Food & Wine
Douro Valley: wine tours, quintas and where to stay
The Douro Valley is terraces of vines climbing up from the river, quintas pouring tastings and a train ride you will not forget. Here is Picolo’s guide to a wine trip in the Douro Valley, with hotels right among the vineyards.
The train from Porto follows the river for more than two hours, and with every bend the valley grows steeper and the terraces multiply. When you step off at Pinhão, the station building is covered in blue and white tiles showing the harvest, and all around you the vines climb almost to the sky. The Douro is the home of port wine, and one of the most beautiful wine regions in Europe.
The Alto Douro is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is often described as one of the oldest demarcated wine regions in the world. Today it produces both port and dry red and white wines. Here is how to plan your trip, and the hotels we would stay in.
The links to the hotels are partner links. If you book through them, Picolo may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
How to plan a wine trip to the Douro Valley
Getting there: the train from Porto São Bento along the river, a car, or a river cruise from Porto.
Choose your base: Pinhão for the vineyards, Peso da Régua for the museum and train links, or a wine hotel on a quinta.
Book your tastings: many quintas welcome visitors, but often require booking ahead.
Bring a driver: the roads are winding and the tastings are many.
For more things to do in the valley, from river cruises to the riverside railway, see our Douro Valley experience guide.
Wine hotels in the valley
The best thing about the Douro is staying among the vines. Several quintas have their own hotels, many with restaurants serving local food and wine lists from their own production.
Six Senses Douro Valley: the manor above the river
Six Senses occupies a restored manor house in the hills above the Douro, surrounded by vineyards and gardens. The spa and pools look out over the valley, and the wine library lets you taste wines from across the region.
A hotel for a calm, luxurious base with nature all around.
Book your wine trip: See rooms at Six Senses Douro Valley
The Vintage House
By the river in Pinhão
The Vintage House: by the river in Pinhão
The Vintage House stands on the riverbank in Pinhão, in the heart of port country. The station with its famous tiles is close by, and several quintas can be reached on foot or by a short drive.
Perfect if you want to travel by train and stay in the middle of the wine region.
Book your wine trip: See rooms at The Vintage House
Quinta da Pacheca
A wine hotel near Lamego
Quinta da Pacheca: sleep in a wine barrel
The Wine House Hotel is on the Quinta da Pacheca estate near Lamego and Peso da Régua. The estate is known for rooms built as giant wine barrels out among the vines, as well as classic rooms in the main house.
A fun choice for staying on a working estate and tasting the wine where it is made.
Book your wine trip: See rooms at Quinta da Pacheca
Quinta Nova: Relais & Châteaux among the vines
Quinta Nova Winery House is a small hotel on a wine estate overlooking the river, part of Relais & Châteaux. You stay right in the middle of the production, with tastings and a restaurant on site.
For peace, views and wine from the estate itself.
Book your wine trip: See rooms at Quinta Nova Winery House
Start or finish in Porto
Most people reach the Douro via Porto. In Vila Nova de Gaia, across the river from the centre, are the port lodges where you can taste and learn how port is aged. River cruises up the Douro also leave from here.
The Yeatman
Views over Porto
The Yeatman: the wine hotel in Vila Nova de Gaia
The Yeatman sits on the hillside in Vila Nova de Gaia, overlooking Porto and the river. It has a huge wine cellar and a strong focus on Portuguese wines.
A natural first or last stop on a Douro wine trip.
Book your wine trip: See rooms at The Yeatman
When is the best time to visit the Douro Valley?
The harvest, the vindima, usually runs from September to early October and is the most atmospheric time to visit. Spring is green and quiet, and summer is hot, especially in the upper valley. In winter some quintas have reduced opening hours.
When should you book your hotel?
The September harvest: the most popular time, so book early.
Summer weekends: the wine hotels have few rooms and fill fast.
Flexible rates: choose a cancellable room if you are planning far ahead.
Frequently asked questions about the Douro Valley
How do you get to the Douro Valley?
The easiest way is the train from Porto São Bento, which follows the river to Peso da Régua and Pinhão. You can also hire a car, take a river cruise from Porto, or book a wine tour with a driver.
When is the best time to visit the Douro Valley?
September and early October are harvest time and the most atmospheric period. Spring is also lovely, with green vineyards and fewer visitors. Summer can be very hot.
What is the Douro Valley famous for?
The Douro is famous for port wine, the steep terraced vineyards along the river and a growing number of dry red wines. The Alto Douro is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Can you do wine tastings at the Douro quintas?
Yes, many quintas offer tours and tastings. Most require booking ahead, so plan your visits before you travel.
Where should you stay in the Douro Valley?
Six Senses Douro Valley and Quinta da Pacheca are near Lamego, The Vintage House is by the river in Pinhão, and Quinta Nova is right among the vineyards. In Porto, The Yeatman is an excellent wine hotel.