What is the Best Time to Cruise the Douro River?

When Is the Best Time to Cruise the Douro River?

The best time to cruise the Douro River is either in late spring or early autumn. Booking a trip in either April, May, September or October means that you’ll enjoy pleasant weather conditions but also won’t get caught up in the peak of tourist activity in the middle of the year.

Whilst the summer months see the warmest weather, temperatures may be over 30°C which some travellers may find too hot for comfort. Portugal is also busiest over the summer, and most river cruise itineraries involve trips to popular attractions, which can make them busy, as they are quiter outside of the peak season.

Of course, the best time for a Douro River cruise will depend on what you’re looking to get out of the experience. Sun-seekers might love exploring the region around the river in July and August, but travellers who prefer cooler temperatures or who are looking for a specific cultural experience will prefer visiting earlier or later in the year.

Spring

The warm climate that Portugal enjoys means that the river cruise season on the Douro begins at the start of March. Average temperatures grow from around 16°C to 22°C as the months progress, providing very pleasant conditions for admiring the views from the deck or exploring various towns and attractions along the banks of the river.

Visiting in spring means that you do run the risk of wet weather when you cruise the Douro River, with around a 30% chance of rain during March, April and May. However, the chances of sunshine are also pretty high, so any showers shouldn’t last for too long unless you’re really unlucky.

A cruise on the Duoro River in the spring is perfect for travellers who want to explore the landscape during their excursions, as the weather is perfect for walking. The scenery blossoms into life as the season progresses, making this one of the most beautiful times of year to visit.

Places like Porto, Pinhão and Salamanca will be lively but not overly busy at this time of year, so it’s a great opportunity to enjoy these top destinations without the crowds you’d see over the summer. However, as you approach the summer these cruises will get more popular and prices may increase around May, which is something else to be aware of when you’re planning your trip.

Some seasoned river cruisers might be wary of travelling at the start of spring in case flooding disrupts the trip. However, the Douro has a reasonably low risk of rising high enough that common cruising routes will be disrupted, making it an excellent choice for a holiday at the start of the year.

Summer

Summer is the busiest time of year in Portugal and Spain because of the hot and sunny weather. A river cruise on the Douro at this time of year will see temperatures easily reaching 30°C in July and August, which does actually put many people off booking a trip over the summer in an effort to avoid the intense heat.

However, if high temperatures don’t bother you then a Douro River cruise between June and August means that you can enjoy brilliant Portuguese weather as you explore the region around the river. Summer sees plenty of tourists arrive to explore the country, so although certain attractions and locations might feel busy, you’ll also benefit from a summer program of events and entertainment in places like Salamanca and Porto.

Since summer isn’t the most popular time to cruise the Douro River, you might actually find some of the best deals on holidays at this time of year if you book well in advance. River cruises in the summer make a great alternative to traditional beach holidays in Europe, and there’s no denying that Portugal is at its best when the sun is shining.

Autumn

Plenty of people agree that the beginning of autumn is the best time to cruise the Douro River. The heat of the summer has lost its intensity but there’s still only a small chance of rain, and temperatures continue to hover around 22°C - 25°C until at least November.

A river cruise on the Douro is also a wonderful idea for an autumn holiday because it won’t be as busy. Whilst early September will likely still see a high volume of tourists in the Douro Valley and popular Portuguese cities, it will be much quieter by the middle of October and start of November and the perfect time for a relaxing holiday on the water.

Autumn is also the best time to cruise the Douro River if you’re a fan of wine, as the Douro Valley is renowned for producing some of the best wine in Europe. September is the harvest season for the grapes grown in the vineyards all over the region, and it’s an ideal time for wine-tasting experiences that also include the chance to see the vineyards harvesting and beginning to process their crops. It’s also when the Douro & Porto Wine Festival is held, which is an unmissable event for fans of Portuguese wine.

Winter

Winter is the quietest time of year when it comes to cruises on the Douro River, as a smaller number of travellers visit the area. Because of this, some tour operators stop offering River Douro cruises altogether, so there’s a much smaller selection of itineraries and options to choose from. These months can be a great time of year to travel if you’re on a budget as well, as it’s low season which is reflected in the prices.

By the time March comes around, Douro River cruises will be starting back up again as the season starts. It’s a lovely quiet time to visit, with the added bonus of it being almond blossom season in the valley, which means the landscape erupts with gently scented white flowers.

Choosing Your Douro River Cruise

Now that we’ve covered what you can expect from a cruise on the Douro River throughout the year, you should have a better idea of when the best time to book a trip might be for you. Here’s some more guidance to help you decide on your perfect Douro River cruise.

Destinations

One of the key things to consider when you’re choosing a cruise on the Douro River is the destinations on the itinerary. Plenty of cruises from different providers follow very similar routes and visit the most popular places in the Douro Valley, but there might be particular experiences you want to have or smaller towns and villages that you were hoping to visit. In this case, you should choose your tour based on the different places on the itinerary.

Some Douro cruises also don’t just stick to the route that the river follows and include excursions to other places in Portugal, with Lisbon or Madrid being a common feature on many cruise itineraries. If you’ve never visited these cities before then choosing a cruise that starts or finishes somewhere else is a great way to get more out of your holiday and enjoy a range of different experiences alongside your river cruise.

Activities

Alongside where you visit on your Douro Valley river cruise, another key thing to consider is the kinds of excursions and activities that the trip involves. From guided walking tours of towns and cities to visits to historic sites, different cruise operators will create different experiences of the Douro for their guests, and it’s worth reading through the different itineraries on offer to find one with activities that you know you’ll enjoy.

Because of the Douro Valley’s reputation for winemaking, plenty of tours offer guests multiple opportunities to sample the varieties that are grown here and learn about the process at vineyards and wineries. If you’re particularly interested in sampling Portuguese wine, you’ll want to look for cruises that have numerous vineyard trips and wine tastings on the itinerary.