North Portugal Douro & Minho
A road trip from Porto covering the Douro wine region, Guimarães, the Gerês mountains, and Viana do Castelo.
Spend the first day in Porto, then pick up your car and head east to the Douro Valley for two nights. Turn towards Minho to see historic towns, sanctuary staircases, and the national park, before returning along the coast. Driving is spread out with short daily distances, making it perfect for return visitors who love wineries and mountains. Parking in cities can be difficult; picking up the car on Day 2 is recommended.
The Douro harvest season is around September; book winery accommodations well in advance.
Day by day
Day 1 · Half-Day in Porto Old Town
Porto（São Bento Railway Station、Clérigos Church & Tower、Livraria Lello、Porto Cathedral）
Take the metro from the airport to the city center (about 40 minutes); old town attractions are within walking distance.
Stay: Baixa and Avenida dos Aliados
Day 2 · Lamego to Pinhão
Douro Valley (Peso da Régua)（Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies, Lamego、Quinta da Pacheca、Pinhão & Railway Station）
Pick up your car and drive via the A4 and A24 to Lamego (about 1 hour 20 minutes), then take the N222 to Pinhão (about 40 minutes).
Winery tours and lunches usually require advance reservations.
Stay: Pinhão
Day 3 · Pinhão Wineries and Viewpoints
Douro Valley (Peso da Régua)（Quinta do Bomfim (Dow's)、Douro River Cruise、Provesende、Miradouro de Casal de Loivos）
Based in Pinhão, drive to nearby viewpoints and wineries, taking 10–30 minutes one way.
Stay: Pinhão
Day 4 · Viewpoints to Guimarães
Douro Valley (Peso da Régua)（Miradouro de São Leonardo de Galafura） → Porto（Guimarães Historic Centre）
Drive from Pinhão via the Casal de Loivos viewpoint, take the A24 and A4 to Guimarães (about 2 hours), and continue to Braga (about 30 minutes).
Stay: Braga
Day 5 · Braga Sanctuary to Gerês
Porto（Bom Jesus do Monte, Braga） → Gerês
Drive from the city center to Bom Jesus do Monte (about 15 minutes), then continue to Gerês (about 1 hour) and hike a short trail in the afternoon.
Mountain roads have many curves; some park sections have traffic restrictions in summer.
Stay: Gerês
Day 6 · Soajo Granaries to Viana do Castelo
Soajo → Viana do Castelo（Ponte de Lima、Sanctuary of Santa Luzia）
Drive from Gerês via the Soajo mountain roads to Ponte de Lima (about 1 hour 30 minutes), then continue to Viana do Castelo (about 40 minutes).
Stay: Old Town and Praça da República
Day 7 · Viana Old Town and Return to Porto
Viana do Castelo（Praça da República、Gil Eannes Hospital Ship） → Porto（Vila Nova de Gaia Port Wine Cellars、Dom Luís I Bridge）
Explore the old town in the morning, drive via the A28 to Porto (about 1 hour) in the afternoon to return the car or continue sightseeing.