Things to do in Vila Real District

Explore the stunning beauty of the Douro Valley on a tour to 2 wine estates. Make a quick stop at the town of Amarante and taste regional wines at both wine estates. Sit down to a delicious lunch before sailing through the lush landscapes of the Douro Valley on a river cruise. Begin your tour in Porto and learn about the region's history and wine while driving to the Douro valley. Stop for a coffee break in the historic town of Amarante and admire the town's Church and Convent of São Gonçalo, or purchase some of the pastries at one of the iconic pastry shops. Continue to a wine estate in Sabrosa. Enjoy a guided tour of a family-owned wine estate. Learn about and try 3 of the estate's wines during a guided tasting. Savor a lunch paired with red and white Douro wines while overlooking the vineyards. After lunch, drive to Pinhão, with a photo stop at São Cristovão viewpoint. Take in panoramic views of the Douro valley. See where the Pinhão river joins with the waters of the Douro River before embarking on a cruise at Pinhão.  In the afternoon, take a guided tour of a famous wine estate (Quinta da Roeda – Croft/Taylor’s group or Quinta São Luiz – Kopke/Burmester group). Uncover the history of the vineyard and the secrets if the wine-making processes. Taste 3 of their fine wines before returning to Porto by one of the world's most scenic roads, the N222.

Get out of Porto and into Portugal's gorgeous wine country. Take in views from the window of your vehicle, visit vineyards and taste their wines, embark on a boat cruise, and more on this all-inclusive trip. Take advantage of a morning pickup by choosing that option during booking. Begin your tour with a stop at a viewpoint to enjoy the views. Then, sit back and relax as your vehicle hits the road for the Douro Valley. Enjoy an excursion which includes a visit to different 2 visits to two distinct places, with the opportunity to taste some of the different types of wine which are produced there. You'll also experience a typical (and delicious) Portuguese meal. Partake as well in a relaxing ride along the Douro River. Your excursion also includes being taken by your driver to what the BBC called one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the world.

Start your full-day tour in the center of Porto where your guide will introduce you to the rich history of the city and share some intriguing anecdotes with you. Travel in style in a comfortable vehicle to Peso da Régua and relax there. Next, head to the first tasting stop on the itinerary. Discover and taste the region's famous wines while admiring the panoramic views of the vineyards that weave across the landscape. Around midday, you’ll move on to a restaurant for a delicious local Portuguese lunch. Choose from fish, meat, and vegetarian options. Continue your journey to the second vineyard visit and enjoy a tasting conducted by an expert in wine. Before returning to Porto, take a scenic 1-hour river cruise along the Douro River, where you can mingle with the other guests you've met along the tour.

Cruise along the Douro River with a glass of wine in hand on this return boat trip from Pinhão. Take in the beautiful landscapes and ask your guide questions to enrich your knowledge of the valley, river, and wine. Board your boat and take a seat to begin your sightseeing cruise of the Douro River Valley. During your ride enjoy a glass of wine and indulge in its deep flavors.  From the river, appreciate your striking surroundings and get to know the oldest demarcated and regulated wine region in the world. Take a look at the terraces built by nature and sculpted into vineyards that produce the famous Port wine.  During your boat trip, a guide will be available to ask any questions you have regarding the region and its wine.

Navigate a unique river, in the heart of the oldest demarcated wine region of the world which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You'll start this adventure from Pinhao, pass under the Eiffel iron bridge going upstream to the Tua area where you will turn around to make the return journey. Along the way, see hills of terraced vineyards with no national roads or traffic in sight. Although you will do the same stretch up and down, it will appear different, as it is seen from two different points of view, and also because there is so much to see in this stunning region of the world. The traditional Rabelo boats have open and closed areas, so navigation can be comfortably be made in all kinds of weather, all year long.

