THERE AND BACK
Douro: by train or by boat?
Both work, but they do not tell the same story. The Douro line train links Porto with Régua and Pinhão; the cruise puts the river at the centre. The two cruises below also combine a boat with a return by road or rail.
Trips to compare
10 h 30 minRégua Day Cruise
Up the Douro to Peso da Régua, breakfast and lunch on board, then a bus back to Porto.
From€76
Check availability10 h 30 minDouro River Cruise to Porto
Down the river from Peso da Régua to Porto with lunch on board, then back by train.
From€78
Check availabilityCommercial data as of . Indicative prices, ratings and reviews.
Practical sources checked on . Route, language and access.
Information from Civitatis. Indicative prices; languages and availability to be confirmed for your date.
At a glance
| Criterion | Cruise from Porto to Régua | Cruise from Régua to Porto |
|---|---|---|
| Departure | Porto, Cais da Estiva | Peso da Régua, harbour |
| Direction of the boat | Upstream, from Porto to Régua | Downstream, from Régua to Porto |
| Return | By coach to Vila Nova de Gaia | By train from Porto to Régua |
| Handy if | You are staying in Porto | You are staying in the valley |
The train on its own
The official CP timetables show the Douro line between Porto São Bento, Régua, Pinhão and Pocinho. Some services are replacement buses, marked in the document: read it again for your date before planning your day.
The cruises
The two cruises below mix river and a return over land: one sails up the river from Porto and comes back by coach, the other goes down from Régua and returns by train. The choice depends mostly on where you sleep.
When to pick which
To see the landscape from the water, with meals and commentary included according to the listings, the cruise; to choose your own times and villages, the train alone.
By Rabelo Day Edition of