The Douro Valley Tour

On the slopes above the Douro River estuary, Porto is a historic mercantile city with a rich and varied heritage and an Old-World atmosphere. Porto put ‘Portu’ into Portugal dating back to early 800 AD. With its medieval walls, gleaming Baroque churches, and famous Port wine cellars, it is an arresting destination of choice for the adventurous traveler. Don’t let the cobblestone streets and compact layout of this city fool you, it is easy to navigate these streets by bike or foot! Wander your way through the Batalha district, where centuries’ worth of architecture is bundled into one structure.

Experience Jeff & Gina’s favorite port “shipper” tour- Taylor’s

After dinner take in the arresting views of the Douro from a stroll across the Dom Luís I Bridge, which is renowned for being designed by a student of Gustave Eiffel, the mastermind behind the Eiffel Tower. Climb up the 225 steps of Clérigos Tower to access a 360-degree view of the city. Keep an eye out for the red-tiled warehouses where large amounts of port wine are blended and stored! Sip and saunter through Vila Nova de Gaia to taste the region’s famed port wine at its finest wine lodges.

Quebrantoes Dock – Vila Nova de Gaia

Click for printable pdf map – boarding-porto-docking-douro-cruise-croisieurope

Take the direction of Vila Nova de Gaia (the “twin” city of Porto, located on the other side of the Douro river). At the Vila Nova de Gaia, take the Avenida da republica (the main street) in direction of the river. Just before the river, take the street “rua de Camos” on the right. Once you got to the traffic circle, follow “Quebrantoes Deck” to access the boat directly. The deck is under the Sao Joao railway bridge.

The ship will be repositioning to Marina de Afurada. Details of location and time will be given on board.

For a good Porto, site click here. The last day of the cruise is spent in Porto so you will have a full day at the end of the cruise.

GPS Coordinates

Rua Manuel Pinto de Lima 41.137314 – 8.596249

Stroll down the narrow streets and drink in the liveliness of the UNESCO World Heritage Ribeira District, one of the most authentic and picturesque parts of the city in the heart of the Old Town. Pop into shops that line the way and discover traditional restaurants where you can dine facing the river and might catch a glimpse of a Rabelo ((traditional Portuguese wooden cargo boat) along the banks of the Douro.

From the Villa Nova de Gaia Quay, facing Porto from across the Douro river and the famous Dom Luis I Bridge, built between 1881 and 1886 by Fren engineer Theophile Seyrig, one of Gustave Eiffel’s pupils, take a Taxi or walk over this wonderful bridge for incredible views of Porto.
Its historical center was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. Discover The Palácio da Bolsa (Stock Exchange Building), built-in 1834 by the city’s Commercial Association. It has remained their headquarters to this day.  Climb up the beautiful granite and marble stairway, visit the former Tribunal Room, the Golden Room, and the Arab Room, decorated in the exotic Moorish Revival style. Afterward, visit the Igreja de São Francisco (Church of Saint Francis), also known as the “Golden Church”. It was originally a modest convent founded by Franciscan monks in the 12th century, before being further altered by prominent Porto families in the 15th and 16th centuries. They were responsible for the Baroque style interior which mingles with the large, elaborate rose window in Gothic style on the main façade in a fascinating mixture of styles reflecting the various eras it went through.
Cross the Dom Luis I Bridge again back to Villa Nova de Gaia for the visit of a wine cellar. Porto’s pride notably stems from its famous wine known the world over, which you should get a taste of.

The afternoon will be spent sailing arriving in Regua around 6:30 PM.

Régua played a fundamental role in the production and sale of Port wine since it was from its waters that the barrels were transported in the special boats known as barcos rabelos to Vila Nova de Gaia, where the wine was left to age in the local wine lodges. In this small river port, vines are grown on terraced slopes leading down to the river, providing spectacular views. If you want to get a feel for the culture and identity of the Douro wine region, visit the Museu do Douro, a museum housed in the fully restored and adapted Casa da Companhia Velha, an 18^th-century manor house that is emblematic of the history of the world’s oldest demarcated and regulated wine region. It showcases a wealth of artifacts and engaging displays recounting the history of wine production in the Douro Valley.

Encircled by terraced hillsides that produce some of the world’s best port wine, Pinhão is considered to be the geographical center of the Douro demarcated wine region. It boasts some of the most beautiful views in Portugal and is home to the historic Pinhão Train Station, famous for its gorgeous blue and white Azulejo tiles that depict Duoro Valley scenes related to port production.

Optional excursion to Vila Real and Mateus Palace – Price $59 per person. (Note: Ship will be sailing during this excursion. This excursion is your best bet!)
We’ll leave from Regua at 8:30-9:00 AM am for Vila Real, where aristocrats built grand palaces during the 16th and 18th centuries. The architecture of the religious buildings is here extremely varied. We’ll take a panoramic tour of the city by coach, followed by a tasting of the local pastry, Cristas de Galo.
We’ll then set out to explore Mateus Palace, the most beautiful and astonishing manor in all of Northern Portugal. This 18th-century beauty is set in a hilly landscape reminding us of Mexico. The subtle mixture of granite, white walls, and extravagance from the Age of Enlightenment such as ledges covered in statues and Baroque style pilasters is a striking feature. Behind the manor is a delightful garden with box hedges, more statues, and a spectacular 115-foot cedar tunnel. After our tour, we’ll return to our ship in Pinhão.

