Napoleon’s ambitions to control the Iberian peninsula has its roots with the invasion of Porto, one of Europe’s oldest cities. A total of three French campaigns in Portugal between 1807 and 1811 all resulted in disastrous defeat.
Such is the spirit of the Portuguese people. And such is the fascination with the city of Porto.
A few thousand years later, Air Canada’s fascination with all things Portugal will bring a welcome invasion of Montrealers with YUL service to Porto this summer.
To kick off the new flights, Air Canada invited agents and media to learn about the rich region and all its offerings - from great wine, affordable accommodation to year-round sunshine.
From YUL to OPO
Porto, one of the newest destinations added to Air Canada’s route network from Montreal begins 04 June, 2025, this new route will run four times a week.
Porto is in addition to Air Canada’s service to Lisbon, from both Toronto and Montreal.
Air Canada, Air Canada Vacations and Portugal Tourism
In 2023, Canada entered the top 10 markets for Portugal. It is 10th in overnight stays (1,472K) and 9th in terms of guests, recording 593K visitors from Canada.
“The Canadian market is very important for us because Canadians travel a lot in the winter and we treasure the long stays that the Canadian market brings to Portugal,” said Ines Almeida Garrett, Portugal Tourism’s Director for Canada.
This new direct flight from YUL is a significant one for the tourism board,
“First of all, is the recognition from Air Canada that Porto is a good destination, and it's worth the visit,” said Garrett. “It will bring visibility and more tourists to Porto, and that is incredibly good for us. The numbers will increase, and they will have a significant impact on this region, so I'm happy for it.”
Air Canada Vacations’ tour packages are already seeing itinerary adjustments to include Porto.
“Now that we've added this flight to Porto, it will give even more flexibility to clients. We can do open jaws on tours instead of going back to Lisbon. Some tours are already being modified or added, with a few tours being rerouted to Porto,” explained fam participant Nicolas Theriault, Key Account Manager for Air Canada Vacations in Montreal. TopAtlantico is ACV's DMC booking company in Portugal. When clients land, they take care of everything, as they did with this fam.
The Lince Santa Clara Historic Hotel Air Canada Vacations offers a great incentive program, ACV&ME Rewards.
The UNESCO Sites of Porto and the North
Porto and the North of Portugal region have five World Heritage Sites by UNESCO: The Historical Centre of Porto, the Historical Centre of Guimarães, Bom Jesus do Monte in Braga, the Foz Côa Art Valley and the Douro Valley. Open Jaw explored four of them on this fam.
Some highlights include:
Marie-Eve Page Voyages Gendron, Brigitte Messier Travel Brands, Monica Nogueira Tour Guide, Nicolas Theriault Key Account Manager for Air Canada Vacations Montreal, Ines Almeida Garrett Portugal Tourism Director Canada
Porto’s Historic Centre, the Lello Bookstore and the Bolhão Market. The Editory Boulevard Aliados Hotel, a five-star Preferred Hotel, is a starting point to the historical district of Porto.
Pousada de Guimarães, Santa Marinha, is a former XII Century Augustin Monastery. After being rebuilt and restored, it received the National Architectural Prize in 1985. It houses 51 rooms and in low season, offers rates of 90€/night.
The Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte in Braga, the oldest town in Portugal and one of the oldest Christian cities in the world, can be explored by foot or by taking the funicular railway built in 1882, the first in the Iberian Peninsula. The Vila Galé Collection Braga, a four-star hotel in the heart of the city, has 22 family rooms, seven superior rooms and 15 suites, bringing to life the old hospital and monastery of San Marcos.
The Alto Douro Wine Region was demarcated and regulated in 1756. With its main production of Port wine, Quinta da Roeda is situated on hillsides with terraced vineyards and offers wine tourism experiences. Your clients will enjoy taking a boat cruise on the Douro River through Pinhão followed by lunch at The Vintage House, part of an 18th century estate renovated into a five-star hotel. Nestled in the center of the Douro Valley, Vila Galé Douro Vineyards features an expansive spa with a large outdoor swimming pool offering a unique view over the Douro Valley vineyards.
All For Wine, Golf and Unique Experiences
Crossing the Ponte Luiz from Porto into Gaia, brings your clients to WOW, the World of Wine. In the historic heart of Vila Nova de Gaia, walking distance of downtown Porto and the Douro River, WOW pays tribute to the culture, history, and the major industries of Portugal. It was created from old wine cellars in 2020, and houses a museum, shops and restaurants. Nearby, the five-star Hilton Porto Gaia is set in a refurbished wine warehouse. It has 194 rooms with suites that feature a two-level loft-style layout, dining and a spa.
For a unique wine experience, the four-star Monverde Wine Experience Hotel, the first wine hotel in the Vinho Verde region, features 140 hectares of vineyards, 46 rooms overlooking the property, a spa with a Turkish bath and gym. Their Wine Maker for a Day experience gives insight to the varietals found onsite and how to blend and pair them to create your own bottle, which gets labeled and taken home as a gift. In the restaurant, their tasting menu and wine pairing is the ideal add on, highlighting the region’s local cuisine, such as cod with cornbread crust served with red pepper ice cream.
In the major port and fishing town of Matosinhos, Pinhais & Co is a staple in the Portuguese canning industry, offering your clients a guided interactive factory tour which includes wrapping a sardine tin and a tasting for 18€.
In March 2024, in the heart of Villa du Condo, The Lince Santa Clara Historic Hotel opened. 700 years as a former monastery, the property blends history with luxury and features idyllic gardens, a 24-hour fitness center, two bars, and a venue for business meetings. The hotel features 87 rooms, including 11 suites, and has a high demand for weddings.
“Portugal has a flood of North American tourists right now, so the opening of the hotel was perfect timing,” said one hotel official.
In Cumieira, Come na 2 offers a series of unique experiences, including a pottery workshop and gastronomy, highlighting local dishes and flavours. Inaugurated in January 1989, Portuguese architect Duarte Sottomayor designed the Estela Golf Club. The links course covers three kilometres of seafront and is opposite the Atlantic Ocean boasting 18 holes and a driving range. It’s a championship course and hosted the Portuguese Open twice. Tivoli Hotels & Resorts are finalizing a five-star hotel set to open 01 May 2025. It will be the only five-star Tivoli property in northern Portugal.
We are strategically located between the main cities of northern Portugal right on the St James Coastal Route,” said Vasco Cunha, Director of Sales for Tivoli. Facilities will include 70 superior rooms, five suites and five family rooms, a restaurant and bar, 150-person multipurpose room, exterior heated swimming pool, spa with a sauna, Turkish bath, treatment rooms, a paddle course, fitness center, parking and is 15 minutes from Porto’s international airport.
