What to do and see in Porto, Northern Portugal: The Best Day Trips from

June 12, 2021 Enedina Augsburger

The town that gave the country (and port wine) its very name, Porto is Portugal’s second-largest metropolis after Lisbon. Sometimes called Oporto, it's an age-old city that has one foot firmly in the industrial present. The old town, centered at Ribeira, was built on the hills overlooking the Douro River, and today is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 14th-century São Francisco church is a main attraction, as are the local port wine cellars, mostly located across the river at Vila Nova de Gaia.
Restaurants in Porto

1. Douro Valley Private Premium Tour with Wine Tasting (1 to 4 people)

MaiaTours
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 8 reviews

- Enjoy a customized private tour (just you and our driver/guide) in the Douro Valley with tasty local food, wine and products from the region such as Olive Oil, Honey, Almond, Olive and Cheese (upon prior notice at the time of booking)... Have a typical lunch in a famous family-owned wineries carefully chosen place and suited to your tastes... Take a "Rabelo" boat cruise in the heart of the Douro Valley on a traditional boat used for centuries to transport Port wine… Visit a charming winery, stroll in the vineyards and taste Port Wines… The transportation is in a comfortable and premium Mercedes E class.

Inclusions: Visit and Port wine tasting at a local winerie, Transportation in a comfortable premium Mercedes E class, Sightseeing private tour (just you and our driver/guide), The tour can be changed and adapted to each client (customizable), Air-conditioned vehicle, All Fees and Taxes, Hotel pickup and drop-off, WiFi on board

Exclusions: Lunch (you will choose à la carte according to your interests), River cruise (10€ per person), Taste of: Olive Oil, Honey, Almond, Olive, Cheese and Bread (10€ per person)

Reviewed By weaselz99

Was able to have a custom experience seeing the Duoro Valley, in a nice Mercedes ride through the valley and to the vineyards. I put some thoughts together and Ricardo was able to make it happen at a reasonable rate. Would do this again in a heartbeat, very fun trip.

2. Private Wine Tour in Douro Valley - Private wine tastings and lunch included

Tourvent - Travel and Events
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 82 reviews

Our day starts with a pick up at your accommodation in Porto (or other locations) at 8:30 am. During the day, you will have the wonderful opportunity to savor several Douro DOC and Port wines with commented tastings, a 50-minute boat ride at the small village of Pinhão, and a three-course meal with wines. It's now time to stop at the famous Pinhão railway station and enjoy some breathtaking landscapes. Relax: the time is all yours! Have an innovative perspective of this region’s history, culture, and gastronomy, while strolling through the vineyards where the finest wines from the “Quintas” (Wine Estates) are produced. A memorable experience! Have some time to admire the viewpoints and take group pictures – the Douro Region is truly overwhelming! At the end of this adventurous day, rest on a gentle drive to Porto, where we will drop you off comfortably at your accommodation at around 7:30 pm.

Inclusions: 3-course meal and beverages. Wine included., Port & Douro DOC Wine tastings, Douro river cruise (50 minutes), Pick up & drop off at your accomodation, Visit to the Pinhão railway station, Specialized tour guide

Exclusions: Gratuities, Personal expenses.

Reviewed By Fejervary

It was an incredible and perfectly organized experience. Alfredo (our guide) picked us up at our place at 8:30 am sharp and drove us very safely to Douro valley. There we visited our first two vineyards (or Quintas) in the morning, then had a good lunch with an amazing river view, took a boat ride where we could see the majestic scenery of the valley. After the boat ride, we visited our third and last vineyard before driving back to Porto. He is very knowledgeable on the local wine history and techniques. It is easy to see how much he loves and respects the subect. On COVID related (New Normal) measures, we all wore face masks during our trip, every winery complied the key health measures (social distance, masks, sanitizer, etc) - I thought this might help some other travelers take the decision. We will always remember this day!

