Top 8 Travel Options in Porto and the Douro Valley

Getting Around in Porto

Many independent travelers (ourselves included) put a lot of effort into planning a trip to a chosen destination without giving a lot of thought to how they are going to get around once they have arrived. Most cities worth visiting offer a bewildering number of choices. Porto is no exception.

Here are a few tips for getting the most out of the various transport options.

8 Best Ways to Get Around in Porto and the Douro Valley

1. Walking in Porto
2. Porto's Tourist trams
3. Free Travel in Porto
4. Porto's Cable Car
5. Douro River Taxi
6. Porto's Six Bridges Cruise
7. Boat to Afurada
8. A One-Day Cruise on the River Douro

At the end of this article, you will also find a note on other forms of transport, as well as our experience on a one-day cruise up the River Douro.

1. Walking in Porto

Porto is a compact city. You do not walk far in the center before you come upon a major sight. Walking has a lot of advantages. You can go at your own pace. You can stop to browse or take a photo wherever and whenever you want. You have time to appreciate the sights. You can wander at leisure through the quaint alleyways and backstreets that you would miss with other forms of transport. On the downside, Porto is not flat. There are several steep slopes and hills to negotiate. So whilst we walked a lot, we also made use of available transport.

2. Porto's Tourist Trams

There have been trams in Porto since 1872. Until 1904, they were drawn by mules. There are three vintage tram routes left in Porto.

• Line 1 runs along the north bank of the River Douro from Passeio Alegre, near Foz do Douro, to Infante in the Ribeira district.
• Line 18 runs from Massarelos (outside the tram museum) via Rua da Restauracao to Carmo ( the area near Torre dos Clerigos).
• Line 22 runs from Carmo to Praca da Batalha.

We used Line 1. It cost us 3 Euros each to travel from Passeio Alegre into the city. This is more expensive than taking the bus or metro, but the ticket includes a discount at the tram museum. It is not the height of luxury. Due to their age, the trams have very firm seats and the ride is not the most comfortable. I thought the way the seats flipped at the end of the line to ensure that all passengers faced the way the tram was going, was quite ingenious, as I am not a fan of traveling backward.

Tip: If you are planning on taking the tram, it is best to catch it at the beginning. The trams fill up quickly. You are not guaranteed a seat, or even getting on if you pick it up further down the line.

Vintage Tram Routes in Porto

• Line 1 A-B on the map.
• Line 18 C-D on the map.
• Line 22 D-E on the map.

3. Free Travel in Porto

You read the title right. It is possible to travel for nothing in Porto, but there is a catch. You need to go to or from El Corte Ingles, a big department store (all be it a Spanish one) in Vila Nova de Gaia. For the keen shopper, it is definitely worth a visit. If like my husband, shopping is not your thing, the restaurant and cafeteria on the top floor are very reasonably priced.

Shuttle stops are marked on tourist maps sponsored by El Corte Ingles. They are near Jardim do Morro, near Sandeman port house in Gaia, and on Praca da Liberdade on the Porto side. We found a young lady handing out leaflets. She summoned the minibus by phone. Waiting times vary, but if you are patient the minibus shows up. For a return trip ask at the information desk on the ground floor and you can get a free trip back again.

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Free Shuttle Bus Stops

4. Porto's Cable Car

The teleferico (cable car) runs along the south bank of the River Douro in Vila Nova de Gaia; hence its name, Teleferico de Gaia. It goes from next to the garden on the hill, opposite Serra do Pillar monastery at the southern end of Ponte de D. Luis 1, down to the riverside near the municipal market. The trip lasts 5 minutes and covers 600m. A single adult ticket costs 6 euros and a return ticket costs 9 euros.

I recommend the cable car for the great views back across the river towards Porto.

The teleferico ticket came with a voucher for a free glass of port in a small, less well-known port house, set back in a street behind the quay. It was a small measure, but it gave a taste of what was on offer and it was free.

Tip: if you are thinking of buying a return ticket, check the times of closure, which vary between 6, 7, and 8 pm, depending on the time of the year.

The River Douro

The River Douro is a picturesque focal point for Porto. Its banks are a hive of activity, with restaurants lining both sides to the west of Ponte de Dom Luis I. The views from the bridge itself are stunning. In June/July we saw young lads diving into the river from the Cais da Ribeira and from the lower level of Ponte de Dom Luis I. The odd jet ski and powerboat were in evidence as well. For those of us who prefer a less energetic approach, there are plenty of boat trips on offer.

