Can I take a large group?

Yes! Day trips are fully customizable to suit the needs of any private group. From solo travelers to large families with children and even corporate groups, we are ready to create a bespoke itinerary that accommodates parties of all sizes. The price is dependent on the number of vehicles required to serve your group, and we also provide child seats.

Will my driver speak English?

Your friendly, professional, local driver will speak English. Our drivers are happy to provide any local insight they can on the way to your destination and may be able to answer questions and provide tips for the best possible experience on your day trip.

Can I request children’s car seats for the journey?

Yes, we provide car seats for children of all ages, which meet stringent safety standards and local legal requirements. You can even bring your own car seat. We also have handicapped-accessible vehicles available for a wide range of needs for our passengers. When booking your day trip, please specify the accommodations you will need.

Can I pay securely online?

Yes, Daytrip offers flexible payment options. We accept Google Pay, Apple Pay, and Ali Pay. You also can pay securely online with any major credit card, such as Visa, Mastercard, or American Express.

Booking your day trip is as easy as our one-way and return trips! On the landing page of the day trip you’d like to take, simply select the date, pick up time, and how many adults and children will be on the trip. On the second page, you’ll fill in personal details, including any special requests, disability accommodations, and children’s car seats you may need. We are flexible too! You can change your exact pick-up location (hotel address, etc) up to 24 hours before your day trip.

Day trips Countries Portugal SamodaesSamodaes to Vila Real and Mateus Palace: Private day trip

Samodaes to Vila Real and Mateus Palace: Private day trip

1 / 11

Private ride with a local driver

5h 15m

Round trip

Private driver

Trusted by 1+ million happy travelers across 120 countries

4.9

Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice 2024

4.9

5176
Reviews

About your trip

Travel from Samodães with a private driver to the noble streets of Vila Real and the tranquil beauty of Mateus Palace, where gardens bloom and history breathes in stone and still water. This round trip pairs cultural richness with vineyard views, offering a perfect blend of aristocratic heritage and Douro Valley charm.

Dedicate 90 minutes to Vila Real, visiting São Pedro Church and local shops at your own pace. Then, a 10-minute drive leads to Mateus Palace for another 90 minutes exploring the manicured grounds and tasting Mateus rosé (optionally) at your leisure. Your professional driver orchestrates a compact 4–5 hour escape from Samodães, managing all the navigation and logistics to ensure a seamless and comfortable journey.

Exclusively yours: private vehicle and professional driver

Discover local insights you won't find in guidebooks

Experience the freedom to explore at your own speed

Perfectly planned for families, friends, or solo travelers

From €93

Private group ride

per person

Select date and travelers

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before your pickup time.

For a group of 1-3 travelersTotal€279

What to expect

Your day trip begins wherever you are

Meet our professional driver right where you prefer in Samodaes whenever suits you best. No time wasted getting to the pickup point, grab your bag and start your trip right away.

Discover more with local expertise

Your driver’s local insights will set the tone for your day trip. A hidden café here, a must-try restaurant there; insider tips you’ll love sharing later. This isn’t a guided tour but your ride will be rich with stories and discoveries along the way. And throughout the day, your driver will be available for you as needed, ready to assist, happy to help, making your trip stress-free.

Explore at your own pace

Enjoy a stress-free route with total flexibility at each stop. Your driver handles the navigation and suggests attractions that match your interests to help you create a day that's uniquely yours.

Perfect for any private group

Whether you're traveling solo, as a family with kids, or as a large group, this service is tailored for your comfort and flexibility. It's the ideal option especially if you have limited time or a busy schedule.

Good to know

Two-way private car transfer
Air-conditioned vehicle
Personalized pickup and drop-off
Professional English-speaking driver
Complimentary bottled water
Free cancellation 24 hours before departure
Entry/Admission tickets to paid attractions Vila Real, Mateus Palace, St. Anthony's viewpoint, and Terraced Vineyards of the Douro Valley should be purchased separately unless specified otherwise
Meals, snacks, and gratuity are not included

From €93

Private group ride

per person

Select date and travelers

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before your pickup time.

For a group of 1-3 travelersTotal€279

Your trip at a glance

Start in Samodaes

You choose the pickup spot.

Vila Real

Feel free to explore at your own pace and discover

Stop: 1 h 30 min - admission not included

Granite elegance and lilac gardens meet mountain air and noble flavors in timeless Vila Real. Cradled between mountains and vineyards, Vila Real whispers of nobility and nature in perfect balance. Begin your visit in the Centro Historico, where granite manors and wrought-iron balconies speak of centuries past, and bakeries tempt with local sweets. Then stroll to the Igreja de Sao Domingos and onward to the UTAD Botanical Garden, where native plants bloom beside mountain views. End at the nearby Mateus Palace & Gardens, or take in sweeping panoramas from Miradouro da Vila Velha or Meia Laranja. Before you go, try local ham, goat cheese, and a glass of Douro wine — it’s Vila Real on a plate.

