City of Porto
Back in 2002, we went to the city of Porto in the north of Portugal. And to go to Porto and not visit the cellars with old brands of port, it's like being in Rome and not seeing the Pope. Although, it is much easier to arrange a meeting with port wine than with the Pope. And I think it's much nicer.
Visiting the cellars with pot wine
First of all, we went to the cellars. They are not located in Porto itself, but on the opposite bank of the Douro River, in the town of Vila Nova de Gaia, from where, by the way, a very picturesque view of the Porto embankment opens from the other side. There you can also see traditional boats called "barcos rabelos" (barcos rabelos), which in ancient times transported barrels of port from the vineyards to the cellars. This was done in order to create wine conditions with the least temperature difference, since in summer it becomes unbearably hot in the Douro Valley.
Porto - waterfront view
Some of these boats are converted into tourist boats and make trips along the Douro River of various durations and costs (from 10 to 125 euros). We rode one of them, but more on that later.
So, we went to the cellars of the Offley firm, which was established in 1737 by William Offley. The company achieved its greatest success under the direction of James Forrester, one of the most significant characters in the history of port wine. He was an excellent businessman, oenologist and excellent taster. And what is most interesting, he loved Dora, he even learned Portuguese. It was said of him that “he walked the Douro”, that is, unlike other port wine merchants who lived exclusively in Porto and went to the vineyards only at harvest time, Forrester spent most of his time on kints, knew all the nooks and crannies Douro. He. It was he who owns the first maps of the region, published in 1848.
Returning to our cellars, we were first taken on a tour (excursions, unfortunately, are not available in Russian, so you will have to be content with English, German or French), they talked about the production technology of different types of ports, about the differences in the styles of Ruby e Tawny, long, dark and quiet halls, where port wines doze and infuse in barrels. At the end of the tour, we had a small tasting of Ruby, Tawny and white port wine. You can also buy your favorite drinks here.
Happy and cheered up from the tasting, I went out into the street, feeling like a major specialist in port wine. It was the first time in my life when I realized how complex classification and hierarchy there is for a drink with the same name - Vinho do Porto (Vinho do Porto), which literally means "Wine from Porto".
This naming is connected with the fact that in the 18th and 19th centuries it was possible to export port wine only from the City of Porto, so the name stuck.
Offley wine cellars
Walk along the river Douro
The next day we decided to take a boat ride on the river. The boat departed from Vila Nova de Gaia, slowly moving along the waters of the Douro and allowing a group of tourists (including us) to admire the shores with vineyards. Lunch was served on board, accompanied by wines from the visited region, which ended with a glass of porto.
Lunch was served here
Upon arrival in Regua, we were to visit the Castelinho winery and taste the ports produced by it.
Upon arrival in Regua
By the way, the ports of this manufacturer can be bought in Moscow. Last year, at the international competition in Moscow "Wine Card Open", Quinta do Castelinho port wine (10 years of aging in oak) received a gold medal and Quinta do Castelinho port wine - silver.
We returned to Porto by bus at the end of the day.
Useful information
River trips and cruises
The easiest and fastest cruise is the 50-minute Douro cruise, which costs 10 euros, during which you can admire the six bridges over the Douro River. There are also half-day cruises with lunch or dinner. You can go for a weekend or spend a whole week climbing the Douro to the very border with Spain.
In my opinion, the most breathtaking landscapes can be seen on the road from Régua to Pinhao.
If you have questions about the order and the cost of the most suitable programs for you, please contact me, I will advise where they can be ordered.
wine cellars
Visits to the Offley cellars: from March to October every day from 11:00 to 12:30 and from 14:00 to 18:30.
You can not be limited to visiting one cellar, but go to several belonging to different companies. But in general, I think you will not gain much from this: the information will be approximately the same everywhere. Well, unless you taste enough.
2012 – 2013, . All rights reserved.
Are you visiting Porto for the first time? On one's own? Then you probably make a travel plan and look for cheap options for interesting excursions around the city and from the city to the surroundings and neighboring cities.
