Douro vineyards and quinta from Miradouro de Frei Estevão

The Douro valley in northern Portugal has more than just the perfect climate and soil for cultivating grapes and a wine-producing culture that dates back centuries. The undulating curves of the Douro wine region’s hillsides create a beautiful and dramatic landscape which changes with the seasons and is so special it was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 2001.

There are plenty of things to see and do within the Douro and ever-increasing ways of experiencing all the region has to offer in terms of food, wine, scenery, culture and history.

In this guide to visiting the Douro Valley I help you decide when to go, how to get to and around the Douro and share other practical details so that you can make the most of whatever time you have to spend here.

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If you’re thinking about planning your trip take a look at my When is the best time to book a Portugal holiday post for some great tips.

How to get around the Douro wine region

There are three main ways of exploring the Douro valley: by road, rail or river. If you have several hundred euros to spare you can also rent a helicopter but I’ll focus on the more affordable options here.

Day trips from Porto to the Douro Valley

If your time is limited, rather than spend most of it on a full day boat cruise (see below), I would be inclined to choose a one-day tour that includes a 1-hour boat trip in the picturesque heart of the Douro Valley.

Several full day small group tours from Porto include the opportunity to take a scenic boat trip from Pinhão as well as great viewpoints, winery tours and lunch, enabling you to get a broad experience of what makes this region special.

This would be my first choice for a small group tour so check availability. The tour operator strives to ensure that you avoid crowds and visit some great wineries. You also get picked up/ dropped off at your hotel.

If you are staying overnight in the Douro, you would be better off with a private tour (see below) or a small group tour that departs from Peso da Régua instead of Porto.

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Private tours to the Douro Valley

Most Douro tours will include tastings of port and DOC Douro table wines if not meetings with the wine makers.

Private tours can be tailored to you suit your interests so don’t worry if you don’t really like port wine, want to have lunch in a special place or prefer to incorporate a stop in a Douro village or viewpoint. 

If you’re looking for a private guided tour of the Douro Valley, click here and complete the form to tell me what you’re interested in so that I can connect you with the most suitable tour operator.

Visiting the Douro on your own

If your budget is limited or you simply don’t fancy an organised tour, my guide to a do-it-yourself day in the Douro wine region gives you the information you need to see the highlights without the need for a car or a tour.

I’ve included several options for upgrading your experience if your budget is more flexible.

Boat trips on the Douro River

Rabelo boat on the Douro River, Pinhão
Rabelo boat on the Douro River, Pinhão

Douro river cruises can last from an hour to one or more days, with or without meals, drinks and vineyard visits. There are overnight boat tours where you sleep in a hotel and week-long cruises with accommodation on board. If you’re new to multi-day river cruising, here are some points to consider before booking.

Full day Douro River cruises 

If you’re happy to spend most of the day on the river, there are full-day cruises that depart from the quayside in Porto or Vila Nova de Gaia  and take you to Pedo da Régua or Pinhão, depending on the provider.

Breakfast, lunch and wine is served on board and the highlights of the trip are going through the locks that were built into the Douro River to manage the flow and make it safer for boats.

Some of these tours offer free time in Régua before the return trip by bus or train. Others include a winery visit.

Be warned that these boat trips can be quite noisy and crowded in busy periods. Some people really enjoy the experience but if I only had one day for the Douro, I would be looking at one of the above tours to maximise my time and get a broader perspective than just seeing it from the river.

Take this full-day Douro cruise from Porto to Pinhão with winery visit

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Or this shorter day cruise from Porto to Régua without winery visit but free time in Régua

Shorter Douro boat trips

For a shorter boat trip, many people take a shared wooden rabelo boat upstream from Pinhão but in busy months (May to October) these can get crowded. You can buy tickets from the quayside in Pinhão but if it’s a popular period, you may need to wait a few hours.

Insider tip: If you’re on a tight schedule or simply want to be organised, it’s best to book ahead. If the weather is likely to affect the experience, i.e. in the cooler months, you can wait until closer to the date or even book on the day.

Book a 1-hour shared rabelo boat trip

Book a 2-hour shared rabelo boat trip

A calmer alternative to the group boat trips is to book a private rabelo boat cruise (well in advance) or take this private yacht cruise from Pinhão and admire the impressive vineyards and scenery in peace and quiet.

Scenic train rides along the Douro River

Douro reflections from the Regua-Pinhão train journey
Douro reflections from the Regua-Pinhão train journey

One advantage that the train has over driving is that the train tracks often hug the banks of the Douro River. So close, in fact, that you can see people fishing.

