The Douro River, which meanders through Portugal and Spain for a little more than 550 miles, can be pint -sized compared to the Danube and the Rhine, but it certainly grabs a blow.
Beautiful scenic cruise – you can expect how steep green slopes with wild olive groves, terrace vineyards, picturesque farmhouses and famous harbor houses can be seen, which means that you will never miss one of the dramatic passing landscapes.
It is interrupted by visits Quintas (As the Portuguese call their wineries) and historical cities such as the university town of Salamanca, which was made from the local golden sandstone and literally shines in the sunshine.
The cruises work from March to November, but the most popular times to visit the Douro Valley are in the spring months of May and June and autumn in September and October, when the temperatures are most comfortable – in July and August the Mercury can be at the top.
You will introduce the following cruises in the delicacies of the Douro.
You can quickly find the cruise:
Best to go
Cruise and hikes in Douro Valley, a dream of a nature lover
Croisieurope
Croisie Europe has six ships that sail the Douro – Frantisek Zvardon/Croisie Europe
Key stop: Régua, Pinhão, Vega de Terrón, Barca d’Alva and Senhora da Ribeira
Deposit: postage
Duration: Seven nights
Ship: Mrs. Infante Don Henrique
Croisie Europe can offer a number of travel routes on the Douro with a six -clammy fleet. Autumn is a nice season for walking, and these travel and sail trips on the 138-Guest-MS Infante Don Henrique has four to eight miles for sharp hikers and excursions for non-hiking companions who prefer things too loose. After that, cozy lunch and dinner offer a lot of time to catch up. Menus are set, but the nutritional needs are easy to meet.
Croisie Europe is a line in French possessions and the mixture of British and French passengers enjoys one Entente cordiale. This can have something to do with the generous open bar on the line contained in driving prices. I was looking forward to the daily cocktail of the day – served before lunch – and the list of the wines contained with meals that are far more extensive than you can find in other lines. Santé!
Insider tip
Spray on one of the two cabins directly on the upper deck. They are the only ones with balconies and offer a great view of the passing landscape.
How it works
A cruise with seven nights and hikes in the Douro Valley, the dream route of a nature lover who flies on October 12, 2026, costs from £ 2,133. Includes flights, all drinks and guided hikes, sailing-back and back trips from Porto.
Best for solo travelers
Douro, postage and Salamanca River Cruise for Solo travelers
Riviera Reisen
Riviera Travel offers special sails for solo travelers on the Douro
Key stop: Pinhão, Régua, Barca d’Alva and Lamego
Deposit: postage
Duration: Seven nights
Ship: Mrs. Douro Splendor
If you are a single traveler who is still experiencing River Cruising, take a look at Riviera Travel’s committed individual sails on the Douro. These special travel routes on board the modern Douro Splendor are a perfect introduction in the river cruises for individual guests and those who have a partner with different interests. They will sail with like -minded shipmates and there are no dreaded individual nutritional supplements. If you want, you can inject a top suite with a balcony and not be hit by a surcharge.
One of my favorite wine goods is Quinta da Pacheca. From the 18th century it was the first Quinta In 1738 to fill with the wine under the name of the owner. You will go here for dinner and enjoy a selection of wines. On the way to the huge wine barrels that have been converted into new GLAMPING pods.
Insider tip
Riviera not only offers comfortable flights from regional airports, but also offers flexible tariffs only for cruise. Therefore, you can put together a longer vacation by adding the cruise to a hotel stay in Porto.
How it works
A seven-night douro, postage and Salamanca River Cruise for solo travelers who leave on March 29, 2026 costs from £ 2,899. Includes flights, drinks with meals, excursions and tips.
Best for luxury
Portugal, Spain and the Douro River Valley
Uniworld Boutique River cruises
The SS São Gabriel is a boutique ship that sails 10 -nights -Douro -TM Studios Visuellle Medien GmbH
Key stop: Régua, Pinhão, Vega de Terrón and Barca d’Alva
Deposit: postage
Duration: 10 nights
Ship: SS São Gabriel
UNIWOWLD reproduces the style of its larger European ships on the 100 passenger SS São Gabriel. The boutique ship is individually decorated with Portuguese Azulejos Tiles and lush suites on the upper deck are equipped with Butler service.
If it is time to cool off, there is also a sundeck pool. Excursions include private tours and family -owned tastings that produce vineyards, or Quintas.
SS stands for Super Ship and you will certainly receive great service. Uniworlds Butlers are trained according to Buckingham Palace standards at the British Butler Institute. I ordered my favorite cocktail, a French 75. In the past I was often asked what was in it, but minutes later the butler arrived on a silver salver with the perfectly mixed tip. Later I asked for a sewing kit when the button had emitted my pants (probably all the good food). He sewed it back and delivered them back in handkerchief paper.