This topical issue - ... cheap or even "free" excursions, prompted Us to write this small but useful post, and you just have to choose something - according to your pocket and interest. See our links to direct sources - tour operators. Even cheaper - nowhere else!
On tourist buses
For a quick and original acquaintance with the city, it is enough to "ride" on its multi-colored tourist double-decker buses (Autocarros Panorâmicos) - (yellowbustours), (oportobluebus) or (city-sightseeing) - operating in the "hop on hop off" mode with audio accompaniment. The bus route passes through the most beautiful places in Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia: monuments, streets, squares, embankments, parks, beaches. Log in as often as you can and learn as much as you can. Ticket - 17 euros, designed for two days.
Excursion to the past on a historic tram
An excursion to the sound of the wheels of the legendary tram (Electrico) of Porto will even seem very romantic to someone. Such a sightseeing tour of the city does not require a guidebook, guide, or advance booking of a place. Currently, three tram lines operate in the city, so we advise you to use their real tourist routes. Particularly interesting is the classic route, which is called - Passeio Alegre (Passeio Alegre) - runs along the river embankment. The ticket is purchased on the spot from the driver.
Excursions in the historical center with or without a guide
Make your trip to Porto a charm - explore the city on foot and have an unforgettable experience. Tours of the city with a professional guide who loves his work, the history and culture of the north of the country and speaks your native language - it's just great. If you find one, consider yourself very lucky. Where to find it, you ask - contact us, we will help with such gifted professionals. We do not recommend using random offers of Russian-speaking immigrants living in the Port. You can guess why.
The vast majority of tourists are generally "like cats" - they walk around the city on their own. Such individual walking tours can also seem like a rather interesting “activity”, especially when you don’t know where you are and where to go.
Despite the fact that Porto has a fairly large area, its historical center with the approximate boundaries of Av. Dom Afonso Henriques and R. Campo dos Mártires da Pátria, relatively small with a height difference and dozens of narrow streets, which allows you to easily get around it in no less than two days. Here you can meet a lot of interesting sights, visit the main interesting tourist places and take hundreds of photos from panoramic viewing platforms.
City center - around Av. dos Aliados, slightly above the historic center. It also has many streets that create an unusual atmosphere of life in Porto, not typical of other cities in Europe.
Know that it is indeed very easy to get lost in the chaos of the streets, but this should not worry you. Getting lost in Porto is something of a tradition for tourists, because only in this way, accidentally getting into one of the deserted streets, one can appreciate the contrasting charm of this city.
If your legs are tired of walking, then you can use the excursion vehicle Tuk-Tuk, Segway (Segway), scooter or bicycle as part of a group and accompanied by a guide. Other sightseeing opportunities (Circuitos-Turisticos) around the city of Porto, including a scooter, tuk-tuk, can be found on the website portotours.com
Excursions on the Douro River
From history - Douro and Porto - one complements the other. It’s even worth saying more - if there weren’t Dora, our site wouldn’t exist now. Therefore, for tourists visiting the city, a river walk along the river within the city is simply obligatory. Such hour-long walks here are proudly called mini-cruises.
Excursion - "Cruise of the Bridges" (Cruzeiro das Pontes) with a symbolic price of 12 € (BlueBoats Porto), 15 € or 22 € (Cruzeiro das Pontes e Caves de Vinho do Porto) with a bonus - a visit to one of the wine cellars of the city - a must for any tourist. During an excursion on pleasure tourist boats, you will admire five bridges (Ponte da Arrábida, Ponte Luís I, Ponte do Infante, Ponte Maria Pia and Ponte São João and from afar - Ponte do Freixo) thrown over the Douro River and overlooking the waterfronts of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia.
BlueBoats Porto has audio guides on board which have been designed by a historian to include accurate and interesting facts about the city.
Departure of river cruises directly from the historic Ribeira promenade (Cais da Ribeira). Delight is guaranteed. If this swimming is not enough for you - read below ...