3. Porto city small group full-day tour with wine tasting and cruise in Douro River

Meridian4People
Excellent
0%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
100%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 21 reviews

Discover the magic and charm of Porto during this full-day tour, which includes a river cruise, wine tasting and lunch . Visit some of the city’s most famous landmarks, including the Porto Se Cathedral, Avenida dos Aliados, and the Torre & Igreja dos Clerigos. Head to a Port wine cellar for a tasting of Portugal’s most famous wine, then hop on a boat and float down the Douro river, admiring the six local bridges over the water. The pickup and drop-off from your hotel is included on the tour.

Inclusions: Hotel pickup and drop-off, Bottled water, Air-conditioned vehicle, River cruise , Porto wine tasting, Lunch, WiFi on board

Exclusions: Personal expenses, Gratuities

Reviewed By HHT17389

Hello, My wife & I were a part of this small group tour with another Brazilian family.Our guide was Micael Neto.He was very friendly & very approachable from the start of the tour.He drives well & is able to communicate his point in English.We personally preferred the Aveiro part to Coimbra.The Costa Nova beach & the light house were fantastic.The Moliserro cruise is an experience one should have.We had lunch & Avos Moles at the Market Square at Cafe Pixinho.The Coimbra tour was mainly a university,cathedral & the market square. Speaking personally about Micael a few incidents which stood out for me, a)He found a restaurant in Aveiro which serves vegeterian food for us. b)In Coimbra when the others were busy in the university he took us to the Botanical Garden & Cathedral. c)He helped us plan the rest of our trip in Porto & Lisbon with his suggestions. d)He even recommended places to have vegeterian food near our hotel. e)He ensured that each members personal interests were taken care off during the tour.He made it a point to understand our likes & dislikes.Eg.He made it a point to show me the storks nests & the Dragao stadium. The tour was well organised as any other but Micael was very good & would highly reccomend travelling with Micael to anybody in the future. Cheers, Dr.Vidhi & Harshit

4. Porto Half-Day Tuk Tuk Private Tour with Lunch

Private Tours Porto
Excellent
0%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
100%
Overall Ratings

4.9 based on 18 reviews

Private Tours Porto invites you to enter this ancient city that gave its name to Portugal and has a wine know around the world – The Port Wine. World Heritage since 1996. We will spend 90 minutes very lively and fun in our Tuk Tuks, our guides will tell you all the stories of the city, will show you the historical center and the most beautiful monuments of the city, the S. Bento Station (includes a guided tour), S. Francisco Church and the Cathedral, the oldest monument in the city, 12th century. We will cross the D. Luís Bridge to Gaia, breathe the atmosphere of Port Wine and see the city from the best hotspot: Serra do Pilar Monastery; we returned to Porto to the Torre dos Clérigos and one of the main icons of the city: The Lello Bookstore, founded in 1904 where you can see and admire the plaster stairs imitating wood who inspired a passage from the movie Harry Potter. We will continue to Matosinhos, where a fantastic typical lunch awaits us at a local restaurant by the Sea.

Inclusions: All taxes, fees and handling charges, Lunch, Hotel pickup and drop-off

Exclusions: Drinks

Reviewed By sccmgt59

Francisco was very knowledgeable and friendly. He spoke good very good English I would recommend this tour to anyone.

5. Paiva Walkways and Aveiro Tour

Ennetours
Excellent
94%
Good
6%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.9 based on 17 reviews

You`ll walk along one of the most beautiful walking trails in the world: the Paiva Walkways: a 8 km boardwalk zig-zagging down along the left bank of Paiva river at Arouca Geopark.´ NEW FEATURE: the breathtaking new Suspension Footbridge is open to public! It spans 516m-long across the valley and hangs 175m above the Paiva River. Will you dare? Notice: As some of you may fear heights, crossing the bridge is optional and tickets are very limited and not included. Let us now by message if you wanna cross the bridge. (extra cost of 12€pp). A delicious traditional meal after the walk in a typical restaurant! (vegetarian options available) Afternoon in Aveiro: explore the old quarter, the main squares, the fish market and taste one of city's delicacies: sweet-eggs! Board on a "moliceiro", the traditional river boats, and discover the charming city through the canals. See Costa Nova, the magnificent fishing village with its wooden houses in bright striped colors. Return to Porto

