A Douro Valley day trip from Porto is the perfect way for to experience Portugal’s stunning wine country. In this guide, we share everything you need to plan your visit—whether you join a guided tour or explore on your own—including our favorite wineries, scenic viewpoints, and insider tips for an unforgettable day.
The Douro Valley is a UNESCO-listed wine region known for its terraced vineyards and scenic river views. There are more than 200 historic quintas (wineries) in the valley, making it the perfect place to taste world-famous Port wine.
And the best part? It’s only about an hour’s drive from Porto’s city center!
We’ve put together a detailed guide and step-by-step itinerary for planning your own perfect Douro Valley day trip, with options for self-driving or joining a guided tour (no DD needed!).
Douro Valley Day Trip Guide
Douro Valley tours vs. self-drive day trip
The first question you need to ask yourself is: should you do this day trip on your own, or join a guided tour? The answer depends on your personal preferences and travel style.
Joining a guided tour is a great option for most people since there are plenty of highly-rated, reasonably-priced tours to choose from. Plus, since the main event is wine tasting, it’s nice to have a built-in designated driver!
On the flip side, self-driving allows you to go at your own pace and stop at any viewpoints that catch your eye (there are lots!). We opted to drive ourselves since we were traveling with kids and knew we wouldn’t be over-indulging.
Below we’re sharing our top recommendations for Douro Valley tours, as well as the exact itinerary we followed for the perfect self-guided day trip.
→ Psst! Be sure to check out our perfect 2-day Porto itinerary as well!
Best Douro Valley day trip tours
Before we decided to drive the Douro Valley ourselves, we did tons of research and comparisons to find the best guided day trips from Porto. Here are our top picks:
Authentic Small Group Douro Wine Tour with Lunch & River Cruise
- Time: 9-10 hours
- Cost: $136 USD per person
- Check availability
Our top pick for a guided tour! We love that it’s a small group (8 guests max), so it feels like a more authentic, personalized experience.
This tour includes pickup and dropoff at your accommodation in Porto (downtown only), tastings at 2 wineries, lunch, a 1-hour river cruise, and quick stops at some of the best viewpoints & photo ops along the way.
Note: Though this tour isn’t recommended for children, they are flexible. You’ll need to reach out well in advance to ensure a proper car seat for your child.
Douro Valley Wine & Boat day tour
- Time: 9.5 hours
- Cost: $195 USD per person
- Check availability
Also limited to 8 guests per group, this tour offers a more elevated small-group experience. Enjoy tastings at 2 family-owned wineries, a 1-hour river cruise with snacks, and a traditional Portuguese lunch with wine pairings.
Note: Children under the age of 12 are not permitted on this tour.
Douro Valley with Boat Tour Wine Tasting & Lunch
- Time: 10 hours
- Cost: $87 USD per person
- Check availability
A more budget-friendly option, this tour includes visits to 2 wineries, a 1-hour river cruise, lunch in a wine cellar, and an olive oil tasting.
Bonus: By booking this experience, you can also get a free walking tour of Porto. This offer starts the day after your day trip, depending on availability.
Slight alternative: 2 Wine Regions, Farm-to-Table Lunch & Boat
- Time: 9-10 hours
- Cost: $110 USD per person
- Check availability
If you don’t mind a busy schedule, this tour might be the best bang for your buck.
In addition to Douro Valley, you’ll also visit the town of Amarante, located in Portugal’s Vinho Verde wine region. (See below for more on Amarante!). Tastings are included at both wineries as well as during the 1-hour river cruise.
In total, you’ll taste 11 wines on this tour (good thing you have a professional driver!), and you have the option to book the farm-to-table experience for either brunch or lunch.
Oh, and you’ll also get to see a sommelier open a bottle of vintage Port with fire… just sayin’.
Self-drive Douro Valley day trip itinerary
This is the exact itinerary we followed for our Douro Valley day trip and we had the best time!
1. Stop in the town of Amarante
Plan to spend about 1 hour in Amarante.
- Driving time from Porto: 50 minutes – 1 hour
- Driving distance from Porto: 37 miles / 60 km
- Google Maps directions
The town of Amarante is known for its colorful riverside houses backed by rolling green hills, its picturesque stone bridge, and its unique pastries, making it the perfect place to stop for a pick-me-up.
The most infamous local sweet is the Bolos de São Gonçalo, a phallic-shaped pastry filled with… *checks notes*… cream. Personally, we thought the pastry was just okay and more of a funny photo op, so we’d recommend getting other things to eat, too.
Things to see in Amarante:
- Confeitaria Lailai: get one of the famous phallic pastries for a funny photo (plus some other snacks to try!)
- Alternative: Moinho Centro Historico
- Ponte de São Gonçalo: iconic stone bridge where Portuguese troops held a blockade against French invaders during the Napoleonic wars
- Church of São Gonçalo: 16th-century church with an attached museum
2. Tour and port tasting at Quinta do Tedo
Aim to arrive at Quinta do Tedo around 10:30 a.m.
- Driving time: 1 hour
- Driving distance: 47 miles / 75.5 km
- Google Maps directions
This historic winery is nestled at the confluence of the Douro and Tedo rivers and surrounded by some of the best views in the entire Douro Valley.
Their certified organic wines are highly-regarded and the estate is smaller than some of the massive wineries in the region, offering a more intimate, authentic experience.
