Looking for a weekend getaway in Europe– the Douro Valley in the northern part of Portugal is always a good choice. The scarcity of tourists and not too large countryside make the hinterlands a perfect place to let your body and soul relax for a few days. Departing from Porto and driving alongside the Douro river, it is only a one-and-a-half-hour to Pinhão, the heart of the Douro Valley. A prolonged weekend of three to four days is ideal for this roundtrip, especially in early autumn when the Portuguese climate will depict its best side.
If you have enough time you should consider an overnight stay in the Monverde Hotel in Amarante. It is a lovely spa hotel surrounded by vineyards. The interior design and art reveals that it is owned by a local wine producer, Quinta da Lixa – famous for its Vinho Verde.The hotel amazed with its beautiful architecture and numerous cottages where you can spend calm nights with the impression to sleep in the middle of the vineyard.
View from the balcony at the Monverde Hotel
Heading further east towards Vila Real, you will arrive at the Alto Douro area. Following the winding streets to Pinhão you can see the beauty of this place. Steep vineyards and breathtaking views contribute to the unique atmosphere. As mentioned earlier, the winemaking tradition of this area makes it a place worth to visit. As the viticulture dates back over 2’000 years, this region unquestionably deserves its nomination as World Heritage Site in 2001. The nearby Quinta do Seixo, owned by Sandeman, offers a scenic view over the Douro river while tasting a selection of port wine. Internationally known wine houses attract people from US to Australia.
View from Quinta do Seixo
On the way back to Porto, I highly recommend to having lunch at DOC in Folgosa. The Restaurant serves a modern interpretation of traditional Portuguese food and offers an open terrace to the douro river. Their wine list offers a perfect selection of both international and regional winemakers. Due to the warm temperatures I choosed a local white wine named “Guru” – reminds me of a white burgundy, full- bodied with a good acidity and 12% alcohol.
Lunch at DOC in Folgosa
Finally, Porto was the last stop of the Portugal trip. In line with the winery tradition, where grapes were shipped from the vineyards, down the Douro river until they reached the large warehouses of Porto.
View of Porto from the Yeatman Hotel
Where to eat:
Lunch:
Restaurante DOC
Estrada Nacional 222
Folgosa
Phone: +351254858123
Dinner:
Restaurante ODE Porto Wine House
Largo do Terreiro 7
Porto
Phone: +351913200010
Where to stay:
Hotel Monverde
Quinta de Sanguinhedo
Telões
Phone: +351 255 143 100
Porto A.S. 1829 Hotel
Largo de São Domingos 45-55
Porto
Phone: +351 223 402 740
What to do:
Drinks:
The Yeatman Hotel
Rua do Choupelo
Vila Nova de Gaia
Phone: +351 22 013 3100
Wine Tasting:
Quinta do Seixo
Valença do Douro
Tabuaço
Phone: +351 22 783 8104
Art& Culture:
Vila Real – Casa Mateus
Fundação da Casa de Mateus
5000 VILA REAL
Phone: +351 259 323 121
Porto- Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Serralves
Rua D. João de Castro, 210
4150-417 Porto
Phone: +351 226 156 500
Scenic Drives:
Road N323 from Vilarinho de São Romão to Pinhão
Road N222 from Pinhão to Peso da Régua
