From Porto to the Douro: the journey of a lifetime

From the city to pure nature: this is the trip that we propose when making the journey fro

Porto: historic, sumptuous and welcoming city. Douro: region of grapes, terraces, wine, breathtaking landscapes and UNESCO World Heritage. Therefore, a trip from Porto to the Douro has everything to be the trip you always dreamed of and didn’t even know.

Even if you don’t have a lot of time, this route can be adjusted to your availability – and your wallet too: because each different way of doing the route naturally implies different expenses.

But we guarantee that it will be worth it, because being in Porto and not knowing the Douro, one of the most acclaimed regions in the world, that dazzles each visitor, is almost a sin.

Every year, thousands of tourists travel to the Douro to discover a region of exceptional beauty, where some of the best national wines are produced, but mainly Porto Wine, which has taken the name of this city worldwide. But it is not just a place for wine production: it is precise all its magical surroundings that give it an attractive and interesting character because regardless of its origins and beliefs, no one is indifferent to it.

From Porto to the Douro: what are the options?

There are three options that we recommend making the beautiful journey from Porto to the Douro: car, train and boat. We will explain each one better, so you can choose your favourite and the one that most arouses curiosity.

By car

For those who love to drive, renting a car is a carefree and relaxed way to discover new cities, new places, new destinations and, in this case, to explore the beautiful paths that lead to the Douro.

Most of the route is done on the highway and, when you leave it, you will enter more winding roads, sometimes full of curves that appeal to your maximum attention. However, you will be surrounded by superb landscapes and small viewpoints that invite you to stop for the inevitable photographs, worthy of Instagram, that look more like postcards.

This is the way that the Douro has to welcome you, almost as if it puts you to the test, and then fully open the doors to open landscapes, where the green predominates in its most diverse tones, and that spreads throughout between terraces where the magic happens.

So, driving from Porto to the Douro is the best option for those who want total freedom and flexibility. To do this, take the A4 towards Peso da Régua and then take the A24, exit 11. Then the route continues through Nacional 2 to the destination. The trip takes about an hour and has a total of around 110 kilometres.

By train

Without worrying about renting a car, paying tolls and without having to pay attention to the signs that take you to your desired destination, then the train can be an option – and even one of the cheapest – to make the trip from Porto to the Douro.

There is a direct connection, by InterRegional train, which you must take at the Porto-Campanhã station, available every two hours from 7:25 am to 5:25 pm and whose ticket costs 13,40€. The trip lasts 3h19 and is a real treat for the view, always up to Pocinho, with stops in Régua and Pinhão, places well known in the region for its exceptional beauty. For the return to Invicta, there are four daily trains. You will be able to consult on the website in the Trains of Portugal all available schedules.

And here we also propose an alternative plan that you will certainly love. There is a lovely train ride that takes place between August and September and only on Saturdays: the Douro Historic Train, which is a kind of time travel.

The route is always done along the Douro River, in a steam locomotive that travels the distance from Régua to Tua. Tickets cost 42,50€ for adults, 20€ for children aged 4 to 12 and 38€ for groups of 10 or more people. In addition, if you travel on urban trains in Porto, you will benefit from the promotional price of 2€, roundtrip.

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By boat

Travelling by boat from Porto towards the Douro is the experience of a lifetime. If the train journey is already incredibly beautiful, then the boat trip is breathtaking for anyone.

Cruises in the Douro result in an adventure only understood by those who live it personally. You can choose to take the roundtrip cruise on the same day or for two days – with all the amenities to make the trip even more unique, in addition to being able to meet and live with other people who will be equally overwhelmed by everything they are experiencing.

Several companies are providing this service, with very variable prices and times. Here are some:

Rota do Douro;

Porto Douro;

Cruzeiros Douro;

Douro Azul.

It does not matter what transport you choose; you must visit the Porto and the Douro region during your halal holiday in Portugal: you will not regret it, the landscapes are unique!

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