The region covering Spain and Portugal that every traveller should visit
Portugal is one of our favourite destinations for a European getaway. A holiday in Portugal can mean anything from a chic city break to a beach holiday in the Algarve, where turquoise blue waters lap golden sands bordered by limestone cliffs.
One of the country’s finest regions is the heavenly Douro Valley. The Douro Valley is a beautiful slice of countryside rising from the banks of the Douro River in northern Portugal where sweeping hills are carpeted in terraced vineyards and dotted with pretty, historic villages offering views over the Douro River.
VISIT THE DOURO VALLEY WITH GH
This region is particularly inviting for lovers of food and drink, and is famous for its exceptional wines. The Alto Douro is the oldest demarcated wine region in the world and is home to over 200 historic wine estates, known locally as quintas, many of which open their doors to visitors for wine tastings, cellar tours, and atmospheric farm-to-table dining.
Are you tempted by a visit to this glorious corner of Europe? If so, keep reading – we’ve answered some of the key questions about the Douro Valley to help you plan the trip of a lifetime.
Where is the Douro Valley?
The Douro Valley is in the north of Portugal, straddling the Douro River from where it first flows over the border from Spain along to around 60 miles east of Porto, where the river spills out into the Atlantic Ocean.
Porto, Portugal’s captivating second city, is known as the gateway to the Douro Valley and makes the perfect place to begin your journey.
This is the departure point of many Douro river cruises, including Good Housekeeping’s wonderful eight-day wine-tasting voyage. While here, you can explore the UNESCO-listed Old Town, with its characteristic blue and white azulejo tiles adorning grand buildings.
Down by the river, you’ll see traditional wooden rabelos bobbing on the water under the city’s six magnificent bridges. These little boats were once used to carry Port wine barrels from the Douro Valley into the city.
When is the best time to visit the Douro Valley?
While the Douro Valley is a wonderful holiday destination at any time of year, it really comes into its own in the spring and autumn.
In spring, the vineyards on the hillsides burst into life with lush greenery and flowering grapevines. The blossoming of almond trees in early spring is especially enchanting, with papery pink and white flowers painting the countryside in wonderful watercolour hues.
Autumn is another colourful season in the Douro Valley when the hillsides transform into fiery shades of orange, red and gold.
If you travel through the Douro Valley in September or October, you’ll find the harvest season in full swing. There’ll be a wonderfully festive atmosphere, with live music filling the air around the wine estates that dot these golden hills as the locals celebrate the grape harvest.
If you visit a quinta at this time of year, you may even get the chance to participate in the harvest yourself. Some quintas offer the chance to try grape treading, a traditional wine harvesting method where grapes are crushed underfoot in large vats.
Of course, if you’d rather keep your feet clean you can simply sit back and relax and sample the delicious vintages from previous years’ harvests.
CRUISE THE DOURO VALLEY IN AUTUMN
Where are the best towns in the Douro Valley?
In between the vast vineyard terraces and sweeping countryside, you’ll find some delightfully atmospheric towns and villages that are well worth exploring.
In the heart of the Alto Douro wine region is one of our favourites, the delightful town of Favaios, a historic settlement famous for its Moscatel wine and traditional bakeries. Spend some time exploring one of the renowned wine producers in the village and make a stop at The Bread and Wine Museum, to learn the history of Favaios wine and bread.
At the confluence of the Douro and Pinhão rivers you’ll find the pretty town of Pinhão, another enchanting wine town. The town is surrounded by terraced vineyards which produce some of the world’s finest Port, and there are plenty of opportunities for tastings.
You might also want to pay a visit to the rail station, whether or not you’re travelling by train. Here you’ll see a series of beautiful, well-preserved azulejo tiles depicting life in the Douro Valley as it once was.
On the left bank of the Douro, near the Spanish border is Barca d’Alva, which makes a great gateway to the walled town of Castelo Rodrigo and Salamanca in Spain. It’s a popular stopping point for a Douro Cruise.
It’s small enough to easily explore on foot, and is surrounded by olive groves, vineyards, and almond trees. It’s located inside the Douro International Natural Park, where visitors can enjoy leisurely walks through nature with views out across the river.
You can spend some time exploring both Barca d’Alva and Pinhão on Good Housekeeping's eight-day Douro Cruise.
On Good Housekeeping’s eight-day tour of northern Portugal you’ll visit Porto and Favaios along with the pretty town of Lamego, known as the birthplace of port wine. You’ll enjoy some wine tastings before a walk to the town’s striking baroque staircase, which winds up to the shrine of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios, decorated with intricate azulejo tiles.
How many days do you need to explore the Douro Valley?
How much time you choose to spend in the Douro Valley will depend on what you want to get out of your holiday.
Considering its proximity to Porto, it's easy to head into the valley on a day trip while enjoying a city break in Portugal's second city. This will give you time to appreciate some of the landscapes and perhaps enjoy a wine tasting or two.
