Tour operator
Taste Porto Food Tours
Porto's longest-running food tour company, leading three-and-a-half-hour walking tours of the city's cafés, markets, tascas and port wine bars.
Douro Azul
A Porto river cruise company founded in 1993, best known for its 50-minute Six Bridges cruise from the Cais da Ribeira and longer Douro valley trips.
At a glance
- Type
- River cruises
- Area
- Miragaia, Porto, Portugal
- Official site
- douroazul.com
Good to know
- Six Bridges cruise
- Douro valley cruises
- Rabelo-style boats
- Cellar visit combinations
Why we recommend it
Douro Azul has been running cruises on the Douro since 1993 and is one of the best-known river operators in Porto. Its fleet includes boats inspired by the traditional rabelo, the flat-bottomed wooden craft that once carried barrels of wine downriver from the Douro valley to the lodges of Vila Nova de Gaia, as well as a yacht and a hotel ship for longer journeys up the valley.
The trip most visitors take is the Six Bridges Cruise, which lasts about 50 minutes and sails beneath the six bridges that link Porto and Gaia. Boarding is at the Cais da Ribeira, and the route takes in views of the old town rising from the waterfront, the Dom Luís I Bridge, the Maria Pia and São João railway bridges upstream, and the Arrábida bridge downstream towards the sea. Seen from the water, the layout of the city and the scale of the port lodges make much more sense, and the cruise is a gentle introduction for anyone arriving in Porto.
A popular combination adds a visit to a port wine cellar after the cruise. One version pairs the Six Bridges cruise with a 40-minute visit to the Burmester cellar in Gaia, which opens daily with a break in the middle of the day; the cruise must be taken before the cellar visit. For a full day out, Douro Azul also runs longer cruises into the Douro valley's wine country, part of the Alto Douro Wine Region, which is itself a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Six Bridges cruises depart throughout the day. From November to February the first departure is at 10:30 and the last at 16:30, and from March to October departures continue until 18:30. Advance booking is recommended in summer. Late-afternoon departures give the best light for photographs. Bring a layer even in summer, as it can be breezy on the water.
The company's office is at Rua de Miragaia 103, west of the Ribeira along the riverfront, and is open on weekdays from 09:00 to 18:00 for enquiries and reservations. The cruise suits families, couples, older travellers and anyone short of time, as it covers a lot of the city with no walking at all.
Douro Azul FAQs
How long is the Six Bridges cruise?
About 50 minutes.
Where does it depart from?
From the Cais da Ribeira.
What times do cruises run?
From 10:30, with the last departure at 16:30 from November to February and 18:30 from March to October.
Can I combine it with a port cellar visit?
Yes, one option adds a 40-minute visit to the Burmester cellar in Gaia after the cruise.
What kind of boat is used?
A boat inspired by the traditional rabelo wine boats.
Does Douro Azul offer longer trips?
Yes, cruises into the Douro valley and a hotel ship.
When was the company founded?
In 1993.
How do I contact Douro Azul?
By phone on +351 223 402 500 or by email for reservations.