Enticing Douro - Roundtrip Porto

A mesmerising city carved in granite: in Porto (population: 238,000, or 1.7 million in the greater area) you’ll find new, exciting perspectives at every turn – whether you’re beside the steadily flowing Douro, with its six different bridges, or in the lively city quarters of this northern Portuguese metropolis. As well as the imposing buildings of light-coloured granite, the symbols of Portugal’s second-largest city include gleaming azulejo tiles adorning church walls and townhouses, which look particularly handsome when it isn’t raining. You’ll need to be in good shape here – Porto is very hilly! But it’s worth the effort, because Porto – whose old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site – is pure poetry.

Régua is the largest city on the banks of the Douro in this wine-growing valley. The scenery in this region is simply magical, thanks to the pristine river, which meanders past steep slate slopes and terraces clad with vines. It is such a beautiful place that the Alto Douro has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001. The town played a fundamental role in the production and marketing of port wine – which was transported away by sailing boat – as early as the 18th century. If you would like to learn more, visit the Douro Museum, which provides a wealth of information about the world’s first protected wine-growing area. Then, take a walk to the popular viewing platforms São Leonardo da Galafura and São Salvador do Mundo and enjoy the panoramic views of the river landscape and the elegant bridges that lead into town. It is also worth visiting the old centre, uphill from the river. You’ll find several listed churches and townhouses there.

Régua is the largest city on the banks of the Douro in this wine-growing valley. The scenery in this region is simply magical, thanks to the pristine river, which meanders past steep slate slopes and terraces clad with vines. It is such a beautiful place that the Alto Douro has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001. The town played a fundamental role in the production and marketing of port wine – which was transported away by sailing boat – as early as the 18th century. If you would like to learn more, visit the Douro Museum, which provides a wealth of information about the world’s first protected wine-growing area. Then, take a walk to the popular viewing platforms São Leonardo da Galafura and São Salvador do Mundo and enjoy the panoramic views of the river landscape and the elegant bridges that lead into town. It is also worth visiting the old centre, uphill from the river. You’ll find several listed churches and townhouses there.

A mesmerising city carved in granite: in Porto (population: 238,000, or 1.7 million in the greater area) you’ll find new, exciting perspectives at every turn – whether you’re beside the steadily flowing Douro, with its six different bridges, or in the lively city quarters of this northern Portuguese metropolis. As well as the imposing buildings of light-coloured granite, the symbols of Portugal’s second-largest city include gleaming azulejo tiles adorning church walls and townhouses, which look particularly handsome when it isn’t raining. You’ll need to be in good shape here – Porto is very hilly! But it’s worth the effort, because Porto – whose old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site – is pure poetry.

A mesmerising city carved in granite: in Porto (population: 238,000, or 1.7 million in the greater area) you’ll find new, exciting perspectives at every turn – whether you’re beside the steadily flowing Douro, with its six different bridges, or in the lively city quarters of this northern Portuguese metropolis. As well as the imposing buildings of light-coloured granite, the symbols of Portugal’s second-largest city include gleaming azulejo tiles adorning church walls and townhouses, which look particularly handsome when it isn’t raining. You’ll need to be in good shape here – Porto is very hilly! But it’s worth the effort, because Porto – whose old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site – is pure poetry.