Douro River Cruises
Join one of our superb Douro river cruises and visit the fascinating cities of Porto and Salamanca, as well as Vila Real with its baroque Mateus Palace. Moor in picturesque Portuguese towns such as Pinhao and see its extraordinary tiled station, and take a guided tour to Lamego, famous for its Sanctuary.
Relax on board your luxurious river ship and enjoy sailing through the unspoiled Douro landscape of terraced vineyards and steep gorges. The region is renowned for its world-famous Port wine, and your cruise will give you plenty of opportunity to sample it along the way. From indulgent getaways to relaxed excursions, a cruise on the Douro river offers a journey packed with remarkable memories and stunning scenery.
Douro River Cruises 2025/2026
Douro Discovery
Special OfferSave up to 25%!
Sail through the famous port wine regions of the picuresque Douro Valley on this superb value Essential river cruise. Includes return flights from the UK, excursions and unique Insider Experiences
Porto and back
Enticing Douro
Special OfferSave up to £1000 Per Couple PLUS Free Flights on 2025 Cruises!
Discover the terraced vineyards and sleepy fishing villages along the Douro on this round-trip from Porto with included shore excursions and drinks with meals
Porto and back
Lisbon and the Douro
Special OfferSave up to 30% with flights included and Free Premium Drinks, plus save an additional £200 per person on selected 2025 Europe river cruises!
Discover the amazing scenery of the Douro on this 10-night holiday, past sleepy villages and vineyards to the Spanish town of Salamanca and beautiful Porto. Includes 3-night hotel stay in Lisbon, shore excursions and complimentary drinks with lunch and dinner
Lisbon to Porto
Secrets of the Douro
Special OfferSave up to 30% with flights included and Free Premium Drinks, plus save an additional £200 per person on selected 2025 Europe river cruises!
Discover the charming towns and historic landmarks along the Douro on this captivating 7-night roundtrip cruise from Porto. Includes shore excursions and complimentary drinks with lunch and dinner
Porto and back
The Douro to Salamanca
Special OfferExclusive special early booking discounts on 2025 cruises - call us for details!
A 7-night river cruise through the picturesque Douro Valley exploring Portugal's famous port wine region on a stylish ship, with return flights from the UK
Porto and back
Delightful Douro
Special OfferSave up to 30% plus Free Business Class Flights!
Porto, Porto > Regua, Regua > Vega de Terron, Pocinho > Pinhão, Pinhão > Porto
Flavours of Portugal and Spain
Special OfferSave up to £1000 Per Couple PLUS Free Flights on 2025 Cruises!
Porto (Portugal), Entre-os-Rios, Regua, Regua – Pinhao, Barca d'Alva (Spain), Vega Terron
Unforgettable Douro
Special OfferSave up to 30% plus Free Business Class Flights!
Porto, Porto > Entre-os-Rios, Regua, Regua > Vega de Terron, Pocinho > Pinhão, Pinhão > Porto
Unforgettable Douro with Lisbon
Special OfferSave up to 30% plus Free Business Class Flights!
Lisbon, Lisbon > Porto, Porto > Entre-os-Rios, Regua, Regua > Vega de Terron, Pocinho > Pinhão, Pinhão > Porto
Delightful Douro with Lisbon
Special OfferSave up to 30% plus Free Business Class Flights!
Lisbon, Lisbon > Porto, Porto > Regua, Regua > Vega de Terron, Pocinho > Pinhão, Pinhão > Porto
Delightful Douro with Lisbon & Madrid
Special OfferSave up to 30% plus Free Business Class Flights!
Lisbon, Lisbon > Porto, Porto > Regua, Regua > Vega de Terron, Pocinho > Pinhão, Pinhão > Porto, Porto > Madrid
Delightful Douro with Madrid
Special OfferSave up to 30% plus Free Business Class Flights!
Porto, Porto > Regua, Regua > Vega de Terron, Pocinho > Pinhão, Pinhão > Porto, Porto > Madrid
About Douro River Cruises
Porto is Portugal's second largest city and one of the most beautiful cities of the Iberian Peninsula. Its charm stems from its dramatic position above the river, with little gabled houses closely terraced down the hill. Porto owes its wealth and fame to Port wine, first discovered and exported by the British in the early 17th century.
Birthplace of the navigator Diego Cap who discovered the mouth of the Congo, Villa Real is an attractive old Episcopal town surrounded by fruit orchards and vineyards Nearby is the little village of Maters with a beautiful Baroque country house and gardens belonging to the Counts of Villa Real, and featured on labels of Mateus Rosé wine.
Situated south of the Douro, Lamego is a major market centre, and is charmingly set amid vineyards and lush, fertile countryside. The town boasts several fine Baroque buildings including the 18th century pilgrimage church Nossa Schrum, a Gothic cathedral, and an 11th century castle where in 1143 Don Alfonso Henriques was elected first King of Portugal.
On certain itineraries you will visit Salamanca, Spain's ancient seat of learning with its grand buildings and the Plaza Mayor, the country's most magnificent square. One of the loveliest and best preserved of the old Spanish cities, Salamanca justly deserves its place as a World Heritage Site. With a tumultuous past, the city has been conquered, influenced and shaped by Hannibal, the Romans, the Moors and the French. Today it is a city of golden stone architecture, narrow cobblestone streets and beautiful plazas.