The views become appealing about an hour outside Porto and most scenic as you approach Régua and continue further upstream. The scenery changes again the further along the Douro you get. The quinta (wine estate) signs become further apart and the landscape more barren but still impressive.

From the beginning of July to the end of October, there’s a special historical train which runs between Régua and Tua, with entertainment and light refreshments. You also get a little free time at Pinhão so you can stretch your legs and admire the beautiful azulejos that cover the station walls and maybe grab a glass of wine at one of the riverside cafés.

Check the website for online tickets as well as prices and timetable.

Insider tip: If you board the train before Ferradosa, try to get a window seat on the right hand side of the train for the best views of the river, the hills and the wine estates through the rather grubby glass. Once the train crosses the river, you should switch to the left side of the carriage.

Carrying baskets of grapes, azulejo panel, Pinhão train station, Douro Valley
Carrying baskets of grapes, azulejo panel, Pinhão train station

Driving around the Douro wine region

If you choose to explore the Douro by car, you’ll be rewarded with spectacular views of the valley. However, if you’re the one behind the wheel, you’ll need to keep your wits about you and eyes firmly on the winding narrow roads.

You can always park up and admire the scenery from one of several viewpoints (miradouros) such as the Miradouro de Assumadouro, Casal de Loivos or Miradouro de São Leonardo da Galafura.

View from Casal de Loivos in April
View from Casal de Loivos in April

If you have a car, you’ll also have more choice over which wine estates you pop into for tours and tastings, although you’ll need to be very careful not to drink much if you’re the driver.

It will also give you the freedom to discover some of the Douro wine villages. More information in this post: 6 Traditional Wine Producing Villages In The Douro Valley. My favourite of these is probably Favaios, for several reasons including moscatel wine and artisan bread.

See this post for tips on How to Rent a car in Portugal and Avoid Sneaky Charges

If you decide to rent a vehicle while you’re in the Douro you can pick one up from Europcar rental in Regua, close to the train station. For the best car hire prices check out Discovercars and Booking.com car rental.

For scenic drives, the N222 between Pinhão and Régua was voted the World’s Best Drive in 2015 but if you have time to spare, it’s worth continuing to São João da Pesqueira and the Miradouro de São Salvador do Mundo. I’d also recommend the N101 from Régua through Mesão Frio in the direction of Amarante and the N322-3 between Pinhão and Alijó.

Hiking in the Douro Valley

There are several hiking trails within the Douro wine region, some planned and marked out by the local councils, others provided by the wine estates themselves.

You can ask at the local tourist information office for route leaflets but to be honest, they are often less than helpful and it’s very easy to get lost.

If you simply want to walk in the vineyards for up to a couple of hours, you’d be better off getting a map from one of the quintas (wine estates) or going through a tour operator.

Several tour companies offer self-guided or guided hikes in the Douro Valley ranging from half a day to multiple days – read more about these options in this post.

You can combine walking in the Douro with Peneda Geres and Viana do Castelo on this Highlights Of Northern Portugal: Self-Guided Walking Holiday or read about my experience of a week-long self-guided walking holiday.

And this unique hiking vacation, on the under-the-radar south side of the Douro River.

Do bear in mind the weather conditions if you’re thinking of walking in the Douro Valley or the Alvão and International Douro Natural Parks. In summer, it really isn’t advisable or pleasant because of the extreme temperatures and lack of shade; winter weather can be quite grim so aim for March to May or September and October, or even Novemer for Douro International.

Cycling in the Douro

If you’re staying at one of the quintas (wine estates) in the area, they may have bikes for rent and be able to suggest suitable routes for you, or include a bike tour as part of their package.

It’s also possible to hire bikes for short periods from some of the tour operators in Regua and Pinhão. That said, unless they can suggest a safe, off-road route, I wouldn’t recommend this for novice cyclists planning to stick to the roads, mainly because of the traffic and hills.

This is not the wine region for leisurely bike rides between wineries.

Note: I am not a confident cyclist so I am somewhat biased.

For more serious, experienced cyclists, there are specialist tour companies which cater to cyclists with or without their own bikes.

Stay overnight in the Douro wine region

If you have flexibility in your itinerary, my recommendation would be to spend at least one night within the valley to avoid a long, tiring day trip and to better appreciate the landscape, culture and gastronomy that this beautiful area has to offer.

This gives you greater flexibility to visit different wineries, villages and historical sites as well as take a boat trip, walk or have a picnic in the vineyards or simply relax and enjoy the views.

