Follow in the footsteps of the wine merchants of Portugal on a classic “Six Bridges” cruise of Porto. Sail down the River Douro along the route of the “Rabello Boats” that served the area.

About this activity

Free cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
Covid-19 precautions: Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
Reserve now & pay later: Keep your travel plans flexible—book your spot and pay nothing today. Learn more
Valid 1 day: Check availability to see starting times.
Host or greeter: English

Highlights

Take a panoramic cruise down the River Douro
Follow the route of the old rabello boats
Learn more about the bridges of Ribeira and Vila Nova de Gaia
Enjoy fantastic views of the Foz do Douro

Full description

Enjoy a traditional “6 Bridges Cruise” along the River Douro and follow in the footsteps of the old wine merchants that transported wine from the valley to the wine cellars. Board the boat at Ribeira Quay and sail along the sparkling Douro river. Admire the beautiful landscapes and red-roofed buildings of the towns of Ribeira and Vila Nova de Gaia from the water.

Let the old-fashioned charm of the Rabelo Boat (old wine transport ship) transport you back in time. Listen as your guide tells you about the historic bridges that connect Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia, as your boat glides under them.

Learn more about their construction and curiosities, and upon arrival at the last bridge, see the sandy beaches of the seafront area Foz do Douro where the river pours into the ocean.

Includes

50-minute cruise along the River Douro

Guide

Not suitable for

People with mobility impairments

Covid-19 precautions

You must book this activity online because the ticket office is closed

Safety measures in place

All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned
You must keep social distance while in vehicles
The number of visitors is limited to reduce crowds

Traveler requirements

You are required to bring and wear a mask

Meeting point

The cruise departs from both the Cais da Ribeira or Cais de Estiva. Look for the Douro Acima or Tomaz Do Douro (Douro Cruises) boats. Your ticket can be used for the 6 Bridges Cruise offered by either operator.

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Important information

What to bring

Comfortable shoes
Sun hat
Camera
Comfortable clothes

Not allowed

Pets
Smoking
Luggage or large bags

Know before you go

The cruise operates hourly
This cruise is not guided
Minimum and maximum passenger numbers apply
Changes to your tour are subject to availability. To change your tour, please call the local tour operator

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.2 /5

based on 1048 reviews

Review summary

Guide
4/5
Transportation
4.2/5
Value for money
4/5
Safety
4.2/5

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The river cruise is great. But two things to be aware of. First, the voucher isn't your boat ticket. You have to go to the ticket booth on the quay and get your actual ticket. We queued for 20 minutes only to be told that our voucher needed to be validated and a ticket issued. Why not make tgat clear to customers? Second, the audio guide is for I-phones. It didn't play on Android phones.

June 7, 2022

Lovely way to see the city. Get into the queue early to bag a good seat. Choose your boat carefully. I would have preferred the more traditional boat but we ended up with a boat with two levels and we had to sit on the chairs on the upper (roof) level to enjoy the sunshine.

May 30, 2022

The bridge cruise was nice, but buying tickets in advance didn't help much as you had to find an agent, get in line, and exchange your online voucher for a ticket. Then you had to stand in line to wait for a boat. Not quite sure the benefit in buying a ticket in advance.

May 26, 2022

Porto: River Douro 6 Bridges Cruise

Porto: River Douro 6 Bridges Cruise

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