Pedro DominguesPinhão is for me the most beautiful town in Douro Valley, the ideal starting point for a tour of the region, the best place to enjoy a rabelo boat trip on the river, and the right base to choose to taste Port wine while exploring the vineyards and wineries so famous in the north of Portugal.
Pinhão has the essentials that any visitor wants to experience when visiting Douro Valley. Here, the terraced vineyards are even more attractive to the eye, and the viewpoints will certainly not disappoint.
I fell in love with Pinhão and that’s why I decided to write an article for those who are going to visit the region for the first time and want to have this town as a base. It will be a simple and objective article, your step by step to discover the best of Douro Valley from Pinhão. It is a simple list of things to do in Pinhão for first-timers there.
In this travel blog you will already find other articles about surrounding municipalities, such as Peso da Régua and Lamego. 😉 You will also find a complete itinerary to visit Douro Valley along the National Road 222, which crosses the country from side to side along the river.
Where is Pinhão located, in Portugal?
Pinhão is located in the north of Portugal, more precisely in the heart of Douro Valley and in the municipality of Alijó, about 125km from the city of Porto.
MORE ARTICLES FROM THE NORTH OF PORTUGAL: - Porto Itinerary - Things to do in Porto - Best Museums in Porto - Best Churches and Cathedrals in Porto - Best Parks and Gardens in Porto - Best Port Wine Cellars in Porto - Best Beaches in Porto - Best Day Trips from Porto - Best Matosinhos Beaches - Things to do in Matosinhos - Things to do in Vila do Conde - Things to do in Póvoa de Varzim - Things to do in Vila Nova de Gaia - Things to do in Espinho - Minho | Northern Portugal Itinerary - Things to do in Viana do Castelo - Things to do in Ponte de Lima - Things to do in Monção - Things to do in Valença - Things to do in Caminha - Things to do in Braga - Things to do in Guimarães - Things to do in Barcelos - Things to do in Esposende - Things to do in Arcos de Valdevez - Peneda Gerês National Park Itinerary - Best Hikes and Trails in Peneda Gerês National Park - Best Peneda Gerês National Park Waterfalls and Lagoons - Douro Valley Itinerary - Douro Valley Wineries - Best Douro Viewpoints - Things to do in Peso da Régua - Things to do in Lamego - Best beaches in Northern Portugal - Trás-os-Montes Itinerary - Things to do in Bragança - Montesinho Natural Park Itinerary - Douro International Natural Park Itinerary
Travel Tips to visit Pinhão
1. Rent a car to visit Pinhão
You have easy access by train from Porto to Pinhão, but I really recommend you have a car to visit this region anyway. Getting there will be very easy, but moving around not so much.
I always use Discover Cars on my own trips because it allows for very good comparisons between the most common car rental companies everywhere.
2. How to get to Pinhão?
If you want to visit Pinhão and Douro Valley but haven’t bought tickets to Portugal yet, I recommend that you use Skyscanner or Google Flights to do a search before buying them, comparing prices and flight conditions. You have many connections with Porto from abroad.
As for public transport, I already mentioned the trains (CP – Comboios de Portugal), but you can always check on Rome2Rio website to find out all the possible ways to reach a certain destination.
If you prefer, there is also the possibility of visiting Pinhão on a guided tour, avoiding the need to rent a car or travel by public transport. There are many tours available from Porto, such as:
- Douro Valley Tour from Porto
- Douro Valley Wine Tasting and Tour
- Douro Region Full day Tour
- 1 Day Cruise to Pinhão
3. Take out Travel Insurance when visiting Portugal
To be protected against several types of travel hazards, I also recommend that you take out travel insurance for your stay in Portugal, and I recommend to do it with World Nomads.
4. When to visit Pinhão?
This region is beautiful at any time of the year, but of course the harvest season is the ideal time to visit Pinhão, in order to have a more authentic experience with your visit to the vineyards and wineries. You can participate in the harvest, for example.
5. Gastronomy and Restaurants in Pinhão
As far as restaurants for lunch or dinner in Pinhão are concerned, there are two that I highly recommend: the restaurant Veladouro and Cozinha da Clara. Roasted kid with oven rice is the main typical dish not only in Pinhão but in the entire Douro Valley region.
