Douro's Valleys & Vineyards 2024 Itinerary Porto to Porto Viking®
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Visiting a local winery, we learned all about the wine making process, before tasting some of their best vintages of course. Afterwards the Viking passengers were taken to another local winery for a long and leisurely lunch that was as much fun as I’ve had in a long time. Put all together, that day spent in a very small village was special, certainly unique and nothing I would have discovered on my own. A big reason why many people choose to take a river cruise on the Douro River is for the wine, and Porto provides a hint as to why.
Preparing to Set Sail on the Douro
This makes the trip much slower-paced than a cruise on the Danube or the Rhine River. It’s more about relaxing and enjoying the scenery, which is spectacular, especially as you move farther north, where river access through the valley is more recent. Our Portugal cruises uncover one of Europe’s oldest and most renowned wine regions. Cruise the Douro River through ancient wine estates, passing barcos rabelos laden with casks en route to Porto and Lisbon. A sublimely scenic corner of Europe, with equally sublime food and wine.
Stylish Travel Clothes You Need For Your Next Trip
I long to return to explore the area and soak up more of this great country. Biblioteca Joanina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it’s no wonder when you explore it. I wasn’t allowed to take photos inside, but it was beautiful. There is a gorgeous brick ceiling, and old volumes line the walls. We were told that students still use the books in the library.
Barca d’Alva
European river cruises have skyrocketed in popularity in recent years for a variety of reasons and, from my experience, it’s well deserved attention. The cruises on the Douro River though are completely unlike others I’ve experienced, in all the best ways possible. After breakfast, take a city tour of Porto, a charming riverside community whose historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
To ensure a beautiful cruise into the heart of Portugal, be sure to book your cruise today with the expert consultants at The Cruise Web. The water surrounding and flowing through Portugal has really shaped this nation. Thanks to its tremendous coastline, a lot of Portugal's food comes from the ocean. Portugal has the highest fish consumption per capita of any other European nation. Cod is king in Portugal – not only is it the most popular dish, it's also a major export. The Portuguese claim to have a cod recipe for every day of the year.
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Today, this historical district is famous for its labyrinth of narrow medieval streets, small squares and quaint cafes and restaurants. After Belém Tower we visited the nearby Navy Museum and Jerónimos Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s quite an impressive building (see above photo). Belém Tower is arguably the most important tourist attraction in Lisbon. We did not actually go inside this 16th century tower but we were able to marvel at its unique Manueline architecture.
Optional Tour – A Taste of Lisbon
It has beautiful blue and white tiled walls extended all along the outside and we could hear music from inside. We stepped in just as someone was singing Ava Marie. I listened from the back for a few moments before continuing down the street.
Surrounded by terraced hills, spot some of the area’s quintas, clinging to the slopes. Experience Porto, where you can roam the port warehouses and take in the town’s cultural heritage. Visit Régua, Barca d’Alva and Favaios, home to one of the last traditional bakeries in the Douro Valley. Explore Salamanca, Spain, a UNESCO Site and one of Iberia’s oldest university towns.
All Viking Portugal river cruise passengers meet in Lisbon and travel by bus to Porto to board the ship. Due to the depth of the Douro River, the larger Viking European river cruise longships cannot travel on the Douro. Instead of traveling with approximately 200 passengers, you’ll travel with only 100 passengers, including the crew.
Itinerary and shore excursions are subject to change and may vary by departure. Sample the delicious ruby-colored fortified wine for which the city is known. See the UNESCO-listed Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower, and visit the Bairro Alto district.
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Our itineraries have been expertly curated to provide you with opportunities every day of your voyage to engage with your destination through its food, landscapes, culture and history. Here’s a little insight to what you will find on the River of Gold cruise. Journey through the Douro River valley and into the history of fine Portuguese wine.
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We’ve returned from a fun Portugal river cruise and have so many wonderful experiences and photos to share. A European river cruise has been on our travel wish list for years now, so we jumped at the opportunity to partner with Viking River Cruises for this Portugal river cruise. Portuguese culture, cuisine and architecture has been shaped by both its coastal location and its vast history of civilisations that date back centuries. We believe travel should be more than just a trip―it should be your gateway to personal enrichment.
It is now a great way to and from the top of the hill on the Porto side down to the Douro Riverfront and the lowest level of the Luís I Bridge. It takes about two minutes and costs 2.50€ (about $2.72 USD) per adult. Our meals onboard included a selection of classics that the chef made available each day, including steak, salmon, and chicken. However, each evening, the chef served meals from the region.
With that said, we must disclose that we teamed up with Viking River Cruises in order to make this trip possible. We agreed to share our honest, firsthand experience on this blog and social media channels. The river lock is located on the right side of Valeira Dam, in that big concrete box with the black door that resembles a garage door. We were told that these are some of the tallest river locks in Europe.
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