Day 1: Arrival in Porto

Upon arrival at the Porto airport, a driver will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. Then, enjoy dinner at Le Monument.

Le Monument

Discover the talent and excellence of starred Chef Julien Montbabut's cuisine at the gourmet restaurant Le Monument, in the heart of Porto. Indulge in a delicious journey, where French know-how enhances the delights of Portuguese traditional dishes. Awarded a Michelin Plate, Le Monument is a must-see address for epicureans. Le Monument Restaurant opens its doors, with an extraordinary and surprising gourmet experience. After spending two years visiting the wonders of Portugal, Michelin-starred Chef Julien Montbabut recounts his journey and his encounters in an admirable gastronomic journey. Let him take you on an exciting culinary journey combining flavors, tales, and surprises, revealing the Chef's influences and inspirations.

Chef Julien Montbabut - A French-starred Chef

After several years at the helm of a restaurant in the heart of Paris, where its gourmet cuisine has been recognized each year by a star in the famous guide, Julien Montbabut has expanded his horizon and taken up a new challenge by brilliantly managing the kitchens of Le Monumental Palace. Now a Portuguese resident, this extraordinary Chef pays tribute to Portuguese products through creative dishes, while bringing his French know-how. At Le Monument, local products are in the spotlight, while keeping the spirit of French cuisine. Behind the scenes, the brigade composed of about twenty talented people supervised by Julien Montbabut will delight you. A unique gourmet restaurant in Porto that invites each guest to discover the richness of the Portuguese culinary heritage, enhanced by the excellence of the French savoir-faire of a starred chef. 

As for desserts, Pastry Chef Joana Thöny-Montbabut plays the opulent card with gourmet and festive creations! Located on the ground floor and only accessible through the hotel, Le Monument is a marble and column setting with 40 seats. The décor is both modern and elegant, in harmony with the cuisine, and faithful to the spirit of the place, where it exudes a subdued and intimate atmosphere. For rare and exclusive moments, the restaurant is only open in the evening. A confidential and gastronomic address offered to Portuguese and travelers from all over the world.

Accommodations: Le Monumental Palace

Created in 2014 by Jean-Bernard and Céline Falco (née Albar), the 5-star boutique hotel brand never ceases to inspire and grow. Each hotel, wherever it may be, has a soul: an effortless chic, delicately luxurious, intrinsically elegant art of living and hospitality, which all the world envies us for. Between these walls, families, couples, and business travelers receive unique and memorable treatment. Authentic emotions are our trademark, to be found around the world and for a long time. On the Avenida dos Aliados, Porto’s magnificent, broad, double avenue, Le Monumental Palace, an essay in Art Deco elegance, marks the debut of French group Maison Albar in Portugal. It houses 76 rooms, a spa, a gastronomic restaurant and a Parisian style brasserie which spills out onto the street.

Location

Located in the civic center of Porto, on one side of the broad Avenida dos Aliados, which is dominated by the neoclassical town hall, houses, banks, hotels and increasingly designer shops. The impressive cathedral district is an easy walking distance as is the famous Ribeira, or riverfront with its jostle of medieval houses. The airport is a 20-minute drive away.

Style and Character

The original building, complete with Gothic façade, was designed by Italian architect Michelangelo Soá in 1923. Interiors come courtesy of local design duo Artur Miranda and Jacques Bec from Oitoemponto Decoration, who have skilfully woven 21st century luxury around many original restored Art Deco elements. Drawing on a palette of turquoise and muted gold with bespoke wallpapers, old black and white photographs and the sleek trimmings and fonts that characterize Art Deco, the hotel brims with the glamor of the 1920s and 1930s.

Wellness | Le Monumental Nuxe Spa

Forget the outside world in the care of our experts, with our NUXE facial and body treatments. Immerse yourself in the mesmerizing tones of the indoor pool, relax in the sauna and hammam and embark on a journey for the senses.