6. Accommodation tips to visit Pinhão
| Accommodation | Score | Location |
|---|---|---|
| The Vintage House | 9.1 | Pinhão |
| LBV House Hotel | 8.8 | Pinhão |
| Quinta de la Rosa | 8.8 | Pinhão |
Things to do in Pinhão | Portugal
This article on things to do in Pinhão will be divided into a 4-day itinerary of Douro Valley:
- On the first day you will visit the town of Pinhão, taking a cruise on Douro River, and visiting some Douro wineries in the vicinity. You may also visit the wine villages of Provesende and Favaios.
- On the second day you will visit some more Douro wineries near Pinhão, especially if you are in the middle of the harvest season. If you are not visiting during that time of the year this will be a 3 day itinerary only.
- On the third day you’ll follow National Road 222 from Pinhão to Peso da Régua, with a quick detour to visit Barcos Wine Village and Tabuaço. The return will be along the north bank of Douro river, passing through São Leonardo da Galafura.
- The fourth day is dedicated to discovering São João da Pesqueira and its beautiful viewpoints.
Map | Things to do in Pinhão
Visit Pinhão and Douro Wineries and Vineyards
As I just mentioned, this section is to be done in the first two days in Pinhão. You will visit some wineries and vineyards in the region and participate in the harvest if the time of year allows that.
1. Visit the town of Pinhão
From Pinhão, the pier, the metallic bridge over Douro river, the train station and the pedestrian bridge stand out. Check out all these places.
2. Take a Rabelo boat trip from Pinhão
As far as boat trips are concerned, you can buy them directly from Get Your Guide by following one of the links below. Or if you prefer, you can also do it directly at the pier in Pinhão, where the boat trips begin. The important thing is not to forget to also contemplate the vineyards from the river.
- Pinhão: 2-Hour Rabelo Boat Tour with Audio Guide
- From Pinhão: Private Yacht Cruise along the Douro River
3. Visit some Douro Wineries in the region of Pinhão
Regarding your visit to Douro Wineries near Pinhão, I recommend that you read my full article on the subject, with a list of the 19 best options available. There you will find all the necessary information to make your reservations and schedule your visits. What to do in these wineries depends on what each one organizes in its facilities. Be sure to check the following ones:
- Quinta de la Rosa
- Quinta do Bonfim, for which I leave you a link to an excursion with get your guide.
- Quinta da Roeda
- Quinta das Carvalhas
- Quinta do Seixo
- And Quinta do Ventozelo.
4. See Pinhão from its best viewpoints
The best viewpoints from where you can see Pinhão in the distance are these three that I mention below. They are easily accessible by car.
- Carvalhas Viewpoint, on the other side of the river (municipality of São João da Pesqueira).
- The Viewpoint of Casal de Loivos, Alijó.
- And the Viewpoint of São Cristóvão do Douro, in the municipality of Sabrosa.
Carvalhas Viewpoint
Viewpoint of Casal de Loivos
Viewpoint of São Cristóvão do Douro
5. Visit the wine villages of Favaios and Provesende
Favaios is in Alijó and Provesende is in Sabrosa. Both are wine villages. Personally, I found Provesende prettier, but Favaios is the capital of Moscatel wine, which makes it more interesting.
Wine Village of Favaios
Wine Village of Provesende
Take the National Road 222 to Peso da Régua, passing through Tabuaço
On the third day of this itinerary, you’ll travel along the most beautiful section of National Road 222. But you’ll do it with some mandatory detours to get to know the surroundings of Pinhão better. 😉
1. Visit Tabuaço
In the town of Tabuaço, be sure to visit:
- The Museum of the Imaginary Douro (MIDU)
- Conde Ferreira Garden
- The RIJOMAX Clock at the tourist office
- The Mother Church of Tabuaço
- And Abel Botelho Museum.
The museums are optional, but a stroll through the historic center is a must, and don’t miss that clock, which is fascinating!
2. Visit Alto da Escrita or Pedregal Viewpoint
After a visit to the town of Tabuaço, you should check its best viewpoint, at the top of the surrounding mountain range. The viewpoint is really fantastic, allowing you to see the entire vineyard landscape beyond the small town.
3. Visit the Wine Village of Barcos
Barcos is another Douro wine village, and one of the most beautiful, where you will certainly enjoy strolling through the picturesque alleys and visiting the Romanesque church.
4. Visit Adorigo Viewpoint
On the way back to National Road 222 from Tabuaço, you will find an authentic balcony overlooking Douro River, called Adorigo Viewpoint. It’s nice to stay there a while, watching the tourist boats sailing on the river.
5. Visit the mouth of River Tedo
Tedo river flows into Douro river with a beautiful meandering mouth that you won’t want to miss. In the surroundings, in addition to the viewpoint, how about taking the opportunity to visit Quinta do Tedo?
