Overview
An eight day, self-guided Portuguese adventure, cycling the Douro Valley and exploring its most delicious gastronomical sights, and many other cultural highlights en route. Starting in Porto, famous for its eponymous fortified wine, and ending in Peso da Régua, also on the Douro River, this is where wine barrels were traditionally packed into boats to head to Vila Nova de Gaia to be put in the iconic cellars. Staying in traditional and historic hotels, this Douro Valley holiday is an epicurean and exquisite journey through northern Portugal’s natural and cultural heritage.
- Porto
- Castelo Rodrigo
- Douro Valley
- Wine tasting
- Peso da Régua
- Santuário de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Porto
You are met and transferred from Porto Airport to your hotel in Porto. The hilly city of Porto is best known for Port, the regional fortified wine, which is made from grapes grown on the banks of the Douro River Valley. Spend the afternoon exploring the city’s historical monuments, such as Clérigos Tower and Porto Cathedral, or stroll around the Old Town’s cobbled streets, packed with boutiques and cafes. If time allows, we recommend crossing the iconic Dom Luis bridge for a stroll along the riverfront in Vila Nova de Gaia, a town on the opposite side of the Douro River. Or wander uphill to explore its quiet streets and port wine cellars.
- Accommodation: Porto Music Guesthouse or similar in Porto
Day 2: Castelo Rodrigo warm-up | 26.9km
You are transferred to Castelo Rodrigo where you meet a local team member for bike collection and trip briefing. Head out on a warm-up cycle around Castelo Rodrigo in the afternoon. The hilltop village was built in 1209 by King Alfonso of León, and was a key part of Moorish Wars and later Spanish and Portuguese battles. The village is now known for its 12th-century castle walls and the ruins of Cristóvão de Moura Palace.
- Cycling for the day: 26.9km, ↑344m ↓344m
- Accommodation: Casa da Cisterna or similar in Castelo Rodrigo
Day 3: Castelo Rodrigo loop | 52.9km
The highlight of today’s loop cycle is a stop at the fortified village of Almeida. Over the centuries, Almeida has been a strategic defence point due its position overlooking the Côa River, the site of several battles. We recommend taking time to visit the old artillery barracks and jails, Misericórdia Church and Matriz Church.
- Cycling for the day: 52.9km, ↑629m ↓626m
- Accommodation: Casa da Cisterna or similar in Castelo Rodrigo
Day 4: Castelo Rodrigo – Barreira | 36.3km
Begin the day by cycling along country roads towards Juízo and take in the views over the Iberian Plateau and Douro River system, which includes the Côa and Águeda Rivers. Cycle to Juízo, a typical Beirã village with several wineries and a stream running through it. Make the most of the views of surrounding vineyards, olive groves and almond orchards before continuing towards your final stop of the day, Barreira.
- Cycling for the day: 36.3km, ↑505m ↓829m
- Accommodation: A Queijaria or similar in Barreira
Day 5: Barreira – Penedono | 31.4km
Start off by cycling to Penedono, passing the small village of Marialva, which can be spotted by its distinctive hilltop castle. Marialva was originally inhabited and fortified by the Aravos tribe to defend against the Romans. However, much of the castle you see today was built by King Afonso Henriques in the the 12th century, following Portuguese independence. Continue the cycle to Penedono, renowned for its cuisine such as hearty lamb dishes and locally-produced olive oil.
- Cycling for the day: 31.4km, ↑889m ↓451m
- Accommodation: Hotel Medieval de Penedono or similar in Penedono
Day 6: Penedono – Peso da Régua | 60.3km
Begin with a ride to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed vineyards of the Douro Valley, famous for Port wine as well as wines from the Touriga grape. End the day in Peso da Régua, strategically positioned on the banks of the Douro River. This is where barrels of Port wine were transported on traditional wooden boats (barcos rabelos) to Vila Nova de Gaia, where the wine was left to age. Bring the day to a close with a wine tasting experience at Peso da Régua Winery, which is included in your tour package.
- Cycling for the day: 60.3km, ↑746m ↓1,596m
- Accommodation: Hotel Regua Douro or similar in Peso da Régua
Day 7: Peso da Régua loop | 33.1km
Cycle in and around the Douro River with a stop at Lamego, a town dating back to Roman times. On arrival in Lamego, we recommend taking the time to rest your legs, before climbing the 686 intricately-tiled stairs to Santuário de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios. The 18th-century church is known for its baroque architecture, blue and white stucco interior and sky-blue rococo style ceiling, attracting visitors from all over the world. We also recommend trying some of the local smoked meats along The Avenida, a boulevard lined with open-air cafes and market stalls, before heading back to Peso da Régua.
- Cycling for the day: 33.1km, ↑593m ↓593m
- Accommodation: Hotel Regua Douro or similar in Peso da Régua
Day 8: Departure
Departure after breakfast (transfer included).
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of hotels and traditional guesthouses, as well as country inns set on wine estates. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view default hotels
- Porto Music Guesthouse (Porto)
- Casa da Cisterna (Castelo Rodrigo)
- A Queijaria (Barreira)
- Hotel Medieval de Penedono (Penedono)
- Hotel Regua Douro (Peso da Régua)
Accommodation is subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days. When no restaurant location is available en route, lunches and snacks can be bought from local shops. Dinner is available either at the accommodation or from restaurants in the local area.
Difficulty and terrain
This tour is rated easy to moderate, making it perfect for the occasional rider. The routes are mostly easy but may include longer moderate stretches on some days on generally flat terrain with some occasional moderate uphill/downhill sections. Routes are mainly on quieter countryside (paved) roads, with a few short gravel trail sections. Cycling distance is typically 25-55km per day (read more about difficulty grades). E-bikes are also available to rent on this tour, which eases things quite a bit.
We strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never try to shorten the path through unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed route notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed information on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available throughout the year, except for August. The tour starts on Wednesdays, with an extra charge if starting on any other day of the week.
The months with the most pleasant weather for cycling are April to June and September to October, with September also having the advantage of being the grape harvesting month.
During the summer months, temperatures average 26C during the day, so we recommend early starts for your cycles. For more information, see our blog Best time to go to Portugal.
Getting there
FCO up-to-date travel advice for Portugal
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended arrival and departure airport for this tour is Porto Airport (OPO).
If you are able to travel to Portugal without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail, with a railway station in Porto. For more details, please see CP or use the Omio planner above
Arrival and departure transfers to/from the airport are included in this tour.
Inclusions
Included
- 7 nights accommodation
- 7 breakfasts
- Briefing with a local guide
- Hybrid bike rental with pannier rack, either pannier or handlebar bag, bike lock, quick repair kit and first aid kit
- Private transfer from Porto Airport to hotel on day one
- Private transfer from hotel in Porto to Castelo Rodrigo on day two
- Guided tour and wine-tasting at Peso da Régua winery on day six
- Transfer from hotel to Porto airport on day eight
- Luggage transfers (one bag per person of up to 15kg)
- Phone app with maps, GPS tracks, and descriptions of daily routes
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
- Personal accident insurance
Excluded
- Airfare
- Public transport
- Lunches and dinners, drinks and snacks
- Personal expenses
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Local tourist tax and entrance fees (payable locally)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- There is an extra charge for trips starting on Saturdays and Sundays
- We regret that this tour is not open to solo travellers
- Upgrade to e-bike rental
- Bike accessory rental: helmet (or purchase), gel seat pad, GPS device, RWGPS smartphone and phone holder, power bank, additional handlebar or pannier bag
- Extra nights in Porto
