Douro River Cruise

The River Douro (literally 'river of gold' - 'rio Douro' in Portuguese) is the third largest river in the Iberian peninsula, rising north of Madrid and flowing westwards through Spain and then into northern Portugal, joining the Atlantic Ocean at Porto. The Douro Valley is spectacular in itself, and as such is a UNESCO Heritage Site. One of the areas with a protected status is the 112 kilometre stretch which separates Spain from Portugal, an area of gorges and narrow canyons. The scenery then opens up once into Portugal, with many vineyards clinging to the slopes offering spectacular views of the traditional way of life of this area. Traditionally, the river Douro was used principally for transporting the port downriver to Vila Nova de Gaia by means of rabelos, or flat-bottomed boats. 

The Douro flows through many wine-producing regions, and indeed a port wine tasting is a must whilst travelling through this vineyard-clad countryside. We also could not sail so close to Spain and not include a visit to stunning Salamanca, the seat of one of the oldest universities in the world. The cruise starts and ends in Porto, and we get to know this vibrant city during our stay here. We also visit Vila Real and Lamego.

VFB's exclusive river cruise on the Douro is detailed below. Alternatively, why not view all our river cruises together.