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Indeed, Paulo and Daniel are both former fishermen and now wonderful hosts. They will tell you all about their fishing days, the Douro river, make sure your glasses of wine are always topped and take fantastic photos of you. What are you talking about Sara, I don’t see a covered area on some of the pictures! That is because both the windows and the ceiling are removable and removed on sunny days. Currently, a 1h Douro river cruise costs 12,50€, and the 2h Douro river cruise costs 25€. Built between 1735 and 1748, this Baroque-style tower is the tallest campanile in Portugal.
Gems of the Douro (Port to Port Cruise)
I recommend everyone take the short Porto river cruise at least once, especially if it’s your first time visiting Porto. The town lends its name to the port wine produced in the region and throughout the nation. Located along a rocky embankment, the city boasts picturesque neighborhoods, fashionable restaurants and lively markets. Like Lisbon, Porto has a rich past; its historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of narrow cobblestone streets brimming with romantic buildings spanning the centuries and a Romanesque cathedral.
The Best Douro River Cruise Destinations from Porto to Salmanca
This 2-hour cruise on the Douro River is perfect for private parties, with a sound system and onboard wifi available to make it just right for your occasion. It’s an early start, but with hotel pickup and drop-off included, you can sit back, relax and enjoy the best Porto has to offer. The boat is small (only 20 foot long!), inspired by ancient fishing boats and specially built to allow you for a closer look at the local fishing culture. The Mar Douro river sailing cruise is another great option to navigate the waters of the Douro river on a classic 31-foot motor sailor boat. Later, we'll tour Guimarães, a UNESCO World Heritage site recognised for its unchanged architecture.
Flavors of Portugal & Spain (Wine Cruise) (Wine Cruise) 2025 Start Porto, End Vega de Terrón
A maze of steep streets leads to the UNESCO-listed old town that's home to the 12th century Se Cathedral and Sao Francisco Church, with its fabulous golden interior. Read on for our guide to the best destinations along the Douro River in Portugal and get inspired to plan your next river cruise. You can book your Douro river boat cruise with Port wine online.
Discover all the secrets and corners of Porto, popularly called the “Invicta”, meaning the Unbeaten City. This private tour gives guests the opportunity to explore Porto’s stunning Douro River and its iconic bridges from an intimate perspective. A cruise adventure starting in Porto is a great way to see Douro. The most popular time for tours from Porto is July, which has the most cruise departures.
Is Portugal Part of Spain? & Why
Riviera River Cruises will add a third Douro ship to meet demand - Travel Weekly
Riviera River Cruises will add a third Douro ship to meet demand.
Posted: Fri, 21 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The whole area is home to big-name port houses such as Graham's, Taylor's, Ferreira, Sandeman and Calem. Most Douro River cruise itineraries feature a tour and tasting at one of the wineries plus a trip to the scenic viewing point at the top of the Dom Luis Bridge. The Glamorous Porto Yacht Tour tour is by far the fanciest river cruise in Porto, particularly for those of you that prefer to yachts over sailing boats. There is only ONE slot everyday, so hurry up and book your party river cruise in Porto online. The only thing I don’t like about the Mar Douro river sailing cruise is that the indoors area is small, dark and not particularly comfortable, so I don’t recommend this tour for bad weather days.
Something else that I love about this river cruise in particular is that it’s a really pretty sailboat, with a very comfortable interior room open to the outside. Beware though, that most of the time (especially when it’s not windy) they use the engines of the boats instead of the sails. The boat used for this private Douro river cruise is 172 meters long and it has capacity for 14 passengers. Second of all, all the boats have a covered area with sofas, proper windows and a ceiling, creating a small room from which you can still enjoy your river cruise without getting wet. Experience a delightful evening with an optional excursion to Herança Magna for a Fado night. As dawn breaks over Porto the adventure begins as our elegant vessel commences her stately passage upstream.
Ponte de Dona Maria Pia is a wrought-iron single-deck arch bridge built for railway traffic. On the way back, there might be the chance to stop off at Pinhao's gorgeous railroad station. The lobby is covered with azulejo tiles depicting historic scenes relating to port production. Some cruises overnight in Pinhao, giving time to explore the waterfront or walk up to the station.
Portugal Douro River BikeTour Bike & Boat
Our on-board wine list includes some excellent regional wines and the friendly and attentive restaurant staff will gladly guide you through them. Porto is of course synonymous with wonderful port wine and all the famous port producers are here, such as Cálem, Sandeman and Ferreira, so a visit here would not be complete without a tour of one of them. You’ll learn about this fortified wine’s fascinating history and its close British connections. Port is made from grapes still pressed in the traditional way – by feet – then lovingly matured, sometimes for decades, before you can enjoy its subtle flavours. Of course, you’ll get the chance to sample various port styles at the end of our visit. Escape the city and relax while enjoying the river’s calm waters and seeing this adorable riverside town from the water.
Around 16h, but check the schedule of each tour operator of Douro river cruises. Depending on the tour you choose, there may be an audio part of the tour explaining the history of the six bridges. On this full-day tour, you’ll get to cruise down the Douro River, visit a wine cellar in Vila Nova de Gaia and explore some of Portugal’s best-preserved architectural treasures.
The city is steeped in maritime history, and it was from here that Prince Henry the Navigator set out in 1415 bound for Africa, marking the start of Portugal's dominance of the world's oceans for two centuries. Another fantastic yacht river cruise in Porto with wines and tapas included (again, massive foodie here!) is this Private yacht cruise with tapas. Moreover, and unlike the very touristy 6 bridges cruise, the Sightseeing Sailboat Cruise on the Douro River provides translated explanations of what you are about to see, and hence skipping the loud speakers altogether. As our time exploring more of Portugal comes to an end, it’s time to pack your bags are say goodbye to your fellow explorers.
It's also fun to simply wander around Vila Nova de Gaia's narrow streets and take the cable car from the top of the bridge back down to the river. A relatively new attraction is the WOW (World of Wine) cultural district, which is housed in the neighborhood's old warehouses. It includes wine museums -- like the Pink Palace, dedicated to rosé and featuring a pool of pink bubbles -- a chocolate museum and shops. The majority of Douro river ships dock in the heart of Gaia, on the south side of the Douro River, across from Porto proper. Scenic and sister company Emerald Cruises have exclusive docking spots on the northern bank, in Ribeira. Some vessels (including Avalon Alegria) dock slightly farther out of town, so check before booking if you want to be right in the center.
The Douro was once a wild river, notoriously challenging to navigate, especially for the traditional flat-bottomed boats, which often foundered in its waters. Today it has been tamed by a system of dams and locks, which have raised the water level to produce a topography reminiscent of Scotland’s lochs that enhances the valley’s charm. As we cruise into ever more rural territory towards the Spanish border, the river here is at its most peaceful. It’s the perfect time to take a refreshing dip in the Sun Deck pool – a rare treat on a cruise ship – or catch up on some reading, perhaps with a cool pre-lunch glass of vinho verde, the local, gently fizzy white wine. Portuguese wine is simply outstanding but production is low, so the best is rarely exported.
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