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Douro River Rainy-day activities

Our most recommended Douro River Rainy-day activities

From Lisbon: Day Trip to Porto, Óbidos, and Nazaré

1. From Lisbon: Day Trip to Porto, Óbidos, and Nazaré

Discover three amazing Portuguese cities: Porto, Nazaré, and Óbidos with a bus sightseeing tour from Lisbon. Immerse yourself in the rich heritage of Portugal and feel inspired by the architecture, history, and culture of these beautiful cities. Get comfortable in an air-conditioned vehicle as you start your journey toward the town of Óbidos, where we will start with a guided tour accompanied by a local guide. Completely surrounded by ancient walls and preserving all its medieval charm, Óbidos is one of the most famous and visited places in Portugal, and a must-see in the surroundings of Lisbon. The narrow cobbled streets that can be seen in Óbidos will immediately transport you to a medieval atmosphere. These streets are home to perfectly preserved old houses, historic buildings, and important monuments. Dominating the historic center in the highest part of the village, visit the Castle of Óbidos, which is declared one of the 7 wonders of Portugal. Start at the village main gate, and discover the amazing narrow streets outside of the beaten track. Visit the secret Jewish neighborhood and its white-painted houses with some great spots to take pictures. Walk along Rua Dereita, the most famous street, full of stores and traditional restaurants, and get to the castle of Óbidos. It was built in the 12th-century, although it has Roman constructions in its beginnings. It can be said that it is one of the best preserved and largest fortresses of the country, being listed as one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal. From there, you will clearly see the great wall of Óbidos, another of the town’s great symbols. Continue the trip heading to possibly the most famous fishing town in Portugal, Nazaré, where you will visit the Forte de Sao Miguel. This site has become world-famous for the giant wave that hits its coast every winter and attracts lots of surfers from all over the world. Then, walk through O Sitio, where the famous streets present a collection of religious buildings and are a hugely popular site for pilgrims from all around the globe. Hike your way up to the summit, where you'll find medieval fortifications, 17th-century churches, and modern shrines. Wander the courtyards and plazas surrounded by ornate structures, basilicas, and statues. Next, head to Oporto, the last stop of the day. First you will have 1h to have a typical Portuguese lunch on your own to regain energy, and then, the visit will start. A vibrant 1.5-hour walking tour, where you will admire the stunning Old Town on the picturesque Douro River, complete with six bridges, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Igreja Carmen, Estação São Bento, Igreja São Francisco and Ponte Don Luis. At the end of your tour, you will return to the center of Lisbon and your guide will recommend things to do during the rest of your stay.

From Lisbon: Porto Highlights Day Trip

2. From Lisbon: Porto Highlights Day Trip

You will start your tour in the Ribera del Duero area. A charming start in the most beautiful natural area of the city. You will be able to admire the beautiful bridges that cross the river and also discover the charm of its people. In this way, you will find yourself breathing the authentic essence of the city. In fact, this area of the town is a World Heritage Site, with the Largo do Terreiro as the highlight. There you will find the Chapel of Nossa Senhora de Ó, which dates back to the 17th century, having been deeply remodeled in the 19th century. Just in front, you will see the famous Fuente Taurina, which is a kind of entrance to the restaurant area. A multitude of restaurants await you to taste the rich gastronomy of the city with incredible views of the Duero. Going up from the Ribeira, you will reach the most famous bridge of Porto: the bridge of Don Luis I. After crossing the Don Luis I bridge, you will arrive at the area of the Church and the Clérigos Tower. These are the greatest exponents of baroque art in the city. In addition, the almost 80 meters high tower also allows it to be a monument seen from any point. You should know that the Clérigos Tower is the largest religious construction in Portugal. It dates back to the 18th century, and its marble and granite facade will leave you speechless. Its origins date back to the Brotherhood of the Poor Clerics, who made the Church of the Clerics their home after financing the construction of the tower. By the way, we must not forget that the temple keeps inside treasures of incalculable value, protected by a rococo style facade that you will love. Following the ascent through the streets of the city you will reach its highest part, where the Cathedral of Oporto, also known as Sé do Porto, is located. A majestic temple built throughout the twelfth century whose facade leaves a sensational mix of styles. Thus, you can see samples of Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque. You will learn about the history of the temple and the main elements kept inside. In addition, you will also pass by the San Bento railroad station. One of the most striking of Portugal, decorated with tiles that leave in sight sensational images of the country's history. It is another must-see in Porto. Before ending the guided tour, you will cross to the other side of the river to contemplate the historical part of the city, where the Vinho do Porto Caves are located. As you know, Porto is a land of worship to good wine, so you will not miss a single detail of this delicious product. After the guided tour, you will have free time to continue exploring the city at your own pace and recharge your batteries in one of its famous restaurants. In this sense, you will have no problem finding the greatest temples to the city's food, as our guides will give you the best recommendations.

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What people are saying about Douro River

Overall rating

4.2 / 5

based on 121 reviews

The tour was great, especially if you have a short time in Lisbon and want to see several things/cities, O'bidos was especially beautiful. Our guide Flavio, in addition to being punctual and very nice, explained everything to us great and left us some free time to explore on our own and made good recommendations for eating in Porto. Also the trip was made more pleasant thanks to our driver Arthur,. also super friendly. We enjoyed a lot.

Highly recommend this tour.You will see three diferent spots in one day - old village of Obidos, ocean and waves in Nazare and colorful Porto.Guide Flavio is great guide!He has excelent knowlegde about the history of these places, he was so supportive in providing recommendations and in answering all questions, even helping us with photos!

If you have little time and a day to dedicate to an activity outside Lisbon, this tour is the solution. The timing is right, you have the opportunity to see the center of Porto even in a short time, capturing its essence and beauty. Pleasantly discovered the other two destinations, including Nazarè for a breathtaking view of the ocean.

Well organized trip, comfortable ride in conditioned mini-bus, guide gave free time in each location to walk. Recommend if you want to visit Porto but do not have much time

The trip was definitely worth it. Flavio did a great job