned by the same family since the early 20th century, when they began their wine and olive oil production, which continues to this day with 4 Douro wine ranges, 4 Port ranges and 2 olive oil ranges. 

In your visit, you’ll learn about all the processes the grapes go through, visit the vineyards, the lab and culminate it all in the so awaited wine tasting. We suggest pairing it with a delicious traditional lunch in the property, so that you can enjoy the wines with the meal. You’ll taste 5 different wines: white, red, superior, reserve and LBV Port.

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Overnight in Porto

The perfect combination of art & nature

Today you'll spend the morning to visit Serralves. 

Serralves is a center of reference and a center of knowledge, in Portugal and worldwide , in the fields of Contemporary Art, Architecture, Landscape and critical themes for society and its future, promoting the diversity of the cultural offer through an innovative intervention that, sustainably, attracts diverse audiences and induces support from the Community. 

Casa de Serralves, headquarters of the Serralves Foundation , was built in the 1930s. and constitutes one of the best examples of the Art Deco movement in Europe. Strictly respecting Marques da Silva's project, the House hosts exhibitions and events. The house is located in Parque de Serralves , a unique reference for the landscape in Portugal, extending harmoniously over eighteen hectares of magnificent gardens, a traditional farm and even a forest. Designed by architect Jacques Gréber, Parque de Serralves is one of the few Portuguese gardens built in the first half of the 20th century. Located in the heart of Porto, the Serralves Foundation brings together the Museum of Contemporary Art in one space, the Park and the Art Déco House, as well as leisure spaces, shops and a restaurant.

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Porto Wine Lodge & Farewell dinner in Porto

Later on in the day, a driver will pick you up at your hotel to take you to a Port wine lodge, on the other bank of the Douro river. There, you'll learn about Port wine and taste it before leaving! 

Then it's time to celebrate with a farewell dinner in the city of Porto! When the dinner ends, the driver will be ready to take you back to your hotel.

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Overnight in Porto

It’s time to say adeus and after checking out, you’ll be picked up for a 40-min ride to the airport.