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Plus, you can see the city from a different perspective on a cruise down the Douro River. This is one of the best Porto boat tours and is sure to provide something special for everyone. Porto is the port of departure and arrival for our Douro cruises. Which means you’ll have plenty of time to stroll through the splendid old town, take in the view from Portugal’s highest church tower and sample bacalhau, the country’s favourite dried fish.
Mar Douro river sailing cruise – Details
The original structure has been added to throughout the last millennia in a mixture of several architectural styles, including a stunning Baroque nave decorated with gold ornamentation. As dawn breaks, early risers can witness the ship’s graceful departure. Relax over a leisurely breakfast whilst the ever-changing scenery idly slips by through the restaurant’s superb panoramic windows. Have an unforgettable day out in Porto on the Best of Porto Guided Tour with Lunch, Cruise & Wine Tasting.
Ponte do Infante
This full-day tour offers a combination of sightseeing, food, and wine tasting that will leave you feeling satisfied and full of new experiences. If you enjoy river cruises and a quick getaway from the city, a 1 hour Douro River cruise is worth it. It's also easy for independent travelers to explore by themselves -- English is spoken virtually everywhere in the city -- and the Porto Card provides free travel on public transport and discounted entry to attractions. Other novel experiences include a motorcycle and sidecar tour that will take you to out-of-the-way places, or a cruise in a replica of the wooden rabelo boats once used to transport port from the vineyards to Porto.
Douro River Boat Cruise with Port Wine
Designed by a pupil of Gustave Eiffel, it was the world’s longest iron arch bridge when it opened in 1886. It can be crossed by car, train or foot and links Ribeira with Vila Nova de Gaia, or simply Gaia. Gaia is your go-to neighborhood for exploring the famous Port wine cellars for which Porto is rightfully famous. Harry Potter fans should head to the Lello bookstore in the Clerigos quarter. Rowling with the inspiration for the stairs at Hogwarts when she was an English teacher in Porto. The store charges an entry fee, refundable against the purchase of a book.
Nonetheless, the one day Douro river cruises are still a popular choice for those who are not so much into wine tastings and would rather (and quite understandingly) spend the day just enjoying the views. There are several tour operators making the best GROUP Douro river cruises.I personally recommend Magnífico Douro as the boats are in great conditions, the boat rides are cheap, and the staff is very friendly and professional. I already wrote about the famous 6 bridges cruise in Porto, but the truth is that a lot of people simply prefer to have a more intimate river cruise in Porto, so I decided to write this Complete Guide of the best river cruises in Porto. We’re in port wine territory, where the lush hillsides have largely given way to a patterned landscape of terraced vineyards. Inland from the Atlantic, the climate has changed, too; it’s noticeably warmer and drier, while the area has a Mediterranean appearance with orangey, earthy colours replacing verdant greens. Salamanca is dominated by its two cathedrals and its university.
Douro Experience 2024 (8 destinations)
I’ve done the six bridges tour in Porto and will share with you if the 6 Bridges cruise is worth it, how long the day river cruise is, and the best Porto boat tours. First settled in Roman times, Regua, Portugal, was once an important trading post where boats transported port wine to Porto. Today it's a destination for Douro River cruise excursions to Vila Real, a small town nestled among vineyards nearby. There, you'll find Casa de Mateus (Mateus Palace), which is depicted on the labels of Mateus Rosé wine.
This yacht is indeed very fancy, with really nice (and comfortable) sofas both outdoors and on the covered area inside. To finish up the experience, we even got to take a quick spin out on the ocean, sailing directly into the sunset – a once in a lifetime experience that will engrave Porto in our happy memories.
Founded in 1218, the university is the oldest in Spain and was one of the civilised world’s most important seats of study for over 400 years. The Spanish Inquisition’s records are still kept here, and as early as the 16th century it boasted some 12,000 students. You may choose to linger, admiring the ornate interiors of its cathedrals – the more recent dates from the 16th-century – or explore its tiny streets, medieval squares, traditional shops, gardens and marketplaces. The main square, the Plaza Mayor, was built in the 18th-century in Spanish Baroque style with colonnaded walkways all around at ground level, ideal for finding a shaded spot to sit and watch the locals pass by. This afternoon we enjoy a guided tour of the city seeing the main sights.
This soulful music embodies the Portuguese expression of nostalgia and longing and is deemed a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. Legend has it a local nun, struggling to fast, is responsible for creation the Portuguese delicacy of ovos moles – so it’s imperative we get to enjoy a bite (or two) while we’re in Aveiro. And our guide will teach us all about the history and production of this delicious delicacy as we dig in.
You also can book tours that include a stop at Lello through our sister site, Viator. Portugal's second-largest city, Porto is generally your first and last destination on a Douro River cruise. It's easily one of the most exciting destinations on the river.
This library is renowned for its stunning beauty, featuring a 100-year-old art-nouveau structure adorned with neo-gothic details - it is as enchanting as the books it houses. You can also take a tram to visit the local beaches or stroll through the UNESCO-protected historic centre - the choice is yours. Today we visit historic Salamanca, one of the many UNESCO World Heritage Sites on this journey, regarded by many Spaniards as their nation’s most beautiful city. Founded by the Romans, who erected its 389-yard-long bridge, Salamanca is mostly built from local sandstone that emanates a gorgeous rose-coloured glow in the sunlight. Perched on a hill on a bend in the serene River Tormes, the city is a picture of tranquillity but its history is turbulent, having been successively fought over by Hannibal, the Moors, then the Duke of Wellington and Napoleon.
At the riverside, small barcos rabelos, boats once used to transport casks of wine, paint a charming scene. A cruise starting in Porto is a great way to experience river cruising. We have 40 cruises that range from 6 days up to 25 days in length.
Douro River Cruises Aren't Just About Wine - Cruise Critic
Douro River Cruises Aren't Just About Wine.
Posted: Fri, 29 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
After another superb lunch on board, we cruise into the small town of Peso da Régua, from where we visit the grounds of the splendid Mateus Palace. Anyone familiar with Mateus Rosé and its characteristic ‘squashed’ bottle will recognise the palace from the label. Whatever your opinion of the wine, it is an impressive 18th-century Baroque edifice, mirrored in its stunning pond, surrounded by landscaped French gardens.
Indulge in a wine tasting, take a Douro River day cruise, buy your lunch while enjoying it with a view, and more. All while knowing that your money is going back into supporting the local community through the company’s pledge to support those in need. Porto is known as the city of bridges, so you won’t want to miss this activity on your Porto itinerary.
The prices range from 67€ to 88€ depending on the tour operator, the length of the river cruise and other factors. The one day Douro river cruises that I just suggested cost 67€ (Porto – Régua – Porto) and 88€ (Porto – Pinhão – Porto), respectively. Seeing Porto from the water is charming and well worth the ticket price. If I didn’t take the river cruise, I wouldn’t have seen half of the bridges in this adorable town.
Both sides of the boat offer a great view, as whatever you can’t see well on one side, you will see again on the return trip. I loved seeing each of Porto’s six bridges and enjoying sitting down after a long day of sightseeing. Cross the six iconic bridges of Porto while listening to your favourite music playlist via a Bluetooth speaker – making this trip even more enjoyable. Take in breathtaking views as you sail towards the mouth of the river at Douro Estuary Natural Reserve. This amazing tour offers visitors an unforgettable tuk-tuk ride through some of the city’s most iconic sites and attractions, such as Sao Bento Station, the Clerigos Tower, and the Lello Bookshop.
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