Porto: arrival and riverside cellars
Arrive at Porto airport
Flights land at Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, about 11 km north of the city centre. Allow time for baggage collection and car hire. Book your car → for a week of exploration through the Douro Valley and northern coast. The drive into Porto takes about 20 minutes via the A3 motorway.
Check into hotel and explore Ribeira district
Settle into your accommodation in the historic Ribeira neighbourhood, a UNESCO World Heritage site with narrow cobbled streets, terracotta roofs, and the Douro River below. Walk down to the riverfront to get your bearings and watch the afternoon light catch the azulejo tiles on the buildings. Search hotels → in Ribeira for character and convenience.
Taylor's or Graham's Port cellars tour
Cross the iconic Dom Luís II bridge on foot and head to one of the major port wine lodges on the south bank in Vila Nova de Gaia. Both Taylor's and Graham's offer guided tours through their cellars with tastings of tawny and vintage ports, explaining the ageing process and styles. Tours typically last 90 minutes and reveal the cool, dark corridors where barrels rest for decades.
Search Port cellar tours in Porto on GetYourGuide →
Dinner and fado in Ribeira
Return to Ribeira for dinner at a local tasca or restaurant with views over the Douro. Many venues host live fado performances in the evening, the mournful folk music that feels quintessentially Portuguese. Enjoy grilled fish, francesinha sandwiches, or pastéis de bacalhau while musicians play.
Porto: churches, towers, and coastal walks
Clérigos Tower and Church
Climb the 225 steps of this 18th century baroque tower for panoramic views over Porto's red rooftops and the Douro estuary. The church itself is a masterpiece of gilded woodwork. On clear days you can see all the way to the Atlantic coast from the top.
Livraria Lello bookshop and Carmo Church
Visit one of Europe's most beautiful bookshops, with its red staircase and stained glass skylight. Just next door, Carmo Church displays striking blue azulejo tilework on its exterior. The area around Clérigos is compact and walkable.
Lunch and casual stroll to Foz
Take a light lunch in the city centre, then drive or take the metro north to Foz do Douro, where the river meets the Atlantic. Walk along the promenade past the fortress of São João and the new art installation areas. The coast is breezy and refreshing, with cafés overlooking the water.
Serralves Contemporary Art Museum
This striking white museum in the Miragaia neighbourhood houses contemporary art in a building designed by Álvaro Siza. Admission includes access to the lush sculpture park. Even if contemporary art isn't your focus, the building itself and the parkland are worth the visit.
Evening aperitif at a riverside café
Settle into a café along the Ribeira waterfront as the sun sets. Order a glass of white wine, a francesinha with a cold beer, or simply a coffee and observe the river traffic and the bridge lights beginning to glow.
Douro Valley: terraced vineyards and Quinta de Santa Júlia
Drive from Porto to Régua via the scenic Douro corridor
Leave Porto on the A4 heading east, then follow signs for the Douro Valley. The drive takes around 2 hours and follows the river valley as it begins to narrow. Stop at viewpoints along the way to see the dramatic terraced vineyards cut into the hillsides. This is quintessential Douro landscape, UNESCO recognised, with vines planted on near-vertical slopes.
Quinta de Santa Júlia: tour, tasting, and lunch
Spend the heart of the day at Quinta de Santa Júlia, a beautiful estate in the hills around Régua. The experience combines a guided tour of the vineyard and cellars with a long, unhurried lunch where estate wines are paired with every course. Throughout the meal and tasting, estate wines are always included, ensuring every bite and every moment is harmonized with the best of Quinta de Santa Júlia. Afterwards, linger and explore at your own rhythm. Wander through the vineyards, gardens, or woodlands, and take in the serene landscapes that make the Douro so timeless and unforgettable.
Search wine tours in the Douro Valley on GetYourGuide →
Check into accommodation in Régua
Régua sits at the heart of the wine region on a bend of the Douro. After a full morning and afternoon at the quinta, check into your accommodation here, a comfortable base for the next day's exploration deeper into the valley.
Sunset over the Douro from Peso da Régua viewpoint
Drive or walk up to the viewpoint above town for sunset views over the river bend and surrounding vineyards. The light turns golden and pink, illuminating the terraces. Bring a bottle of local wine and some cheese from a local shop.
Douro Valley: Pinhão and scenic drives
Drive from Régua to Pinhão via scenic valley road
Head east from Régua along the N222 road, which winds along the north bank of the Douro through some of the most spectacular vineyard country in Portugal. The journey is slow and beautiful, with hairpin bends and views at every turn. Stop at the small village of São João da Pesqueira for a coffee. Pinhão is reached in around 45 minutes.
Explore Pinhão and azulejo tiles
This small riverside town is famous for its train station, decorated with stunning blue azulejo tiles depicting Douro Valley harvest scenes. The town itself is quiet and charming, with narrow streets and local restaurants. Pick up supplies from the market or bakery for a picnic.
