This small town in the Douro Valley is at the center of Portugal's wine region. Its 1937 train station has detailed blue tiles showing local grape harvesting.
In Portugal's Douro Valley, Pinhão draws visitors to its 1937 azulejo-tiled train station, century-old wine estates, and traditional rabelo boat rides. From this small riverside town, you can walk through terraced vineyards, taste port wines at family-run quintas, and take river cruises past steep valley slopes covered with grape vines.
Getting to Pinhão from Porto
The train journey from Porto to Pinhão takes about two and a half hours, departing from São Bento or Campanhã stations. The route follows the Douro River, with views of vineyards and rolling hills throughout the journey. For the best views, choose seats on the right side of the train. You can buy tickets through the Omio website and download them to your phone.
Train Station
The Pinhão train station's walls display 24 blue and white azulejo tile panels from 1937. These panels depict grape harvesting, wine making, and daily life scenes from the Douro Valley. The station remains active and serves as the main arrival point for visitors to the region.
Wine Production and Tastings
Since 1756, the Douro Valley has maintained its status as the world's first regulated wine region. Only wines produced in this area can be labeled as authentic port wine. You can visit quintas (wine estates) like Quinta do Bomfim or Quinta da Roêda for tours of the vineyards and cellars, where you'll learn about wine production methods and taste different varieties of port and table wines.
River Activities
You can explore the Douro River on one or two-hour trips aboard traditional rabelo boats - the wooden vessels that once carried wine barrels downstream. These trips give you views of the terraced vineyards and wine estates along the riverbanks from water level.
Walking and Hiking
The hills around Pinhão have several marked trails. The Trilho de Pinhão – Casal de Loivos is a 9.8km circular route that takes about four hours to complete. The paths wind through vineyards and olive groves, with viewpoints overlooking the Douro Valley. Remember to bring water and wear appropriate footwear, as some trails can be steep and rocky.
Local Food Scene
Restaurants in Pinhão serve regional dishes like bacalhau à lagareiro (grilled cod with olive oil), roasted kid with oven rice, and locally-caught river fish. Small markets and bakeries sell regional products including olive oil, almonds, and honey. Try the local bread from wood-fired ovens at one of several traditional bakeries along the main street.
