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Day trip to Duoro - trains, boats, or automobiles?

Posted by (Washington DC) on

I'm having a hard time, even with three guidebooks sitting in front of me, deciding the best way to do see the Duoro Valley. Us: A couple and one DD (10). Planning on three nights in Porto, with one including a full daytrip up the Duoro (mid April on a weekday), unless everyone insists we stay overnight somewhere else.

I had read one option of taking the train from Porto to Regua, then cruising from there to Pinhao. Then train all the way back to Porto. I think we'd be happy with sampling at just one winery and just soaking in the scenery. We could easily rent a car to do this trip, but it sounded like this might be better a way to do, esp for a little travel adventure. I assume the views might be better in this combo train and boat trip vs driving?

As for what we are doing AFTER these nights in Porto, we have two nights left in Portugal. We're heading north for a night to Guimares and possibly across the Spanish border for a lunch and then back down to Lisbon or near it for our last overnight.

What would be best?

Posted by
867 posts

I did a small group (max 8 people) van tour day trip from Porto to the Duoro area. It included a stop in Pinhao, an opetion for a one hour boat cruise, lunch at a nice restaurant in a hilltown, and visits to two vinyards. I used Cooltours Oporto but there are a number of companies offering similar tours.

For your question about where to go after Porto, since you are returning to Lisbon, you might consider places like Coimbra and Tomar that are between Porto and Lisbon.

Posted by
1239 posts

The train is easy, and inexpensive, but you would want to be aware of the schedules, as it
is not a "the train runs once an hour on the hour" kind of thing.

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