• Indoor pool

• Sauna and Hammam

• Selection of NUXE treatments

• Ice fountain

• Vichy Shower room and Treatment rooms

• 24h fitness room

Rooms

Uplifting colors and carpets, bespoke furniture and furnishings and a generous size define the 76 rooms and suites, some with balconies offering views of the City skyline. All come with Nespresso machines, USB charging sockets by the bed and a desk. Bathrooms are clad in marble, some in pale green, some in grey, with tubs and showers and sleek, Art Deco-style trimmings.

Food and Drink

Brilliant Michelin-awarded French chef Julien Montbabut serves haute cuisine dishes to his distinguished guests. A wealth of choice is available, from the Monumental Café, one of the city’s best in the 1930’s and now revived, to the gastronomic Le Monument Restaurant. At the American Bar, try an American Martini with cardamom and vodka plus notes of ginger and lemon juice; light bites to accompany the cocktails include blinis with smoked salmon, chicken wings and club sandwiches. At the Monumental Café, don’t miss the oysters from Aveiro or the sea bass cooked in puff pastry. For gourmands, book dinner at Le Monument restaurant, where Chef Julien Montbabut delivers serious fine dining with his crab, avocado and yuzu chequerboard. Breakfast is a buffet on the mezzanine floor or à la carte in the Café.

Fun facts

The building where Le Monumental Palace stands used to be ‘Pensão Monumental’, one of the most luxurious hotels in the Iberian Peninsula in the 1930s. Monumental Café already existed by that time and was the trendiest spot for the bourgeois gatherings.

Day 2: Wining & Dining in Porto

Your tour will start with Porto's Baixa (Downtown) which is laid out around the Avenida dos Aliados (Avenue of the Allies), the city´s focal point. At the top of this thoroughfare, there is the imposing Municipal Council building. At the other end, it opens onto the Praça da Liberdade (Liberty Square) where there is a statue of a mounted Pedro IV (19th century), emperor of Brazil and, like much of Oporto, a supporter of the Liberalism movement. In a show of recognition, the king literally gave his heart to the city, now watched over in the Church of Lapa. Heading up Rua de São Filipe Néry, there is the Church and Tower dos Clérigos (Ecclesiastics), the centerpiece of the city and the most original design by Nicolau Nasoni. From 75 meters up in the tower, there is a wonderful panoramic view over the city of Porto and beyond.

On the way, nip into the Lello bookshop and admire the lavish decoration bestowed on this temple to culture. Known the world over, among other reasons, for its staircases that inspired the author of Harry Potter, Lello is considered one of the best and most beautiful bookshops in the world. Surrounding this center, there is a dense network of streets packed with stores and cafes. Of the latter, the magnificent Majestic and the cheerfully bustling Mercado do Bolhão are well worth a visit. On the streets, 31 de Janeiro Galeria de Paris and Cândido dos Reis check out the facades with their Art Nouveau finishings. To the side of the square, take a look at the São Bento (Saint Benedict) railway station to see the pictured tiles in the entrance hall. 

Then head down the Rua das Flores (Street of Flowers), with its goldsmiths and the exuberant baroque façade of the Church of Misericórdia (Compassion), a masterpiece by architect Nicolau Nasoni. Just a little bit uphill, you'll find the Cathedral. Besides the church, which was begun in the 12th century, it is worth visiting the tile-covered cloisters. The precinct, with its pillory and other monuments, has a superb view over the river and the houses on both sides. 

Continue downhill towards the riverfront - Ribeira - This is one of the most attractive districts of Porto, in which you get a feel for the ancient vernacular ambiance. You can start a cruise on the Douro from here. In this area, you will see two of the most important monuments. First the Church of S. Francisco, the most important Gothic church in the city, whose Baroque interior is completely covered in gilt carvings. And just attached to it, you'll find the Palácio da Bolsa (Stock Exchange). A beautiful 19th-century building, whose highlights include the famous Salão Árabe (Arab Hall), the Hall of Nations, and a remarkable grand staircase.

