I wasn’t positive what to consider the Douro Valley as I drove into it from Porto. Truly, that’s a lie—I didn’t prefer it.
From the craziness of the drivers alongside the impossibly slender riverside roads, to the script I heard all of the tour guides I encountered at numerous viewpoints and landmarks studying, to the unhealthy attitudes of shopkeepers and restaurateurs in cities like Regua and Pinhão, it will be a fantastic understatement to say that I wasn’t impressed.
And but it was this disappointment that ended up main me to a conclusion I can now say inside 100% confidence: That the Douro Valley is price visiting, completely, with none query.
For instance, as I used to be driving across the area have a quasi panic assault, I unintentionally drove to an lodging that had the identical title because the one I’d booked—Quinta da Portela—however was a special property fully. Initially, this upset me (the primary one was stunning, if a bit stuffy and exclusive-feeling). Nonetheless, because it turned out, the extra down-home Quinta da Portela Casa Visconde provided exactly the expertise I wanted.
Issues to Do within the Douro Valley
Do a port wine tasting (or two)
The excellent news? Should you determine to remain in a quinta as I suggested above, your room can have a copious quantity of free wine ready inside it for you, permitting you to take pleasure in a tasting session with out having to get behind the wheel. The comfort prize? All guided excursions of the Douro Valley embody tastings; when you’re self-driving however not staying in a quinta, there’s at all times the spittoon.
Take a river boat journey
I’ll be sincere: The river itself doesn’t issue into why I discover the Douro Valley price visiting, even whether it is clearly the supply of all of the superb wine, to not point out its export to the remainder of the world. For a lot of vacationers, nevertheless, Douro River cruises are a must-do on this a part of Portugal, significantly the boozy ones that embody free-flow drinks.
Ascend a viewpoint
It may be onerous to understand to the dimensions of the Douro Valley from river stage. Fortunately, there are many high-up viewpoints—and never simply ones at upscale wineries and their hard-to-eat-at eating places, though when you occur to be visiting these locations you may after all take pleasure in panoramas from there. My favourite public viewpoint within the Douro Valley space might be the one at Casal de Loivos.
Eat at native eating places
Talking of upscale eating places, there’s an argument that these kinds of locations are an enormous a part of what makes the Douro Valley price visiting. The counter-argument, after all, is that they’re stuffy and overpriced, and that their homeowners are boastful and don’t actually like vacationers very a lot—this was definitely my expertise. Conversely, I had top-of-the-line meals of my life at Restaurante Mercantil within the off-the-beaten-path city of Armamar.
As I described just a few paragraphs up, my keep at Quinta da Portela was one of the memorable of my total life. Along with having a two-bedroom, two-century previous farm home to myself, I had extra port wine than I might drink, 14 acres of vineyards to discover, three pleasant canine to pet and a breakfast unfold so large that even taking a look at it made me need to pop.
The best way to Get to (and Round) the Douro Valley
Should you don’t have a complete day and evening to dedicate to the Douro Valley, you may simply come right here for the day from Porto. Dozens of tour firms promote all through town, each exterior the port wine cellars south of the river in Vila Nova da Gaia, in addition to at many accommodations (together with yours, almost definitely). You possibly can even ebook a Douro Valley day tour on-line and prematurely, for peace of thoughts.
In my view, nevertheless, staying in a single day in a quinta is among the key substances that makes the Douro Valley price visiting. Having a rental automobile sweetens the deal even additional—and never simply because it opens up visits to cities like Braga, Guimãres and Coimbra, though this helps. Having the liberty to roam (albeit to not drink as a lot as you need, when you’re the one driving) lets you make your Douro Valley journey utterly your individual.
Different FAQ About Visiting Porto’s Douro Valley
Is it price going to Douro Valley?
It’s completely price going to the Douro Valley. That is particularly the case in case you have sufficient time to remain in a single day in a quinta, and also you’re capable of hire a automobile, versus relying on public transport or taking a guided tour.
What number of days ought to I spend in Douro Valley?
I’d advocate spending a minimal of two days—so, one evening—within the Douro Valley. It will will let you discover the valley’s numerous wine cellars and viewpoints, and likewise to benefit from the expertise of staying in a quinta. Alternatively, when you can’t handle to remain in a single day, you may take a day tour from Porto.
Do you want a automobile in Douro Valley, Portugal?
You don’t completely want a automobile within the Douro Valley—there are arguments in opposition to it, in truth, specifically that whoever is driving can’t actually take pleasure in any wine. However, the price of renting a automobile is normally equal to or lower than how a lot a tour from Porto prices, and is after all means simpler than having to navigate by way of public transport.
The Backside Line
A giant a part of why I ended up discovering the Douro Valley price visiting is that my journey didn’t go as deliberate. Following the well-marked path, it turned out, was a positive path to disappointment. Certainly, I fell in love with the area as a result of (not regardless of) the assorted obstacles I encountered alongside the best way. As is so usually the case in journey, it was distant from the place all the opposite vacationers have been taking their Instagram photos that I discovered my favourite moments of magnificence and magic.
Robert Schrader is a journey author and photographer who’s been roaming the world independently since 2005, writing for publications akin to “CNNGo” and “Shanghaiist” alongside the best way. His weblog, Go away Your Day by day Hell, offers a mixture of journey recommendation, vacation spot guides and private essays masking the extra esoteric points of life as a traveler.