Douro Cruise Options
However, the best river cruises are designed for one day, or rather half a day - with lunch or dinner. Such cruises serve tourists comfortably along the river to the towns of Régua and Piñau. Basically, upon arrival in Regua, tourists will visit the Castelinho winery (Quinta do Castelinho) and taste the ports produced by it. Lunch will be served on board, accompanied by wines from the region visited.
For a "round sum" you can go for a weekend or spend a whole week on an all-inclusive river cruise - climbing the Douro to the very border with Spain. Slowly moving along the calm waters of the river, this cruise allows you to admire the banks with vineyards from the deck of a comfortable hotel on the water. The program of such combined cruises includes visits to the cities and wine producers of the Douro wine region (by bus). Every evening on board guests will enjoy a magnificent dinner, which ends with a glass of port wine.
Information about river cruises can be found in the catalog websites - roteirododouro.com and cruzeiros-douro.pt or at the office. tour operator websites. Usually cruises are booked in advance. If you arrive in Porto and “suddenly” want to swim along the famous “river of wine”, you may simply be out of luck with a place on the deck. Cruises run from March to October. In winter, the Douro dams operate in winter mode - with closed locks for ships.
From Porto by train (steam train) on the Douro line
Here you can offer both a self-guided tour of the Douro line and a special tour on the historic train.
You can travel individually simply by coming to the station of Sao Bento or Campania and buying a ticket for the first train to Regua or Pinhau. You will walk around the towns, wineries, swim on a sightseeing boat and return on the penultimate train to Porto. If you want to see everything in detail and visit the quintah wineries, the museum and swim in the heart of the Alto Douro winery, then program one day for one city - Regua or Pignau.
From July 13 to September 30, 2018, a retro train "MiraDouro" runs between Porto Sao Bento and Régua with two restored cars from 1949-77. Departure from Porto at 09:25, arrival in Regua at 11:38. Back, from Reguv to Porto - at 19:11. You have a full six hours to explore the wine capital of Peso da Régua.
The historic steam locomotive "Comboio Histórico do Douro" is a funny thing, it's like a journey into the past. Steam locomotive 0186 built in 1925 by Henschel & Son and 5 historical carriages. The route runs along the river, from Regua station to Tua station. Only in the summer season on Saturday and Sunday, from June 16 to October 28 and book in advance.
There are several combined (locomotive, boat, hotel) offers of one or even two days with the participation of steam and a locomotive whistle. By 2018, their programs are perfectly "sharpened" for any tourist. There are no best or worst. Just a tour on a steam locomotive can be booked directly on the website of the railway company CP. However, in this case, you need to travel to Regua in advance or purchase a combined ticket from Porto (Pack Norte).
Port wine tours
Come to Porto for a few days so you don't miss the famous wine cellar tours of Vila Nova de Gaia with port wine tasting. Wine is the third component of Porto's attraction. If there were no Douro, then there would be cities, and without the city the world would not know about port wine. So let's go to wine cellars. Here they are called - Kavesh.
The storage cellars are located just opposite the Ribeira promenade. The cost of a regular tour, which includes a visit to the port wine storage and tasting, will be only 5-10 euros. Tours are conducted in many languages, and will be interesting even for those who are "far" from wine and winemaking.
Of particular interest are wine tours of the famous producers of wineries (quintas) of the Douro Valley. From Porto, during the summer and autumn seasons, there are special day tours by bus or car in the wine region. You can also try to book an individual wine tour with our guide and at the same time a Wine Tourism professional. For more information, please see our dedicated Alto Douro quint life page.
Cycling around Porto
Perhaps the most interesting tour of the city is by bike. Maybe for someone this type of transport will turn out to be a little sporty, but those who have already tried it have a different opinion. Cycling around Porto can be summed up in three words – convenient, fast, but sometimes dangerous. It is better to use it to move along the promenade, along the famous passeio alegre and the oceanfront. Where to rent a bike? Contact PortoRentaBike and other similar bike rental companies for help.