Then, you'll head out on your private tour of the Ferreira Port Wine Lodge.

Ferreira Port Wine Lodge Experience

Built by a family of Douro winemakers in 1751, the House of Ferreira has a rich tradition and a prominent role in the history of Port Wine. Dona Antonia Adelaide Ferreira contributed significantly to the consolidation of the brand. A legendary woman with a unique personality, who became a myth and a symbol of strength to face the adversities of the Douro in the nineteenth century. The Ferreira Cellars invites you to discover a brand that has been around for more than 250 years, that is a symbol of the highest quality, and whose heart and soul are Portuguese.

So what is Port wine? Where does it come from? What is the history behind it? Port is a fortified wine. Fortified wines are made by adding a proportion of grape spirit, or brandy, to the wine at some point during the production process. Port is arguably the greatest of all fortified wines and its paramount expression, Vintage Port, ranks alongside the finest produced of Bordeaux or Burgundy as one of the great iconic wines of the world. In the case of Port, the addition of the brandy takes place before the wine has finished fermenting. This means that the wine retains some of the natural sweetness of the grape, making it rich, round, and smooth on the palate. 

One of the fascinating aspects of Port wine is its variety of different styles, each with its own characteristic flavors, from the intense berry fruit flavors of a Reserve or a Late Bottled Vintage to the rich mellowness of an Aged Tawny or the sublime complexity of a Vintage Port.

Traditionally it is served towards the end of the meal with cheese, as a dessert wine, or as an after-dinner drink although some styles, like white Port, can also be enjoyed as an aperitif.

Port wine is produced in the mountainous eastern reaches of the Douro Valley in northern Portugal, one of the world’s oldest and most beautiful vineyard areas where wine has been made for at least two thousand years. In 1756 the Port wine vineyards of the Douro became the first vineyard area in the world to be legally demarcated. Like other great classic wines, Port owes its distinctive character to a unique association of climate, soil, grape variety and wine-making tradition. The unique terroir of the Douro Valley and its remarkable wines cannot be replicated elsewhere.

The grapes, mainly of indigenous varieties such as the Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa or Tinta Barroca, are grown on the steep rocky hillsides bordering the Douro River and its tributaries. Many of the oldest vineyards, now classified as World Heritage, are planted on narrow terraces supported by hundreds of hand-built dry stone walls.

The first shipments of wine under the name Port were recorded in 1678. Although the wine is produced inland in the vineyards of the upper Douro Valley, it takes its name from the coastal city of Oporto from which it is traditionally exported. Until well into the 20th century, the wine was carried down the river Douro from the vineyards in special boats known as barcos rabelos.

The wine was then unloaded into the ‘lodges’ of the Port houses which line the narrow lanes of Vila Nova de Gaia opposite the old city center of Oporto, to be aged, blended, bottled, and finally shipped. Many of the oldest and most famous producers, such as Taylor’s or Croft, are of English or Scottish origin as, for most of the history of Port wine, Britain was by far its largest market.

Dinner at Restaurant Antiqvvm

This evening, enjoy a tasting menu and wine pairing at Restaurant Antiqvvm.

Chef Matos has a passion for the use of the freshest seasonal products harvested from the region. His cuisine leans towards Mediterranean influences, embracing both traditional and contemporary techniques. Matos started out studying confections and pastries in Neuchâtel., Switzerland and later worked his way through the kitchens of Vidago Palace and Tiara Park. He earned his first Michelin star while head chef at Largo does Paço in Amarante. His high-quality cuisine is enhanced by stunning views over Porto from the refurbished 19th-century Quinta da Macieirinha.

Day 3: Guimarães & Amarante

Transfer from the hotel in Porto to the Six Senses Hotel in Douro Valley. Enjoy a stop in Guimarães to visit and have lunch. Guimarães is around 58 km from Porto and it's about a 45 minute drive by car.