Mateus Palace

Feel free to explore at your own pace and discover

Stop: 1 h 30 min - admission not included

A palace of still waters, sculpted gardens, and noble silence — where time slows in elegance. With its Baroque facade reflected in tranquil ponds, Mateus Palace is one of Portugal’s most iconic estates. Walk through carved ceilings, antique furniture, and a breathtaking library, while outside, sculpted hedges, rose gardens, and lemon trees scent the air. The experience is both regal and deeply serene.

St. Anthony's viewpoint (photo spot)

We’ll stop at this perfect photo spot – take a moment to capture the view!

Stop: 20 min - admission not included

Take in sweeping vistas of Vila Real’s rooftops, mountain peaks, and winding valleys.

Terraced Vineyards of the Douro Valley (pass by)

You’ll pass by this stunning spot – be sure to take a moment to enjoy the view along the way!

As you drive, catch glimpses of the Douro River, winding through vineyard-covered hills like a ribbon of gold.

Back to Samodaes

We’ll take you back to your starting point.

Duration of the stops can be changed upon request after booking

Have questions or need help?Contact our Customer Support. We are available 24/7

Daytrip is loved all around the world. Here's why.

5.0

5176 reviewson Tripadvisor

4.9

991 reviewson Trustpilot

Great transfer option.

I used this service for a transfer from Split in Croatia to Perast Montenegro. My experience was exceptional. My driver Bojan was helpful, informative and ensured my journey was comfortable and enjoyable. I highly recommend the service.

Robyn COctober 2, 2025

It was a fantastic trip.

We were extremely satisfied with the quality of service we received from Day Trip. We had two Day Trip rides on August 31 from Athens to Lefkada and September 7 from Lefkada back to Athens. Both trips included stops at scenic sites in Greece. Both drivers were excellent and accommodating. However, we’d especially like to recognize Panos Peppas, who was our driver from Lefkada to Athens. Panos was incredibly nice & pleasant and delivered outstanding customer service, which included handling all of luggage, providing us with cold waters throughout the trip, providing us protein bars, providing us with printed materials on the Corinth Canal (one of scenic stops), looking up and providing us with terminal & gate info for our flight back home and providing us with a recipe for tzatziki.

Daydream20046758137September 20, 2025

Best transport company anywhere

We absolutely love this company and have used it many times over the years to get from A to B without the hassle of hiring a car ourselves. Excellent drivers every time. Efficient and professional. It’s worth every penny and we can honestly recommend Day Trip to everyone. It’s 5 star rating is well deserved.

Mary LSeptember 15, 2025

Excellent experience in traveling

We traveled from Nuremberg to Munich in a beautiful Audi. Driver picked us at our hotel at the exact time requested. Got us to Munich in plenty of time for our next tour. Driver made sure we were comfortable

Steve NAugust 20, 2025

Reasonably Priced and Safe Transportation

Gonzalo from daytrip was our driver and he was absolutely amazing. He went over and beyond trying to locate us as our service wasn't so good on our phones. He patiently awaited our arrival to the lobby so he could take us from Tulum Dreams Resort to our other hotel in cancun an hour and a half away near the airport prior to our departure flight home. He was polite, respectful and kind. Made sure we were comfortable during our long ride. Fast and to the point. I recommend this company as finding a one way ride from Tulum to Cancun isn't easy or cheap and this company provides a great service for a great price. I will definitely be using them again whenever I'm in the Cancun/Tulum area. Thank you DayTrip and Gonzola.

COCOApril 22, 2025

Daytrip never disappoints

We were picked up by Marianna to drive us from Heraklion to Chania. The weather was terrible & due to this Marianna arrived a few minutes late. She contacted me to advise of this. Marianna lives in Chana and she made our trip very interesting by informing us of local things to do and see in Chania. Marianna is a safe driver and we all felt comfortable with the speed she drove at and how good her driving was in heavy rain. She is a lovely person with fluent English. We highly recommend Daytrips and if you are in Heraklion or Chania please make sure you ask for Marianna.

Julie MApril 2, 2025

Great driver in Egypt

Used the service to go from Luxor to Hurghada, Egypt. Ahmed H was our driver and he was perfect. The car was new, clean, he had water and snacks for us, and accommodated our stops. Great service from him and would recommend it.

Maps315861February 28, 2025

Comfortable and Safe Rides in Mexico

Used Daytrip for two rides in Mexico, which were both great. So comfortable, and we arrived at each of our destinations at a great time. Both were incredible drivers, and we felt so safe. One of our drivers, Miguel, also played the best music! Will definitely use Daytrip on our next trip to Mexico.