Insider tip
There is a whole day to explore Lisbon himself. Get egg pudding tart from Pastéis de Belém and catch the tram 28, which runs through the historical districts of the city.
How it works
A 10-night port of Portugal, Spain and the Douro River Valley route, which travels on November 22, 2026, costs from 3,699 GBP. Includes flights, a seven-nightless cruise and a stay of three nights in a five-star hotel in Lisbon.
Best for the all-inclusive value
Douro Explorer
saga
Saga’s Douro Cruise has daily excursions and stops on some of the region’s largest attractions
Key stop: Régua, Pinhão, Vega de Terrón, Pocinho and Barca d’Alva
Deposit: postage
Duration: Seven nights
Ship: Douro Serenity
The over 50s specialist Saga offers stress-free travel with a VIP private chauffeur service to bring you back to the airport and back. Everything is covered when they are in Portugal. You will be on board the 126-passenger douro serenity, which is only reserved for SAGA passengers.
I enjoyed all day in the Spanish city of Salamanca with its golden stone buildings. Our guide took a test to see who would first discover a tiny frog that is hidden in the decorated facade of the university building – good luck to bring students – and an incongruent space that was carved into the door of the new cathedral. In both cases, the passengers arrived in front of me with sharp eyes, but it was fun to let them point them out.
Insider tip
Go shopping in the medieval Hilltop -Vdorf Castelo Rodrigo. A large part of the “cork” sold by Porto Street providers is wrong.
How it works
A Douro Explorer cruise with seven nights from October 29, 2026 costs £ 1,971pp. Contains home pick-up service, flights, drinks, excursions, travel insurance and tips.
Best for active cruisers
Secrets of Douro
Emerald cruises
Kayaking is one of the excursions offered on board an Emerald Douro cruise
Key stop: Régua, Pinhão, Vega de Terrón and Barca d’Alva
Deposit: postage
Duration: Seven nights
Ship: Emerald
Enjoy the river from a different perspective on a Pinhão kayak ride. It is one of the active excursions offered by Emerald Cruises together with a hike through vineyards. Try again on board, entertaining jobs such as Portuguese tile paintings. Emerald and sister line Scenic are the only lines that dock on the Ribeira side of the river in Porto and have a lead if you want to explore the historical old quarter.
I very much appreciate the flexibility of this line. In addition to different land tours, there are also options as soon as you have taken up. In the high pilgrimage church of the Lamego of Santuário de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios, we could either go into town with statues and tiles via the long stone staircase. After a big breakfast it was good to stretch my legs in the 686 steps (I counted everyone).
Insider tip
The couple of Riveview -Suits – only finding on this emerald ship – is better than the owners’ suites because they have panoramic shops on two walls of the cabin.
How it works
A Seven Night secrets of the Douro cruise, which will take on May 30, 2026, costs from £ 3,578. Includes flights, drinks with meals, excursions and tips.
Best for the festive season
Douro tempting
Amawaterways
A little more than 100 passengers can sail on Amadouro, which also carries out themed cruises
Key stop: Régua, Vega de Terrón and Pinhão
Deposit: postage
Duration: Seven nights
Ship: Amadouro
With milder weather due to its southern location, the Douro has one of the longest cruises in Europe with the most sailing from March to November. Amawaterways now leads cruises in December and passengers can wake up the holiday atmosphere while Portugal is committed to Christmas. In order to reinforce the festive cheers, this sailing on the 102-guest amadouro is a special cruise with wine motifs, which is organized by two experts and with conversations and tastings without additional costs.
It would probably not matter if my train was delayed if I left the São Bento from Porto from Porto from the São Bento train station. The entrance hall is lined with huge blue and white tile panels that represent scenes from Portuguese history. The station is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which covers the historic quarter of Porto, which is visited on a hike. You will also see the fortress-like cathedral of the 12th century and have one or two drops on the way.
Insider tip
Amadouro has a gym that is useful to burn off the calories and you can hit the treadmill or raise some weights while driving from one destination to the next.
How it works
A seven night-night Douro cruise, which travels on December 2, 2025, costs from £ 3,177. Includes flights, drinks with meals, cocktail lessons and excursions.
About our experts
Jeannine Williamson
Jeannine Williamson, known as “River Cruise Queen”, has divided thousands of nautical kilometers on one to a to Z of the global rivers, from Amazon to Zuzi. If it is not over water, Jeannine can be found next to the water at home on the south coast of England.
Telegraph Travel Cruise expert, Jeannine Williamson