Cycling on the roads of Santiago from Porto is exactly the phenomenon that has been observed in the tourism sector of Porto and the Minho region since 2017. What is the reason for this fact We told in detail in our special topic - "On the Portuguese Way of St. James by Bicycle". A bike for such a week-long tour can be bought or rented right in the city.
Bus tours from Porto
The small size of the Portuguese north allows you to go from the northern capital to other neighboring cities and get acquainted with the territory of true Portuguese traditions.
Several travel companies operate in the city; portodouro.com, douronet.pt, etc., which in their repertoire have one-day bus programs in the cities of the north, the center of Portugal and even neighboring Galicia (Braga, Guimarães, Aveiro, Coimbra, Santiago de Compostela). Among them there are daily routes to the Douro Valley - Tours no Vale do Douro / Tour AO REDOR DO DOURO. The start of the tour is not only from Porto, but also from the Lamego Hotel, Peso da Regua and Vila Real.
Combined tours (boat + bus) are especially interesting in the repertoire of tours. These are original thematic one-day excursions (Tours / Circuitos Turísticos) from Porto in the direction of the Douro wine region. For example, A volta ao Douro Valley, Douro Premium, Wine Tour "Douro Valley" with a visit to the center of traditional winemaking - Sabrosa and the town of Pinhão and the Quinta do Seixo and Quinta do Tedo wineries with wine tasting. However, the most popular tour is called the Douro Tour, with visits to the cities of Amarante, Lamego, Peso da Régua, Pinhão. Lunch and tasting are already included in the price. Travel booking is required. You can use the website. operator Cenários D'Ouro , S.A.
Excursions can be group and individual in comfortable cars with a guide-driver who are local residents with a deep knowledge of the culture and region of the Douro Valley. Trips to cities during the year do not take place every day, but along the Douro - every day.
Information about such excursions can be provided to you at the hotel where you are staying. They are at the reception, they will advise the best tour and help you book. Then everything is simple - the bus collects tourists (if a group) and carries them according to its program with stops to contemplate the most beautiful views, lunch at a restaurant, tastings at Kintah, visiting museums, etc ...
A trip to the Douro Valley is suitable for those who want to enjoy the emerald landscapes, taste fragrant port wine, visit a palace with a magnificent garden and get in touch with local household and religious traditions. Is it about you? Then let's go!
The tour starts around 8:00. I pick you up from the hotel, we drive to the city of Amarante, drink coffee with regional sweets and visit the church of the revered Saint Gonçalo. Thanks to this saint, the city was built and gained popularity. Goncalo is the patron saint of marriage and fertility, thousands of those who seek help come to his tombstone every year.
Our journey continues along the most beautiful road in Portugal - along the Douro River. I tell you about the history of port, its styles and winemaking in the Douro Valley. On the way to the family estate of eighth generation winemakers, we can stop by one of the largest producers of port wine and taste the famous vintages. In the town of Piñao, we will see a small train station decorated with azulejo panels.
Arriving at the winery, you will meet a family of winemakers, dine in an 18th century house with homemade Portuguese cuisine, see how port wine is made and taste this wonderful drink.
The next point of our trip is the Mateus Palace. This house was commissioned by the Portuguese count in the middle of the 18th century by the Italian architect Nasoni. The architect Nasoni was involved in the reconstruction and construction of many structures in Portugal. He created the highest tower in Portugal and the church adjacent to it - Clerigos in Porto. Mateus Palace is famous not only for its baroque building, but also for its beautiful garden with a cedar tunnel.
After looking at the life of the Portuguese aristocracy, on the way back to Porto we stop by a traditional Portuguese village, and you get to know the life of ordinary peasants. The houses in the village have remained unchanged since the beginning of the last century. Approximately the same masonry was used by the Celtic tribes who lived on the territory of present-day Portugal about 2000 years ago. And typical granaries and rural laundries have been used by the Portuguese for hundreds of years.
During the tour, I will be happy to take a picture of you with your camera for free.
In the Douro Valley I have many options for itineraries depending on your preference.
In addition to the tour, you can order a photo session.
