Porto
From Porto to the Douro Valley
The Douro is the river that brought port wine down to Porto, and its valley is terraced with vines from the water to the ridge. Getting there is half the point. The train follows the river for most of the way, close enough to see the current.
14 November 20265 min read
Picolo Editorial
In short: Porto to the Douro
The train from São Bento in Porto runs five or six times a day to Régua and Pinhão, and the fare to Pinhão is €12.20 each way. Sit on the right going east for the river. From 3 November 2026 to 24 March 2027, buses replace trains between Marco de Canaveses and Régua. InterContinental Porto, a few minutes from São Bento, is our first choice in the city.
Last checked: November 2026.
By train
The Linha do Douro leaves from São Bento, the station in the centre of Porto, and also stops at Campanhã. For the first hour it runs through the suburbs, and then the river appears. The train follows it upstream through Régua and Pinhão to Pocinho. To Pinhão, the journey takes about two and a half hours.
The fare to Pinhão is €12.20 each way, with ten per cent off a return. Sit on the right-hand side going east, where the river is. Pinhão station is worth a stop in itself, with blue-and-white tile panels showing life in the valley.
Winter: buses on part of the line
The line is being electrified, and from 3 November 2026 to 24 March 2027 trains are suspended between Marco de Canaveses and Régua. CP runs buses instead, both direct from Caíde to Régua and stopping at the stations in between. The journey takes longer, and bicycles and wheelchairs cannot be carried on the buses. Check the timetables at cp.pt before you go.
By boat
River boats run between Régua and Pinhão, and longer cruises go further up the valley. Many visitors take the train one way and the boat the other. Your hotel in Porto can book a boat trip, or you can book with the operators directly.
By car
A hire car gives you the N222, the road that follows the river between Peso da Régua and Pinhão through the terraces. The catch is the tastings: whoever drives does not drink. A driver-guide is the usual answer.
Day trip or overnight?
A day trip works, but it is long, about two and a half hours each way by train to Pinhão. One night in the valley lets you visit a quinta, a wine estate, in the late afternoon light and come back the next day. Our guide to Douro Valley hotels covers where to stay in the valley.
Picolo picks the hotel for you
Picolo is the hotel guest's best friend. We take on the role of guide and do the work before you book: we look at the hotels in the area, where they stand, what guests say and what is actually there. Then we choose the one hotel that suits this particular trip best. For a Douro trip with Porto as a base the choice fell on InterContinental Porto, a few minutes' walk from São Bento. Guests rate it 9.4 out of 10 on Hotels.com.
Our first choice in Porto
InterContinental Porto Palácio das Cardosas
InterContinental Porto stands on Praça da Liberdade, at the foot of Avenida dos Aliados. The building began as a monastery for the Lóios friars, became a palace in the 19th century and a hotel in 2011. São Bento is a few minutes' walk away, so you can catch the first Douro train of the day without a taxi. The Astória restaurant has a glass roof and a terrace, and the Cardosas bar has fado on Thursdays. The port lodges of Vila Nova de Gaia are a walk across the Dom Luís I bridge.
Frequently asked questions about Porto to the Douro
How do you get from Porto to the Douro Valley?
The easiest way is the train from São Bento or Campanhã along the Linha do Douro to Régua or Pinhão. There are five or six trains a day, and the fare to Pinhão is €12.20 each way. You can also drive, take a river boat from Régua or book a guided tour.
How long is the train from Porto to Pinhão?
Allow about two and a half hours each way. The first hour runs through the suburbs, and then the train follows the river. From 3 November 2026 to 24 March 2027, buses replace trains between Marco de Canaveses and Régua, which makes the journey longer. Check times at cp.pt.
Which side of the train should you sit on to the Douro?
Sit on the right-hand side when travelling east from Porto, as the river is on the right through Régua and Pinhão. If you carry on to Pocinho, the river switches sides after Tua. Trains are rarely full outside summer weekends, so you can usually move seats.
Is a day trip to the Douro Valley worth it?
Yes, if you start early. A day gives you the train ride, lunch in Pinhão and a quinta visit, but it is long. One night in the valley lets you see the terraces in evening light and taste without watching the clock. In winter, the bus on part of the route makes the day longer still.
Sources
Train times, fares and seating advice draw on Seat61 and Lonely Planet. Details of the winter buses come from Comboios de Portugal and Diário de Notícias. Details of InterContinental Porto come from Time Out and Frommer's. Nelso Silva and Joseolgon took the photographs of the valley, via Wikimedia Commons. Hotel photographs are from Hotels.com (Expedia Group). Last checked November 2026.
Cheers from the Douro
Picolo Editorial