Traveling through Porto and Douro Valley
The Best of the North
If you’re considering a trip to Portugal, I highly recommend planning a stop in the North. I’ve shared my love of this country before on the blog and some of my favorite places to visit. And though there is a long list of locations to travel to in Portugal, this area (like Lisbon) could be a vacation on its own. And deserved a little more love :)
I't’s unique because traveling through Porto and the Douro valley is a great trip for any traveler - friends, family, as a couple or even solo. It has a little bit of everything for everyone!
In Porto you’ll find a picturesque city perched above the river with lively neighborhoods rich with history and culture, a shopping district, and a focus on port wine making and delicious cuisine.
In the Douro valley just an hour away, you’ll find a beautiful mountainous countryside, divided in half by the Douro River, and dotted with the most gorgeous hotels and vineyards.
Nearby there are gorgeous beaches with a laidback coastal vibe.
All together they make for an amazing combination. This trip offers it all.
In 2019 I returned to Portugal with my family for the seventh time, one of my favorite places in the world. But the trip was different for a few reasons! First, my sister and I set off to Lisbon ahead of our parents and toured the city for the first time without my Dad’s well known navigation or translation skills. But mostly because we explored different regions away from where my Dad grew up. We had taken trips to the southern coast in the Algarve, but this time we ventured north. And we were thrilled by the experience of exploring somewhere new.
Read along and learn how to plan your visit so it’s a memorable one! Whether you want an incredible long weekend here, or as a stop on your journey through Portugal.
I plan on sharing things to do throughout the region, where to stay, what to eat - all the deets you need!
Porto
This northern city is nestled on the Douro river, and full of life and culture. The best is the outdoor dining on the riverfront and watching boats pass by and listening to musicians perform live music. Porto has countless port wine cellars, so grab a tour and a glass of port & sip in this vibrant city.
Upon visiting Oporto I couldn’t shake the silliest question - what is it named after? I was determined to understand by the end of the trip, and know what this city was really about.
Is it named after the country itself? The port wine? or is it the fact it’s the main port city of the North? Turns out - it’s a little bit of all three.
Porto was named by the Romans “Portus Cale“ which is the Latin translation for ‘warm port.’ It became a major shipping hub in Europe. This also gave the country its name, and put it on the map as a leader of exploration. And then the Romans found out about the soil - and cultivated vineyards along the river to produce the worlds best known dessert wine, named Port.
Igreja do Carmo (the blue tile building) In the Baixa district close to the Porto sign
What to See:
So it’s clear the history of Porto goes way back. It’s rich in history, and unlike Lisbon it survived the great of earthquake of 1775 so there is slightly more of it to look at and learn from. Some of the main sites to visit are below!
If you want to see some of the cities design beautiful architecture and culture:
Igreja do Carmo
São Bento Station
Porto Cathedral
Clerigos Church
Best viewpoints:
Ponte de Dom Luís Bridge
On the river by boat
Top Things to do in Porto
Boat ride on the Douro River: We did a quick 6 bridges tour that lasted about an hour and took a larger vessel but there are many types of boats that you can take. One nice idea is to hop on a traditional rabello boat, the kind that is often seen coming from the Douro valley packed with wine barrels. We arranged for another boat tour in Pinhão but there are much longer boat tour in Porto too if you want to be out on the water for a while.
Douro River Cruise: Classic 50 minutes Six Bridges cruise of Porto, following an old Rabello Boat. Board at Ribeira Quay, operates hourly.Day trip to Douro Valley: If you don’t have the time to stay overnight in Douro, then take a day trip! You can still do tours to Douro valley by boat that explore the vineyards. It also takes some of the stress away as you don’t have to worry about getting back behind the wheel in the Douro mountains. Here are some options I found when researching:
- $94 for 9 hours: Get Your Guide Tours. Wine Tasting (2 vineyards), olive oil tasting, cruise and lunch: Douro Valley Tour: Wine Tasting, River Cruise and Lunch
- $142 for 10 hours: BL Heritage Tours. Wine Tasting (2 vineyards) lunch and boat cruise Wine Venture & Boat Trip in Duoro Valley
- $76 for 3-4 hours (half day): TripAdvisor. Tour within Duoro, private driver Douro Essential (half Day Private Tour, All Included)Cellar Tours! I went to Calem in Vila Nova de Gaia (across the river) and loved it.
