Douro Valley
A long time river cruise favourite, Portugal’s Douro River – nicknamed the “River of Gold” – captures the hearts of visitors with its beguiling vineyards, enchanting castles, beautiful beaches and historic monasteries.
A leisurely cruise along the Douro, through Portugal and into Spain, brings one eye to eye with the quiet hillsides that produce the region’s rich, red wines, and to the area’s most culturally charming cities, from Lisbon and Porto to Pinhao and Regua.
Terraced countryside and ripe vineyards lead the way to ancient architecture and villages awakening to the sounds of fado music and the scent of fresh bica (espresso) in local cafes.
Exploration along the Douro takes the visitor from Porto, with its historic city centre; to the lovingly tended gardens of Mateus Palace in Vila Real; to Lisbon, the home of famed navigator Vasco da Gama; and to historical Coimbra, where six of Portugal’s kings were born.
You may opt to tour local vineyards and meet the winemakers who craft renowned vintages or mingle with the locals in the charming fishing village of Foz do Douro. Anyone with a taste for fine wine, natural beauty, history and architecture will fall in love with the Douro and its captivating cities and scenery.
Hidden gems in Douro Valley
Douro Valley
Scenic Azure
For the Douro, I’d pick the Scenic Azure. It’s a small ship built specifically for the narrow and winding Douro, carrying up to 96 passengers. It’s the only vessel of its kind in Scenic’s fleet, with a modern, uncluttered design and a compact, easy-to-navigate layout. Despite its small size, there’s a good sun deck with a small vitality pool and a short walking track, and a lounge and bar that work well for a drink before dinner. Cabins come with butler service, though for me much of the appeal is in exploring ashore. Excursions are included, but you can also go at your own pace using GPS headsets loaded with walking tours – I find this the ideal way to explore Porto’s back streets at my own pace. I also love taking one of the ship’s electric bikes out for a gentle ride along the river.
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Douro Valley
The Douro
Portugal beckons with its pristine landscape, tantalizing cuisine and, of course, port wines, in a setting that seems unchanged throughout the centuries. I adore the terraced vineyards, dramatic rock formations, baroque mansions and historic monasteries that line the banks of this graceful river. The Iberian Peninsula’s third-longest river – after the Tagus and the Ebro – the Douro river runs 557 miles across the great Castilian region of Spain and on through Castile and Léon, Soria, Burgo, Valladolid, Zamora and Salamanca. The landscape around the river is replete with wheat fields, vineyards and sheep farms. The UNESCO World Heritage city of Salamanca is a must, as is the 12th-century walled village of Castelo Rodrigo and of course charming Porto, best explored on a walking tour.
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Douro Valley
Douro Valley walking holidays
Portugal’s Douro Valley is a stunningly tranquil landscape of steeply terraced vineyards tumbling down to the winding Douro River. Walking holidays here are usually offered on a short self-guided basis, generally centred around Pinhão, in the heart of the Douro Valley. The town itself is picturesque, and there are several vineyards in the vicinity that welcome visitors. From here, there are various marked trails that will lead you through the beautiful vineyards, offering some fantastic views of the valley. Walking itineraries will typically include visits to wineries or quintas, and may be combined with a cruise between Regua and Porto.
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Scenic Azure
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The Douro
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