Douro River Valley, Portugal

This was the first major destination on our long-awaited trip to Portugal, a journey we had been anticipating for quite some time (See our Portugal Overview Page). Neither of us had visited before, but with Portuguese immediate family and relatives, we felt an even stronger connection to the country and were eager to explore as much as possible. Our goal was ambitious: to experience the beauty, history, and culture of Portugal within a limited timeframe. Planning the itinerary was no small task—figuring out where to go, how long to stay in each location, and the best routes to take required careful coordination. The biggest challenge was balancing our extensive "must-see" list with the time we had available.

We arrived in Portugal via Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport in Porto, flying in from Madrid. After landing, we quickly collected our rental car from Auto Europe, ready to embark on our adventure. The drive was straightforward and scenic, taking us through some of Portugal’s most charming landscapes. We started eastward on the N13 and N15, roads that wound gently through rolling countryside, offering our first glimpses of vineyard-covered hillsides and picturesque villages. As we continued south on the N2, we approached the stunning Douro Valley, where we crossed the river via the Ponte Rodoviária da Régua, a scenic bridge that provided breathtaking views of the riverbanks and terraced vineyards.

The drive itself was an experience—peaceful, beautiful, and quintessentially Portuguese. With every turn, we felt more immersed in the region’s extensive winemaking heritage and natural beauty. This was just the beginning of our Portuguese adventure, and if the journey so far was any indication, we were in for an unforgettable week.

Click the above video poster image to view our "Portugal Reasons to Visit and Travel" Vlog - In this Portugal vacation travel video guide we'll provide reasons to visit and information about how to spend a week in Portugal. Portugal is a beautiful country directly on the Atlantic Ocean that offers a lot of value for your money and it has a fascinating history and culture. From the Douro River Valley to Nazare surf beach to the scenic and historic Lisbon and then south to the incredibly picturesque beaches of the Algarve Portugal has a lot to offer.

It is only 125 kilometers from the Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (in Porto) to the Delfim Douro Hotel, and the route was primarily through some very pretty geography that paralled the river. However, just as we drove into the Delfim Douro Hotel parking lot, we noticed that there was a River Cruise ship steaming down the Douro River from Câmara Municipal de Peso da Régua (the next town just east of the hotel). Being veterans of several Viking River Cruises tours in France, we immediately jumped out of our car and started taking photos of the ship has it continued by us on it's way to Porto.

The Douro River is the third-longest river in the Iberian Peninsula after the Tagus and Ebro. Its total length is 897 kilometres (557 miles), of which only sections of the Portuguese extension below the fall line are navigable, by light rivercraft.

The Douro River fully enters Portuguese territory just after the confluence with the Águeda River; once the Douro enters Portugal, major population centres are less frequent along the river. Except for Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia at the river mouth, the only population centres of any note are Foz do Tua, Pinhão and Peso da Régua. Tributaries here are small, merging into the Douro along the canyons; the most important are Côa, Tua, Sabor, Corgo, Tavora, Paiva, Tâmega, and Sousa. None of these small, fast-flowing rivers is navigable.

The Douro Valley is perhaps the most well known wine producing area of Portugal. This rich river gorge just outside the city of Porto hugs the Douro River, and is famous for its port wines. The wines produced here have become legendary — in fact, UNESCO recently designated the valley a World Heritage site.

We had originally planned to check into the hotel and then set out to explore a local vineyard, but the moment we arrived, we were completely captivated by the breathtaking setting. Perched on a picturesque hillside overlooking the majestic Douro River, the hotel exuded an irresistible charm that made it impossible to leave right away. Instead, we decided to take full advantage of the incredible surroundings, opting for a relaxing afternoon by the pool before embarking on a vineyard tour later in the day.

The pool area was an absolute oasis of tranquility, offering panoramic views of the rolling vineyards and the winding river below. The sight of the Douro Valley’s terraced hillsides stretching into the distance, bathed in golden sunlight, made it feel like we had stepped into a postcard. Comfortable loungers, inviting waters, and a soft breeze combined to create the perfect setting for unwinding and soaking in the beauty of the region.

