Top ports of call in Portugal include Lisbon and Port, the Azores islands, and the wine region of the Douro Valley where towns and villages like Pinhão and Régua are fun places to sample the ports of the country.
Ponta DelgadaPonta Delgada is the capital of São Miguel Island and a main hub of the Azores archipelago. Whales watching, swimming with dolphins, hiking to volcanoes, and exploring the cobblestone streets of the town make exploring an active adventure in the culture, terrain, food and wildlife of the islands.
Vila do PortoPorto’s old-world charm, up and coming restaurants, the São Bento Station with over 20,000 painted tiles telling the story of the city’s founding, and wealth of plazas and churches make it a place where discoveries are made around every corner. For a bird’s eye view of the landscape, the funicular railway takes you from the Douro River to the highest point in the city.
Lisbon
As the capital of the country,
Lisbon has museums, art galleries, an impressive restaurant scene, and landmarks that include monasteries and a 12th-century Moorish castle. Príncipe Real is the neighborhood to find the city’s hottest bars, restaurants, cafes, and shops.
Régua
Historically Regua was an important center for transporting port from the Douro Valley’s wineries to Lisbon, today the charming riverfront is an inviting place to sample some of the region’s port and find a restaurant with a view. The Museu do Douro has a detailed history of the region and its port producing estates.
Barca Salva
Barca D’alva is a small town almost at the Spanish border where touring the historic center’s 13th century Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo takes you up ancient streets to the ruins of a castle used as an outpost against Muslim control.
Funchal
The largest town on Madeira Island,
Funchal’s old town with 200 works of art painted on doorways, its markets, and the cable car takes you to the top of the Monte mountain are a few of the attractions that the city has to offer. The old town is the place to go for food where local eateries serve a variety of seafood that the island is known for. At the top of the cable car are the botanic gardens, considered one of the most beautiful in the region.
Pinhão
Home to some of the best port estates and the center of the Douro wine region, Pinhao’s small size, beautiful views, and quaint shops and restaurants are a welcome sight for those who want to experience the rural lifestyle of the port country.
Entre-os-Rios
Home to beautiful architecture, terraced landscapes, and great parks, Entre-os-Rios is a far cry from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Highlights include the Igreja de São Miguel de Entre-os-Rios, a small church dating back to the 11th century that has been renovated numerous times in different styles since being built.
For more information about visiting Portugal and cruising the Douro River while discovering its ports of call,
contact one of our travel experts.