See the sites from a cable car: There are lots of hills and walking bridges which can be exhausting. Enjoy a ride from one side of Vila Nova de Gaia or the other to get panoramic views of Porto. Take the Finicular to get easy access to the top of the Luís bridge!
Enjoy a typical restaurant with Fado music: We went to O Fado which was really great. The food was traditional and delicious, wines were sourced locally and the entertainment is included with your meal.
Livraria Lello Bookstore: Harry Potter fans will think this is so cool! A bit of a tourist trap now, but very cool to see this magical little shop that inspired JK Rowling!
Where to stay in Porto
Home sweet Home
I highly recommend staying at the Porto River Apartments or an Airbnb that is along the river.
Porto River Apartments has amazing river views and location! Right in Ribiera, the best neighborhood in Porto especially for first time visitors. The individual apartments are spacious and updated - they have multiple bedrooms, are bright, and recently renovated! The staff is welcoming and helpful, and your stay comes with complimentary breakfast and port wine before dinner!
The best places to stay in Porto
Pestana Vintage Porto Hotel (Water views, Traditional hotel in Ribiera)
M Maison Particulière (Baixa neighborhood)
Gran Cruz House (Water views and cute decor, Boutique hotel in Ribiera)
Intercontinental Porto (Trusted hotel chain)
How long should you stay in Porto?
I recommend spending at least two days in Porto to have enough time to take in the sites, not feel rushed, and settle in before you continue on to your next destination.
There are plenty of activities to ensure you won’t get bored, but be sure to leave time to relax too. Take an afternoon nap, hang by a rooftop pool, or enjoy drinks and snacks outside a cafe while listening to live music.
While we did plenty of walking, you can give your feet a break by taking one of the cities trams, a boat ride, or even a hop on and hop off bus tour. We did all 3 to be able to explore as much as possible including trips across the river in the area called Vila Nova de Gaia.
Eating through Porto
It remains true throughout the entire country, but particularly in Porto, the gastronomy is really special.
My favorite staples are pasteis de nata, portuguese rolls, linguisa, the vinho tinto, and the steak.
But seafood lovers go crazy for the fresh grilled octopus, prawns, and mussels! If you want something really indulgent and filling, grab a francesinha. I’ve never had the appetite for this massive cheese filled layered sandwich but it’s pretty famous up North.
Also famous - is this McDonalds Imperial which is apparently the most beautiful store in the world. And though it’s usually packed as a favorite tourist spot, we had to stop by the Majestic Cafe to see the decor. But try to get a meal here!
Here are some of my favorite restaurants:
For dinner: Restaurant Casario
For drinks: Royal Cocktail Club
For (hearty) snacks: Cervejaria Gazela
For bread (and baked goods): Masseria Padria
For pasteis de nata: Manteigaria do Porto
The Douro Valley
The Douro valley was truly one of my favorite places I’ve ever been. I’d like to think of it as a hidden gem, but it’s too good not to share! And now more people are catching on than ever before.
Where to stay in Douro Valley:
If you plan on visiting the Douro valley I could not recommend The Vintage House in Pinhão more. This was such beautiful hotel, and one of my favorite places we have stayed so far in Portugal.
Location, location, location. The Vintage house is located right at the port of Pinhão on the river, with access to many of the most popular vineyards by foot or by boat. You will be right in the action, even though it feels incredibly quiet and peaceful.
Be prepared for some spectacular views from all areas of the property. With the beautiful balcony off our room, we could enjoy the landscapes without going far.
