Porto - Douro Valley day trip

[lurker101]

Hi,

Has anyone had any experience of a day trip from Porto to Douro Valley and has any recommendations? We’re in Porto for 3 nights and would love to do visit the Douro Valley - open to either train or cruise or a mix of both

Thanks

Train or boat isn't going to let you see much of the wine-making part of the Douro valley at all, but will take out time from the rest of your stay so I wouldn't recommend it. To be blunt, the only way you're going to see much in one day is in a minibus.

There are a number of tourist kiosks in the main square (Praça da Liberdade) and elsewhere where you can buy tickets for a guided day trip to the Douro valley. With some of the packages they will add-on a ticket for the hop-on/off open buses which are probably the most practical way of sightseeing in Porto itself.

The one we went on, run by the official tourist board, stopped at Amarante to visit the cathedral, then a very quaint small hamlet in the hills with spectacular views before dropping us off to find our own lunch in Pinhão. After lunch was a trip along the river in a rabelo to view the vineyards, followed finally by a visit to a winery with a visitor centre. The journey back went through the Minho and even stopped at a roadside stall selling fresh fruit.

The only criticism I would make is that when they dropped us off for lunch they drove through downtown Pinhão with all its cheaper restaurants aimed at locals offering three courses with wine for €8, and took us instead to the riverbank where the tourist trap restaurants all wanted €15 upwards for a single dish and had drinks prices to match.