6. Go for a stroll in Folgosa along Douro River
Folgosa is an excellent place for a short riverside walk. There is a wooden walkway there for this purpose, and I recommend you to stop there for a while to admire the landscape on the other side of Douro river, where Covelinhas is located. You will visit Covelinhas later on this day.
7. Visit Peso da Régua
Peso da Régua will be where you will end the journey on National Road 222. A walk across the pedestrian bridge is a must, and of course, you should also visit Douro Museum. There are other attractions that you can find in my dedicated article, these being the two that I consider to be the main ones.
8. Pass by Covelinhas Viewpoint and then go up to São Leonardo de Galafura
Finally, two spectacular viewpoints in Peso da Régua. I particularly like Covelinhas area, so I recommend you go there first. From there you should go up to the viewpoint of São Leonardo da Galafura, and there await a special sunset.
Visit São João da Pesqueira and its magnificent Viewpoints
As the title indicates, you’ll head to São João da Pesqueira on the last day of this itinerary from Pinhão. This is the municipality of Douro Valley with the most area classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
1. Visit the Historic Center of São João da Pesqueira
In my opinion, the historic center of São João da Pesqueira is one of the most beautiful in the entire Douro region, with emphasis on Republic Square, Cats street, and Wine Museum.
2. Visit the best viewpoints in São João da Pesqueira
As for the viewpoints of São João da Pesqueira, they are all highly mandatory. Perhaps the Viewpoint of São Salvador do Mundo stands out for the important hill on which it is located, with the largest sanctuary in Douro Valley.
Abelheira Viewpoint (or Frei-Estêvão)
Viewpoint of Nossa Senhora das Neves
Viewpoint of Nossa Senhora de Lurdes
Viewpoint of São Salvador do Mundo
Viewpoint of Santa Bárbara
Vargelas Viewpoint
More things to do in Pinhão surroundings
With more than 4 days of travel, you can go deeper into Douro Valley region. What I’ve shared so far is the bare minimum for a first time there.
1. Visit Lamego
Lamego is a special place in Douro Valley. Pinhão is the most beautiful town, but Lamego has the most extraordinary monuments. I have an entire article dedicated to it, so go read it to find out more.
2. Visit Vila Nova de Foz Côa
How about visiting Vila Nova de Foz Côa and its main attractions, for example Côa museum and the archaeological park of Côa Valley, a UNESCO world heritage site with its prehistoric engravings? How about visiting the Castle of Numão?
3. Visit Tua Valley Natural Park
Tua Valley is also not far from Pinhão, and has some of the best viewpoints in Portugal. I am talking, for example, of Ujo Viewpoint, of Olhos do Tua Viewpoint or of São Lourenço Viewpoint.
4. Take a trip on Douro Historical Train
You can also ride the historic Douro train, from CP, although I find the river cruises much more fun (and they are much cheaper and more enjoyable!). An alternative is to take a normal regional train, in either direction from Pinhão.
5. Go on a trail from Pinhão
And there are still trails to follow in the region, such as São Cristóvão do Douro Trail, which connects Provesende to Pinhão.
Other Itineraries and Travel Guides in Portugal
- N2 Portugal Road Trip Itinerary
- Madeira Itinerary and Travel Guide
- São Miguel Itinerary and Travel Guide (Azores)
- Terceira Itinerary and Travel Guide (Azores)
- Pico Itinerary in Azores
- Faial Itinerary in Azores
- Minho | Northern Portugal Itinerary
- Porto Itinerary and Travel Guide
- Things to do In Braga (Minho)
- Things to do in Guimarães (Minho)
- Things to do in Viana do Castelo (Minho)
- Peneda Gerês National Park Itinerary
- Douro Valley Itinerary
- Trás-os-Montes Itinerary
- Things to do in Bragança
- Montesinho Natural Park Itinerary
- Douro International Natural Park Itinerary
- Things to do in Aveiro
- Things to do in Coimbra
- Things to do in Leiria
- Things to do in Fatima
- Things to do in Nazaré
- Things to do in Peniche
- Things to do in Évora (Alentejo)
- Things to do in Beja (Alentejo)
- Algarve Road Trip Itinerary
- Things to do in Lagos (Algarve)
- Things to do in Portimão (Algarve)
- Things to do in Faro (Algarve)
- Things to do in Tavira (Algarve)
I hope this list of things to do in Pinhão was useful for you! Please send me your feedback in the comment section below.