Vintage House is arguably the best resort in Pinhão, and I highly recommend booking your stay here.
I mean, check out that pool!! It is the perfect place to take in the views of the river and rolling hills around you.And it was the best amenity of this hotel.
Temps can get really high in July and August - upwards of 100 degrees. The locals describe the climate as 9 months of winter and 2 months of hell. It was perfect for a dip to cool off in June!
The rooms were large and beautiful, with high ceilings and french doors that opened to a patio overlooking the river. I loved the classic European design, I felt like I was in a castle.
Some of the best hotels in Douro Valley:
Six Senses Douro: a luxury alternative - If this was 2003 then this hotel would be a photo pinned to my wall saying “hope I go there someday” hotels for me. It’s stunning!)
Quinta da Pacheca: a hotel located right on a beautiful vineyard! For a really unique experience, you can even sleep in a wine barrel room amongst the beautiful vineyard
Douro Royal Valley Hotel & Spa: A beautiful 5 star hotel option in Ribadouro, an area that is closer to Porto. Features a beautiful pool overlooking the river.
Octant Douro: Modern high luxury hotel option overlooking the river
What to do in Douro:
Vineyard Tours: There are are a lot to choose from and I’ll detail out some of the best below. But whether your drinking wine or not you can still enjoy the views of these gorgeous properties, a lesson on the history of its winemaking, and the food they offer
Boat rides: We booked a boat tour for the morning before leaving Pinhão and I’m so happy we did! It was the best way to say goodbye. I recommend a rabello boat tour, we did one like this 1 hour Pinhão boat tour
Explore the town of Pinhão: the historic tiled train station is one of the highlights!
Visit Santuário de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios in Lamego: A beautiful church perched on top of a staircase with almost 700 steps. It’s a 20 minute drive south of Peso da Régua.
Touring the Vineyards
Though the Douro valley is not as popular of a wine region when compared to Tuscany or Napa, it has actually been around forever. For wine lovers, this area is worth visiting for the unique methods of wine making, the delicious tastings, and the most amazing landscapes.
Imagine the same gorgeous rolling hills as those locations, but add a river through it - that’s the Douro.
Have you ever tried Port wine?
Did you know that only the port made in this region can be called Port wine?
The flavor of port wine made at these vineyards is sweet and delicious. Port wine is typically richer, sweeter, heavier, and higher in alcohol content than unfortified wines - about 20% alcohol!
There is a process to creating it this way, which you can learn all about when you visit the vineyards. Port is made by adding distilled grape spirit, usually brandy, to a wine base. The addition of the high-alcohol spirit stops fermentation and “fortifies” the wine.
The vineyards we toured in the Douro Valley
We did a great tour at Quinta das Carvalhas that included a drive around the entire property, walked us through the wine making process and gave a tasting all for 10 euro.
Be sure to check out the vineyard across the street from Vintage House, Quinta do Bomfim it has a great tasting room but you can also set up a private picnic in the vineyards. We really enjoyed our visit here overlooking the river.
More Vineyards to Explore in the Douro:
Here are some of the other top places I would recommend visiting in the area while you’re staying in the Douro valley! They are on my list for next time :)
Before you leave the North!
There are some other sites in the surrounding area that I also recommend a visit!
Costa Nova: This beach is famous for little striped beach houses. The beach is gorgeous and helps to breaks up the trip south.
Aveiro: The Venice of Portugal! Love seeing these canals that cut through this little town, where people travel by boat to the store like they do in Amsterdam.
Coimbra: The University is the center of this town, which opened in 1290…. yes you read that right. It’s historic, and features one of the most important libraries in the world.
Another great trip in the books!
I can’t wait to return again next summer and keep adding to this list. And finally bring my husband to all the places that my family loves the most.
I hope you enjoyed learning a bit more about my favorite country. Now go make me proud and BOOK THAT TRIP :)
Xx Gab
See ya!
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