Discover the North of Portugal
If you are coming to the North of Portugal and would like help planning your holiday please ask us for suggestions and advice!
Family holidays, parties of friends, stag and hen dos, sports clubs or corporate enquiries are all welcome- we have lots of experience and knowledge of the local area and are happy to help!
Northern Portugal stretches from Coimbra to the Spanish border above Moncao, embracing the traditional regions of Minho, Tras os Montes, Alto Douro, Douro Litoral, Beira Alta and Beira Baixa. It is one of the less well-known regions of Portugal but contains some of the country’s most diverse, dramatic and unspoilt scenery.
The north’s wide open spaces, lush valleys and bleak mountains, its rural charm and lack of pollution all make it a popular destination with walkers, cyclists, horse-riders and anglers. Some of the region’s natural highlights include the Peneda-Geres national park, and the natural parks of Serra da Estrela, Montezinho, Alvão and Douro Internacional. Here amongst areas of outstanding natural beauty, you’ll find rare plants and animals and ancient villages offering a friendly welcome and fresh local delicacies. You’ll soon feel a world away from your everyday life!
Interestingly the mountains of Serra da Estrela are also the only place in Portugal where you can ski or snowboard in winter.
Northern Portugal’s coastline, known as the green coast welcomes laid-back surfers and other watersports enthusiasts where we can offer anything from wind surfing stand up paddling and even wake cabling!
If you want to visit the north of Portugal you can take the train or fly into Porto (aka Oporto) the region’s capital and Portugal’s second largest city. It is an attractively quirky, hillside city that, along with neighbor Vila Nova de Gaia, is home to the famous port wine industry. A guided tour of one of the port lodges is highly recommended as you get a fascinating insight into how the wine is made and plenty of free tastings! Many parts of the north of Portugal are characterised by carefully tended vineyards and the wine they produce here is some of the best in the country.
Finally did you know that the kingdom of Portugal was first proclaimed in the 12th century in the north of the country and there are lots of interesting historic towns to visit here including Braga, Guimaraes, Braganca and Viseu?
Fun Things to do in the North of Portugal
Browse through a variety of options such as excursions, bike tours, gocar tours, segway tours, walking tours, tuk tuk tours, tours of Peneda Geres,jeep tours, rock climbing, canyoning, rafting, horse riding, cruises along the Douroand yacht charters, surfing and other water sports, skydivingand more!
Looking for a holiday package for stress free planning? We offer all inclusive holidays such as walking, cycling, horse riding, yoga retreatsand getaway experiences!
Are you into kayaking and camping? Why not book our self Guided Kayaking Expedition in Serra da Estrela? A one of a kind experience with wild camping included! Follow this link for more details!
Our Northern Portugal Adventure Parkis also a great option as we can arrange a full package with meals, accommodation and activities – great for families, groups and corporate events!
City Tours
| Walking Tours of Porto Walking tours of Porto with knowledgeable, friendly, local guides. Choose between tours focussing on the city’s gastronomy and wines, ancient or modern history, azulejo tiles, Jewish heritage and more! |
| Twizy Tours of Porto GPS audio guided Twizy tours of Porto- an eco-friendly, fun, informative and independent way to experience the city! The Twizy tours are available in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese. |
| Guided Minibus Tours of Porto Get to know Portugal’s charismatic second city like a local with our guided tours of Porto! Discover the secrets of the city, its history, culture and gastronomy. Tours of FC Porto also available for football fans! |
Multi-activity and Adventure
| Adventurous Days Out Discover more of Northern Portugal’s spectacular landscapes from the waters of Matosinhos to the mountains of Geres and have lots of fun doing it. Adventure park holidays and exciting days out including rafting and canoeing, climbing, abseil and canyoning, mountain biking, paintball and more. |
| Serra da Estrela Adventures The Serra da Estrela national park could have been tailor made for adventure! Join us climbing, kayaking, hiking or for a multi-activity expedition in this stunning wilderness. Specialist guides and equipment are provided to ensure a truly memorable experience. |
| Peneda Geres Canyoning One of the most fun and intense contact nature sports: hike, rappel, scramble, slide, jump and swim your way down river! |
Extreme!
| Sky Diving! One holiday experience you’ll never forget! We offer skydiving in Braga near Porto and Proenca a Nova in Northern Portugal. Come and take the plunge! |
| Drift Racing! A fantastic new experience for car lovers and adrenalin fiends! When drift racing a driver intentionally oversteers causing a slide or drift in the rear wheels while maintaining vehicle control and a high exit speed. Sounds fun? Come and give it a go! |
On the Water
| Rafting in Northern Portugal The North of Portugal is particularly popular for rafting as it has spectacular mountainous scenery and clean, fast flowing rivers. We offer rafting adventures on the Minho and Paiva rivers- suitable for beginners and experienced rafters. |
| Cruises Along the River Douro Sail to the heart of wine country and discover the beauties of the Douro river onboard a luxurious modern yacht. Day cruises and holidays available. The most relaxing, romantic and comfortable way to explore this spectacular region. |
| Surfing in North Portugal The north of Portugal is one of surfing’s best kept secrets with great waves, beautiful beaches and no crowds. Join us at our watersports centre near Porto all year round for a surfari or surfing lessons. We also offer windsurfing, kitesurfing and diving. |
Explore The Countryside
| Northern Portugal Cycling Holidays Guided and self guided cycling tours of Northern Portugal. You can cycle along the ancient Caminho Portugues to Santiago, explore the Douro valley or the North’s beautiful coastline. Always accompanied by lots of history, culture and good food and drink! |
| Walking Tours in Northern Portugal Our walks are designed by experienced, enthusiastic walkers who want to show you the North’s most beautiful scenery and give you a taste of its history, culture, wildlife and gastronomy. We offer relaxing guided and self guided walking holidays. |
| Horse Riding in Peneda Geres National Park Discover one of Europe’s last wildernesses – wolf and wild horse country! We offer holidays and trail rides in the heart of the national park if you love horses and the great outdoors then this is one experience not to be missed. |
Yoga
| Yoga Retreats in Serra da Estrela Imagine a farmhouse on the edge of wilderness where you can practice yoga daily, stroll through the forest, swim and mud bathe in rivers, breath the pure, mountain air, eat delicious, healthy food, be inspired, make new friends and simply… retreat. |