Day Trip to Douro Valley, Portugal

A day trip to the Douro Valley is a perfect way to spend an afternoon from Porto. This is where the grapes for Portugal’s famous port wine, one of their most famous exports, are grown and Port is produced. It’s an UNESCO World Heritage site in the beautiful, mountainous northeast.

And did you know that this region is reportedly even older than the Bordeaux wine region, with evidence of production thousands of years before 1st century AD?

Day Trip To Douro Valley

The Douro Valley is beautiful to visit. It’s so charming to see the grapes growing along the mountain hillsides, as well as fascinating to learn about the history and production of port. And, of course, you get to taste it!

Port wine, if you don’t know (it’s ok, I didn’t), is made by adding a distilled grape spirit, like brandy, to a wine base. Although the grapes are grown here, and the Port is produced here, it’s shipped to Vila de Nova Gaia to be aged.

Top Things To Do in Douro Valley

Douro River Cruise and Wine Tasting

Take a boat ride along the Douro River to admire the views of the vineyards, staggered along the mountains. It’s a very relaxing day and there will likely be wines and snacks served on the boat.

They usually also include a stop at one of the wineries. Ours stopped at a Boutique Port Winery called Vintage Theory, which had an amazing view of the valley from their vineyard. We also stopped at a charming Portuguese restaurant for a fabulous lunch paired with wines.

I haven’t had much experience with port, but could definitely taste the difference in the ones aged longer. They did have port from the 1920’s. I would have loved to try it, however it was 100€ a taste. Instead, I chose a 1963, which is the year my brother was born.

Visit Pinhao Train Station

If you’re in Douro, you must stop at the Pinhao train station, one of the cutest train stations I’ve ever seen. This station, built in 1937, provides an excellent example of Portugal’s beautiful hand-painted Azulejos tile art. Here, the tiles portray the story of wine production and harvesting here.

For the location of the Pinhao train station, click here.

Visit Museu do Douro

This museum provides and overview of the history of the Douro Wine Valley. It also features tools and information on the rabelo, the boats used to transport the grapes to Vila Nova de Gaia. Making it even more unique, the building was formerly the headquarters of a port wine company.

Museu do Douro is located in Peso da Regua, click here for a map.

How To Get To Douro Valley

The Douro Valley is only a 1 hour and 15 minute drive from Porto. Alternatively, you can take the train, which is 1 hour and 45 minutes. You can also take a river cruise from Porto, but this takes about 6 hours. Tours are also offered.

Other Must-See Locations in Portugal

If your visiting the Douro Valley, you must visit Porto. Its UNESCO Ribeira district is the perfect place to experience traditional Portuguese tapas and taste a variety of Portugal’s famous port.

Of course, no visit to Portugal is complete without a visit to Lisbon, with its lively, charming neighborhoods, amazing hilltop vistas, and haunting fado music. And there are so many other beautiful cities between Lisbon and Porto, making ideal day trips. Each providing a unique insight into Portugal’s culture, landscape, and history.

If you have more time, I highly recommend stunning beaches of Lagos, or Sagres. The golden cliffs overlooking the sea here are remarkable.

Or, see my Portugal Travel Guide for all the top highlights, how to get around, safety, scams, logistics, and more to help you plan your trip.