If you are traveling to the Douro Valley from Porto by train, your journey will begin at Sao Bento Station.
But which stop should you get off at?
Three good choices:
- Regua Transport hub of the Douro valley. Trains going further along the river may change here and you can catch a bus to other points of interest including Lamego with the Sanctuario Nossa Senhora dos Remedios. The train journey takes about 2h from Porto. See How to Get to Regua from Porto.
- Ferrao The nearest stop to the Quinta Nova winery. If you contact Quinta Nova ahead of time, they will come and pick you up from the Ferrao train stop. Ferrao is about 20 minutes by train from Regua.
- Pinhao A popular spot to take a cruise on the Douro from. Pinhao is less than 30 minutes by train from Regua.
Douro Valley from the Train
The journey by train takes you along the river and is an attraction in itself, with pleasant views of the valley throughout the most of the ride.
Douro Valley from Quinta Nova
You can reach Quinta Nova at the Ferrao train stop and arrange for them to pick you up from the stop if you contact them ahead of time.
Quinta Nova Wine
Quinta Nova offers a variety of red and white wines. They also have a restaurant using local products, including their own homemade jams and olive oil. You can stay over night or just come for a meal and some wine tasting for a few hours. See Quinta Nova for more details.
Douro Valley from Quinta Nova Tasting Room
Wine tasting room at Quinta Nova in Ferrao.
Douro Valley Pictures
You can take a cruise of the Douro valley from Pinhao. There are several different operators offering cruises of varying lengths to suit your needs.
Pinhao's train station adorned with tiles (Azulejos). There are also wine tastings inside the station from Quinta Nova and a wine museum.
Pinhao is a charming place making for a nice stop while in the Douro Valley, whether to take a cruise from or just relax along the river.