Guimarães

Guimarães is considered the birthplace of Portugal because Afonso Henriques, who came to be the first king of Portugal, was born here. The historical center in the area which was within the Guimarães city walls is associated with the formation and identity of Portugal and was classified as a World Heritage site based on the originality and authenticity applied in its restoration. The city still has a harmonious, well-preserved heritage that is evident in the graceful iron verandas, granite balconies and porticos, mansions, arches connecting the narrow streets, and paving slabs smoothed by time, towers, and cloisters. For a moment you might imagine yourself to be in a medieval setting, where the nobility built their houses over time.

You can start your visit from the old Castle on the top of the highest hill of Guimarães. And here, you also can visit the Dukes of Bragança Palace built in the first half of the 15th century. This Palace stands out for its well-known "Pastrana tapestries", portraying important events related to the maritime discoveries of the 15th century, such as its porcelain collection from the Indian Company, the Portuguese ceramics, and the Flemish tapestries, amongst many other valuable pieces. Then, walking through the narrow streets of the historical center, you’ll finally meet the beautiful square of Oliveira (classified as a Heritage Cultural UNESCO site) and you’ll be tempted to stop for a cup of coffee in one of its street cafes.

At the square of Largo da Oliveira, you'll find the monument Padrão do Salado and the Collegiate Church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira, which houses the valuable Alberto Sampaio Museum. Passing the City Hall, crowned with battlements, enter the Praça de Santiago which in the Middle Ages welcomed pilgrims bound for Compostela, just as today it welcomes residents and tourists in its restaurants and terraces. For another view of the city, you can go up in the cable car to Monte da Penha, to enjoy one of the most beautiful panoramas in the north of Portugal, where you will find the Shrine of Our Lady of Penha. Lunch at a suggested local restaurant.

Amarante

After lunch, on your way to the Douro Valley, we recommend you take a quick (30/45 minutes) self-guided visit to Amarante. It's a small detour from the route to the Hotel. Amarante is a charming small town located at the foot of the Douro Valley, being a very central place, it is a perfect starting point to explore both the Douro Valley. The River Tâmega runs through the town and crossing this waterway is an arched bridge, the São Gonçalo Bridge. It is reputed to have helped local heroes to defend the town from the French attacks in the early 19th century.

Nowadays, cafes and restaurants make the most of their riverside location. Buried in the chapel of a church and monastery now bearing his name, São Gonçalo is a well-known local saint strongly venerated. Born here in the 12th century and his ability to heal sick persons, earned him his special status. Another famous personality of Amarante was the artist Amadeo de Souza Cardoso, who lived at the turn of the 20th century and produced some internationally-acclaimed cubist-style paintings. You won't be able to resist crossing the bucolic Tâmega River, towards S. Gonçalo Monastery (16th century).

After your visit, the driver will take you straight to the Six Senses Hotel, which is only a 50 minute drive.

Accommodations: Six Senses Douro Valley

Six Senses Douro Valley presents a superbly renovated 19th-century manor house set high on a hill overlooking the vine covered rolling hills of the Douro Valley and the river below. A spa, a selection of rooms, suites and villas, restaurants, wine library, swimming pools and organic garden are but a few of the many features offered. Six Senses Douro Valley looks out to vine-covered rolling hills and the River Douro below. It is set in a beautifully renovated 19th-century manor house with 41 guest bedrooms, 9 suites and 7 villas, some with private pools and gardens with sweeping panoramas. They have chosen the unspoilt, natural landscape of the Douro Valley for their European debut, bringing Portugal to the attention of the high-end, discerning, international traveler on a level not seen for a decade or more.

Location

Near the historic town of Lamego and 90 minutes from Porto, the hotel lies in a dip in the valley looking onto neatly terraced vineyards and the Douro River.