Inclusions: Transport by air-conditioned minivan, Driver/Local guide, Boat ride at Aveiro river canals, Sweet eggs tasting, Traditional lunch, The Paiva Walkways Tickets

Exclusions: Gratuities, Any service that is not clearly specified in the inclusions, The Paiva 516 Footbridge ticket (if available)

Reviewed By Melissa_musgrove

My daughter and I took a walking tour with Norberto Lopes Pinto in Porto. He was by far the best tour guide we had during our stay in Porto and Lisbon. He is very knowledgeable about the history of his Country. Whether it be architectural, political, or about local gems. His personality is warm and inviting, with a good sense of humor. He created the perfect balance of pointing something out and "moving on" and "staying still" to take in, and learn about about something of important interest. Having Norberto as our first guide raised the bar for each guide after him. A tough act to follow! We're so thankful to have had him show us Porto. Highly recommended.

6. Premium Service-Douro Valley with Lunch,Boat and Tastings

Oporto Sensations Tour
Excellent
0%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
100%
Overall Ratings

4.9 based on 167 reviews

Visit the Douro Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Region with a rich history and culture that’s stood the test of time. Your guide ( specialized in douro wines) will take you to typical villages, high quality wine producers and you will see the sights from the water during a 1-hour river cruise. Enjoy a delicious, local lunch at a traditional restaurant. You will also have the opportunity to try locally made olive oil on this full-day tour with premium service.

Inclusions: Round-trip transportation to the Douro region by air-conditioned NEW vehicle (9 seats), Hotel / Apartment pickup and drop-off, Specialized guide in the DOURO region throughout the day, Guided tour of 2 wine producers, with wine tasting in the 2 visits (high quality wineries), Regional lunch including drinks (water/juice/Douro table wine, DOC), Tasting of 2 table wines, white and red, Total of 6 wine tastings (4 Port wines + 2 table wines), Douro gourmet olive oil tasting, Tasting of the region´s traditional fruit jellies, Panoramic cruise in Pinhão (1hour), Small group tour (max. 8 persons), Bottled mineral water, Refreshing tissues, Umbrella (if necessary), Satisfaction guarantee

Exclusions: Personal expenses

Reviewed By JameshG1982

This was a really memorable experience booked after having been on the Douro Valley tour offered by João and Pedro (I would highly recommend that also). Having tried wine from the region before visiting Porto we were keen to find out more about the Vinho Verde region. The tour did not disappoint, the views were spectacular from the viewpoints in Ponte de Lima and Viana do Castelo and made you really appreciate the most amazing Portuguese landscape, it;s really such a special area of the county. João was a fantastic guide, he personalised the experience and took time to get to know us and share his knowledge of the region. The town of Ponte de Lima was beautiful and I left feeling like I had seen part of the country not as famous as Porto. I'd recommend this experience if you are in Porto and also doing it with João and Pedro, they are both such great hosts and when I come back to Porto I will be getting in touch to arrange further tours. Highly recommend both the company and doing this tour if you're in Porto. Thanks for such an amazing time!

7. Braga and Guimarães Tour with Lunch from Porto

Porto, Portugal EFun Tours
Excellent
0%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
100%
Overall Ratings

4.9 based on 10 reviews

Discover the culture and picturesque beauty of northern Portugal on this full-day Braga and Guimarães tour with lunch, from Porto. Accompany your guide to Braga’s grand medieval Sé Cathedral, and enjoy hilltop birds-eye views. Savor a traditional Portuguese lunch, then explore Guimarães’s charming town center and and Medieval Castle before returning to Porto.

Inclusions: Lunch, Transport by air-conditioned minivan, Local guide, Entrance in Bom Jesus Funicular, Entrance in Braga's Cathedral, Entrance in Guimarães Castle

Exclusions: Gratuities

Reviewed By 523koenp

Guide was very cool, lot of interesting information. Helps you get familiar with different types of port, tastings are really good.