Ideally, you should try to find a room on a wine estate (quinta) but where you stay will depend on how you’re getting around. If you rent a car, you will have more options but even by public transport and with the help of local taxi services, you can find some special places to stay in the Douro.

Where to stay in the Douro Valley

See my comprehensive guide to best places to stay in the Douro or read on for a few suggestions in the most convenient locations.

Accommodation in and around Peso da Régua

While the town of Peso da Régua is not particularly inspiring, it has plenty of restaurants and a train station, making it a possible base, especially if you don’t have a car.

I loved Casa de São Domingos, which is just outside the centre of Régua but still within walking distance. The beautiful building is tastefully decorated with quality traditional furnishings. There’s a pool and breakfast is plentiful. Click to see prices, photos and availability.

Quinta da Pacheca is a €5-10 taxi ride from the train station and the historical building is surrounded by vineyards. You can also sleep in a wine barrel. They have bikes for guest use and an award-winning onsite restaurant. Once there, they have a range of wine and food-related activities so you may not wish to leave! Check prices and availability.

If you want the ultimate in luxury surrounded by vineyards, the Six Senses Douro is the place to be. With a wine library boasting 750 vintages, onsite spa, gourmet restaurant, yoga and wellness programmes and sumptuous rooms, it’s wise to factor in plenty of time at the hotel. A car would help if you want to be independent but transfers and tours can be arranged if you’d rather not drive. Check out the luxury options here.

Quinta do Vallado is delightful design hotel built from schist stone with tasteful, comfortable and clean modern rooms, onsite restaurant and outdoor pool. They offer cellar tours for guests and free parking. Some rooms have river views. Find a room with a view.

Accommodation in and around Pinhão

Another possible base with a few restaurant options and easy access to wineries and boat trips is the village of Pinhão, another 30 minutes upstream. It has a beautifully decorated train station and pleasant riverside area although the village itself is rather drab. It’s easy to overlook that when you see the views and if you don’t have a car, it’s an easy option.

Quinta de la Rosa is technically within walking distance of Pinhão train station although I’d take a taxi if you have luggage. A working winery with privileged views of the Douro, especially from the restaurant and pool, they offer beautiful rooms and suites at a reasonable price. Check options and availability.

If you have a car, or are happy to spend most of your time enjoying the spectacular views, vineyard walks, bikes, restaurant, pool and other facilities, Quinta Nova Luxury Wine House would be the perfect place to stay, assuming you’re lucky enough to find availability. They offer transfers to the train station so a lack of transport isn’t an issue. Check availability and prices.

If you crave 5-star luxury and would rather be next to the Douro River and able to walk to wineries and restaurants, The Vintage House Hotel is for you. Recently renovated, this 18th century building offers every comfort you’d expect and overlooks the famous river, as does the outdoor pool. Check prices and availability.

If you’re on a tighter budget and can handle a few steps to get to your self-catering apartment, Casas Botelho Elias offer studios, 1 and 2-bedroomed accommodation with a pleasant shared terrace or private balcony. Check options and availability.

These are just a few of the more conveniently-located places to stay in the Douro Valley. There are many other delightful properties to choose from but the key, especially in May and September, is always to book ahead.

Best time of year to visit the Douro Valley

Douro River framed by almond blossom. Julie Dawn Fox in Portugal
Douro River framed by almond blossom

While the Douro vineyards are no more than dark gnarly stumps in late February and March, there are clouds of pink and white almond blossom to brighten up the hillsides. This is a great time of year to visit the Upper Douro and the area around Foz Côa, which gets far too hot in summer to do it justice. There’s also plenty of activity with vines being trimmed and treated in preparation for the next crop.

From April, the emerging leaves gradually transform the hills until they are covered with ribbons of green. If you’re interested in walking or cycling in the Douro, spring (April to June) or autumn (September to November) are the best times to come both in terms of colourful scenery and comfortable temperatures although there’s a risk of rainy days.

Complete this enquiry form if you want more information about walking holidays.

The micro climate in this wine region means that temperatures in July and August are often in the high 30ºCs or even hotter so not ideal for walking, especially in the afternoons.

If you want a hands on experience of the Douro grape harvest, mid to late September is the time to come. You can pick grapes and even crush them by foot in some vineyards.

After the harvest, a warm metallic colour scheme starts to take over with gold, copper and bronze tones decorating the slopes. By late October and into November, the autumn colours are at their best – a great time for photographers to visit.

Come December and the olive harvest is underway, another important crop for this region. Some of the major hotels and wine estates (quintas) have special Christmas and New Year programmes for the festive season.

