Douro River Cruises

Take a river cruise along the Douro and explore this beautiful region of Portugal, from its medieval cities to its centuries-old vineyards. Sample some delicious port wine, dine at a traditional quinta, explore Porto’s cobblestone streets steeped in old world charm, or venture further to discover the historic and culinary delights of Lisbon. Time slows down as you river cruise Portugal, and you’ll be grateful for every second.

Popular River Cruises View all

Featured

11 Days Porto to Madrid

Operator: Scenic

From 8,286
Save 1,097

11 Days Porto to Lisbon

Operator: Uniworld River Cruises

From 5,843
Save 2,567

8 Days Porto to Porto

Operator: Avalon River Cruises

From 5,007
Save 805

11 Days Lisbon to Porto

Operator: Travelmarvel

From 5,937
Save 1,459

The Douro River

Map of the Douro River

Where does the Douro start & finish?

The Douro River originates in the Soria province of northern Spain, in the Sierra de Urbión mountain range. River cruises on the Douro generally operate only within Portugal, often starting in Porto and going as far inland as the Spanish border or slightly beyond, to cities like Barca d'Alva.

I'll have a mega-pint please.

The Douro Valley is the birthplace of Port wine, and many of the world's best Port houses have their vineyards lining the riverbanks. A cruise along the Douro often includes visits to these historic estates, where you can learn about the wine-making process and enjoy tastings.

Douro Valley

The Douro River Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage site, a testament to its cultural, historical, and environmental significance. The terraced vineyards rising from the riverbanks offer some of Europe's most breathtaking scenery, especially during the autumn harvest season.

Fascinating Locks

Cruising the Douro includes passing through several impressive lock systems, some of the highest in Europe. The Carrapatelo Dam, for instance, has a lock that lifts boats up to 35 metres.

Featured River Cruise OperatorsFeatured Operators View all

Scenic
With Scenic, it’s more than a 5-star river cruise...it’s a seamless journey from start to finish that places you, our guest, at the heart of everything...more we do. It’s taking you to extraordinary regions and immersing you in meaningful and enriching experiences. It’s exquisite cuisine, indulgent wellness, and a world-class team who will anticipate your every need. You'll find the difference is in the details with Scenic: the innovative ship design, expertly trained crew, immersive journey, and an unrivalled focus on health and safety protocols.
Douro Rivers160
Budget:Premium & Luxury
Known For:Luxury Cruising
Fleet Size:14
Emerald Cruises
From culture-rich cities to world-famous wine regions, Emerald Cruises represents a new chapter in the world of river cruising. Our deluxe fleet of revolutionary...more Star-Ships promise contemporary comfort and unique on-board innovations, while our generous offering combines affordability with great dining, exceptional service and immersive itineraries across Europe and Asia. With return flights, transfers, all on-board meals, complimentary drinks, tips and much more included in the price of an Emerald Cruises river cruise, we’ve taken care of everything. Our attentive team of crew, sommeliers and personal butlers are available day and night to ensure every minute on-board the Emerald Cruises fleet is as enriching, enjoyable and relaxing as possible.
Douro Rivers197
Budget:Premium
Known For:Affordable Luxury
Fleet Size:9
APT
APT
Life-enriching, relaxing and unique – an APT river cruise is the ultimate holiday experience. Discover unforgettable destinations as you travel in total...more comfort and style. From Europe to Africa and the mighty Mekong River, APT has a diverse range of river cruises, and you’ll wake up most mornings in a new location, ready to explore fresh and exciting sights. Timeless luxury, exclusive experiences, life enriching moments and true personalisation. APT offers all-inclusive holidays so everything is taken care of. We invite you to join us; you won’t be disappointed.
Douro Rivers34
Budget:Premium & Luxury
Known For:Aussie Specialist
Fleet Size:10

Discover Must do experiences and highlights on the Douro River

Sandstone Salamanca

Sandstone Salamanca

Head across the border into Spain on an excursion to Salamanca, where sandstone buildings line the streets and church towers decorate the skyline.

Sanctuary of Our Lady Remedies

Sanctuary of Our Lady Remedies

This beautiful church competes for your attention with the baroque 686 step staircase that leads to it, adorned with statues and hand painted azulejos.

Scenic Cruising

Scenic Cruising

Slow down and enjoy the scenery gliding by from your veranda or from the sun deck as steep gorges give way to tiered rows of vines.

A Traditional Quinta Experience

A Traditional Quinta Experience

Wine has been produced in the Douro Valley for some 2,000 years, with generations tending to their family run quintas. Visit one of these beautifully rustic vineyards to sample the wine and warm Portuguese hospitality.

The Port of Porto

The Port of Porto

From its cobblestone streets to red rooftops, Porto will cast a spell over you. Not to mention that the food here, along with the port wine for which it is known, is a little bit of magic.

Recent Reviews What our clients are saying about their river cruise journeys through Portugal

Luxury cruise on the Duoro   , Auckland, New Zealand, Jun 2023
We would definitely cruise with Scenic again - this cruise went beyond our expectations of luxury and service - the quality of the food and wine was amazing. We had the 11 day cruise and were pleased to have chosen this, could not imagine spending any less time to be able to discover all the sights and experiences of the Duoro River Valley. Global Journeys ...read more handled our bookings well and we were pleased with their helpful service in sorting our touring details.
Lisbon & Douro River Cruise     , NSW, Australia, Oct 2019
Had an amazing time. Beautiful scenery along the Douro River. Global Journeys our travel agent Hannah Campbell did an amazing job organising our tour. Thank you Hannah. Uniworld who we travelled with were fabulous, staff were so obliging and friendly. Accommodation at hotel and on board were 1st class. Met some very friendly people. Overall a wonderful ...read more experience.
Thoroughly enjoyable Douro River cruise with Travelmarvel   , VIC, Australia, Aug 2019
We thoroughly enjoyed the cruise, it was relaxing taking in the scenery as we cruised to our next village. The boat doesn’t sail at night therefore you get to sit on the deck and take it all in. You are not on the go all the time like some other tours, the fact that you are on board for a week means that you unpack and that’s it until you disembark ...read more for your next destination. The people on the boat were all very friendly. Our cabin was very noisy which was disappointing as we were on level three, we also experienced a smell from the drain.
A fantastic week     , QLD, Australia, Jul 2019
Our Douro River Cruise was amazing. Cruise director Isobel couldn’t have been better, from the time we boarded our cruise until we disembarked. Food and service was superb.

Explore More Your guide to travelling along the Douro

Visit Portugal: Highlights of Douro River Cruising

20 February, 2024

Visit Portugal: Highlights of Douro River Cruising

The Douro River runs through northern Portugal and into Spain, with river cruises typically sailing to and from Porto, with the option of city stays either side of the cruise. These stays often include time in either Lisbon, Madrid and even Barcelona. For guests embarking on a river cruise,...

River Cruising in Portugal

07 August, 2018

River Cruising in Portugal

The Douro River winds its way from the city of Porto where the river spills into the Atlantic Ocean onward east to Spain, carving out the stunning Douro Valley in its wake. Wine has been produced in this basin by the traditional landholders for some 2,000 years and it has been listed as a...

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