po_dourado

Hello, there!

Since i enjoyed my trip to Mendoza last January so much, i decided to visit Douro Valley next October, during my visit to Porto. Well, i don't plan to rent a car and a guided tour sounds too expensive for me, so i'm planning to do this day-trip by my own.
Here it follows:

1. Leave Porto early in the morning and head my way to Pocinhos by train, since everyone says its such a lovely journey.
2. Return to Pinhão station. Visit a Vineyard and make my way back to Porto.

Well, here's the thing: I was searching for vineyards/quintas nearby Pinhão's station, and i happened to find Quinta de la Rosa, a 3km distance. Wonderful, i thought. Well, i decided to simulate this walking tour on Google Maps and i realized that the way til the Quinta is a road, without any pedestrian walk. Quite dangerous, huh?

Here are my questions:
- Are there cabs in Pinhão railway station, so i can get to the Quintas safely?
- Is it really rough to make this by foot?
- Are there another Vineyard with a nice view AND walking distance from the station? i don't bother if it is in Pinhão, Regua or anywhere else around, i just wanna feel the experience.
- It's harvest time, right? Is there any special event on the surrounds, in order to celebrate?

i would thank you all so much for the help!

ribeirasacra

For taxis do a map search for Pinhão, Portugal (note the spelling as you will then get a more local search result. Then under local search type taxi. Three services show up for me.
Also read this.
http://www.discoverdourovalley.com/c...A740EA510EDC82
It may not be rough but if it is hot or wet the walk could be not so pleasant.
You have to prebook Quintas.http://www.quintadelarosa.com/content/visits when you do you can ask them about the questions you have too.
This one is the nearest to the railway station.
http://quintadafoz.pt/ I leave it up to you to think about if it is better than Rosa.
Septemebr is harvest time, unless the weather is poor then it may creep into the first days of October. The wine harvest is hard work so no time to celebrate.

po_dourado

Ribeira, thanks for your help!

Yes, i could find these three companies and i will save these numbers on my phone. My biggest fear actually is arriving in a "ghost city" - i had experienced this in some railway/bus stations before and it wasn't pleasant at all...


Since i don't have enough time (and money) to enjoy two or more Quintas, i´ll read a little more about then to make the right decision. i also found out that Quinta das Carvalhas picks up the visitors on the station - so now i have to decide between those three.

Thanks so much for your enlightment on my trip!

Robert2533

The taxi services in the area is quite limited. Most taxi transfers would arranged by the hotel/Quinta if you where staying at one.

Quinta do Seixo (Sandeman) should have something going on during harvest. If you want to set up a visit/tour with them, then they should be able to arrange the taxi from the train station in Pinhão (www.sandeman.com/visit-us/douro). They are still on the summer schedule in October.

None of the roads we traveled had walkways, but you you may find a few people on bicycles riding around the vineyards (on the level roads) along the river.

ribeirasacra

I get the feeling that maybe it is not so worrying about taxi services as you and Robert feel.
From the link given in Roberts posting Sandeman say "By train:

In Campanhã Station or São Bento Station (both in Oporto) take the train to “Pinhão”. Take a taxi and after approximately 5 km you will find Quinta do Seixo."
http://www.sandeman.com/visit-us/douro

That seems to me to suggest that taxis are available.
I cannot confirm this 100% because living nearby when I visit the area I simply take my own car. I do see taxis on the road but who knows where they are based.

po_dourado

i thank you all for your help. Ill try to schedule a visit on Seixo or De Rosa and, if possible, take the train later to Pocinho.

ribeirasacra

Glad you got back....thought we'd lost you.

ch4books

We just returned from Pinhao 3 days ago. There are plenty of Taxis at the train station. We walked to Quinta do Rosa and it was no problem. They have tours and tasting at 11:00. There are also other Quintas closer to town that you can visit. Quinta do Foz? Calem? You will see them if you just walk around the town. I hope this helps!

po_dourado

it helped me, for sure! thanks so much! now im feeling more confident to do this by my own!
i still have to decide which Quinta to visit. i found out that there are certain places that the visits in october includes foot-smashing the grapes =)

po_dourado

Guys, i should thank you all for your help. I was in Douro Valley and my experience was amazing.
I arrived at Pinhão station at 10 am and picked up a taxi to this vineyard called Quinta do Popa. It was lovely. The taxi costed 25 euros to take me there and pick me back. And i wouldnt say it was expensive, since this Quinta was quite far from Pinhão city.
There are some Quintas that you can visit by foot, like Quinta da Rosa, for example.
I can tell you that this day was pretty great.

billzare

Thanks for the feedback about your daytrip to the Douro Valley. We will be there in a a couple of days and are in the same no-car situation. We have a few questions for you if you don't mind :
-How long was the train ride ?
-Is there any accommodation option if we want to split the trip in 2 days ?
-How does the visit works once you're at the vineyard ? Do they offer a tour to visit the Douro itself or do you just walk around on your own ?
-Was the 25€ taxi was one or 2 way ? How dis you manage to get a taxi on your way back ?
Thank you so much
Chloe & Martin