The afternoon will be spent sailing. Enjoy an evening of Flamenco entertainment. Arrival at Vega de Terron 8:00 pm.

Positioned on the Portuguese border at the confluence of the rivers Douro and Águeda, the small Spanish port town of Vega de Terron is a charming settlement across from the beautiful Douro International Nature Park. Its quiet streets and lush landscapes remain beautifully unspoiled and give travelers an authentic taste of western Spanish life.

Vega de Terron, Portugal is the farthest east we can travel and this is our jumping-off point to take transportation to Salamanca, Spain. When we dock here we are about 2km from the Spanish border. By the time we reach this small town, most everything will be closed. It is a great time to take a walk along the old bridge and watch the sunset. Bus transportation will be provided for a fee. We will have a drop-off point in the city that is convenient the sites. You will be able to spend the full day there.

Ship will depart Vega de Terron 9:00 am; will arrive in Barca D’Alva 10:00 am

Salamanca, Spain
Known for its unique sandstone architecture and the historical University of Salamanca, this ancient city is both mesmerizing and unforgettable. Nicknamed “La Dorada” or Golden City, its sandstone structures create a warm golden glow as the sun reflects off them. Its Old City with its lively central plaza, Playa Mayor, is both dazzling and awe-inspiring, with its towering monuments, majestic Baroque style buildings, and imposing Roman bridge. Being home to one of the oldest universities in Spain, which first opened in 1218, is just one of the things that makes this UNESCO World Heritage Site so special. Also known as “Escuelas Mayores”, the University building has a sumptuous gate adorned with the city’s most famous design: a frog atop a skull – symbolic of the sin of lust being punished after death. Its wonderful library brims with old manuscripts dating back from prior to the 19th century. Since 1988, the Old Town of Salamanca has been listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The classified area extends on the major part of the city as it used to be until the middle of the 20th century and is responsible for its growing popularity. You can visit the cathedral whose successive extensions created a mixture of styles going from late Gothic to Baroque, including Renaissance.
The pedestrianized streets of Toro and Zamora are full of shops and in the Plaza del Liceo you can even go shopping in a refurbished church, part of the old convent of San Antonio el Real. They also have suggestions for One Day in Salamanca at this link.

Offical Tourism website link.

Bus transportation will be arranged and provided for a small cost. You’ll be free to discover the city on your own.

Google Map Link

Transportation to Salamanca – Price $41 per person (Note: There is no public transportation, taxis, Uber, etc. Taking the bus is the only way we know to get to Salamanca, Spain. There is nothing to do where we will be docked.)
Return on board in Barca D’Alva.

Barca D’Alva is a sleepy village that offers a glance into a sunbaked, slow-paced corner of the world steeped in medieval history and surrounded by terraced vineyards and picturesque olive and almond groves. Explore the vineyards and wine-making facilities or the now-defunct train station that was constructed in 1887 to connect the country with the rest of Europe. Be sure to sample the wine, olives, and almonds!

This morning will be spent cruising. Departing Barca D’Alva 8:30 am. Departure from Ferradosa (excursion drop off) at 12:30 PM for our excursion along the Porto wine route.

Optional Wine Trail of Porto – Price $54 per person. We’ll discover this incredible vineyard extending over 100 km along the Douro river all the way to the Spanish border. We’ll visit San Salvador do Mundo and Sao Joao da Pesqueira, two small towns set among the vineyards in the Rio Torto valley. In Sao Joao da Pesqueira, you will have the opportunity to explore the arcaded main square, the chapel, and the white houses with their balconies. You will visit a quinta (wine cellar) to taste the famous Port.
(Note: We are in remote areas with no public transportation, Uber, etc. Your best bet to see this area is to take the optional excursion.)

The ship will depart Ferradosa 2:00 PM; We’ll return on board in Pinhao, ship will arrive 5:00 PM.

Tonight’s our gala evening and dinner. (No ties are required. No Black ties are required. But I would, as your mom said, “try to look nice”! (No shorts, T-Shirts etc.)

Departing Pinhao 7:00 am, arrive in Folsoa 8:00 am.
9:45 am Optional Transportation to Lamego – Price $24 per person
Departure by coach from Regua to Lamego for a guided tour of the city center by coach and on foot. Lamego is a charming episcopal and commercial town where you’ll get to discover the Nossa Senhora dos Remedios Sanctuary. This 18th-century church stands out with its white façade dominating a baroque staircase with 686 steps ending in a shrine built in the rocaille style and adorned with azulejos. The first stone was laid on February 14th, 1750, and gave way to the construction of a massive temple overlooking the city and providing a breathtaking view over the misty mountains of the surrounding landscape. Return on board in Regua.

The ship will arrive in Regua at 11:30 AM departing at 1:00 PM. The afternoon will be spent sailing towards Porto. We will dock in Leveirinho for the night.

Docking or the evening. This is different for TeemingRC as we usually travel at night. In Portugal on the Douro locks and docks are not open 24 hours!

We will pass through the Eclusa Crestuma Lock at 07:25 AM.

This is a full day for you to enjoy in Porto.

Enjoy one last buffet breakfast on board before disembarking at 9:00 AM (or as early as you need to for flights.) See you in France!

Departure and Arrival Docking Information

Quebrantoes Dock – Vila Nova de Gaia

Click for printable pdf map – boarding-porto-docking-douro-cruise-croisieurope

GPS Coordinates

Rua Manuel Pinto de Lima 41.137314 – 8.596249