A home-cooked quinte dinner usually includes a main course of meat, usually pork. This traditional cuisine north of Portugal. If you have special food preferences, please let us know in advance. In this case, we will adjust the route and stop at a cafe along the way so that you can choose what you want.
What is included
At a cost of 150 EUR - only guide services, up to 6 people in your car.
At a cost of 250 EUR - guide services and transportation costs - up to 3 people (Opel Corsa car 3 doors, gasoline, toll roads, parking lots).
At a cost of 320 EUR - guide services and transportation costs - up to 6 people (Volkswagen Touran 2007 1.9TDI, gasoline, toll roads, parking lots).
What is not included
- lunch at the winery lunch - 20 EUR (appetizers, main course, sparkling wine, red or white wine to choose from, dessert, coffee),
- tastings (from 7.50 EUR/person),
- entrance ticket to the Mateus Palace (8.50 EUR - only the garden and the building outside).
Useful information
If you have motion sickness, write to me in advance, I will take herbal remedies for motion sickness on the road.
Porto, Portugal from
775 €
The city of Porto is located on the southwestern coast of the Iberian Peninsula, near the Atlantic Ocean. The main symbol of the city is the river Dora, whose name means gold in translation. According to legend, it was thanks to this river that the vineyards of Porto, fed by its waters, made this city the center of winemaking. The city has a rich interesting story, replete with sights, and in beauty competes with the capital of the country. In the architectural sense, the city is very diverse: there are both medieval monuments and modern buildings. The large port of Leixões is 4 km away. from Porto and is already a tourist attraction in itself.
Pignan, Portugal from
775 €
Pignan is located in northern Portugal on the banks of the Douro River. About 800 people live here. Pignan is located in the port wine production area. Wine obtained from local vineyards competes with many well-known Portuguese wines. Not far from the local railway station there are shops where you can taste and buy various types of wine. Local restaurants will delight you with the famous dishes of Portuguese cuisine, and the coastal landscapes will leave the most incredible impressions.
Regua, Portugal from
775 €
Regua is located on the picturesque banks of the Douro River, where grapes are grown in the hills along the river and wine is produced, the history of which can be found in the local museum. It is worth walking along the small narrow streets, enjoying the wonderful weather and beautiful landscapes.
Barca D'alva, Portugal from
950 €
Barca D'alva is a small town in Portugal owned by Freguesia Escalhão in Concelho Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo. Barca D'alva is charmingly beautiful, because its hills are covered with terraced vines and olive trees. In Barca D'alva there is a beautiful old abandoned railway station with several slabs on the walls. The city itself has only a few houses, but there are several tourist shops along the river.
Entre os Rios, Portugal from
950 €
Entre os Ríos is located on the banks of the Tamega River where it flows into the Douro. This small town is located just 30 km from Porto. Wonderful nature, picturesque canals and vineyards along the banks of the river create a unique spectacle.
Guimarães, Portugal from
775 €
Guimarães is a Portuguese city with a great history, which is located 16 kilometers southeast of the city of Braga. Main attractions: Guimarães Castle, Palace of the Dukes of Braganza, Church of the Virgin Mary of Oliva, Monastery and Church of San Francisco, Church of the Passion of the Lord, Former Monastery of Santa Marinha da Costa, Chapel of San Miguel do Castelo and others.
Vila Real de Santo António, Portugal from
1548 €
Vila Real de Santo António is a port city in southern Portugal with a population of around 18,000. After an underwater earthquake in 1755, the small fishing town of Vila Real de Santo António, located at the mouth of the Guadiana River, was completely destroyed and rebuilt. The reconstruction of the city was carried out by the Marquis of Pombal and it was one of the strategic objects pointing to the border with Andalusia. Today it is a royal city, famous for its shopping malls and beautiful central square. Due to the mild climate and the wonderful beach, the city attracts many tourists. It also has its own historical values: the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin and the fortress of Kasela.
