Douro Valley - Tips & Advice

[natking]

Planning a few days in Douro Valley before heading to Algarve on next trip. Anyone been before? Which is best airport to fly to and how to get to Douro from airport? Best to hire a car or take a train? All tips on places to stay, things to do and see very welcome.

Thanks

Angus

[Bruce Wallis]

Fly to Porto...Douro more or less on your doorstep. Hire car in Porto, then head inland up the Douro Valley

Wonderful scenery...well worth the visit.

About a 6 hour drive down the motorway to the Algarve, tolls a bit steep....about 45 euros.

[natking]

Cheers Bruce. May base ourselve in Porto and get train through the Douro valley and/or river cruise. Then prob get train to Faro and hire car for remainder of trip

[SAM SPARKLE]

Hi Nat,

The Cruise is well worth it.

[Bruce Wallis]

Cheers Bruce. May base ourselve in Porto and get train through the Douro valley and/or river cruise. Then prob get train to Faro and hire car for remainder of trip

We thought of cruising from Porto up the Douro to Spain, then back on the train that follows the river all the way back to Porto

[ncook]

Hi, we're coming back to Portugal in September.

We're flying into Lisbon, driving up to Porto for 3 days (hoping to do a cruise), then back to Lisbon for 4 days, then down to Carvoeiro for a week before driving back to Lisbon for the flight home.

[natking]

Any advice on places to stay in Douro area?

[EMM]

If you take the train frpm Porto to the Algarve make sure that you use the high speed Pendula express .
Its a long trip even with just a few stops, Porto, Aveiro, Coimbra, Lisbon, Tunes. Albufeira, Faro.
Avoid the intercity if you can as these are much less comfortable and have many more stops.

[Matryx]

Would it be too much of a treck from Santander down to CVO via the Douro Valley, or would it necessitate a stay-over? It normally takes 10-11 hours driving the most direct route, but I always feel like we're missing out on beautiful scenery?

[HampshireRich]

Would it be too much of a treck from Santander down to CVO via the Douro Valley, or would it necessitate a stay-over? It normally takes 10-11 hours driving the most direct route, but I always feel like we're missing out on beautiful scenery?

My daughter and boyfriend drove down last year from North France (looks like an equivalent extra distance) via St Sebastian and they definitely had to stop over.

[Matryx]

Would it be too much of a treck from Santander down to CVO via the Douro Valley, or would it necessitate a stay-over? It normally takes 10-11 hours driving the most direct route, but I always feel like we're missing out on beautiful scenery?

My daughter and boyfriend drove down last year from North France (looks like an equivalent extra distance) via St Sebastian and they definitely had to stop over.

The problem is that I'll have the dogs with me as well. Might be best to do it another time when we have the opportunity to stay over and enjoy the trip for what it is.

[Bruce Wallis]

Would it be too much of a treck from Santander down to CVO via the Douro Valley, or would it necessitate a stay-over? It normally takes 10-11 hours driving the most direct route, but I always feel like we're missing out on beautiful scenery?

There is no way you could drive Santander to Carvoeiro via Porto and the Douro in one day.

The 10 hour yomp is the fastest and most direct route involving fairly hard driving.
Going across northern Spain and then down to the Douro from the top of Portugal would involve a significant diversion into that.
My drive from the Douro to Santander took more than 5 hours in itself, and there wasnt much opportunity for sight seeing.
I would advise : Day 1 Santander to the Douro.
Day 2 Explore along the scenic Douro valley
Day 3 visit Porto then a 5 hour drive from Porto to Carvoeiro.