Porto & the Douro Holidays

Spend a whole day on a voyage along the Douro River from pretty Porto to Pinhão, a village surrounded by verdant rolling hills. Pass by vines growing on terraces cut into the steep hillsides and characterful villages where white buildings are topped with terracotta roofs. You’ll pass through locks where the river is dammed and rises into the hills, and have plenty of time to take in the stunning valley landscapes from the open-air deck. Following your arriving in Pinhão, you’ll return to Porto by train or bus.

• Departs Monday to Friday
• Operates April to October
• Group experience

Good to know
Breakfast and lunch are included. Transfers are not included; meet at 8.30am at Douro Acima Pier in Ribeira do Douro for check-in and boarding.

One of the best ways to get to know a place is by trying the local produce. Wander through the streets of Porto and get a taste of the city at five different culinary venues. Begin with coffee and a pastry from a highly rated coffee shop before trying a typical Portuguese appetizer – codfish cakes – accompanied by a chilled Vinho Verde. You’ll also sample cured cheeses and meats and a bifana (grilled pork sandwich) before concluding the trip in the best possible way: at a port wine tasting with a local producer.

• Departs Monday to Saturday
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Good to know
Transfers are not included; the meeting point is C’alma Speciality Coffee Room, Rua de Passos Manuel 44. Please advise us of any dietary requirements at the time of booking.

You may be surprised to find that there’s a growing craft beer movement in a city where wine is usually the tipple of choice. On this four-hour walking tour, you’ll learn about the history of the industry and the process of producing beer from the hops to the mill to the glass. Of course, the tour concludes with the obligatory tasting.

• Departs Monday to Friday from The Yeatman or Villa Foz
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

Good to know
Any entrance fees and meals are not included.

Hit the trails and take in the spectacular rolling landscapes of the Douro Valley on foot on this full-day adventure. There’s a choice of three routes to choose between, from two to five miles and you’ll have the company of a knowledgeable guide. Other highlights of the day include a visit to the charming Pinhão Railway Station, where you can see some typically Portuguese tile frescos, and a riverside picnic that’s packed with locally produced specialities. No Douro tour would be complete without sampling the region’s most famous produce, so a wine tasting is also included.

• Daily departures
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

Step aboard a traditional rabelo boat and sail along a particularly peaceful part of the Douro River, drifting past terracotta-roofed towns and satisfyingly neat rows of vines carved into steep hillside terraces. Your two-hour river cruise will show you the ancient vineyards and farms of this UNESCO World-Heritage landscape, and a free audio guide will be available for those who’d like to find out more about the locations and buildings. There will be time for a picnic and Port wine tasting, as well as sunbathing and swimming if conditions allow.

• Daily departures from Pinhão
• Operates year round
• Group experience

Good to know
Transfers are not included. Guests must arrive at Magnífico Douro Pier at least 10 minutes before departure for check-in procedures and briefing.

Set sail along a particularly peaceful part of the Douro River on a private cruise aboard a traditional rabelo boat. This is a charming way to explore this UNESCO World-Heritage landscape, with plenty of space and seclusion as you glide past small towns and vineyards carved into the steep-sided valley. Your private river cruise will introduce you to the ancient vineyards and farms that line the river, and a free audio guide will be available so you can discover more about what you’re seeing. There will be time for a picnic and Port wine tasting, as well as sunbathing and swimming if conditions allow, to round off a tranquil couple of hours.

• Daily departures from Pinhão
• Operates year round
• Private experience

Good to know
Transfers are not included. Guests must arrive at Magnífico Douro Pier at least 10 minutes before departure for check-in procedures and briefing.

Porto has a different pace to most European cities and is best explored on foot. On this four-hour walking tour, you’ll have plenty of time to discover the city’s lesser-known spots and learn about local stories. It’s an ideal experience for those who’d like to learn more about the local lifestyle, history and architecture, giving you an insight into the people and traditions of the region.

• Daily departures from Porto
• Operates year round
• Private experience

Good to know
Transfers, entrance fees and meals are not included.

This immersive cooking class will introduce you to some of Portugal’s staple dishes, including the likes of seafood cataplana and the mouth-watering pastel de nata. First, we’ll visit the Municipal Market de Matosinhos to buy our fresh ingredients for the cooking class. Then, under the guidance of a chef, you’ll learn about the importance of the quality of the ingredients and whip up a starter, main course and dessert. Finally, you’ll get to tuck into your dishes, accompanied by Portuguese wine.

• Departing Tuesday to Saturday from Porto
• Operates year round
• Private experience

Good to know
Transfers are not included.

The best way to get to know a region is to immerse yourself in it, and this full-day private sightseeing tour packs in the Douro Valley’s top attractions. Hop into a minivan for a guided tour exclusively for you and your travel companions. Highlights include learning how Douro wine was transported in wooden barrels by boat or train to the cellars of Porto or Vila Nova de Gaia, as well as a one-hour river cruise aboard a traditional rabelo boat and a visit to a vineyard with delicious wine and olive oil tastings.

• Daily departures from Douro Valley
• Operates year round
• Private experience

The Passadiços do Paiva (Paiva Walkways) is a beautiful wooden walkway that zigzags up and down the hilly banks of the Paiva River in the Arouca Geopark UNESCO Geological site. We’ll head to Arouca by private minibus to reach the walkway start point. Then it’s time to venture through a region of breathtaking natural beauty to see the incredible biodiversity, geology and archaeology. After your hike, you can enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

• Daily departures from Porto
• Operates year round
• Private experience

Good to know
This walking tour is around 8km long and takes roughly 2.5 hours. Guests will need a good level of fitness.

Porto is full of surprises – it’s one of Europe’s top street art locations. On this fun excursion, you’ll take an e-Bike tour through the hilly streets of the city to see the likes of ‘Look at Porto’ by Vhils, ‘Mural da Trindade’ by Mr. Dheo and ‘An.fi.tri.ão’ by Frederico Draw, as well as ‘Half Rabbit’ by Bordalo II – a remarkable street art installation made of out recycled materials.

• Daily departures from Porto
• Operates year round
• Private experience

Good to know
Transfers are not included.