See this article for more about the best time to visit Portugal.

Douro wines

If you want to swot up on Douro wines and research wineries before your trip, check out Benjamin Lewin’s Port and the Douro book

You may also like:

How to get the best rental car deal.

Tips on your first trip to Portugal.

How to learn European Portuguese for (almost) free.

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Best time and best way to visit the Douro Valley and Douro wine region in Portugal
Best ways to visit the Douro Valley

120 Comments

  1. Hello, we looking for a way to visit the Douro by boat but not on one of those cruises that stops everywhere, rather one that focuses on the actual cruise itself and that you can go just one way towards the Spanish border. Is such a plan possible? Please let us know

  2. The tour you took and describe to the Douro valley sounds fantastic. Where can I find information about that particular tour? Thanks! Can’t wait!

  3. Hi Julie,

    Thanks very much for all of your helpful information.

    We are staying at Quinta da Pacheca and are traveling via train to Regua. We are wondering what the best way of getting to Sao Leonardo de Galafura would be. We will not have a vehicle.

    We are also wondering if we should go to more than one winery while in the Douro Valley region. Thank you.

    Nicholas

    1. Hi Nicholas, without a car, you’d need to take a taxi to that viewpoint. As for wineries, apart from where you’re staying, there’s a lovely boutique one right next door, Quinta de Tourais – you’ll need to book a visit in advance though. Quinta do Pôpa is also very good and not far from where you’re staying (taxi, not walking).

  4. Hi Julie,
    I’m going to be in Porto for a handful of days in June, and we’re planning on going on a day trip to the Douro. We’d ideally like the trip to include a cruise, a train ride, and a vineyard visit or two, but as far as I can tell, the packages that include both a train ride and a cruise don’t include vineyard visit. Are you aware of any packages that include all of those? If not, do you think we could book individual components ourselves. Finally, failing that, would you recommend dropping the cruise, train, or vineyard visit?

    1. Hi Josh, the boat trip from Porto takes up most of the day so there simply isn’t enough time to visit wineries on top of that. I would cut the cruise and go for a day trip that includes scenic stops, winery visits and a 1-hour boat cruise from Pinhão, which is one of the prettiest sections of the river. The drive within the Douro is scenic enough to compensate for not taking the train.

  5. Hi! Can you advise on wine tours departing from the Douro Valley and not Porto? The link above took me to tours from Porto only. Thanks!

    1. I’ll send you an email as it depends on your budget and what you want to do.

  6. My boyfriend and I will be in Porto March 7-10 and want to visit the Douro Valley. Our plan was to go by train and spend one night, preferably at a vineyard. Is it possible to get there by train at this time with the construction? If so, where would you suggest we travel to, which wineries would you visit, and where would you suggest we stay? Thank you!

    1. If you don’t mind taking train, connecting bus and train again, you can get to the Douro in March, it’ll just take longer. Or you could take the train to wherever the bs goes from and take a cab the rest of the way to your accommodation. See this article for where to stay, including wine estates: https://juliedawnfox.com/stay-douro-valley-portugal/

  7. I will be in the Porto area from March 7-14, 2019. I am interested in taking a tour to the Douro Valley.I noticed that you included 2 tours by Get Your Guide. What is the difference between the Douro Valley Tour vs the Douro Valley Excursion? They both seem to offer wine tasting, river cruise and lunch. I would appreciate any suggestions you might have.

  8. Julie, Great info thanks very much. We are thinking of taking the train to Pinhao, spend a day there and return by boat. Is there a return boat? Will be there in early April

    1. Hi Ian, I believe the boat/train service is only available as a package, i.e. you buy both through the same tour operator. This one does train to Régua and boat back to Porto

  9. Hi Julie , Thanks for great article. We are planning a trip to the Douro in May and are thinking of chartering a private boat. We are boaties and have 1 in mind. Wondering what you think about only visiting the places on the river ? Perhaps a day trip from 1 of the riverside towns ? And do you know if it’s possible to moor the boat just along the river bank or are there public wharfs ? I would love to do a train ride as well , can you recommend the prettiest section to maybe do return for a riverside town ? Thanks so much !

  10. Hi. My husband and I will be visiting Portugal last 2 weeks in January. Are wineries opened to visitors in the Douro Valley. How is the weather during January. Thank you.

    1. January weather is likely to be cold and potentially rainy and there is a chance that some of the smaller quintas will close for the winter in terms of tourism so contact them ahead of time to check. The main players will be open, e.g. Quinta do Bomfim and Quinta do Seixo.

