Red and tawny fortified wines have earned the Douro region of Portugal its ranking as one of the most sought-after port wines in the world. This summer in the glass is lip-smackingly perfect to pair with any kind of cheese or be served as a late-night aperitif.
But we’re not talking about wines in this article.
Expanding nearly 900 kilometers along a namesake river starting from Porto, Douro Valley is a luxury retreat where breathtaking landscapes and charming wine country scenery make a statement. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The best activities in the Douro Valley center around celebrating its great outdoors, with wine-tasting tours in the morning and capped off with a pleasant cruise trip in the afternoon. The valley is beautiful in all seasons, and a joyful ride on a scenic train is perfect to capture its steep, twisting valleys and tidy terraces.
More on that below!
How To Get To Douro Valley?
By Train
Trains are the cheapest means of transportation to fetch you to Douro Valley within hours. Start from the São Bento train station in the center of Porto on the Linha do Douro line.
This is a national railway (IR) with multiple stops. The valley is huge so you can get off at your desired destination such as Pinhao or Regua. For a lesser-known visit, Pocinho will give you a fresh spin on the trip with its laid-back feel of a small village.
Train tickets to Douro Valley hover between EUR 13-15 and can be bought over the counter at the train station. To ditch the queues, opt for online tickets. If you are planning to come back on the same day, make sure you buy a return ticket.
A train ride to Douro Valley takes you from vibrant cities to charming little towns, all while being surrounded by endless stretches of lush green fields that seem to go on forever.
But the real magic happens when you approach the banks of the Douro River. Here, the landscape transforms before your eyes. The Douro Valley greets you with its mesmerizingly gentle embrace of the river and the majestic mountains that gradually reveal themselves.
By Car
Those driving on their own wheels take on the N-222 Highway bound north along the Douro River. Less traffic makes space for a better vista of the sweeping wraparound scenes and tranquility to kick in. A safe, hassle-free, and scenic drive begins.
If you don’t have an international license, hire a driver. Small villages and the lush vineyards are widely peppered throughout the Douro Valley. It will be a pain in the neck trying to connect these stunning destinations in a day without a car by your side. Plus, walking in a 40°C at least an hour between places keeps even the strongest outdoor enthusiasts weak at the knees.
3 Best Things To Do In Douro Valley
Hop Aboard Pinhao Scenic Cruise
This river is a bit of a superstar, stretching about 897 kilometers through Spain and Portugal. It begins in the Spanish Province of León, meanders through northern Portugal, and finally kisses the Atlantic Ocean in the vibrant city of Porto.
Scenic boat tours set out in the morning on a full-day voyage that can last up to eleven hours or more. If this is what you’re looking for, get ready to depart at 8:00 but rest your worries as breakfast and lunch are also provided.
Shorter options come in handy if you only have half a day to spare and favor a later departure time at 13:00 onwards.
Pinhão and Tua Lake are where you want to launch your boat adventure. Get up close and personal with some seriously detailed scenery. The river around Régua is a tad narrow, so it’s like having a front-row seat to Mother Nature’s grand show.
Sign Up For A Wine Tasting Tour
The Douro Valley’s history is like a fine wine, aging beautifully over millennia. It’s a huge mistake if you skip this incredible, exclusive venture into some of the oldest-standing wineries in the region.
No matter if you’re a wine connoisseur or not, a wine-tasting trip will have you in awe with a ticket back to the third millennium BC when the locals started cultivating grapes. And you know what? Only wine crafted within the Douro Valley gets the coveted “Port” label!
You’ll also have a chance to learn about the winemaking process passed down through generations, and of course, indulge in delightful wine tastings.
Most of the wineries in Douro Valley are concentrated in the Pinhao region, nestled in the upper reaches of the Douro River. The region’s gentle slopes and favorable climate make it a grapevine paradise.
There are plenty of offers aiming at long-hour day trips including scenic river cruise down the valley and wine-tasting with lunch and breakfast. If you wanna pinch pennies and go straight to the point, shorter trips within three hours with ten tastings from some of the world’s oldest and most respectable wine brands will fit the bill.
In case you wanna curate your own adventure, here are three of my favorite wineries that offer wine-tasting experiences you can reach out directly.
Here are a few must-visit wineries:
Quinta do Bomfim: This gem is conveniently located near the Pinhão train station. It’s a family-owned winery and a true Pinhão icon.
Quinta de Santa Eufemia: Situated in Parado do Bpo, 60 hectares of lush vineyards are taken care of by a fourth-generation family with stunning views of the valley.
Quinta do Crasto: A historical winery that’s been thriving since 1615. You can even stay in their centuries-old house and set sail on Douro River cruises for an unforgettable experience.
The best time to tour the wineries winds down by November. While you can still pop in for a glass of wine, you might miss out on the full winemaking experience. To avoid disappointment, it’s wise to reach out to the winery and confirm the details before setting out.
Soak Up The Vista From The Rolling Hills
Take it easy on the last leg of the day with a feast for the eyes. Imagine standing on the rolling hills of the Douro Valley, surrounded by the gentle curves of its mountains. As you gaze out, terraces adorned with grapevines beckon attention. The terraces are a piece of heritage themselves, made as a testament to the skillful crafting techniques of the local farmers.
From these elevated spots, you can watch the Douro River as it meanders gracefully through the valley, originating from its upper reaches. The scenery here is nothing short of magical. It’s a view that captures the essence of the Douro Valley, and it’s my personal favorite.
Where To Stay In Douro Valley?
Douro Valley is not a budget-friendly place to visit but if you’re not on a shoestring, book a night away with Six Senses Douro Valley looking out to the Douro River from the foot of the hill.
This bricked-out resort is built on the skeleton of a 10th-century manor with large rooms and professional staff. The on-site spa provides a fabulous retreat to kick back at the end of the day.
Final Words: Is Douro Valley Worth A Trip?
More than just a day trip, a visit to Douro Valley is best to complete with an overnight stay. Start early the next morning and hike up the nearest mountain then come back and get ready for a wine-tasting tour at 10 am. Find a shelter at a museum if it gets too hot at noon and head out again on a scenic river cruise in the afternoon. Take a train back home before the sun beams down.