Tour of the two banks of the Douro in Porto
This tour starts in the square of Henry the Navigator, also known as the Infante of Sagres, the seed of imperial Portugal and the most beloved infant of Oporto, since he was born here, we will see his house and tell his story, fundamental to understand that Portugal occupied 4 continents.
In this same square is the Porto Stock Exchange, the first in Portugal, one of the must-see buildings in the city.
One of the things that defines the history and character of the Portuguese people is their faith and in our tour we will see and talk about the church of San Francisco, probably one of the most beautiful churches in Portugal.
We will go into Ribeira and Barredo, the oldest neighbourhoods of Porto, we will see what they were, what they are and what they will be. We talk about the distant and recent past and what awaits the neighbourhood with the increase of tourism and the controversial gentrification.
Furthermore, we will talk about how the medieval city functioned, its walls, gates and posts, the old customs and above all the importance of the Douro, since like so many other great cities, Porto was born on the banks of this great river.
On the bank of Porto we will still speak of bridges and French invasions, of queens, kings and princes, of legends and stories and of heroes and cowards.
And we still have the other shore, Vila Nova de Gaia, Gaia for friends, we will cross by boat.
Vila Nova de Gaia, although it is not Oporto, one cannot be understood without the other, and we will put in the place that corresponds to this great unknown of Portugal.
We will talk about its wineries, the Monastery of Our Lady of Serra do Pilar, which is a World Heritage Site.
We will see something current, modern and controversial as urban art in contrast to something classic, traditional and full of legends as the convent of Corpus Christi.
And we leave for the end, the best known of both shores which is, obviously, Port wine, we will explain why it is neither wine nor Port wine in a small winery where the tour will end.
What's included?
English or Spanish-speaking guide
*Includes boat cab ticket ONLY ONE WAY, (due to weather or capacity reasons, Porto Guides & Tours cannot guarantee the use of the boat cab every day.
Exclusions
Food or drink.
Gratuities.
Hotel pick-up and drop-off
Please note
Departure time: 9:30 am
Duration: +/-2 hours
Price: 23€ 19,9€ adults | 18€ 16,9€ students | children (1-8) free
Small groups.
Languages: Spanish and English.
Please note: The tour involves some walking
With less than 4 participants, the tour could be cancelled
Special prices per big groups, ask us by email.
Please for special requests email us at booking@oportoguias.com or click here
THIS TOUR IS NOT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE.
Did you want more?
You can join us on other tours and activities to complete your visit and make Porto the city of your dreams, as it is, without a doubt, for us.
**IT IS RECOMMENDED TO CHECK THE WEATHER FORECAST AS IT MAY BE RAINY, AN UMBRELLA OR RAINCOAT WOULD BE ADVISABLE OR SUNNY AND HOT AND WE RECOMMEND A HAT AND WATER.
What do I need to bring?
Comfortable shoes and clothes
Camera
Bring some good vibes
Cancellation policy
- We will charge a cancellation fee of 100% if booking is cancelled 1 day or less before the event
Experience type
Booking in advance
Duration
Difficulty
Categories
Arts / Culture | City Tours | Cultural And Theme Tours | Shore Excursions | Sightseeing | Walking Tour | Couples | Eco Friendly | Family Friendly | Group Friendly |Outdoor | Youth
Live tour guide
Spanish | English
Square of Henry the Navigator
Stock Exchange Palace
St. Francis Church
Casa do Infante
Plaza da Ribeira
Walls, Posts and Gates
Alminhas da Ponte and Ponte das Barcas Memorial
Luis I and Pensil bridges
Vila nova de Gaia
Sierra del Pilar monastery
Corpus Christi Convent
Half Rabbit and Pastel's artwork (urban art)
History of port wine and its cellars
Visit a small cellar
And much more...
Jardim do Infante Dom Henrique, 4050-450 Porto, Portugal, 4050-450 Porto, PT
It would have been a good cruise but it turned into a bus trip. You are only on ship for dinner. 8-hour bus trips comprise the rest. Booked a suite – top floor – with a balcony. Our view at night is the room on another boat next to us for the 3rd night out of 4 river days. An 8-day cruise has turned into a 1-day cruise with passengers offloaded in the day, taken to a mediocre destination (other than Salamanca in Spain, which is exceptional), and then reloaded right before dinner—in a completely different location. So beware, you don’t actually cruise the river—instead, the boat cruises the river when you are off of it. You are bussed from city to city. Between showers that don’t drain, wake-up calls we did not request, bus trips with inadequate heating, parking the boat next to other rooms with no view, and limited time actually moving on a river, this is blatant false advertising. Glossy ads, interesting location descriptions, and carefully edited scenes depict an experience you will never get—even in the suites. Save your money and schedule your own vacation. You’ll be better off for it. And don’t forget that the pool is not heated because it broke down a month ago and the bathroom floor is as cold as ice. Nothing advertised has been delivered.
This is a stunning waterway, that is essentially the life blood of Porto, no river, no city, we had so much fun, walking the banks, using many of the bridges that cross it, and enjoying the drink it is famous for.
The Douro River wine tasting tour with Living Tours exceeded our expectations. The tour was very well organized. The views, the tastings and the river cruise were amazing. The lunch was very good. Thanks to our expert driver Lucas, we felt safe and comfortable during the ride on winding roads despite some drizzle and fog. And our excellent guide Jose Pereira, who was very knowledgeable, friendly and professional, made this day the highlight of our trip to Porto. We highly recommend this tour with Living Tours.