Douro Valley Tour by Car: Visit a Quinta in Pinhao, Portugal

Photo: Douro Valley Tour by Car.

You can learn about why Douro Valley is one of the most visited UNESCO World Heritage attractions in Portugal while visiting vineyards that cover the hills around the Douro River.

Located at a short distance from the historical and coastal city of Porto, the Douro Valley is a must-visit wine region in the area. If you’re not much of a drinker or if you take the kids with you, there’s still plenty of other things you can do here in Northern Portugal.

The stunning Douro Valley extends beyond the Douro River and counts with a few charming towns throughout. So, whether you come here for a day trip or change your mind and decide to stay for a couple of days, the valley has plenty to keep you occupied.

Photo: The Douro River Valley. Portugal.

A Douro Valley walking tour is the perfect choice if you want to experience the region’s beauty and history but you are not necessarily into tasting a bunch of wine. On the other hand, if you are looking for a tour that hops from one Douro Valley winery to the next one and you like to sample ports and wines, then a guided tour might be a better option for you.

While in the Douro region, you will have the opportunity to visit some old family estates that go way back to the 18th Century or to explore wine cellars that use modern technologies. In this part of the country, you can also find properties that offer private guided tours that include wine tastings and its delicious premium ports or that offer also panoramic vineyard views.

Just follow the Douro River and visit one of the most unique spots on earth. Wake up in this valley with outstanding views and enjoy a route with terraced vineyards, climb some hilly cobbled backstreets or taste Port, the world-famous wine.

Road cycling is one of the best ways to discover the Douro valley. Why? Because the winding roads and a few wine hotels can make for a great bike tour in this demarcated region.

This part of Portugal is really challenging for road cycling because all the roads by the river are flat, but after you start moving away from the Douro, it’s all uphill. You need to climb from 1000m to 2000m in 40km which can be quite challenging for the inexperienced cyclists, but the good news is that the average incline is medium. This means that with a bit of patience and determination, almost anyone can ride along these 7 to 10 km climbs.

Besides, the views are definitely worth it! Viewpoints like São Salvador do Mundo or Casais de Loivos will surely provide great views of the river and of the wine terraces.

Photo: Take a Douro Valley bike tour.

If you choose to drive in the Douro valley, you count with the freedom of visiting any point you want and to pick the wine estates you want to see. Moreover, here you can drink plenty of its famous wine, so by picking a guided tour by car, you can drink as much wine as you like without worrying about the way back home.

Furthermore, there are other options to enjoy Douro like a boat trip from Porto, or other train and car options. Remember that it’s important to choose the one that best suits your budget, your available time as well as your personal preferences.

Travelling to the Douro Valley by car gives you greater flexibility and time to explore the different towns and villages along the route. One of the most important advantages is that more of this region can be visited than if you choose a cruise boat.

Photo: Douro Valley.

If you travel in the Douro valley, give yourself some extra time to spend in the town of Pinhão. You will find out that here is a walking/biking path which goes along the Douro River and it can be perfect for a stroll in the area.

When you get to Pinhão, drive uphill to Miradouro de Casal de Loivos and you will admire the magnificent view over Douro Valley. After that, drive down to the center of Pinhão where you will find the charming glazed tiles placed in the train station.

A good idea when you are here is to go for a walk along Pinhão quay, or maybe go on a one-hour cruise, which can be a perfect way to admire the Douro Valley from a different perspective.

And if you want to make this day even more memorable, visit one of the quintas (wine estates) of this region. After all, the Port wine production is what makes this region known worldwide.

Photo: Douro River near Pinhão. Turismo En Portugal. Adapted under license (CC BY 2.0)

Quinta da Costa do Pinhão from Portugal is a vineyard property that has belonged to its owners for more than 6 generations. It is one of the quitas that has always been renowned and produced Port wines for the most influential Port Wine Houses.

And Quinta de la Rosa from Pinhão offers some of the best views of Pinhão.

From the Quinta de la Rosa you’ll have sweeping views on the river, you´ll see the hills filled with vineyards and the lovely Pinhão.

Wall to wall windows, wine tasting rooms or the outside terrace, they all frame this amazing view.

In many ways these quintas represent what the Douro region is all about… pride, courage, a strong tradition, and the determination to create the finest product in one of natures’ most difficult climactic conditions.