Romance south of the Douro Valley | Round trip Portugal

Route

This round trip begins near Aveiro and Ílhavo, between the lagoon and the Atlantic coast. You explore places such as Costa Nova and Aveiro with its canals and colourful moliceiro boats. The journey then continues inland via Viseu and the Dão wine region to the Douro Valley, where you stay among the vineyards. The trip ends with two nights in Porto.

Pace

A relaxed pace with three stays. Three nights near Aveiro on the coast, two nights in the Douro Valley and two nights in Porto. This allows you to combine coast, wine region and city without long transfers.

Highlights

The lagoon and canals of Aveiro, often called the “Venice of Portugal”. The colourful houses of Costa Nova and the Vista Alegre porcelain museum in Ílhavo. The wine landscapes of the Douro Valley, the archaeological park of Vale do Côa with prehistoric rock engravings and the historic city of Porto with its famous port wine cellars.

Accommodation

You stay in carefully selected Caractère hotels: first near Aveiro and the Atlantic coast, then among the vineyards of the Douro Valley and finally in a characterful hotel in Porto.

Profile

For travellers who want to discover Portugal through small towns, wine regions and coastal landscapes.

DAY 1: Flight from Brussels to Porto, then to Ílhavo at about 80 km

Pick up your rental car and depart for Ílhavo, where you will stay at the Vista Alegre Hotel for three nights. On the way to your hotel, you can make a quick stop in Valega, with its typical church whose façade is entirely clad in mostly exceptional and colourful azulejos.

DAY 2: Costa Nova; Aveiro (about 30 km there and back)

You will start the day with a visit to the colourful fish market of the coastal town of Costa Nova. Its colourful wooden villas exude a true holiday feeling. As a result, it's lovely to stroll along the pristine coastline here. Then on to Aveiro, for a visit to the lagoon which, with its canals, bridges and ornate moliceiros, is also known as the Venice of Portugal.

DAY 3: Ílhavo: codfish and porcelain

Visit Ílhavo, a town that has a long tradition of cod fishing as far away as the waters around Newfoundland. It is highly recommended to visit the maritime museum (closed on Mondays), where you can learn more about the eventful past. Today, the Vista Alegre factory is Ílhavo's calling card. Its high-quality porcelain items are famous all over the world! You can also visit the museum and buy items here.

DAY 4: Viseu and the Dão Wine Region (about 185 and 270 km away)

You will enjoy a nice drive via pleasant Viseu, a strategic place for many centuries, halfway between the Serra da Estrela and the Douro valley. Henry the Navigator lived there in the 16th century before it became an important art centre. A visit to the Museo de Grão Vasco is therefore a must. The Dão wine region is one of Portugal's most important wine regions. It is possible to visit a wine cellar. Onwards via Lamego to the meandering Douro, with impressive landscapes and vineyards, where you will stay at a hotel of your choice for two nights.

DAY 5: Vale do Coa and the mighty Douro Valley (around 128 and 380 km there and back)

Through S. João Pesqueira, a scenic route leads you to Vila Nova de Foz Côa, the world's most important paleolithic open-air figurations site, the Parque Arqueológico do Côa, with an impressive contemporary museum. Upon your return, you may want to stop in Pinhão where the train station is covered in typical azulejos. A boat trip on the Douro is a pleasant diversion in this beautiful region.

DAY 6: Douro Valley - Porto (around 44 and 126 km)

You will leave the impressive Douro Valley and reach Porto, where you will stay in a hotel of your choice for two nights.

DAY 7: Porto

Discover the city world-famous for its port wine. Tastings of famous brands such as Sandeman, Croft or Rozes can be done in one of the wine cellars in Vila Nova da Gaia, connected to the old town by a spectacular bridge, the Ponte D. Luis I. The atmosphere in old Porto, around the working-class Ribeira district, with its maze of little streets, is particularly colourful and welcoming. Contemporary art and architecture are also abundant.

DAY 8: Porto-Brussels

You will return your rental car at Porto airport and fly back to Brussels OR you can prolong your stay at one of the Caractère hotels.

Frequently asked questions about this round trip

Do you need a rental car for this trip?

Yes. A rental car makes it easy to reach places such as Costa Nova, Ílhavo, Viseu and the Douro Valley. It also gives you the freedom to stop along the way.

What is the best time for this round trip?

April to June and September to October are ideal. The weather is pleasant for coastal walks, wine visits in the Douro Valley and exploring the city of Porto.

What makes Aveiro special?

Aveiro is known for its canals and colourful traditional moliceiro boats. The city lies on a lagoon and has a strong maritime tradition linked to fishing, salt production and porcelain.

What makes the Douro Valley unique?

The Douro Valley is one of the oldest wine regions in the world and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The steep terraced vineyards along the river shape the landscape where port wine is produced.