GolourdesduarteFebruary 20, 2025

Great way to travel and see some sights on the way

We did not know what to expect with this trip and booked from Australia. We were initially looking for an easy way to travel from Granada to Malaga. We decided not to waste the opportunity to see something additional on our way. Miguel certainly exceeded our expectations. His English was excellent (unfortunately we speak very little Spanish), and he was very friendly and helpful. We thoroughly enjoyed hearing about the regions as we passed through and also discussing some of the local ways. Miguel took us to Antequera as planned and ensured we were able to easily get our tickets to the attractions without any sense of rushing us. We were picked up and dropped off punctually and really enjoyed our trip. Hopefully we will return to Spain and we can use this service again sometime.

Michelle RFebruary 10, 2025

Excellent service

We used the service twice while in Thailand. Extremely prompt and efficient customer service. Best rate being offered in Chiang Mai for the travels. Polite, punctual, professional and English speaking drivers. Clean, comfortable vehicles. Being a regular visitor to Thailand, this was hands down the best service. Most pleased with the company. I hope it sustains the excellence of service that was rendered to us.

OmarJanuary 25, 2025

See more reviews

Know more about your day trip

Mateus Palace stands out for its distinctive baroque architecture featuring ornate granite facades, intricate pinnacles, and a dramatic staircase. Unlike many European palaces, it remains privately owned by the Counts of Mateus while still allowing public access. During your 90-minute visit, you'll discover its famous formal gardens with cypress tunnel, boxwood hedges, and reflective pool that creates the iconic image featured on Mateus Rose wine bottles.

The palace interior tour showcases elaborately carved wooden ceilings, period furniture, religious paintings, Chinese porcelain, and a remarkable 16th-century library with rare books. You'll explore the dining hall, bedrooms, and chapel, all preserved with original furnishings. The guided tour provides insights into Portuguese aristocratic life and the palace's 300-year history as you spend part of your 90-minute visit inside this living museum.

During your 90-minute Vila Real visit, explore the historic center with its medieval streets, the 14th-century Sao Domingos Church, and the Vila Velha district with traditional architecture. Don't miss the ornate Capela Nova church with blue azulejo tiles, and perhaps visit the Vila Real Museum to learn about local history. The city also offers excellent pastry shops serving regional specialties like "cristas de galo" and "covilhetes."

Photography without flash is permitted in most areas of the palace's exterior and gardens, making it ideal for capturing the baroque architecture and formal gardens. However, photography is restricted in certain interior rooms to protect delicate artifacts and furnishings. Your guide will inform you of specific photography rules during your visit. The gardens and exterior facade offer the most iconic photo opportunities.

While Mateus Palace appears on the label of the famous Mateus Rose wine bottle, the palace doesn't produce this wine. The image was licensed to Sogrape Vinhos in 1942 when they created the internationally successful rose. The palace does maintain vineyards and produces limited quantities of quality Douro DOC wines under the Casa de Mateus label, which you may be able to sample during your 90-minute visit.

The formal gardens are considered among Portugal's finest examples of baroque landscape design. Features include meticulously trimmed boxwood hedges forming intricate patterns, a cedar tunnel, a reflective water pool that mirrors the palace facade, and seasonal flowers. The grounds also include a lake, rose garden, and woodland areas. These diverse garden elements provide beautiful settings for photography during your visit.

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Frequently Asked Questions

If you have any questions, here are the answers.

Day trips offer travelers private round-trip transportation to popular sightseeing locations. One of our professional drivers will pick you up in a luxurious, climate-controlled car, take you to the site of interest, and wait for you while you explore before driving you back to your hotel.

Yes! You’re free to choose the pickup and drop-off times that work best for you. However, the time spent at the destination is fixed and cannot be changed.

Each sightseeing stop has a recommended duration that includes plenty of time to explore. However, it is possible to customize the time spent at each sightseeing stop at a later stage in the booking process to best fit your unique schedule.

Your Daytrip driver will wait for you nearby for the duration of your exploration, meaning you’ll never have to wait for your return trip transportation to arrive. Your comfort and convenience are our top priorities, and we aim to close out your day trip with a return on your schedule.

The price of a day trip does not include any entrance tickets, guided tours, or meals you may partake in at your destination. The price covers round-trip transportation in a luxury vehicle with a professional driver who can provide local insights en route.

Day trip bookings can be canceled up to 24 hours before your trip for a full refund, no strings attached. While the destination and stops are predetermined, it is possible to change your pick-up point, whether it is at your hotel or some other location within the city.

Day trips Countries Portugal SamodaesSamodaes to Vila Real and Mateus Palace: Private day trip