5. Douro River Taxi

It is not the cheapest means of travel, but the water taxi, which crosses frequently from Porto (Cais da Ribeira) to Vila Nova de Gaia at 3.50 euros per adult is definitely convenient and saves a long walk around via the bridge.

Where to Catch the Douro River Taxi

6. Porto's Six Bridges Cruise

For a longer view of Porto from the River Douro, I recommend a six-bridges cruise. Several companies run multiple trips from Cais da Ribeira or Estiva Pier. We paid 15 euros each for a 50-minute trip.

The boat headed up the river, under Ponte de Dom Luis 1, Ponte do Infante road bridge, and then Gustave Eiffel’s Ponte de Don Maria Pia, followed by Ponte de San Joao, before turning around within sight of the big road bridge, Ponte do Freixo.

Retracing its route down the river, the six bridges boat trip offered views of Porto and Vila Nova da Gaia from a different perspective, before continuing down the river to pass under Ponte da Arrabida.

The boat then completed the circuit, returning to the starting point on Cais da Ribeira.

Tip: When selecting a Six Bridges River Trip, look for a boat with plenty of outside space for the best views and photographs.

7. Boat to Afurada

Having spent a fair amount of time in the cities of Porto and Vila Nova da Gaia, we searched further for interesting destinations. We noticed that the fishing village of Afurada got good reviews online and in our guidebook. So we went to the northern bank of the Douro and found a boat leaving Cais do Ouro, to the west of Ponte da Arrabida. A one-way ticket cost us 2 euros each.

Afurada lies on the southern banks of the River Douro, with the mouth of the river and the Atlantic Ocean to its west and further east the city of Vila Nova da Gaia. It is home to a fishing fleet.

Our Experience in Afurada

The full name of the village is Sao Pedro de Afurada. Unbeknown to us, on the Sunday we visited in early July, there was a full-scale carnival in Sao Pedro’s honor. The place was packed, so all hope of a quiet Sunday lunch went out of the window and we struggled to get a drink. Most places were either full or had stopped serving meals early in preparation for the parade. It seemed to be an event for locals. Feeling very much like outsiders in the large crowd, we decided to head back to the quieter northern banks of the Douro.

Tip: When visiting somewhere slightly off the main tourist trail, it pays to do your research thoroughly.

8. A One-Day Cruise on the River Douro

Some visit Porto at either end of a long river cruise. Where time and finances are more limited, I recommend a one-day trip up the Douro. There is no shortage of ticket offices and tour operators eager to get your business. We opted to buy direct from a river cruise company Rota do Douro, which has an office on the southern bank of the River Douro. Staff members were helpful, explaining the different itineraries available and showing us a map. There are various options with cruises available to Regua or, further to Pinhao. One way is by boat and the other by train. On the advice of the staff in the office, we opted to sail from Porto to Pinhao. We were told that the scenery beyond Regua is more impressive and we would get breakfast onboard as well as lunch.

Helpful Information for Planning Your Cruise

Boat trips run either April to December or April to October (depending on the itinerary). Prices are slightly higher from June to September and, in some cases, at weekends.

Tip: it is best to do a little research and book ahead, as itineraries vary and trips get booked up quickly in the height of the tourist season.

Tip: there does appear to be some flexibility in the pricing. Our trip upstream to Pinhao should have cost 82 euros each, but, on hearing that we would need to take a taxi for the early start, the manager offered us the trip at the low season price of 77 euros.

Our One-Day River Cruise Route

Other Forms of Transport in Porto

Taxis are in plentiful supply. We took one from the airport to our hotel and another into the city for an early start. Fares are reasonable, but it is not the cheapest form of transport unless maybe there are enough of you to fill a taxi.

Hiring a car to travel around any city is not for the faint-hearted, but a hire car could prove useful if you plan on exploring further afield.

Our hotel supplied us with a copy of a bus timetable, which was helpful, but we had to buy a single ticket each on the bus. We quickly found that the cheapest way to get around was to buy a reloadable travel card. We bought ours from the tourist office near the cathedral. We could use it on buses and the metro and reload it when necessary for more trips. This was easily done at machines in metro stations.

There are other forms of transport aimed at the tourist market, such as pedal bikes, segway tours, and the ubiquitous double-decker hop-on, hop-off buses.

