Cruise on the Douro in Porto: tickets, prices, times

Visit Portugal: this is our mini guide to make a cruise on the Douro in Porto!

The Douro is a river taking its source in Spain, at 2,160 meters above sea level, in the Natural Pac Sierra de Cebollera in Castile and León, a few kilometers from Logroño. It winds in the high mountains of the sierra de Urbión in the Iberian cordillera, flows in a narrow swirling of 612 kilometers through the Meseta , before going along the Spanish-Portuguese border in an accidental area of high granite walls, in the Natural Park of Arribes del Duero .

Fully Portuguese on 206 kilometers east in the west, it becomes navigable between Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia , where it flows into the Atlantic Ocean, to the prowes of Europe. The Douro Valley, bordered by world-renowned vineyards and registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 14 December 2001, has played a major role in the economic development of the region since the 18th century.

The river, before the creation of railways and body roads, ensured thanks to the barcos rabelos – typical boats with flat and high veil, designed to pass the rapids -, the delivery of the goods, including the fruits and wine of Porto. Do you want to make a cruise on the Douro in Porto? Visiting Porto along the water and wine would be a shame without passing through the Douro Valley.

So, want to sail on the Douro? Here is all the useful and necessary information to make a cruise on the Douro in Porto!

History of the Douro in Porto

Before the arrival of the steam locomotive and the cars, the Douro was the main communication axis of the merchants for the region of Porto. The city of Porto, 214,349 inhabitants in 2014, is built around the river and lives around the trade of the aperitif succulent of Porto. A cruise on the Douro in Porto allows you to explore the city by the river way – its bridges, the wine cellars of Porto in Vila Nova de Gaia – and the world-renowned vineyards. The Douro in Porto is inseparable from the history of wine in Portugal. Porto wine, already consumed without moderation in the Roman era, has one of the oldest appellations in the world (1756).

In fact, elixir was already used as a benchmark for the development of the first economic theories on international trade, the theory of comparative advantages between England and Portugal, specific to the British economist of the Classical School, David Ricardo (1772-1823). It must be said that Porto's wine has its reputation when Colbert , in 1667, decided to tax English imports. England boycotted the wine of Bordeaux , and found in Portugal his small substitute: the red wine, to which we added life water to support the journey until London : the porto was born.

The Douro region cultivates nearly 100 grape species, of which 80% of the properties do not exceed one hectare. The Douro Valley flies from the land cultivated on the terrace, meticulously carved in shale cliffs and gorgas of sun, which is called patamares. Thus, making a cruise on the Douro in Porto will explore the local fauna and flora – eucalyptus and wet saules by the green waters of the river – and sumptuous landscapes between Pinhão and Porto: a unique escapade, frustrating in the calm waters that brought Portuguese settlers back to the country after exploring the New Brazilian World, between history, architecture, bachic tradition and sparkling.

What to see and do on the Douro in Porto?

It took little time for the phylloxera, in the 19th century, to strip from the map this tourist treasure to the borders of Europe. Two possibilities are available to you to make a cruise on the Douro in Porto: a mini cruise of less than an hour, and a cruise on an entire day.

Of course you are recommended for a day cruise if you have time and budget. At the level of the boat, you will have a wonderful first view of the Ribeira district and the famous Dom-Luís bridge , built by a student of Gustave Eiffel between 1881 and 1886. Enjoy a beautiful view of the first wine vines taking breakfast in the boat.

The river ride continues to Porto Antigo, the city of Régua or to Ferradosa or Pinhão according to the selected formulas, time and budget. It is by sailing in the interior of the land, that you see these magnificent terraced cultures – the patamares – shaped by the hands of the winemakers to reconstitute the vines damaged by phylloxera. They are terraces without a wall of support, separated by high piles of earth, similar to altitude isoplèthes.

A cruise on the Douro in Porto makes it possible to take the historic route of the " Rabelo", these traditional Portuguese boats of the past wine merchants, to see the multiple dams of the river and to see the six bridges of Porto. On the side of the river, enjoy the typical Portuguese villages: Lamego , Ferradosa, Pinhão, Régua. Don't miss either visit the cellars where the porto ages and Vila Nova de Gaia, to go or to return.

How to go to the Douro in Porto?

Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport is Porto International Airport, where you will land to visit Porto, 11 kilometres north of the city centre. The metro, bus and quick shuttle allow you to reach the city centre of Porto in half an hour or 45 minutes. You can also opt for it car rental at the airport for greater freedom of movement. Then, to park, do not hesitate to read our article “ Cheap car park in Porto: where to park in Porto? "!

From the city center of Porto, look south, the quai de Ribeira - Cais da Ribeira - to find access to the Douro and the shipyards to make a cruise on the Douro. In particular, you will fall on the place where the boats leave to make the cruise of the six bridges. Departures can also be made on the other side, at the Quai de Vila Nova de Gaia.

Note that the return to Porto is by train from the Regua train station.

Schedules and prices of a cruise on the Douro in Porto

RATES

To make a cruise on the Douro in Porto, for a 50-minute navigation, count 15 € for most private providers.

Other formulas exist to navigate the Douro:

• Cruiser Pinhão – Tua – Pinhão : 20 €
• Day cruise : between 65 € and 88 € depending on the days and the period
• 3-day circuit cruise : more than 400 €
• 6-day circuit cruise : more than 1 000 €
• Children up to 3 years : free
• Children 4 to 12 50% reduction

HORARI

There is a departure per hour but schedules of appointment and train vary according to the offers, days and formulas chosen.

Here is an example of a one-day cruise programme: meet at 8 a.m. at the Ribeira dock, arriving at Régua at 14:45. Return by train from Regua at 1648. Arrival at Sao Bento train station in Porto at 6:50 pm.