Style & Character

New York-based Clodagh Design has breathed light and soul into this 19th-century building, creating a sense of place through the use of blue and white azulejo tiles, granite floors, ceilings of cork and gold leaf on the walls. Modern artwork adds a contemporary touch. Brimming with an extraordinarily relaxing atmosphere, the hotel is very much rooted in its landscape, with the trees of the forest and the abundant orchard and vegetable garden as much a part of the character of the hotel as the interiors.

Service & Facilities

Staff are mainly local, charming, and knowledgeable about the area from wines to the best drives. Douro is one of the world's oldest wine regions and the hotel library includes books and guides to its history as well as an interactive enomatic machine where guests can wine taste at their own pace as an alternative to the nightly wine tastings. There are mountain bikes and kayaking on offer for the outdoor enthusiast or for the indoor one, tile painting or conjuring up lotions and potions in the Six Senses Alchemy Bar, where herbs and fruit from the gardens are brought in to create scrubs and oils. At the Earth lab, you can learn how to pickle vegetables from the garden or create your favorite infusion.

The spa, a pillar of the Six Senses concept, offers an enormous range of possibilities. Apart from 10 treatment rooms overlooking the garden where The Organic Pharmacy, Biologique Rechereche and homemade, garden-sourced products are used on face and body, there is also an indoor pool, a gym and a yoga and pilates pavilion (aerial yoga is also available). There is a physiotherapist on site and a range of Ayurvedic treatments. There is the smart technology to do skin analysis, wellness screening and sleep programmes. Throughout the year innovative programmes run from Grow a New Body where shamanic practices are merged with mitochondrial management to Holistic Anti-Aging which emphasizes the importance of a happy, grateful mind.

Rooms

A recently opened 10-room wing has added a new level of luxury with its vineyard and rooftop suites opening out onto large private gardens or terraces complete with hot tubs and sleek bathrooms in local polished granite. Like the other 50 rooms they also feature Portuguese oak floors and earthy tones with textured walls. Floor-to-ceiling windows create a light and bright feel. Room service is ordered via an in-room tablet, which also operates the lighting, blinds and television. Suites include bathtubs with views of the Douro, while standard rooms are fitted with showers, both come with locally made lemon or lavender soap. The supremely comfy beds are dressed in soft cotton sheets topped with local wool throws.

Food & drink

Drawing on their home grown, organic, produce, there is a strong garden to table philosophy here with an emphasis on vegetables. Try something from the Pickles menu, served by the pool in summer, such as coal whole roasted cauliflower or the grilled peach and burrata with flatbread or the delicious grouper served in a court bouillon with lemongrass, or opt (from May to October) for the nightly barbecue restaurant. All year round in the Vale d’Abraão Restaurant there is a mix of traditional Portuguese dishes such as fish and seafood rice with coriander or bacalhau grilled in the Josper alongside favorites like ramen. Local wines are at the center of the culinary experience with a team of sommeliers to advise on wine pairing. Breakfast is a buffet of hams and cheeses, fruits and detox juices with eggs and avocado toast to order.

Day 4: The Douro Valley

Meet and Greet your driver for the day at Six Senses Douro Valley Hotel. Start the day with a guided visit to Mateus Palace and the museum. The visit is made in a small group.

Lunch at a Casa do Arco Restaurant. Full of light, where the green of the exterior merges in full harmony with the interior greens, a superb view over the valley will hold your attention while you will enjoy an incredible gastronomic experience.

After lunch, embark on a private river cruise at the Douro River to admire breathtaking landscapes, composed of vineyards, wine estates, towns, and villages. Here was born the Douro table wines, which in recent decades have acquired great notoriety and border protection thanks to their quality, both in the reds as the whites and rosés. Green in summer, and fire color in autumn, the Vineyard has given rise to a unique landscape. Your driver will take you to one of the many viewpoints along the region to enjoy the stunning UNESCO Heritage Douro Valley landscape. You will then be transferred back to your hotel, at the end of the afternoon.