Douro River Tour: Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia History
5.0
27 Ratings
Porto
Explore Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia's history on a Douro River tour. Enjoy Port Wine, stunning views, and maybe even dolphins. Book your unforgettable adventure now.
Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Ponte de Dom Luis I - You will learn some facts about the D. Luís I Bridge. It is a metal structure bridge with two decks, built between 1881 and 1886, connecting the cities of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia separated by the Douro River
  • Ponte da Arrabida - Learn some facts about Ponte da Arrábida, which is an arch bridge over the Douro River that connects Porto to Vila Nova de Gaia, in Portugal.
  • Ponte Infante Dom Henrique - After the D. Luís Bridge, let’s talk a little about the Infante Dom Henrique bridge, named in honor of Infante D. Henrique.
  • Ponte D. Maria Pia - We will cover some interesting aspects about this bridge, namely who D. Maria Pia was and why this bridge has her name.
  • Ponte de Sao Joao - The São João Bridge is a railway infrastructure that transports the Northern Line over the Douro River, close to the city of Porto, in Portugal. Built to replace the already century-old D. Maria Pia Bridge. Let’s talk a little about its creation and reason for existence.
  • Ponte do Freixo - The Freixo Bridge is the most upstream of the Douro River. Let’s talk about its importance and its history.
  • Barcos Rabelos - As we stroll along the Douro River, we will pass by the famous Rabelos boats. On this trip it will be possible to observe the boat and talk about its characteristics.
  • Vila Nova de Gaia - The river divides two cities, namely Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia. We will address some historical factors about this city and tell some Stories and Myths about it.
  • Rua do Cabedelo - During the tour, we will see some historical points. In this case it is an old fishing village. Let’s talk about this village and introduce important concepts about it.
  • Cantareira - As we approach the Cantareira area, we will talk about a famous Portuguese singer who wrote about this same area and we will show you a little about the area.
  • Foz do Douro - The affluent Foz do Douro is a seaside area known for its sandy beaches, such as Praia da Luz and Praia do Homem do Leme. We will cover topics such as the famous beaches that surround it and its historical context.
  • Farolim de Felgueiras - We will discuss the time in which this lighthouse was created, we will talk about its use in the past and the beautiful area in which it is located.
  • Cais De Gaia - Cais de Gaia is a tourist area with terraces, restaurants and bars, located on the left bank of the Douro River, in Vila Nova de Gaia, opposite the historic area of Porto, a UNESCO world heritage site. We will precisely explain the importance of this area in tourist and economic terms.
  • Ribeira - Ribeira is one of the oldest and most typical places in the city of Porto, in Portugal. Located in the parish of São Nicolau, next to the Douro River, it is part of the Historic Center of Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Let’s get to know the area and talk about aspects related to the History of Porto.
What's Included
  • Welcome Drink (Port Wine)
What's Not Included
  • Private transportation
Additional Information

Our tour consists of guiding you along the banks of both cities, Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia, while we explain a little of their history. We welcome you with a Port Wine. We sail towards the D.Luís I bridge, a major element of our architecture. Heading towards the sea, we will also see the Fishing Village of Afurada, Cantareira and Foz do Douro. Maybe we will be lucky enough to see some dolphins. If you decide to come in the late afternoon, you might be rewarded with a magical sunset. Our team will be happy to guide you through this wonderful experience. Grab your cell phone, enjoy the moment and make friends!

Location
R. do Ouro 160
Rua do Ouro
Meeting at Cais do Ouro
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(27 Ratings)
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Lukas_j
Jun 17, 2024
The host was very kind,... - The host was very kind, gave lifevests to the kids, wine, snacks. Boat was not overcrowded, which you should be aware off. Would repeat that next time in Porto
Review provided by Viator
Jonathan_d
Jun 16, 2024
Relaxing, Chill Small Group Boat Tour - Our guide was Claudia (who normally just drives the boat), but she was quite friendly and energetic, which was appreciated (despite her saying she didn’t think she had the skills to lead the tours)! The tour was relaxing and chill, so it was more about taking in Porto and Gaia from the boat than receiving historical information. Just as a tip, check the weather when you book your tour! I did a tour closer to sunset, but it was cloudy and cold, since you are seated outside near the front, which I didn’t mind, as blankets are provided. It started sprinkling towards the end, but we were allowed to go into the cabin where it was warmer. Overall, highly recommend if you like small groups and taking in views!
Review provided by Viator
Andrew_b
Jun 14, 2024
Great Porto Six Bridges Trip - Really great experience, Isobel and Claudia were really good and provided great information, the trip lasts about 1 1/2 to 2 hours and you are guided along the Porto waterfront with lots of useful and interesting information, we also had time to ourselves just to soak in the atmosphere , would highly recommend this to anyone !!
Review provided by Viator
919adilsonc
Jun 13, 2024
Unique experience - Amazing experience. Rating 100 to the crew, two wonderful hours "drifting" on the Douro River. I can't wait to go back and enjoy it even more
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Myles_c
Jun 13, 2024
Great way to see Porto - Wonderful trip. Our host was very knowledgeable and easy going. They were so kind and pleasant it made the experience so relaxing.
Review provided by Viator
D1030pomarkh
Jun 12, 2024
Must do especially if you enjoy smaller groups. - If you want to escape large tourist groups and enjoy time seeing the sites of Porto from the water I highly recommend this small group trip on a wonderful boat. The young couple taking care of us were exceptional ensuring our journey was informative and enjoyable. The complementary Port and snack was an added bonus as we soaked up all Porto had to offer. 2 hours was a great amount of time to spend seeing all the sites. We highly recommend this trip.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Curious433744
Jun 11, 2024
Isabel is amazing. - You have choices when it comes to the six bridge tour. We choose this trip because it maxes out at 8. As it was we were the only 2 during our time slot. This was an amazing adventure because of our guides. Captain Claudia and first mate Isabel were charming, knowledgeable and engaging. The tour was at a nice pace and it was like we were chatting with Isabel as opposed to be guided. Highly recommended. This is the tour to choose. Thank you Claudia and Isabel.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ryan
Jun 6, 2024
Perfect Activity to explore the city with your partner or a small group - Exceptional service from both staff members present for our tour. They went above and beyond to make sure my partner and I had the greatest experience possible, by offering refills of Port wine, photo opportunities and much more. We had the luxury of being the only two people on the tour, this paired alongside a charismatic guided tour from Cláudia made for the perfect way to explore what the city of Porto offers! Both my partner and I couldn’t recommend this experience enough! If you prefer a more relaxed and comfortable experience I highly suggest booking this tour rather than one on the traditional Douro wooden boats!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ika95
Jun 6, 2024
Amazing - Fantastic, very Nice afternoon. Boat and staff incredible. 100% worth it. One of the best the experience I had in Porto city
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sheehy44
Jun 3, 2024
Perfect way to end our day, highly recommend - Recently booked onto the 6.30pm tour and had a wonderful evening. It was such a beautiful way to see a different view of Porto and to hear more about the city. The hosts were so warm and friendly, you can tell they love what they do. This really was a great way to finish off a busy day walking around Porto, the port was a welcome treat. Would highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 8 guests
1 Adult
June 2024
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