Visiting Douro Valley | 3 reasons to discover the region
Douro Valley is a Portuguese region that winds through the northern part of the country. Blessed with magnificent wine estates and charming villages, it is an ideal destination for wine enthusiasts
The Douro Valley is a Portuguese region that winds through the north of the country. Blessed with magnificent wine estates and charming villages, it is an ideal destination for wine enthusiasts and those seeking outdoor activities. From Vila Real to Peso da Régua via Lamego and the Peneda-Gerês park: discover 3 reasons to visit Douro Valley!
1 – Explore its picturesque towns
Vila Real
Located inland, Vila Real is a charming university town. Steeped in traditional living, it is renowned for its ancestral values and historical monuments.
Palais Mateus: this splendid casa is a baroque masterpiece designed in the 18th century. It is surrounded by majestic gardens and rose gardens that will enchant you as much as its richly furnished interior.
Casa de Diogo Cão: built on two levels in the 15th century, this house is where the famous Portuguese navigator Diogo Cão was born. Its singularity? Its stone staircase erected beneath an arcade.
Capela Nova: after admiring its splendid façade, don't hesitate to step inside the chapel. You will be able to contemplate azulejos (typical earthenware decorated with motifs).
Lamego
Perched on a hillside, Lamego is a town highly appreciated for its wine estates, but also for its historical sites, including:
Lamego Cathedral: designed in 1129, it proudly displays its architectural evolution, realized over the centuries. Alternately Romanesque, Gothic or baroque, it will dazzle you with its ancestral beauty.
Santuário de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios: since 1984, the Notre-Dame of Remedies Sanctuary has been classified as a Building of Public Interest in Portugal. Its highlight? The splendid double-flight staircase adorned with azulejo – with its 686 steps!
Peso da Régua
Renowned as the birthplace of Port wine, Peso da Régua was once a crossroads of wine trade. Today, the town is visited for:
Museu do Douro: spread over 3 floors, the museum will teach you much about the wine industry in the Douro region. After discovering the wine culture, you can enjoy its flavors at the wine bar!
Miradouro de São Leonardo da Galafura: the highest point in Douro Valley, this viewpoint offers breathtaking views over the hills carpeted with vineyards.
2 – Taste its world-renowned wine (or THE reason to visit Douro Valley)!
Explore the vineyards
Douro Valley is renowned for its wine-producing lands. "Port" and "Douro" are two appellations known and appreciated worldwide. The Upper Douro wine region (and its valleys dotted with vineyards) was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2001. As you traverse these lands, you can admire its steep vineyards, but also – and most importantly! – initiate yourself into the art of wine appreciation.
Visit the quintas (agricultural estates)
Quinta da Avessada: its wines are exported worldwide. Spanning approximately 1,000 hectares, this quinta is renowned for its dry whites and moscatel (sweet wine).
Quinta da Pacheca: with vineyards planted in the 16th century, this estate produces a wide variety of wines. After a tasting session, don't hesitate to stay overnight at The Wine House Hotel…
Quinta de Santa Eufémia: created in 1864, this wine estate is a heritage passed down through generations within the same family. Its wines are produced using traditional winemaking techniques.
3 – Explore its exceptional parks while practicing outdoor activities
To discover and explore Douro Valley, nothing beats outdoor activities. With its lush landscapes, its mountain ranges and its breathtaking panoramas, the valley promises beautiful adventures in trekking, canoeing, or boating.
Douro International Natural Park
This vast domain stretches along the Douro and marks the border between Portugal and Spain. To admire its wildlife and flora, don't hesitate to opt for a boat ride. As you navigate the famous river, you will have an overview of this natural work of art made up of vineyards and fruit trees planted in terraces. Blue thrushes, deer and many other wild animals will surely complete the picture!
Reserva Natural Estuario do Douro
Located on the south bank of the Douro River, Reserva Natural Estuario do Douro sits near a fishing village. Its salt marsh is an incredible observation post to admire hundreds of birds (including the least sandpiper and the black-tailed godwit)!
Frequently asked questions
Douro Valley is magnificent year-round, but the best period remains spring (April-May) for the flowering vines, and autumn (September-October) to witness the grape harvest. Summer can be very hot, with temperatures sometimes exceeding 40°C.
From Porto, you can reach Douro Valley by train (historic line to Pinhão, approximately 2h30), by car (approximately 1h30 to Peso da Régua via the A4) or by river cruise on the Douro. The train running along the river offers spectacular scenery.
A quinta is a Portuguese wine-growing agricultural estate. In Douro Valley, many quintas open their doors to visitors for tastings, cave tours and even accommodations. It is generally recommended to book in advance, especially during peak season.
The Upper Douro wine region was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2001. This recognition acknowledges the extraordinary cultural landscape shaped by 2,000 years of viticulture, with its steep terraced vineyards, its quintas and its traditional villages that border the Douro River.
Douro Valley is famous for two major appellations: Port (sweet fortified wine, red, white or rosé) and Douro (still red and white wines). There are also sweet wines such as moscatel de Favaios. Native Portuguese grape varieties such as Touriga Nacional produce wines of great typicity.
Douro Valley offers many outdoor activities: hiking through vineyards and natural parks, canoeing and boating on the river, cycling between quintas, and bird watching in the Reserva Natural Estuario do Douro. Douro International Natural Park, on the Spanish border, is ideal for boat trips.