Salamanca, Spain from
1539 €
A city in the west of Spain, located 80 km. from the Portuguese border. This ancient city is interesting for its Old City, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Monasteries and cathedrals, churches and mansions, an ancient Roman bridge and the oldest university of Salamanca have been preserved here. This city will charm with its beauty, cozy courtyards and architecture.
Alcotin, Portugal from
1548 €
Duero (Spanish Duero), Douro (port. Douro), Dury (lat. Durius) is a river that originates in Spain and flows into the Atlantic Ocean in Portugal. One of the largest rivers of the Iberian Peninsula, the total length is 897 km.
Duero flows in Spain through the provinces of Soria, Burgos, Valladolid, Zamora and Salamanca. It crosses the border at Miranda do Douro and then flows through the territory of Portugal under the name Douro. The double name of the river, as a rule, is reflected on geographical maps.
In 2001, UNESCO declared the Alto Douro wine region on the upper Douro a World Heritage Site. The Douro region owes its fame and fame to the whole world to the replaced Port wine. The word "port wine" comes from the name of one of the main ports of Portugal - Porto.
The history of port wine began in the XI century, when Henry II of Burgundy, who earned fame in battles with the Moors on behalf of Alfonso VI, King of Castile and Leon, married the daughter of the latter. As a dowry, he was given the county of Portucale, where he grafted vines or partially replaced local vines left over from the time of Roman rule with those brought from his native Burgundy.
The bitterness of the British, still suffering from the loss of Aquitaine and the ban imposed by the French government of Colbert on English exports to France, prompted England to stop importing wines from Bordeaux in favor of wines from the Douro Valley.
In 1703, the British and Portuguese signed the Metuan Trade Agreement, which guaranteed preferential import customs tariffs for Portuguese wines. At that time, Douro wines were only red, coarse and highly acidic with an alcohol content of 12-13°. They also did not tolerate long sea transportation. But due to chance, there was a qualitative leap in the “wine” issue: someone came up with the idea of stabilizing the transported wines by adding brandy. The next step was to add brandy as part of the production process.
Until about 1756, "old technologies" of production operated in Portugal - this is the addition of a small amount of brandy to dry wine. As mentioned above, this was done only to reduce the loss of this delicate product during the sea transport of wines. The port that is known now was created after 1820, when a new technology for the production of this wine was formed, based on interrupting the fermentation of grape must precisely in order to preserve residual sugar in it. This technology became widespread among the producers of Douro after 1852, when the style of port was finally formed.
Port wine can be drunk both at the beginning and at the end of a meal, it goes well with almost any dish: it is good for spicy and salty snacks, roasted nuts, coffee, chocolate, candied fruits, and best of all - for Stilton and other "blue" cheeses. Natural allies of port are any desserts based on berries and a variety of fruits with a bright taste.
Port wine is served in a special decanter or glass for port wine, which has a tulip shape, with a capacity of 250 to 750 ml, since a thick sediment characteristic of this wine is kept on the walls of the bottle. For the same reason, a bottle of port wine is “prepared” for serving - it is kept upright from a day to a week, depending on the exposure. Connoisseurs never cork a bottle again - the cork is removed from the bottle once and for all. The glass is filled to half, so that the wine "gives away" its aromas. Red port wine is served at a temperature of +18 °C, and white - at +10...12 °C. Bottles of old port that have sediment should stand upright for about 24 hours before opening and then decant into a decanter using a funnel.
By the smell of cork, a good specialist can determine how much this or that port wine corresponds to its name, whether it has deteriorated after lying in the cellar for many years. As a rule, storage conditions do not allow port wine to deteriorate, so studying the cork is nothing more than a time-honored ritual. The first ritual is followed by the second: a bottle of port wine is placed on a special stand, from where the port wine is poured into the tasting bowl. This bowl is an essential accessory for any port wine expert. Taking a test sip, he pours a few drops of port wine into a decanter: in professional terms, "washes him." After that, the port wine is decanted, that is, poured into a decanter, from which it is already poured into glasses. Before you taste the exquisite vintage, you need to give it 15-20 minutes to “breathe”, and only after that you can take the first sip.
