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Portugal’s Douro Valley: Essential Family Travel Guide

Home / Destinations International / Portugal’s Douro Valley: Essential Family Travel Guide

Jenn Mitchell, Last Updated 12-12-2018

Beautiful views from the Douro Valley Portugal
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Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
  • Best Places for families in Portugal’s Douro Valley+−
    • Porto
    • Getting there
    • What to do
    • Where to Stay
    • Where to eat
  • Douro Valley Portugal+−
    • Getting there
    • What to do
    • Where to stay
    • When to Visit Douro Valley Portugal
    • Have you ever been to Portugal?

Portugal’s Douro Valley is a wonderful destination for a family getaway. The perfect itinerary follows the River Douro from the Atlantic coast to the gorgeous terraced wine region. You’ll experience beaches, postcard-worthy villages, and the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Douro Valley wine region.

View of Douro River in Portugal's Douro Valley
A spectacular view of Portugal’s River Douro from the Douro Palace Hotel. Photo credit: Jenn Mitchell, Fitness SheBuysTravel

Northern Portugal and the Douro Valley region provide a historic and adventurous backdrop for families. Kids will love the cities, beaches, and mountains, while parents may fit in a wine tasting or two. Follow our guide to help you decide what to do, where to stay and what to see.

Best Places for families in Portugal’s Douro Valley

Porto

The second largest city in Portugal, Porto is at the ocean’s edge of the Douro Valley. It’s a great place to start a family vacation in the region. The historic city offers plenty to explore. The beautiful riverfront area is picture-perfect with a boat filled harbor and ancient buildings. 

historic buildings in Porto Portugal
Historic buildings near the city center of Porto, Portugal. Photo credit: Jenn Mitchell, Fitness SheBuysTravel

Getting there

Porto has its own airport that has won architecture awards. If you fly to Lisbon, Porto is about 2.5 hours by car or train. I flew Azores Air from Boston. 

What to do

There are a number of beautiful gardens for children to run and play. The Crystal Palace Gardens in downtown Porto is especially lovely and is free of charge. 

An interactive museum, The World of Discoveries is fun for all ages. There are many touch screens with access to English and a unique indoor boat ride through different countries. 

Head down to the city beach at Matosinhos. It’s the town just next door to Porto. Spend the day swimming or join many locals who take surf lessons at the surf school. 

Cruise Terminal in Porto Portugal
The architectural wonder of the Porto Cruise Ship Terminal. Photo credit: Jenn Mitchell, Fitness SheBuysTravel

The Porto Cruise Terminal is an architectural wonder. When you see it from afar, it definitely begs the question, “What is that?” The closer you get, the more interesting it becomes. If you are around on a Sunday, tours are open to the public from 9 am to noon. Each tour tops out at 50 people so best to get their early

A visit to Porto is not complete without tasting some local Port wine. Take the light rail over the river to Cockburn’s Port Lodge in Gaia. The views back toward Porto here are also lovely. The tour through the massive winery is interesting for kids. Reservations are required. 

Where to Stay

Spot Family Hotel is both budget and family friendly. The Master Suite rooms can hold up to 6 people and include a kitchenette. Regular suites are for up to 4 and also have a kitchenette. Includes free breakfast and wifi. 

For a more luxurious experience, check out the Hotel Dom Henrique. Upper floors have excellent views of Porto and the surrounding area. They have family rooms that comfortably accommodate 4 people.

Where to eat

Intrigo is a hidden gem with a lovely view of the River Douro. The steak is a good choice for picky eaters. 

17° Restaurante & Bar is in the top floor of the Hotel Henrique. The views are spectacular both day and night. The food is delicious and there is even a kids menu. 

seafood plate at O Gaveto in Portugal
No trip to the Porto area should be without a visit to a spectacular seafood restaurant like restaurant O Gaveto. Photo credit: O Gaveto Restaurant

Restaurant O Gaveto

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This is the must-visit restaurant for any seafood-loving family. It is technically in the city of Matosinhos, and well known for its connection to the seafood industry. The seafood rice is to die for!!

If the kids are really picky, you can also find typical American fast food like McDonalds and KFC.

Douro Valley Portugal

The region is marked by gorgeous mountains covered in vine-filled terraces, where the tranquil River Douro flows below. Famous for wine tasting, there are also many family-friendly activities. 

The terraced landscape of Portugal's Douro Valley is just one of the wonders of the region. It's a fantastic destination for family travel. #portugal #douro #valley #river

Getting there

Probably the easiest to visit the Douro Valley is by train. There is a direct line that runs from São Bento station in the Porto’s city center. Towns of Régua and Pinhão good places to stop for lodging along the way. Sit on the right side of the train to experience the best views of the River Douro. 

If you are more adventurous and want easier access to wineries and hotels, you can rent a car. You’ll experience spectacular views but will need to navigate narrow, winding roads that can make passengers a bit dizzy. 

Working with a tour company that provides drivers is another option. We used UNIQ Car & Driver Services. They were amazing. Ask for Rui, but all of the drivers are wonderful. 

One of the quaint train stations in the Douro Valley
One of the quaint train stations in the Douro Valley. Photo credit: Jenn Mitchell, Fitness SheBuysTravel

What to do

Wine Tasting

The ideal way to experience wine tasting with young children is to stay at a Quinta (estate/villa) with babysitting services. See where to stay below. If you are traveling with teens, a winery tour and walk through the vineyards can be fun.

River Exploration

You simply can’t visit the region without a boat ride of some sort. For more adventurous families, you can rent kayaks or take a speedboat ride. Or, spend an hour or two on a gentle electric Rabelo Boat with Magnifico Douro in Pinhao.

A hiking tour through Douro Valley vineyards
Our hiking group had the chance to taste some grapes fresh off the vine. Photo credit: Jenn Mitchell, Fitness SheBuysTravel

Hiking

Hiking in the Douro Valley is an unparalleled way to truly experience the countryside. Some winery hotels will allow guest to hike through the vineyards and even pick some grapes when they are in season. 

For longer hikes, check out Portugal Green Walks. They create tours ranging from 1-8 days, some with luxury villas. I had the pleasure of hiking with them for a day, but I’d really like to go back for their Coa Valley Rock Art History and Culture Tour. Families can discover Paleolithic and Iron Age rock art. 

Where to stay

Luxury choices I recommend are Quinta do Vallado and Douro Palace Hotel. Both hotels are amazing. They have a kid’s menus and babysitting services. At Palace Hotel, kids can even visit the farm animals. All rooms have balconies or patios overlooking the River Douro. Both have pools. The Palace Hotel has a fantastic spa. At Quinta do Vellado, try a cooking class. 

Quinta Do Vellado Hotel
The gorgeous modern section of the Quinta do Vellado Hotel. Photo Credit: Jenn Mitchell, Fitness SheBuysTravel

When to Visit Douro Valley Portugal

For families, it’s probably best to visit Spring, Summer, and Fall. Summer, of course, is crowded with tourists and the region can get very hot. If you do choose summer, plan for water activities. In Spring, leaves are just bursting on the vines and flowers begin to bloom. In Fall, which is when I went, it’s harvest season winery activities are at their best. The warm colors of the changing leaves also make for spectacular scenery.

Have you ever been to Portugal?

Filed Under: Destinations International Tagged With: Portugal

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Christine Tibbetts, Cultural Heritage TMOM says

    December 12, 2018 at 8:52 pm

    All nw information for me. Thanks for expanding my horizons.

    Reply

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