  11. Hi Julie,you mentioned miradouro de assumadouro in your blog. I cant seem to find its location.
    Can you tell me where it is or how to get there please?
    Thank you

  12. Hello, thank you for all this great information!
    I know nothing about Northern Portugal, but am traveling from New York City to Porto for a friends wedding in early September. My wife & I are considering checking out Duoro Valley for a 1-2 days, and possibly Lisbon & Algarve. We took 11 days off work to have flexibility, but need some guidance on a itinerary. Do you have any suggestions / tips for us? While in Duoro Valley we want a nice relaxing place, but not sure if there’s any cool bars/restaurants that cater to nightlife.

    1. Hi Jason, The Douro is amazing but not exactly the place to go for nightlife. There are some lovely restaurants though. If you only have 11 days, I would question the value of going to the Algarve – there are gorgeous beaches much closer to Porto or Lisbon so it’s a long way to travel- If you want to talk about your options in more detail, it might help to schedule a Quick Query consultation with me: https://juliedawnfox.com/quick-query/

  13. Hi. Can you please give me an advice. I am planning to drive from Porto to pinhao. Google shows to take road a4. Is that a good option as far as scenery or I should drive on a different road?
    Thank you.

    1. A4 is a motorway so not all that scenic. I suggest leaving the motorway at Amarante and driving along the winding N101 to Mesão Frio then on the N222 to Pinhao.

      1. Perfect. Thanks so much. Also in pinhao, should I do 1 or 2 hour cruise. I know it will be beautiful but I am afraid that if its 2 hours it might get boring.
        Thanks again.

  14. Hi Julie, we will be driving for a half day trip to Pinhao, and I cant seem to find any info on just vineyard tours. Im not looking for a guided tour. Can you just arrive to the vineyard of choice, and pay to tour it? Also do you have any recommendations for a estate that has olive oil and wine?

    1. Hi Cathy, you usually need an appointment for tours and tastings at individual wineries – they need to make sure they have staff on hand to receive visitors etc. Contact the wineries directly to sort this out.

  15. I am planning a trip to duoro mid November… I know it is past harvest but is there still an opportunity to tour the vineyards, have lunch, take a walk? or do they close for the season?

    1. Hi Ali, Most of the vineyards are open year round to visitors – book ahead to be certain.

  16. Perfect thank you for your fast answer 🙂

  17. Hi Julie!
    Thank you for this amazing post, it’s been really helpful for planning our day trip to Douro Valley. Can you tell me if Google Map is right about the fact that it’d take approximately 1h30 to get to St Leonardo de Galafura from Porto (if we take the shortest itinerary, so highway A4 + N313) ? I know we have to calculate more time while driving in the hills in the Valley but I was wondering if that’s also the case with the A4. We have a dinner reservation in the Valley but we need to drive back to Porto after so we just want to make sure it won’t take us something like 5-6 hours to get home.
    Also, if we drive at a normal speed in a road like the N222, let’s say Google Map says it’s a 40 minutes drive between two quintas, do I need to multiply by 2 to get a good idea of the real time it’d take or it’s more/less than that?
    Thank you so much in advance!

    1. Hi Ariane, I’d always add a little extra to the estimates provided by Google but they’re not usually too far out. The A4 is fast-moving unless you hit traffic in Porto.

  18. Hi Julie. I’ve enjoyed reading your blog. In this post, you mention taking a private sailboat with a picnic lunch. Do you have a specific tip on where to book such an excursion? We are driving to the valley from Porto and spending 3 days in the area, staying in several different quintas along the way, so I’d like to avoid getting on a boat that is packed with tourists on a day trip from Porto. The private sailboat tour sounds like something I would really enjoy. Any tips are appreciated! We are leaving on Tuesday 🙂

    1. Sending you an email, Chelsea 🙂

  19. Hi Julie,

    I’m going to be visiting Porto with a friend for a few days in August. We’re doing a day trip to Douro Valley and have a few quintas picked out as well as lunch at a quinta. We’re hoping to take the train to Regua and then taxi/uber between the quintas (all along the same side of the river on the way to Pinhao but not the side with the train) and then take the train back to Porto from Pinhao. Would you say that it’s fairly easy to get taxis/uber in this area?

    Thanks so much!

    Christina

    1. Uber works in Porto but not in the Douro. There are taxis waiting outside the train stations in Regua and Pinhão. Get a number from the one you use so you can call them to collect you (cheaper than having them wait) or ask the quinta to call one.

Over to you. Please share your thoughts in a comment.