Things to do in

Vila Nova de Gaia

According to Amália Rodrigues, the great fado singer, "The point is to feel fado. Because fado is not sung, it happens. It cannot be explained, only felt." The project "Fado by Casa da Guitarra" intends to offer to you the essence of this musical genre in an evening of enchantment and wonder. During the hour-long concert, you will come in contact with very unique Portuguese cultural elements - fado, Portuguese traditional stringed instruments, wine - all of which are deeply related with Portuguese history. The acoustic fado performance takes place in an intimate setting with a female leading singer, accompanied by a Portuguese guitar player and a guitar player (playing a viola de fado), who occasionally lends his voice to the fado songs. A traditional port wine will served during the interlude to round out your evening.

In a healthful balance between Port tradition and new technologies, you will discover Douro region and Port wine – from “terroir” to the wine grapes, from the categories up to the aromas, trough our recently interactive museum, with personalized and intuitive access. In the guided visits to Cálem caves you will learn about the Douro Demarcated Region, know how the Port is produced and stay abreast of all the details of the history of this House. The cellars themselves remain active and visitable. It is there that you will learn more about the unique characteristics of each type of Port, even next to the barrels where they grow old, protected from light and heat. Then, you will be invited to a Cálem wine tasting: a white Port and a Tawny Port. With one of your guides, you will have the possibility to learn some more Port secrets and taste our wines.

Learn about the uniquely Portuguese musical form of fado with a live show in the intimate surroundings of the Casa do Fado. Enjoy a glass of port wine as you hear more about this aspect of Portuguese identity, declared ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity’ by UNESCO. Be transported to the Porto of old with a trip to Casa do Fado, a project developed by friends who love the music genre. Choose between two Casa do Fado venues in the historic center of Porto: the Ribiera, a 19th-century cellar, or the Sé, a former guitar luthier workshop. Listen to outstanding musicians as they perform live in a venue with acoustics ideally set up for fado. Sip on a glass of port wine, the drink that Porto is famous for, as you hear more about the music and its origins.

Board the original boats used to transport the Port Wine barrels from the Douro Region to Gaia and Porto. The boats have been adapted with the most modern navigation equipment to transport passengers with maximum comfort. Over 50 minutes, enjoy a journey that stretches from the historic center of Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, upstream to Freixo and then downstream toward the mouth of the Douro. Take the opportunity to admire the rich and breathtaking landscape while you learn the history of the 6 bridges that unite Vila Nova de Gaia and Porto. Discover other points of interest in these two cities. 

Fado is an important part of the collective Portuguese soul, born in the taverns of the 19th century and an iconic symbol of the Portuguese culture. This 75-minute program includes a visit to the Cálem wine cellars to learn about ancestral traditions. The visit is followed by a tasting of two port Wines (white and special reserve), which are served to you while you enjoy a Fado performance. The Fado performance features both male and female voices accompanied by traditional Portuguese guitar and classic guitar. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear to the music and experience the soul of the country.

Explore the 1890 Graham's Port Lodge on a guided tour where you will learn about the history of the cellar, the production process of Port wine, enjoy a premium wine tasting with food pairings, and marvel at spectacular views of Porto and the iconic two-tier bridge. Visit the historic Graham’s Lodge, which was built in 1890 on a commanding ridge in Vila Nova de Gaia across the Douro River from Porto and only a few hundred meters from the river’s south bank. Admire unique and spectacular views of Porto’s historic city center and the iconic two-tier bridge that connects the two cities of Oporto and Gaia. Graham’s is still a working cellar which makes this tour an even more unique experience. Hear the sounds of the Coopers’ hammers and see the lodgement collecting samples for the tasting room.  Learn about the history of the cellar and the production process of Port wine in a building currently housing over 2,000 pipes (oak casks) and 40 large oak vats of aging Port wine, as well as extensive cellars of Vintage Port. Throughout the tour, enjoy a premium tasting which includes Graham’s LBV paired with chocolate, Graham’s Quinta dos Malvedos paired with cheese, and Graham’s 20 Year Old paired with Pastel de Nata.

Visit the Cockburn’s cellars, also known as ‘lodges’, and discover the most extensive wine cellars in the historic quarter of Vila Nova de Gai. Located opposite the twin city of Porto across the Douro River, this region is known for its beauty. Take this unique opportunity to watch the dedicated team of coopers disassemble barrels stave by stave for maintenance and then reassemble them. Go inside the sturdy granite walls of the Cockburn’s lodge house which boasts 6,518 seasoned oak barrels of maturing Port and the equivalent of a further 10,056 barrels held in tones and vats. This sizeable and priceless stock provides the basis for the creation of Cockburn’s renowned Ports, including the famous Special Reserve. In this guided tour, you will have an authentic experience of a fully working Port cellar. Start your visit with a trip to the Cellars museum which charts Cockburn’s fascinating 200-year history. A series of exhibits reveal the stories of the families that built Cockburn’s; their planting of vineyards in the Douro Valley and the making of legendary Ports that turned Cockburn's into a world-renowned producer. Your visit continues through the working sections of the buildings where thousands of oak barrels and vats hold Cockburn’s valuable stocks of maturing wines. At this point, you will pass through the longest aging gallery of any Port cellar in Vila Nova de Gaia. Filled with the impressive sight of thousands of barrels, stacked 4 high you'll learn about the importance of maturing Port in seasoned wood as well as the central role of the cooper. In the tasting room, you will enjoy a classic tasting, or if you select the premium tasting option then you will have the following: • Cockburn's Fine White paired with Passion fruit chocolate  • Cockburn's 10 Years old paired with Yuzu cinnamon chocolate • Quinta dos Canais Vintage paired with Raspberry chocolate 

Explore the picturesque and historic city of Porto on the Magic Train Tour. The train departs every 60 minutes from the Sé Catedral (Cathedral of Oporto) and travels around the city center with an audio guide available in Portuguese, Spanish, French, English and Italian. The train takes you directly to the oldest wine cellar in Portugal — Real Companhia Velha. A guide will take you on an unforgettable tour inside the wine cellar which includes a short 15-minute film, a 30-minute visit to the old parts of the cellars and a tasting of 2 quality port wines. After the wine tour, the train will pick you up and continue the tour around the city. See the most important monuments such as St. Johns Theater, the Famous Batalha Square with the Santa Catarina Street, Aliados Avenue, Clerigos Tower, Carmelitas Church and more.  Once the train tour is over, join a 1-hour boat cruise along the Douro River. Relish this extraordinary way of viewing the city from a different perspective.

Your wine-tasting tour will start with a guided visit to the aging cellar, where distinguished wines have been maturing for more than 100 years. Here, you’ll get to know what makes Port wine so special and learn all about the place where it’s made, the Douro Valley.  Next, you’ll take a walk to the tasting room, where a harmonized sample of three different Port wines awaits your palate. As you sample the wines, learn about which foods pair well with Port wine and discover unique Port styles you might not have tasted before. Before the experience is over, you'll also have the chance to buy your favorite Port wines in the winery's store to enjoy them in the comfort of your home.

Explore the history of port and Douro wine on a guided walking tour of 3 wine houses in Vila Nova de Gaia. Learn about the vineyards and wineries of the Douro Valley and enjoy 10 different port and Douro wine tastings with professional commentaries.  Start with a guided tour of an old wine cellar. Sample 3 port wines from their collection and learn about the culture and philosophy of port wine drinking. Continue to the oldest and most emblematic wine company in Portugal to enjoy 4 more tastings. End your day by sampling 4 more wines produced by a family-owned wine brand of the Douro Valley.