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Vila Nova de Gaia Culinary & nightlife

Our most recommended Vila Nova de Gaia Culinary & nightlife

Porto: Live Fado Show with Glass of Port Wine

1. Porto: Live Fado Show with Glass of Port Wine

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.

Porto: Guided Tour and Tasting of 3 Port Wines

2. Porto: Guided Tour and Tasting of 3 Port Wines

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.

Porto: Cockburn’s Cellar Tour Classic or Pairing Option

3. Porto: Cockburn’s Cellar Tour Classic or Pairing Option

Visit the Cockburn’s cellars, also known as ‘lodges’, and discover the most extensive wine cellars in the historic quarter of Vila Nova de Gaia. Located opposite the twin city of Porto across the Douro River, this region is known for its beauty.  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. On 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: Classic:• Cockburn's Special Reserve• Cockburn's Late Bottle Vintage• Cockburn's 10 years old  Premium tasting with chocolate pairing:• Cockburn's Fine White paired with Passion fruit chocolate • Cockburn's 10 Years old paired with Yuzu cinnamon chocolate• Cockburn's Quinta dos Canais Vintage paired with Raspberry chocolate Vintage Tasting paired with cheese:• Cockburn's Quinta dos Canais Vintage paired with Sheep Cheese (Nisa dop)• Cockburn's 2011 Vintage paired with Goat Cheese (Beiralacte)• Cockburn's 2015 Vintage paired with Cow Cheese (S. Jorge dop) Super Premium Tour:• Cockburn's Special Reserve• Cockburn's 20 years old • Cockburn's 2011 Vintage • Tastings in the John H. Smiths room

Porto: Cálem Cellar Tour, Fado Show & Wine Tasting

4. Porto: Cálem Cellar Tour, Fado Show & Wine Tasting

Embark on a guided tour of the Cálem Cellars in Porto, enjoy wine tasting and an entertaining live Fado show. Listen and dance to Portuguese music as you get tipsy and enjoy an unforgettable night. Immerse yourself in Portuguese culture and listen to Fado, folk music that originated in Lisbon in the 18th century, also known as the Lisbon blues. Fado is an important part of Portuguese culture. Head to the Caves Cálem winery and embark on a guided tour of the facilities to learn about the history and traditions of port wine production. At the end of your tour, sample 2 port wines, a white port, and a special reserve. As you sip your wine, take in a live Fado performance, a style of music born in the taverns of the 19th century that has become an essential part of Portuguese culture. The performance features male and female vocalists accompanied by a traditional Portuguese guitar and a classical guitar. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear the music and experience the country's soul.

Graham's Port Lodge Tour & Premium Tasting with Pairings

5. Graham's Port Lodge Tour & Premium Tasting with Pairings

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. 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.

Porto: Cálem Cellar with Chocolate, Cheese, and Wine Tasting

6. Porto: Cálem Cellar with Chocolate, Cheese, and Wine Tasting

Who said that port wine was just for snacks and desserts? Explore a huge selection of the most iconic wines, paired with finger food. In the guided visits to Cálem Cellar, learn about the Douro Demarcated Region and how the Port is produced. Discover the details in 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, protected from light and heat.  Then, you will be invited to a Cálem wine tasting of Cálem Late Bottle Vintage, Cálem Vintage, and Cálem Colheita. With your guide, learn some more Port secrets and pair your wines with goat cheese Transmontano, cheese from S. Jorge Island, chocolate tartlet black and chocolate milk, and crackers and compote. 

Porto: Magic Train Tour and Port Wine Tastings

7. Porto: Magic Train Tour and Port Wine Tastings

Explore the picturesque city of Porto on board a beautiful tourist train, departing every 30 minutes from Sé Catedral (Porto Cathedral), a glorious Romanesque monument in the old city center. The train circumnavigates the city center, with onboard audio guides in Portuguese, Spanish, French, English, and Italian for your convenience. Travel directly to the oldest Portuguese wine cellar of Real Companhia Velha, founded in 1756 by King José I. Climb off the train for an unforgettable tour inside the cellar, and learn the history of Port wine and its famous wineries during a 15-minute documentary. Next, explore the old part of the cellar, before a tasting of 2 high-quality Port wines. Re-board the train and continue your journey around the city center. Pass some of the most important monuments of Porto, such as the São João National Theatre on historic Praça da Batalha (Batalha Square). Continue down Avenida dos Aliados, site of the beautifully tiled São Bento Train Station. Pass the baroque Bell Tower of Clerigos Church, and the twin churches of the Convent and Church of Carmelitas, close to the famous Leilo Bookshop and enchanting cafés. Upgrade your tour to include lunch in Ruela da Villa, the restaurant of a 4-star hotel. Savor an all you can eat buffet, with a variety of dishes and desserts which are typical of Portuguese cuisine. Hop-off and on the train in front of the restaurant.

Porto: City Train Tour, River Cruise & Wine Cellar

8. Porto: City Train Tour, River Cruise & Wine Cellar

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, go down to Ribera to join a 1-hour boat cruise along the Douro River. Relish this extraordinary way of viewing the city from a different perspective.

Porto: Port and Douro Wine Walking Tour with Tastings

9. Porto: Port and Douro Wine Walking Tour with Tastings

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.

Porto: Pink Palace Entry Ticket at WOW

10. Porto: Pink Palace Entry Ticket at WOW

Visit the WOW museum in Porto and immerse yourself in the world of rosé. Create photo-worthy and shareable moments and taste a variety of rosé wines. Explore the eleven rooms and discover the various types of rosé produced by grapes grown in different regions and climates around the world, using a range of winemaking techniques. Throughout the experience there will be the opportunity to try five different Rosés: Quinta do Vale do Bragão Rosé, AIX Gran Vin de Provence Rosé, Mateus Rosé, Vértice Rosé Bruto, and Croft Pink Rosé Port. Take selfies and creative photos throughout the museum and enjoy an interactive journey into the history and contemporary production of rosé.

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What people are saying about Vila Nova de Gaia

The Fado show was excellent! All in all about 9 songs (3 by a male singer, 3 by a female and 3 duet) all accompanied by 2 guitars. We were in Lisbon last year and fado is way more popular there. More difficult to find a good show in Porto. We had booked the event for the music and were happily listening for ~ one hour. The tour prior to the show was great as well and very informative. But you need to make sure to stay close to the guide as the groups are pretty large. Also as this tour is part of the yellow bus 48 hour pass as well.

I liked it, the guide Rafael was very clear, knowledgeable and ready to answer all the questions asked. Although we didnt have much or see the interactive museum(?) I think it was in the beginning

Best Fado show in Portugal. Beautiful singing, expert guitar playing, great explanations of the music. We were all singing and clapping along by the end.

What an amazing night. And don't worry if you don't speak the language, it's just as beautiful to listen to without knowing the story.

Really cool experience! Great guide. Good balance of information and moving around. Nice tasting at the end