NEW: Read our diary of a Blue Water Holidays River Douro cruise
Highlights of the Douro River
Cruises on the Douro River offer an enchanting journey through a landscape filled with history and natural beauty. As you travel along the river, you’ll find plenty of highlights that reflect the region's rich culture. From charming towns to famous landmarks, each stop offers something special. Here are some of the must-see highlights you can expect on your Douro River cruise:
- Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies in the beautiful town of Lamego
- Portuguese capital of Lisbon, home to the famous Belem Tower
- Tranquil town of Pinhao, renowned for its tiled railway station
- Port wine tasting in the colourful city of Porto
- Peso da Regua, overlooked by the breathtaking Serra do Marao mountains
- Incredible architecture in the World Heritage-listed city of Salamanca
- Mateus Palace and stunning gardens in the town of Vila Real
- Pretty village of Barca d’Alva, close to the Quinta do Seixo
- Vega de Terron, gateway to World Heritage-listed Salamanca
- 11th-century Benedictine Monastery in the village of Bitetos
River Douro Ports
Discover the cultural cities, historic towns and traditional villages of Portugal with a the Douro river cruise
A cruise on the Douro River and her tributaries offers the opportunity to enjoy the passing scenery and go ashore to explore a viariety of riverside attractions
Lamego
Overlooked by two hills, Lamego is an impressive and picturesque town lying in the fertile Upper Douro region. At the top of one hill and reached via sweeping steps is the magnificent baroque Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora dos Remedios, and on the other, the remains of a 12th-century castle. The town has a pretty square laid out as a garden, and many fine 17th-century buildings.
Lisbon
Lisbon has three ports, all with taxi services and within 3 kilometers of the city centre. Lisbon is a sprawling city which has been occupied by Visigoths, Moors, Romans and Celts. Alfama and Barrio Alto are historic districts of cobbled streets, wrought-iron balconies and Moorish buildings. Its most famous landmarks are the World Heritage Sites of Belem Tower and the impressive 16th-century Jeronimos Monastery.
Pinhao
Pinhao has a spectacular position at the confluence of the Douro and Pinhao rivers, surrounded by steep, rocky vineyards. It is famed for its old station, wonderfully decorated with blue painted tiles depicting the history of this port-producing region.
Porto
Porto's sea port is located in Leixoes at the mouth of the River Douro and five miles north of the city, whilst river cruise vessels can access Oporto directly. Oporto is the hub of the port wine trade, and vineyards line the shores of the river upstream. Old Oporto is a World Heritage Site with houses dating back to the 15th-century, a grand cathedral, a train station decorated with fine examples of Portugal's blue and white tiles and the remains of Roman city walls.
Regua
Regua is backed by the Serra do Marao mountains and is at the heart of the Port wine region. It is a pretty town to stroll and is home to the Solar de Vinho do Porto which offers tastings and port-related exhibitions.
Salamanca
The old city of Salamanca is a World Heritage Site with many Renaissance buildings of golden sandstone. The central square of Plaza Mayor is bordered by graceful arcades, and other highlights include the Romanesque Cathedral, the Augustinian Monastery and the Art Nouveau and Art Deco Museum of Casa Lis.
Customer Reviews
Croisieurope Douro
by S.StanhopeFrom the moment we landed at Porto Airport our trip was one of the most relaxing we have ever had. We arrived early at the ship but the Pursar made us very welcome, she arranged for our luggage to be stored until our cabins were ready and a taxi was ready and waiting to take us into Porto to do some early sightseeing. My husband and I were travelling with my 87 year old Mum and nothing was too much trouble at all. The crew were all very friendly and spoke excellent English. The food and wine were exemplary. We only went one one trip but it was excellent. The tour guide was very knowledgable. I would highly recommend cruising on the Douro with Croisi.
Unforgettable Douro
by DouglasrWe had a brilliant holiday cruising the Douro, in September 2016 on the Scenic Azure. This was our first river cruise, and I would thoroughly recommend Scenic and the Douro, as well as our agents, Blue Water Holidays. Timing in mid September was ideal, just at the start of the grape harvest, with temperatures in the mid twenties. The Douro is beautiful, and the excursions from the ship were very interesting and informative. The ship carried 94 passengers, and had a very friendly and homely atmosphere. It was very well staffed, and the service was superb. All crew members were Portuguese, all making it their job to ensure everyone had an unforgettable holiday. The cruise director and guides were very knowledgable, providing some great insights into life in the Douro region. A brilliant holiday!
Port Wine Country
by P.FurmedgeWe booked our River Douro cruise through Blue Water Holidays without any trouble.
The cruise was wonderful, we stayed for two nights in Lisbon which we enjoyed very much , visiting The Castelo S. Jorge and touring the City.
We were then taken to Porto where we picked up our cruise. We had seven nights on board the Viking Torgil in a french balcony cabin. The cabin was compact but very well fitted out. We toured the River Douro as far as we could sail on the river and were taken to Salamanca by tour coach. Salamanca was a good fun day with a Spanish Flamenco show during lunch.
En route we visited many of the vinyards, tasting the wonderful port wines of the region. We were taken on tours either during the morning after breakfast or in the afternoon after a good lunch. The food on board was of a very good standard with excellent wines of the region we were touring on that day.
We found all of the staff on board really friendly and helpful, you only had to ask and help was at hand.