Portugal and the Douro River Cruise Itinerary
Day 1 – Porto
Welcome to Porto! A dream made of granite and turned into a city. In Porto, you will come across new, exciting sights after every bend in the road. But first enjoy the atmosphere on the sun deck on board and savour the first few hours in Portugal on board the A-ROSA ALVA.
Day 2 – Porto, Regua, Pinhao
Good Morning Porto! For breakfast, you can admire the departure on the Douro. Float along in the morning hours and enjoy the first kilometres of the journey in the middle of Porto.
Régua is the largest city on the banks of the Douro in this wine-growing valley. It is such a beautiful place that the Alto Douro region has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001. The town played a fundamental role in the production and marketing of port wine – which was transported away by sailing boat – as early as the 18th century.
The small town of Pinhão is located in the centre of the famous port wine-growing region, where the Douro and its surrounding landscape are at their most picturesque. It is surrounded by enchanting vineyards and the quintas that produce the wine. Enjoy the sunset in Pinhão this evening!
Day 3 – Pinhao, Barca D’ Alva
The small town of Pinhão is waiting to be discovered by you! Why not go for a short walk along the Douro in the morning hours?
Amidst the hilly landscape of the Parque Natural do Douro lies Barca d’Alva. The tranquil village serves as the perfect starting point for excursions to Castelo Rodrigo and Salamanca.
Day 4 – Barca D’Alva, Vega Terron
Spend the morning in Barca D’Alva before cruising to Vega Terron.
In Vega Terrón, the Agueda joins the Douro. Both rivers form the natural border between Portugal and Spain. From here, you can take a trip to the Spanish city of Salamanca. With its new cathedral, old town and famous university, the city has a very special flair. Don’t miss Salamanca’s UNESCO World Heritage Site!
Day 5 – Vega Terron, Pinhao
Spend the morning in Vega Terron before travelling to Pinhao.
Day 6 – Regua, Leverinho
Régua is the largest city on the banks of the Douro in this wine-growing valley. It is such a beautiful place that the Alto Douro region has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001. The town played a fundamental role in the production and marketing of port wine – which was transported away by sailing boat – as early as the 18th century.
The rustic Leverinho is not far from Porto. From here, you can set off on exciting excursions to the harbour city.
Day 7 – Leverinho, Porto
Depart Leverinho in the early morning and travel to Porto.
The gleaming azulejo façades on the walls of churches and town houses are amongst the most recognisable features of Portugal’s second-largest city. The historic city centre, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is just pure poetry. Enjoy your day in Porto!
Day 8 – Porto
Today your eventful 7-night Douro cruise comes to an end. Just can’t get enough of Portugal? TIP: Enjoy some extra days with the Douro post-cruise programme. This way you can extend your holiday in Portugal and explore other beautiful places and regions.