Important info
- Cost: €20–€35 / $23–$40 USD per person for a regular tasting
- Tastings include a group tour of the cellars and lagares
- Vintage wine tastings are more expensive
- Hours:
- 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. April to October
- 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. November to March
- Browse all wine experiences
3. Lunch
You have two lunch options at Quinta do Tedo:
Option A: Picnic lunch overlooking the Douro River
This is what we personally did and we think it’s a great option for families with kids, as well as anyone looking for a casual, yet unforgettable meal.
The experience includes a tour and tasting, followed by a lunch of local cheeses & charcuterie, salads, breads, fresh orange juice, and your choice of wine.
You can have your picnic at a riverside table with breathtaking views, or enjoy a cozy lunch among the barrels in the wine cellar.
Important info
- Starts: 10:30 a.m.
- Time: 3 hours
- Cost: €57 / $67 USD per person
- Book your experience!
Option B: Dine at the Michelin-recommended Bistro Terrace at Quinta do Tedo
The winery’s onsite restaurant offers fine dining in an intimate setting, with an amazing menu highlighting regional flavors.
- Open Wednesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner
- Lunch: 12 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
- Dinner: 7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
- Closed Mondays & Tuesdays
- Tours and tastings not included
4. Douro River boat cruise
- Driving time: 18 minutes
- Driving distance: 7 miles / 11.7 km
- Google Maps directions
After lunch you’ll head to Pinhão, just a few miles upriver from Quinta do Tedo. There, you’ll hop on a small boat for a 1-hour tour on the Douro River.
Enjoy a complimentary glass of Port wine as you cruise by stunning landscapes and terraced vineyards that rise up on either side of the river.
Important info
- Starts: 3 p.m.
- Time: 1 hour
- Cost: $15 per person
- Book your boat tour!
5. Quinta da Pacheca winery
- Driving time: 33 minutes
- Driving distance: 16.5 miles / 26.5 km
- Google Maps directions
One of the most iconic estates in the Douro Valley, Quinta da Pacheca is much larger than Quinta do Tedo and therefore a completely different experience.
Make a reservation for a tour and tasting, or simply show up, order a drink (we recommend the Porto Tonic!), and explore the beautiful grounds.
Important info
- Cost: Tour & tasting experiences start at €24 / $27 USD per person
- Hours:
- 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. April to October
- 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. November to March
- Browse all wine experiences
Alternative: Visit Quinta do Seixo, where the most famous Port, Sandeman, is from.
Finally, return to Porto for dinner and sunset. (We have recommendations for both in our Porto guide!)
- Driving time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Driving distance: 75 miles / 121 km
- Google Maps directions
Have more time to spend in the Douro Valley?
Spending a night or two in the Douro Valley gives you more time to eat and drink your way through this gastronomic gem. Plus, you get to explore after all the day-trippers have left—a side of the Douro Valley most tourists miss.
Here are 4 places we recommend if you’re staying in the Douro Valley:
- Quinta de S.Bernardo Winery & Farmhouse (worth the splurge): The Quinta de São Bernardo farmhouse is stunning and the onsite restaurants are not to be missed.
- The Wine House Hotel (most unique): Stay in a wine barrel room at Quinta da Pacheca (aka the Wine House Hotel).
- Portovella Lodges & Bungalows (most affordable): These riverside bungalows have a modern design and a beautiful pool
- Octant Duoro (all-around amazing choice): Octant Douro earns consistent rave reviews and has a stunning infinity pool.
- Tip: Choose a river view room.
*Be sure to reserve this accommodation as far in advance as possible, as they do book up!
Insider tip: For an unforgettable meal, have dinner in a greenhouse at Quinta de São Bernardo. Reservations are required and can be made by emailing reservations@quintadesaobernardo.com
Plan your trip to Portugal
From vibrant cities to seaside escapes, we’ve got everything you need to plan the perfect Portugal adventure—from city guides and road trip itineraries to food tips and hidden gems! Start with our Portugal homepage or dive into some of our favorite articles below…
- We’ve curated the perfect 2-day Porto itinerary that blends culture, flavor, and creativity in this charming city.
- Our 3-day Lisbon itinerary covers all the must-sees (and a few local secrets!).
- Our 1-week Madeira itinerary is perfect for adventurous travelers who want to get into nature!
Perfect Portugal itinerary
Want the perfect Portugal trip planned for you?
From the colorful streets of Lisbon to the storybook castles of Sintra, the medieval charm of Óbidos, and the vineyard-covered hills of the Douro Valley—Portugal is overflowing with beauty and culture. But planning the perfect route can be overwhelming (trust us, we’ve been there!).
That’s why we created our done-for-you Portugal itineraries—each one crafted from our own travels, plus countless hours of research and insider tips from locals.
We have a 2-week road trip itinerary that takes you through Lisbon, Sintra, Óbidos, Monsanto, Peneda-Gerês National Park, Porto, the Douro Valley & more, a Lisbon & Porto itinerary for those short on time, and a Madeira itinerary for the ultimate island adventure.
Whichever route you choose, you’ll get a complete, stress-free plan packed with expert advice, and local recommendations, so you can simply show up and enjoy the adventure!
Don’t miss your chance to grab our Portugal Packing Checklist!
If you’re planning a trip to Portugal, we have the ultimate resource for you!
This FREE PDF download includes everything you’re going to want to pack for your trip to Portugal, plus tons of insider tips!
Sign up for our ultimate Portugal packing list now and get a copy sent straight to your inbox.
Save this itinerary on Pinterest for later!
We want to hear from you!
What did you think of our Douro Valley day trip itinerary? Are you planning a trip to Portugal and have more questions? Let us know in the comments and we’ll do our best to get back to you!