Portugal River Cruises

Portugal river cruises involve a voyage along the country’s celebrated River of Gold, the Douro, which originates in Spain and makes its way westwards across Portugal before ending its journey in the Atlantic Ocean at the country’s historic second city Porto, where Douro river cruises typically begin. Following this picturesque waterway towards its place of origin, cruises along the Douro call at a number of picturesque towns which offer a fascinating look at Portuguese history and culture . Though Portugal’s capital Lisbon lies many miles further south from the Douro, it’s often part of river cruise packages here, with many Douro holidays beginning with a stay in the city before transferring to Porto.

Portugal Ports

Guimaraes

Settled in the ninth century, Guimaraes played a key role in Portugal’s formation and as such is naturally one of the country’s most historic cities. It’s located in northern Portugal and though ...

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Lisbon

Though not situated on its banks or indeed close to it, Portugal’s capital is a common starting point for river cruises along the Douro, whereupon passengers will have a day to explore Lisbon ...

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Oporto

Situated on Portugal’s Douro River, Oporto, also known as Porto, is the home of port wine and a principal destination on all itineraries which explore this sun-drenched waterway. It’s a ...

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Pinhao

Pinhão lies alongside the Douro River's convergence with the Pinhão River in the idyllic valleys of northern Portugal. Visitors will notice the vast fields of grape vines as they approach the region, which ...

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Regua

Régua, or Peso da Régua, is located within the district of Vila Real in northern Portugal and is a municipality with an area of around 90 square kilometres encompassing over 12 different parishes. ...

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Ports along the Douro

Lisbon

Portugal’s coastal capital is one of Europe’s most celebrated, so it’s good to know that Douro cruises offer you the chanc e to explore it. A city tour reveals such iconic landmarks as the 16th century Belem Tower and the beautiful Saint Roch Church. If you’re in the mood for a spot of retail therapy, Chiado is the city’s fashionable shopping district, while Miradouro da Senhora do Monte is an excellent observation point from which to take it all in.

Porto

Porto’s perhaps most famous for giving port wine its name and it will come as no surprise that visits to the UNESCO World Heritage Site’s port cellars are a popular tourist draw. There’s much more to experience in the city and one attraction you won’t fail to miss is Porto’s biggest landmark, the Ponte D Luis I Bridge which offers fantastic views, as does Clerigos Tower. Zona Ribeirinha is the city’s historic wharf area and is a great place in which to relax and soak up the atmosphere.

Regua

Regua acts as the port of call for the historic town of Lamego, which is home to a key pilgrimage site in the form of the 14th-century Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies, which features some beautiful decoration of Moorish and Baroque influence. The shrine isn’t the town’s only historic attraction as you can also explore its splendid Gothic cathedral and 12th-century castle. Some river cruise lines also offer excursions from the town to Quinta do Seixo, one of the area’s key vineyards for producing port wine.

Barca d’Alva

The section of your journey as you approach Barca d’Alva is one of the most scenic of your Douro river cruise, as you’ll pass both sweeping vineyards and natural rock formations before traversing two of the Douro’s locks. Your stop here will likely involve a trip to the lofty Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo, a historic parish which dates back to the 16th century and offers a wealth of charming streets and buildings to experience.

Portugal river cruise travel tips

The currency of Portugal is the Euro
Portuguese is the national language, though there are some strong regional variations. If you know a little Spanish, however, you may find it useful as you near the border
A Douro cruise offers a distinctly Mediterranean feel, so remember to pack accordingly