Owned by the Symington family for five generations, Quinta do Bomfim features a winery, old wine cellar, and vineyard in the heart of the Upper Douro Valley. Visit the on-site museum and tour the grounds before choosing from a variety of family-made ports and wines to taste on the terrace. The tour begins in a small museum that tells the story of the property, the family, and the wines. A collection of early 20th century photographs of the Douro and documents highlight the history of the Quinta and the region. Afterward, choose between three vineyard walks, all of which offer excellent views of the surrounding mountain vineyards, some with dry stone terraces built by hand in the 18th and 19th centuries. Along the way, visit the old lodge built in 1896, one of the most significant structures in the Douro Valley. This vast vat and barrel cellar, with its complex roof structure, has been used for over 100 years to hold the ports from each harvest at the estate before they are taken downriver to Vila Nova de Gaia for further maturing. During the harvest, visitors can see the grapes being received at the winery and port being made in the lagares (troughs). At other times of the year, a short film is shown of the winery in operation and traditional treading at other Symington family vineyards. Later, choose from four wine tasting options: a Douro DOC tasting, port tasting, premium vintage tasting, or Dow's Old Tawnies tasting. Each offers a different collection of wines to taste. Head to the terrace and enjoy your tasting surrounded by scenic views of the Douro River and surrounding vineyards. Quinta do Bomfim is the birthplace of two of the 21st century’s most famous ports: First, Dow’s 2007 Vintage Port is the only vintage port made this century to have been awarded a perfect 100 points by the Wine Spectator. Secondly, Dow’s 2011 Vintage Port was nominated the “N°1 Wine in the World” in 2014 by the same influential publication.

Navigate on a unique river, in the heart of the oldest wine demarcated region in the world and also a UNESCO world heritage site. You start from Pinhão, pass under the Eiffel iron bridge going up stream until the Roncão area where you turn around and return to Pinhão. Along the way you’ll see hills of terraced vineyards until the river, with no national roads or traffic in sight. Although you do the same stretch up and down, it could very well be a different one, because seeing it in one direction and then on the other creates two completely different points of view and sights. The traditional rabelo boats have open and closed areas, so navigation can be comfortably made in all kinds of weather, all year long.

The Douro Valley makes a dramatic first impression. With its rolling green hills, a mighty river, and lush vineyards and olive groves, it’s hard to imagine a better backdrop for sipping fine ports and table wines. Go wine tasting amid the vineyard-clad hills of the Douro Valley, a World Heritage-listed region famous for its port wine production. Feast on regional specialties with a traditional lunch and visit two unique locations and enjoy samples of Port wine. The scenery is carved by the Douro River and its tributaries are highlights that need to be seen on the sightseeing boat cruise that last one fabulous hour.

Discover the tastes of the Douro Valley on this driving tour to three stunning wineries on this day trip from Porto. Admire views of the valley and sample a range of local wines. Savor local flavors with a lunch comprised of regional delicacies. Be picked up from your hotel in the morning and travel in an air-conditioned minivan towards wine region of Sabrosa. Stop for a quick coffee before venturing into the mountains. After arriving at the family-owned vineyard, enjoy a guided tour of the winery's facilities. Savor a hand-picked selection of their fine port and DOC wines. Sit back and relax on a scenic drive to the countryside to the next winery. Sit down to a delicious lunch of local specialties accompanied with wine from the winery. Contemplate the lush rolling landscapes around the vineyard. After lunch, visit their facilities and taste a range of the winery's ports. Continue to a corporate brand vineyard. Walk around their high-quality facilities before tasting their delectable ports while admiring sweeping countryside views. Take a scenic drive National Highway 222 which winds along the river before returning to your accommodation in Porto.

Enjoy the convenience of being picked up in an 8-seat minivan from your accommodation in Porto before exploring the stunning Douro Valley. Visit local wineries, savor wines and delicacies, learning about the wine making process, before cruising down the Douro River on a river cruise. Begin your tour with a visit to the Croft Vineyards and learn about the entire winemaking process from your guide. End your visit with a port wine tasting accompanied by a careful selection of Portuguese cheeses. Then head towards the village of Pinhão, where you will embark on a 1-hour boat trip. Relax as you float down the calm waters of the Douro River and admire the landscape of the valley. Afterward, sit down for lunch in a typical Portuguese restaurant. Choose between meat, fish, and vegetarian menus. After lunch, visit the winery of a small table wine producer. Learn about the differences between premium wines, and the techniques used to produce them during a private guided tour. End your visit with a tasting of olive oils made by the same producer. As you return to Porto, you’ll enjoy panoramic views along a scenic road.