And as if the stunning scenery and luxurious pool weren’t enough, the hotel had yet another treat in store—the bar was just steps away. That unassuming left-most door? It led directly into the bar area, offering a seamless way to grab an expertly crafted cocktail or a glass of local Douro wine without ever leaving the serene ambiance of the pool. It was one of those moments where everything aligned perfectly—the view, the comfort, and the promise of a vineyard adventure still to come.

The decision to hang out for a while was also driven by the fact that we had departed Madrid at a very early hour, flew to Porto, hopped into a rental car and then drove to the hotel (125 kilometers). So the concept of relaxing at the pool after a quick lunch, was a very easy decision to make.

As you can see in this image, after lunch we had a cappuccino and caught up with what was going on in the world since we had departed Madrid. Nice way to relax prior to driving to the vineyard tour.

You can see that the sky was nearly cloudless that day, beautiful bright sunny day, and yet another reason why we decided to hang out at the pool!

We made arrangements (online from our hotel) to tour a winery just down the road, and we had just parked the car in the Quinta da Pacheca parking lot. The walk from the parking lot to the winery office was so pretty, that we thought that a picture should be taken.

Image # 3 on the other side of their driveway, are some of their vinyards. All of which were being harvested at the time we were there. Image # 1 is the beautiful wallway from their parking lot to the hotel lobby, where everyone assembled for the tour. Image # 2 displays storage units for various products required for either olive oil or the winery.

Quinta da Pacheca has been in existence for over 300 years, and their vinyards extend all the way down the hills to the Douro River.

In image # 1 one of the wine workers is shoveling the grapes into a barrel delivery tube. This is how the grape juice is transferred to the vats below this level of the building.

These gray stone vats are used to hold the destemmed grapes and where the grapes are pressed ("grape stomping"). The grapes are then stored in the vats for several days.

After the grapes have been processed, the results are stored in these massive barrels (image # 2), to allow the wine to mature ("primary fermentation"). After primary fermentation, the wine will be transferred from the fermentation barrels to another vessel for aging.

After our tour guide had taken us through the various stages of processing, we then were taken to a port & tawny port tasting. If the name "port wine" or "tawny port" doesn't ring a bell with you, click here to learn about Port Wines.

This was an entertaining part of the tour, as we got to sample various types of wine they produce. Speaking as a person who enjoys good wine, I'd have to say that Port Wine is perhaps an "acquired taste".

NOTE: Image # 2 (right side) is the property of 'Portugal by Wine'

As we were departing the wine tour at Quinta de Pacheca, we happened to notice that there were some very large barrels next to the hotel. Turns out these 10 barrels were "hotel rooms" (270 square feet each), each barrel includes a bed, walk-in shower, skylight, Wi-Fi, and air conditioning. If you are interested in rates or more information about this unique hotel room, please click here to go to their web site.

The Quinta de Pacheca Barrel Hotel Rooms offer a truly unique and immersive wine country experience in the heart of Portugal’s Douro Valley. Nestled among the vineyards of the renowned Quinta da Pacheca winery, these luxury barrel-shaped suites allow guests to sleep inside giant wine barrels, blending modern comfort with rustic charm.

Each oversized wooden barrel is designed for relaxation and indulgence, featuring a spacious bedroom, a private bathroom, and a glass door that opens to a private terrace overlooking the lush vineyards. The interior is elegantly furnished with a plush bed, warm wooden finishes, and soft lighting, creating a cozy yet sophisticated atmosphere. Large circular windows offer stunning panoramic views of the rolling hills and changing colors of the vineyard landscape.

Guests staying in these barrel suites can enjoy exclusive wine tastings, vineyard tours, and gourmet dining experiences at the Quinta da Pacheca estate. The experience is perfect for wine lovers, couples seeking a romantic getaway, or travelers looking for a one-of-a-kind stay in Portugal’s most famous wine region. With the blend of luxury, nature, and a deep connection to the winemaking tradition, the Barrel Hotel Rooms at Quinta da Pacheca provide an unforgettable stay in one of the world's most picturesque vineyard settings.

There is a more conventional hotel that is located in between the barrel area and the wine processing plant. But these "barrel cabins" are unique aren't they?

NOTE: Below are some useful links where you can find even more information about the areas we have described on this page. There are of course, many other useful websites & pages, so for something specific, we would suggest using Google Search.