There are plenty of options for one-day cruises which give you a taste of life in the Douro Valley, allowing you to enjoy the delightful views on either side of the river along the way.
If you want a more relaxing and immersive experience, we recommend a longer trip. Wine lovers will particularly enjoy spending a few days in the valley, tasting vintages from different producers and enjoying the peaceful life of countryside walks and farm-to-table dining.
Good Housekeeping's cruise begins and ends in Porto and gives you five full days in the Douro Valley, so you can take you time appreciating the landscapes of this glorious region.
Five days gives you the time to take in all the highlights of the Valley, including the The Mateus Palace, Vega Terron, Pinhão and Regua. It will also give you time to enjoy all the facilities on board the ship, including a sun deck with recliners, a heated outdoor pool, crazy golf, a fully-equipped gym and a spa.
What cultural experiences can you enjoy in the Douro Valley
If you're visiting the Douro Valley in September or October, you'll find you've arrived at the perfect time to soak up the lively atmosphere of harvest season.
For a region that's flourished thanks to its historic wine trade, it's no wonder that the grape harvest is a cause for celebration.
You'll enjoy the the festive atmosphere as grape treading gets underway, with live music filling the air around the quintas, many of which welcome visitors to celebrate with them, even giving you the chance to take part in the grape treading. It's a great way to fully embrace the culture of the Douro and celebrate like a local.
Along with its wine, the Douro Valley has a reputation for delicious gastronomy. You'll of course want to try some warm and creamy pastéis de nata while in Porto, but there's plenty more on the menu.
Many of the Douro Valley's wine estates offer fabulous farm-to-table dining, allowing you to learn about the region's gastronomic heritage as well as its wines. Try the Chef's Table experience at Quinta de Sao Bernardo, or enjoy a traditional lunch with wine pairings at Quinta da Avessada.
Dining outdoors at a historic quinta as you enjoy views across the valley is a wonderful way to immerse yourself in life on the Douro. You can look forward to trying traditional dishes like Arroz de Cabidela, a risotto like dish made with chicken or rabbit, and Rancho, a hearty soup of cabbage, chickpeas, pasta and meat traditionally served during harvest.
Another way to truly immerse yourself in life on the Douro is to hop into one of the wooden rabelo boats you see gliding up and down the river.
You'll feel like you've taken a step back in time as you sail under Porto's famous six bridges, enjoying panoramic views of the elegant buildings on both sides of the river. There is a range of rabelo experiences available to suit every schedule and budget, from short trips where you'll zip under the Porto's bridges to full-day wine tasting adventures.
What are the best wine tours in the Douro Valley?
Wine culture is everywhere you look in the Douro Valley. The Alto Douro wine region produces excellent wines ranging from full-bodied red wines to light-bodied whites and, most famously, fortified port.
Many of the region’s atmospheric quintas open their doors to visitors, and a peek inside one of these historic estates is a must for any wine-lover.
Quinta do Vallado is one of the region’s oldest, dating back to 1716, and is open to visitors throughout the year. They offer wine tastings as well as viticulture workshops and special wine pairing lunches where you can try typical Douro dishes with a carefully selected range of vintages.
Quinta da Gricha is another atmospheric wine estate offering wonderful tastings and tours. The estate is home of the famous Churchill’s Port and offers both private and group wine tastings as well as tours of the vineyards and the winery. You can also enjoy lunch in an orange grove overlooking the valley.
Good Housekeeping’s eight-day Douro cruise will take you to the delightful Quinta da Avessada, where the owner will give a talk about the production process before you taste a few wines. This estate lies at the highest point of the Alto Douro and the majority of its vines produce Muscat grapes, used to make the national aperetif, Moscatel de Favaios.
VISIT QUINTA DA AVESSADA WITH GH
What is the best way to visit the Douro Valley?
When you visit the Douro Valley you’ll want to make sure you’re getting the most out of your trip. Some people opt to self-drive through the pretty countryside, with the gloriously scenic N222 road following the course of the Douro River from Peso da Régua to Pinhão.
While going solo is definitely an option for a shorter break, if you really want to take in the best that the Douro Valley has to offer, we’d recommend a Douro River cruise.
A river cruise through Douro Valley is the perfect way to take in all the history, culture and gastronomy on the river banks, all while enjoying glorious views as you sail. You’ll also be travelling with a group of like-minded holidaymakers, and often with a team of experts, too, with guided tours to look forward to.
A river cruise takes a lot of the hassle out of planning a longer trip, and you can tick several destinations in the Valley off your wish list without having to worry too much about local transport or driving routes.
On Good Housekeeping’s Douro cruise you’ll explore Porto, Pinhão, Barca d’Alva, Régua and more enchanting towns, travelling from stop to stop on A-ROSA ALVA, a stylish ship with a sun deck for taking in the scenery.
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