Douro Valley — Tour Highlights and Travel Tips
Douro Valley Tour Highlights
- Sample different Porto varietals (from sweet Vintage Port to deep-amber-colored aged Tawny Port NV to drier White Port NV) while Quintas-hopping the traditional wineries/vineyards and organic, family-run estates in the region.
- Lunch at a local restaurant above Douro River and watch the cruise liners roll in. Walk down the banks and spend some time at scenic spots such as Passadouro River Beach.
- Feel like an F1 driver along the twisty, scenic N222 during Douro Valley tours—one of the most beautiful roads in Portugal. Pull over at historical sights, such as the 18th-century Casa de Mateus. Starting in Vila Nova de Gaia, the road ends in Almendra near the Spanish border.
- Witness almond trees blossoming in February. In May, enjoy the flowering season of red poppies and Japanese sakura.
- Travel to the Stone Age at Parque Arqueológico do Vale do Côa. The Cao River Valley rock art etchings date back 30,000 years.
- Witness the breathtaking views of the region from Mesão Frio, St. Anthony’s Viewpoint, São Leonardo de Galafura, Casal de Loivos and São Salvador do Mundo.
- Hike one of the many trails (ranging from easy to moderate) to waterfalls and over cragged cliffs within the 86,834-hectare Douro International Natural Park. Douro Valley bike tours are popular with experienced cyclists. Or go bird-watching among the acorn oak and prickly juniper trees, keeping eyes peeled for Egyptian vultures, blue rock thrush and red kites.
- Explore local history and culture at the museums and ancient sites. Learn about wine-making at the Douro Museum in Régua, spot the unique stone houses in Ucanha village, and visit Mosteiro de São João de Tarouca, a monastery built in the 12th century.
Douro Valley Travel Tips
- Plan your trip to Douro Valley during the spring season, which runs from March to May, when the weather conditions are perfect for outdoor activities like hiking and rabelo boat rides on the river.
- For grape harvest festivities, take a trip to Douro Valley in September.
- The Douro Valley spans multiple villages and cities, so setting aside two to three days is advised if you want to do more than just scratch the surface. If you are short on time, Douro Valley can be covered on an 8-hour day tour from Porto too.
- Planning on staying overnight? The only place you want to check into is an authentic Quinta!
- When purchasing port from the shops or wineries, look out for the bottle’s official DOC status. The DOC label on wine means the manufacturer followed the precise rules designed to preserve the traditional winemaking practices of the region.
