The Douro Valley is a favorite destination for travelers visiting Portugal. Worldly recognized for its Port wine and river cruises, there's plenty you can do. Either in a short 1-day wine tour or a 7-day tour in Porto and Douro Valley. Here's the best Douro wine tours, our clients picks for the top 5 best tours in Douro. Wine vacations in Europe, an experience you will always remember.
Just a couple of hours away from Porto - the nearest big city - the Douro Valley has a spirit of its own. Known for its outstanding wine culture and wine tours, the Quintas and wineries in Douro Valley are a must when visiting Europe. Portugal is trending right now, it's a fact, and the high demand we are experiencing may tell you how great it is to visit Portugal. The most friendly country in Europe: safe and secure with helpful, warm people, delicious comfort food and finger food (Petiscos, our Tapas), and the best wine tours in Europe.
Still, its charms as a wine country are not as popular yet as France, Spain, or Italy, its fellow wine countries, so you may experience a most authentic experience and quality time vacations.
The breathtaking landscapes, have earned it a UNESCO World Heritage listing, it has become one of the most exciting places to visit in Portugal.
And like every great destination, you'll never run out of things to do. Either on a 1-day wine tour experience or a 5-day luxury tour, we'll make sure you see the best this region has to offer. You'll have the opportunity to stay at the best hotels, visit the most emblematic wineries and restaurants in the area while crossing some things off your bucket list on the way.
Day tours are the easiest and quickest way to explore somewhere new while easily fitting it into a tight travel schedule. Departing from Porto, a day trip to the Douro Valley is a great option for those looking for a countryside escape, at the doorstep of the city.
With this full-day tour in the Douro, your first stop of the day will be at Quinta da Pacheca. Located near Port wine town and cruise center of Peso da Régua, it was one of the first properties to bottle wine under its own label. You will take a vineyard tour here, with a stop at the old winery and cellar, followed by a wine tasting before heading to the second estate of the day.
Beyond this point, the main stop is the beautiful wine town of Pinhão and, across the river from it, is Quinta do Seixo. Head to the vineyards and find the perfect spot to lay out a blanket. Soak up the spring sun and dine on delicious food and wine, and just relax. Upon arrival in Pinhão, in the heart of the Alto Douro Wine Region, you'll get close and personal with the picturesque landscape from a very unique viewpoint with a guided tour through the vineyards at Quinta das Carvalhas.
Traveling by train is the quintessential method for touring Europe and rightfully so. The Journey to the Douro Valley by historical train is a brilliant way to go. Currently, five trains a day run from Porto - São Bento and Campanhã Train Station - to the Douro Valley, and you can easily make the return trip in a day if you take a morning train.
Your first stop will be at Ferrão, where you'll get off the train. A van will be waiting for you to take you to Quinta Nova Luxury Winery House. Billed as the first wine hotel in Portugal, you'll take part in a guided tour of the property, followed by a tasting of three class-rated wines and lunch.
Discover the itinerary for the Douro Valley historical train ride.
With full bellies, the next point of call is back up the river, at the pretty port-producing town of Pinhão. Once you get off the train, head to nearby Quinta da Roêda, located within a pleasant 30-minute country walk alongside the river. Surrounded by its own vineyards, it is housed in the old stables, which have been carefully restored to their traditional style.
At the end of the tour, head back to Pinhão and board one of the last trains back to Porto. If you plan to extend your stay in the Douro Valley, we can assist you with that as well.
We've had so many requests for a 3-day wine tour in the Douro that we were inspired to create this fairly recently added to our family. This tour starts right in the town of Pinhão in the heart of the beautiful Douro Valley - no transfers included (though we can add those on request). With this private pre-planned tour you'll get the best of both worlds: everything is taken care of and you’ll get to see some hidden gems while enjoying the freedom of traveling unguided. Also, everything is doable on foot!
Kick start this experience with a visit and wine tasting at Quinta de La Rosa, where you'll also be spending the following nights. Located within a wine-producing estate, La Rosa’s rooms offer river views and each is beautifully designed with contemporary bathrooms and country-feel furnishings. Guests have access to an outdoor pool and a beautiful shaded terrace overlooking the river and vineyards.
Start the second day with a visit and wine tasting at nearby Quinta do Bonfim and, after that, head to Quinta do Roêda. While there, you will have the opportunity to taste some of its best wines - including the famous Croft Pink Port - paired with roasted almonds. Dinner will be at the hotel's in-house restaurant, which stands as a tribute to the owner's grandmother.
On your last day, you'll take a Rabelo boat ride on the Douro River, aboard a traditional cargo boat native to the region. Simply lie back and enjoy the vineyards and terraces that ladder every slope.
Discover the Top 3 Cruises for 2019 - Douro River insider's tip
Our 5-day long Douro Wine Tour is one of our best-sellers and most talked about tours. Starting with a pick up in Central Porto or at the city's airport - all the way to the end of the tour - you'll head inland to the Douro River Valley. You'll be staying at the beautiful Vintage House Hotel located right on the riverfront of Pinhão, one of the region's most-visited locations and a fine base for exploring the area.
You'll have the opportunity to visit the most emblematic wineries and restaurants in the area while crossing some things off your bucket list on the way. But just to give you a glimpse, there will be a dinner by the river - prepared by a well-known Michelin starred-Chef - a unique chef's table experience at the first and only Six Senses location in Portugal, a private sailing riverboat cruise, and several stops at some of the most beautiful wine estates in the region.
From Quinta do Seixo, where the well-known Sandeman winery combines state-of-the-art cellar technology with great wine experiences, to Quinta Nova Luxury Winery House, with great views of the river and the estate's vineyard, or even Quinta da Pacheca, where you'll have a cooking class, you'll get exclusive insight into the valley's most wonderful experiences.
The Douro Valley is perhaps one of Portugal's most beautiful regions, famed for its stair-like terraced vineyards and the winding "river of gold", cutting across the steep hills. However, many of those who visit the valley, pair it with a city break in Porto - the nearest big city - which was elected Best European Destination for the third time last year. The river is the region's defining feature - winding from the Spanish border to the sea - with rows of terraced vineyards carved into the mountains, that give way to colorful townhouses as the river approaches the mouth.
With our 7-day tour in Douro and Porto, you will have the opportunity to explore both places in one sitting. The journey upriver is absolutely jaw-dropping and, as you head further into the countryside, it only gets better.
Starting with a pick up at the city's airport, you'll head inland to the upper Douro Region where you'll be spending the first four days of the tour visiting many of the region's famous wine-producing estates, sample some fine wines, dine at great restaurants and spend the night at the best of the best. Back in Porto, you'll visit some of the city's most famous wine cellars and restaurants, and end with a unique and unforgettable private helicopter ride over the city.
No one knows better than you what you want. But our staff has the experience and knowledge to show what is available and what is possible.
By booking with us, you'll work with one dedicated consultant, who will not only take the time to listen to your requests but also discuss different options with you. All of this coupled with a knowledge of the country means you'll get the best out of the time you have to spend on your next tour in Portugal.