8. Authentic Douro Wine Tour Including Lunch and Optional River Cruise

Porto, Porto, Porto District, Northern Portugal Oporto Road Trips
Excellent
0%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
100%
Overall Ratings

4.9 based on 347 reviews

This 9-hour tour will show you the best of Douro, the first Portuguese wine region and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Learn about Douro and it's evolution all over centuries. Marvel at the sculpted landscape on the best viewpoints over the Douro Valley. Take a 1-hour river cruise, learn about the production of olive oil at a local producer property, visit two Port wine estates (wine tasting included) and enjoy the lunch at a typical portuguese restaurant.

Inclusions: Hotel pickup and drop-off (Includes pick ups at Airbnb);, Small-group tour up to 5 people;, Expert tour guide;, Transport by air-conditioned minivan;, Visit to two wineries with guided visits and 8 wine tastings (Ports and DOC Douro Wines), Lunch of typical Portuguese food (Meat, fish or vegetarian. Gluten free may also be requested);, Local olive oil tasting, Bottled water, Face mask and alcohol based hand sanitizer.

Exclusions: Optional 1h River Cruise at the Douro Valley - Extra 10€ per person

Reviewed By OnAir94365

Was a great experience. The company is really dynamic, responsive to emails, punctual and friendly. We learned a lot during the day, visited a couple of wine farms. Owners were both passionate about their savoir-faire and their wine. The boat cruise gives you the chance to see from a different angle this beautiful valley ! Autumn is a fantastic season to picture landscape and fall colours ...

9. Douro Valley Tour with Visit to two Vineyards, River Cruise and Lunch at Winery

Porto, Portugal EFun Tours
Excellent
97%
Good
3%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.9 based on 63 reviews

Leaving at 9:00 am in a air conditioned minivan, let's head to the wonderfull and beautiful Douro Valley. Just before doing the first activity, it's for a coffee break to rest from the long journey and glimpse for the first time the majestic landscape. Your day will start with a wonderfull one hour cruise on Douro River, so relax and enjoy the scenery! Following, time for lunch, held at the amazing first vineyard. Enjoy a 4 course meal paired with wine form their production in a 17th century property followed with the visit to their instalations culminating with tastings of their delicious Ports. Don't miss the chance of visiting yet another wonderfull family sized small production in the last produer, which love from the art burst from his words. Have the chance of tasting their reds, whites and heir old Port's. After a long day of wine tasting, relax and enjoy your ride back to Porto

Inclusions: Have a delicious lunch in a winery, Have several samples of Port Wine and Wine from the region, Air-conditioned vehicle, Visit two Vineyards and tastings of their excelent wines, One hour river cruise

Exclusions: Gratuities

Reviewed By 523koenp

Guide was very cool, lot of interesting information. Helps you get familiar with different types of port, tastings are really good.

10. Private Douro Valley visit to three vineyards with Lunch from Porto

EFun Tours
Excellent
0%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
100%
Overall Ratings

4.9 based on 8 reviews

Book this tour and have the chance to visit three vineyards and sampling several Port and DOC wines! If you enjoy wine, this tour is definitively for you! Culminate your experience trying the local gastronomy in the lovely and quaint boutique vineyard,  Get to know how internationally renowned Port and DOC wines are one of the most important heritages in northern Portugal! Learn more about it's production and the different types of Port and Wines.

Inclusions: Lunch at a fantastic Vineyard, Visit to three vineyards, Several tastings of Port and DOC wines, Visits to mid-size, large and small brands, Driver/guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Transport by air-conditioned minivan, Lunch

Exclusions: Gratuities

Reviewed By 523koenp

Guide was very cool, lot of interesting information. Helps you get familiar with different types of port, tastings are really good.

TAGS

Share on FacebookTweet about this on TwitterShare on LinkedInPin on PinterestShare on Google+Email this to someoneShare on VkontakteBookmark

ThingsTodoPost © 2018 - 2024 All rights reserved.