Picnic and vineyard walk near Pinhão
Head into the hills behind Pinhão on foot to walk amongst the terraced vineyards. You can follow established tracks between the vines, passing small quintas and stone walls built centuries ago. The views down to the river are continuous. A relaxed 2 hour walk with picnic supplies is perfect for September weather.
Return to Pinhão and river-side dinner
Settle into a restaurant overlooking the Douro with a view of the terraces on the far bank. Order grilled fish, regional dishes like arroz de lampreia when in season, or simple grilled meats with local wine. The pace here is slow and unhurried.
Amarante: medieval bridge and riverside charm
Drive from Pinhão to Amarante via Mesão Frio
Leave Pinhão and head back west on the N222, stopping at Mesão Frio if you wish to see the terraced vineyards from the other bank. Continue on smaller roads towards Amarante, a journey of around 90 minutes through quieter countryside. The drive descends gradually out of the wine region.
Check in and explore Amarante's medieval bridge
Amarante is built around a 15th century stone bridge spanning the Tâmega River. The town is small, walkable, and quieter than Porto. Check into your accommodation, then stroll across the bridge and through the riverside gardens. The old town on the far side has narrow streets and a local church dedicated to São Gonçalo.
Lunch by the riverside
Find a café or restaurant with a terrace overlooking the Tâmega. Local specialities include fresh fish from the river and regional pastries. The atmosphere is relaxed and the pace is slow, perfect for a long lunch.
Amadeo de Sousa Cardoso Museum
This museum houses works by the modernist painter born in Amarante, displayed in a converted mansion. The collection gives insight into early 20th century Portuguese art and the region's cultural heritage. It's a small but quality museum that gives flavour to the town.
Evening walk through the old town and aperitif
Wander through the narrow streets of the medieval quarter as the light begins to fade. There are small shops, a local market, and quiet squares. Stop for a glass of wine and a snack at a bar or café before dinner.
Guarda and Belmonte: fortified towns and history
Drive from Amarante to Guarda via IP5
Leave Amarante and head east towards the interior, following the IP5 towards Guarda. This is a longer drive of around 2.5 hours but moves through less touristed countryside. Guarda sits at 1000 metres elevation on a plateau in central Portugal, making it one of Europe's highest walled towns.
Explore Guarda's walls and cathedral
Guarda's old town is enclosed by medieval walls with towers. The Gothic cathedral is one of Portugal's largest, begun in the 14th century and remarkable for its stone carving. Walk the perimeter of the walls for views over the plateau. The town feels austere and atmospheric, especially in September light.
Lunch and rest in Guarda
Take lunch at a local restaurant serving hearty regional dishes and local wines. Guarda is quieter than tourist hotspots and food is good value. Rest for the afternoon if you wish, or explore the town's several museums and small churches.
Drive to Belmonte and Jewish heritage sites
Drive south from Guarda to Belmonte, around 45 minutes away. This small town has a remarkable history as a centre of hidden Jewish worship during the Inquisition period. Visit the Jewish museum and the small synagogue that was hidden in a private house. The castle ruins overlook the town.
Castle viewpoint and return to accommodation
Climb to the castle ruins above Belmonte for sunset views over the surrounding valleys and plateaus. The landscape here is wilder and less manicured than the Douro Valley. Return to your accommodation in either Guarda or Belmonte for a quiet evening.
Return to Porto via Covilhã and coastal approach
Drive from interior to Covilhã and then westward
Begin your return journey towards Porto. Head west from Guarda or Belmonte towards Covilhã, a textile town that marks the edge of the interior plateau. From there, follow roads westward back towards the coast and Porto, a drive of around 3 hours total. The landscape transitions from plateau to river valleys.
Stop at a scenic viewpoint or small town en route
Depending on your exact route, there are several opportunities to stop for a coffee or walk in small towns like Viseu or Oliveira de Azeméis. These breaks make the return journey more enjoyable and less fatigue-inducing.
Lunch somewhere en route or in outskirts of Porto
Take a leisurely lunch at a roadside restaurant or in a small town. Regional dishes and local wine are your final chances to taste the region before returning to Porto.
Arrive in Porto and return rental car
Reach Porto by mid afternoon. Return your rental car to the airport or city centre location. If your flight is later in the evening, you may have time to rest at the hotel or revisit a favourite spot in Ribeira.
Departure preparation and farewell to Porto
Prepare for your evening or next morning departure. Depending on flight time, take a final walk along the riverside, have a last coffee at a familiar café, or simply rest before heading to the airport. This relaxed journey through northern Portugal will leave you with memories of terraced vineyards, riverscapes, and unhurried Portuguese hospitality.