How to eat your way across Portugal

Tuk tuk tour in Lisbon

One of the best ways to explore the historic neighbourhoods of Lisbon is on a tuk tuk, a compact motorized rickshaw that can easily navigate the city’s narrow, cobbled streets. Most tuk tuk tours include stops in the lively neighbourhoods of Bairro Alto and Chiado, which are brimming with historic sites like the 18th century São Carlos Theatre and Rossio Square, home to cafes and shops dating back to the 1700s and now known as Lisbon’s unofficial meeting spot for locals.

As you roam the streets, snack on the city’s iconic pastry, pastéis de nata – creamy egg tarts – at one of the many pastelarias throughout the capital. While in Chiado, be sure to eat at Bairro do Avillez, Michelin star chef Jose Avillez’s restaurant that features three distinct dining spaces focusing on charcuterie, seafood and internationally-inspired fine dining alongside a cabaret show.

Visit Portugal’s largest olive grove in Ferreira do Alentejo

Ferreira do Alentejo is a small town of just 8,200 people, but it’s home to the country’s largest olive grove. At Oliveira da Serra, learn the step-by-step production of olive oils in their stunning modern mill and sample their award-winning oils. While you’re in the Alentejo region, head to Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Partially enclosed by medieval walls, Évora boasts a myriad of historical sites, including the Roman temple, which was believed to be built around the first century, and the 16th century Capela dos Ossos, which translates to the Chapel of Bones and gets its name from the interior walls covered in human skulls and bones. In Évora, try black pork, a favourite ingredient in Alentejo cuisine, alongside a slice of one of the region’s famous rounded bread loaves.

Learn how to cook like a local in Faro

After wining and dining through big cities and the rural countryside, head to the southern coastal city of Faro to discover southern Portuguese cuisine, like cataplana, a fish and meat stew named after the distinct clam-shaped copper vessel in which it’s traditionally cooked. Historically, Portuguese fishermen have used these pots to gather fish and other ingredients before preparing their meals directly in the same device. You can learn the history of the cataplana and how to cook it during a workshop at the restaurant Tertúlia Algarvia.

Roam the picturesque Douro Valley

The vineyards of the Douro Valley date back to the 1750s, making it the oldest demarcated wine region in the world. Head to Quinta do Vallado, one of the oldest vineyards in the area, to tour their beautiful estate and the barrique cellar where wines age, and to learn the wine-making process from harvest to bottle. At the end of the tour, try a variety of their wines including whites, reds and ports. Even if you’re not an oenophile, the Douro Valley region offers unforgettable views of vineyards climbing up hilly landscapes, whitewashed estates and lush fields on either side of the Douro River.

Wine tasting in Porto

No trip to Portugal is complete without a stop in Porto, the city where port wine gets its name. Tour one of the many port cellars dotted along the riverside to taste different varietals of the sweet, red wine and then break for lunch at Adea São Nicaulau, a cozy restaurant serving traditional Portuguese cuisine. Although Porto’s wine and food culture has deep historical roots, the city’s architecture is a stunning mix of both new and old. Be sure to check out Igreja de São Francisco, a Gothic church with lavish Baroque interiors built in the 18th century, and Casa da Música, the modern concert hall designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas.

Explore the market in Olhão

As the south region of Algarve’s biggest fishing port, Olhão is the place to sample famous Algarvian dishes like grilled sardines and xerém, a type of corn mash usually made with clams and ham. Olhão is a town well-kept from tourists, so do like the locals do and explore the municipal fish and vegetable markets near the waterfront in the mornings – it’s best visited on Saturdays – and then dine at one of the town’s seafood restaurants.

Many of these activities can be experienced with Air Canada Vacations’ new food-centric vacations created in partnership with the Ferreira Group and Portugal Gourmand. Flavours of Portugal and Tastes of Northern Portugal packages include flights, hotels, car rentals, a number of meals and activities such as tastings – so you don’t have to worry about logistics. Early booking savings, connector rates and one free registered bag per person make booking even more advantageous. Find out more at Air Canada Vacations.