Tip: Always remember to validate your ticket or travel card on the bus or you could get fined.

Our Cruise Experience

The trip involved an early start; 7.45 am at Estiva Pier, Porto. Being English, we got there in plenty of time to queue (which other European nationalities are not so hot on). We need not have bothered, as embarkation took some time. An officious young lady with a clipboard barked out orders and directed us to dining tables, which were pre-allocated.

The boat was on two main levels. There was a sun deck on the top with a smaller front dining area inside and a bar. Downstairs there was a larger fully enclosed dining area, with stairs down to restrooms on a lower level.

Continental Breakfast

We were instructed to go straight to our table, which, disappointingly, turned out to be on the lower level. A German couple already had the window seats and a Portuguese couple took the inner seats. A continental breakfast of rolls, butter, jam, orange juice, and coffee was served, as we left Porto. There was no opportunity to take photographs as we sailed away from the city.

The Sundeck

It did not take a maths genius to work out that the number of plastic chairs on the sundeck was in no way sufficient for the number of passengers on board, but we were lucky to grab a couple. The scenery in the morning was pleasant enough and the ship’s crew gave a commentary on points of interest in several languages. As the morning wore on, the sun grew stronger and the temperatures rose. The sundeck offered very little shade and gradually the numbers thinned, as passengers headed under cover.

Lunch

Considering the numbers involved, the waiter-served lunch was reasonable. There was soup with a roll, a meat dish with rice, potatoes, and vegetables, cake, coffee, and plenty of table wine. The advantage of allocated seating meant that there were no arguments or rush for the best seats. We soon got into a conversation with our German neighbors, which continued at intervals throughout the day. We exchanged contact details as we parted at Sao Bente station at the end of the trip. The Portuguese couple spent most mealtimes on their phones and barely uttered a word to each other, let alone the rest of us at the table.

Tip: I was grateful we had grabbed some breakfast before leaving our hotel, as breakfast on board was not the most substantial. You are on the boat from around 8.00 am to mid-afternoon. I advise taking a few snacks and plenty of drinks with you or being prepared to spend out at the bar.

Scenery

Gradually, as the boat sailed further upstream, the scenery became more striking and the vineyards came into view on both banks of the River Douro. We pulled in at Regua and some passengers disembarked, while a few joined the boat. The staff in the Rota do Douro office were right. The scenery became more impressive the further we sailed. The temperature rose also, hitting 100 degrees Fahrenheit by the time we reached Pinhao.

On Dry Land

As we disembarked at Pinhao, we were given brief directions to the train station, by the clipboard girl along with instructions to meet her there to collect our tickets before boarding the train to Porto. We had 90 minutes, which gave us time to grab a beer down near the river and have a brief wander around, before going in search of bottled water. The shopkeepers in Pinhao are onto a good thing, selling bottles of water at hugely inflated prices to thirsty tourists.

The Return Trip by Rail

Unsurprisingly, the common language of the early arrivers at the station was English. When the clipboard girl turned up, it became apparent that there had been a mix-up and she did not have enough tickets for everyone. She assured us that this was not a problem (I did not notice anyone being thrown off the train).

Another cause of confusion was that the train went to Estacio do Porto Campanha, which turned out to be the main station for the city. But the clipboard girl came into her own. She had actually turned out to be quite human after all (initial impressions can be deceptive). She assured us all that she would go with us on a link train to Estacio Sao Bente, which she duly did.

A Day Well Spent Cruising on the Douro

I recommend the river trip we did. Sightseeing in a city inevitably involves a lot of time on your feet. A river trip gives the opportunity for you to sit and watch the world go by for a while in a more relaxing atmosphere. Initially, I was unsure about the combination with a train journey. But the train, which followed the course of the river most of the time, heading towards the setting sun, offered the opportunity to view the River Douro from a different perspective.

An Excellent Tourist Destination

However you choose to travel around Porto and the Douro valley, the area has a lot to offer the exploring tourist. A visit here should be a reasonably priced and enjoyable experience.

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This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Questions & Answers

Question: What is a great way to get out and about in Porto?

Answer: There are many sights that you can walk to in Porto. If you wish to travel a little further there is a good and reasonably priced bus and tram network. I would recommend a boat trip on the River Douro. There are many to choose from.

© 2018 Liz Westwood