Thoughts on day tour of Douro River valley, including lunch

We did a Douro day trip with BL Heritage Tours and loved it! It was a small group (3 couples) and our guide/driver. You could probably DIY a day trip by bus, but the convenience of having the ride from Porto, winery stops w/ tastings, lunch and a small river boat cruises (with drinks and snacks) all figured out (and included in the price) for us definitely made the price worth it IMO. Our guide was also lovely and entertaining.

What do you mean by a bridges tour? In Porto? Do you have a particular interest in bridges-- engineering or photography, perhaps?

As for the Douro valley, it depends on what sort of tour you want to do (combination drive and train, combination drive and boat, just drive, type of lunch you'd like (in a vineyard for example, or in one of the small towns along the valley) but I'd pick one that includes a short river cruise. What time of the year are you going? A little cruise is very pleasant and cooling in the summer. I can't remember the name of the company we used, but I do remember booking it through Airbnb experiences. Airbnb, and I suppose others, allow you to correspond with the vendor to nail down exactly what you're looking for.

We did a seven day Douro River cruise in 2018 and spend extra days in Porto which is wonderful.

Having gone all the way to the border of Spain on our cruise (also, we did a day trip to Salamanca). I can say that the lower part of the river valley near Porto is not as scenic as up river.

Not sure, but I understand that day cruises up the Douro from Porto don't go to the most scenic places.

We did see the rail line on the north shore of the river that could be used to up farther upriver. Suggest staying in Regua or Pinhao.

We are also looking for a Douro Valley tour to/from Porto in one day. Is it possible?

I just got back from Portugal and also did a day trip to the Duoro Valley with BL Heritage Tour. We had a great time and also highly recommend this group. I actually booked it through air bnb experiences.

We just left Porto this morning. We enjoyed our Douro River port wine tour with Living Tours. We met our guide about 8:30. Visited Amarante on their Saturday market day. Enjoyed a port wine tasting and lunch at a small quinta. Stopped for a scenic viewpoint. Toured and tasted more port at a larger quinta, then had a 50 minute scenic ride on the Douro upriver from Pinhão. The ride wasn’t long but it was scenic and sufficed.
The guide, the driver and group of 29 were great. If you only have a day and don’t feel like renting a car and organizing this trip yourself, I’d recommend it. The guide had lots of information to share.
At the riverfront in both Porto and Gaia boats offer “six bridges tours” for 15 euros. The ride might last an hour. I’m not sure about that, though.

Any other feedback on great tours?

My sister highly recommends thecooltours for a day trip from Porto to the Douro valley. We are planning on going with them when we are in Porto in March 2023.

Thank you! TheCoolTours looks very nice and I see they have been around for a while. They are also smaller groups and you can cancel up to 24 hours before. Although my intent is not to cancel, you never know.