Full-Day Douro Valley Historical Tour: Villages, Winery, Cruise and Lunch

Explore the rich history of the Douro Valley’s villages, winemaking and gastronomy on this full-day guided tour from Porto. Visit a renowned wine estate, take a Rabelo cruise, visit the town of Amarante and see the most beautiful viewpoints in the Douro Valley!

Your Douro Valley Full Day Tour Itinerary

8.30 am: Meet your guide for the day in the centre of Porto, at Rua Mouzinho da Silveira, 352, in front of the São Bento train station. Climb aboard your comfortable transport for the day. Set off from Porto for the drive towards the Douro Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the green and the gold blend perfectly with the course of the river.

Your guide is an expert in the region and will tell you about the rich history of the region and its role in the Port and wine industry. As you will learn, the Douro region has enormous importance for wine culture, particularly for Port wines. For more than 2000 years, Port wine has been produced in the Douro Valley by traditional landholders.

Amarante: The first stop on your tour is to the Douro Valley town of Amarante. This city became very important after Saint Gonçalo, one of the most renowned saints in Christian history, arrived between (1187- 1259). He settled here after his pilgrimage through Rome and Jerusalem, making this city an important religious stop in Portugal. Enjoy a short guided walking tour through the historic centre where you can visit the convent and the church. Admire the views of the beautiful bridge over the Tamega River.

Galafura viewpoint: Your journey will continue on to one of the most surprising spots of this tour: the Galafura viewpoint. Also known as São Leonardo da Galafura viewpoint, the views will take your breath away. From the top, you will have a stunning vista of the Douro River and the surrounding landscapes. This is one of the greatest highlights of this tour!

Lunch: After your morning in the Douro Valley, it’s time for lunch! Arriving at a traditional restaurant, you will be welcomed for a 3 course lunch paired with local Douro wines. This is a great opportunity to taste the best of the Douro Valley’s gastronomy in a family-owned restaurant, where the food follows typical and traditional homemade recipes.

Pinhão: After lunch, it’s time to visit one of the most beautiful and charming villages in the region, Pinhão. Here you will embark on a 45 minute panoramic relaxing cruise along the Douro River where you will have incredible views of the valley and the vineyards. You will be on a ‘Rabelo’ boat; the traditional style boat that was used by the Port estates to transport their wine from the Douro Valley up river to the Port houses in Porto!

Winery visit: No trip to the Douro Valley is complete without a visit to one of its wineries. Your guide will take you to a renowned wine estate, where you will enjoy a guided tour and learn about Port wine production and the history of the estate. The tour will end with a tasting of 3 excellent wines from the estate.

18.30 pm: After a wonderful day exploring the history, wines and gastronomy of the Douro Valley, your guide will drive you back through the beautiful landscapes of the Douro Valley to the centre of Porto. The N222 national road takes you between the Douro Valley and Porto and is considered the most beautiful road in the world! 

Please note: 

• Child - 4 to 12 years
• Adult - +13 years
• No wine tasting or other beverages are offered on the cruise.
• A bottle of water is offered during our experience.