What route do river cruises take after leaving Lisbon?

Your journey starts in Lisbon and heads north to Porto, with a stop in the university town of Coimbra. Once you reach Porto, your ship will cruise up the Douro River, visiting charming towns like Régua, Pinhão, and Vega de Terrón near the Spanish border. You'll get to explore Lamego's beautiful cathedral, taste wines at local vineyards, and take a day trip to Salamanca in Spain. One traveler who took a Viking cruise told us, "The journey from Lisbon to Porto gave us a perfect mix of coastal and river scenery, with each stop more beautiful than the last."

How long do river cruises from Lisbon usually last?

Most trips run between 11 and 14 days. You'll spend about 3 nights in Lisbon before cruising the Douro River for 7-10 nights. Scenic and Emerald offer longer 14-day trips, while Travel Marvel has an 11-day option. In Lisbon, you'll likely stay at either the Hotel Mundial or InterContinental before boarding your ship.

What's the weather like on Lisbon river cruises?

Lisbon stays pretty mild all year, with temperatures from 50°F to 85°F (10°C to 29°C). Once you get to the Douro Valley, it gets warmer, especially in summer when it can hit 95°F (35°C). Many travelers find spring (April-May) or fall (September-October) ideal, with nice temperatures and little rain. As one traveler on an APT cruise told us: "We went in September and had perfect weather - warm enough for the deck but cool enough for excursions."

What will I see during my time in Lisbon?

Your time in Lisbon includes visits to the Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower, São Jorge Castle, and the Monument to the Discoveries. You'll take guided walks through the city's oldest neighborhoods, Baixa and Chiado. Many travelers really enjoy the side trip to Sintra to see the colorful Pena Palace. The walking tours through Lisbon's historic areas are often mentioned as trip highlights.

When should I book my Lisbon river cruise?

Try to book 8-12 months before you want to travel, especially if you're planning to go during busy season (April-October). September and October are particularly popular because of the grape harvest in the Douro Valley. One traveler who went with Emerald Cruises shared this advice: "We booked 10 months ahead and were glad we did, as our preferred cabin category and dates were already filling up quickly."

Which stops along the Douro River are most interesting?

After Porto, you'll visit Régua, famous for its port wine, and Pinhão with its hillside vineyards. The cruise continues to Vega de Terrón on the Spanish border and Barca d'Alva, the last Portuguese village along the river. Travelers especially love visiting the fancy Mateus Palace, exploring the old village of Castelo Rodrigo, and spending time in Salamanca, Spain, known for its golden-colored buildings.

River Cruise Tours from Lisbon

Imagine Portugal with port wine terraces and fado music. Check out Lisbon's historic Belem district, cruise the Douro River on a luxury ship, taste wines in the famed Douro Valley, explore Lisbon's historic sites and museums, and enjoy a classical concert in Sao Francisco Church. Cruise through the Douro's stunning landscapes, and explore Lisbon's historic city center. Portugal's got it all.

10 best River Cruise tour packages from Lisbon

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River Cruise
Best of Lisbon and the North with a Douro Valley Luxury Cruise
Duration
10 days
Destinations
Lisbon, Sintra, Evora, Óbidos, Pinhao, Lamego, Porto,Guimaraes+1 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
River
Douro
Operated in
English, Portuguese
Operator
Portugal Travel Center
From
US$6,814per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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River Cruise
Lisbon, Porto & The Douro Cruise - 10 days
Duration
10 days
Destinations
Lisbon, Sintra, Cascais, Estoril, Evora, Óbidos, Fatima,Coimbra,Porto,Vila Nova da Gaia,Pinhao,Peso da Regua,Lamego,Leverinho,Guimaraes+8 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
River
Douro
Operated in
English
Operator
On The Go Tours
15% Off
From $4,815
US$4,093per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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River Cruise
Unforgettable Douro with Lisbon & Porto 2026
Duration
16 days
Destinations
Lisbon, Porto, Entre-os-Rios, Peso da Regua,Vega de Terron,Salamanca,Pocinho,Pinhao,Amarante+5 more
Age Range
Ages 12+
Ship
Scenic Azure
River
Douro
Operated in
English
Operator
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
15% Off
From
US$11,215per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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River Cruise
Unforgettable Douro with Lisbon & Madrid
Duration
17 days
Destinations
Lisbon, Sintra, Porto, Vila Nova da Gaia, Entre-os-Rios,Guimaraes,Peso da Regua,Tarouca,Ucanha,Vila Real,Lamego,Mateus,Vega de Terron,Salamanca,Pocinho,Vila Nova de Foz Coa,Pinhao,Provesende,Aveiro,Madrid+15 more
Age Range
Ages 18+
Ship
Scenic Azure
River
Douro
Operated in
English
Operator
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
8% Off
From $11,675
US$10,799per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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River Cruise
Vida Portugal: Vineyards & Villages Along the Douro with 3 Nights in Lisbon and a Taste of Madeira
Duration
15 days
Destinations
Lisbon, Sintra, Cape Roca, Coimbra, Porto, Matosinhos, Braga,Guimaraes,Porto Antigo,Lamego,Pinhao,Pocinho,Barca de Alva,Douro International Natural Park,Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo,Salamanca,Quinta da Ferradosa,Mateus,Leverinho,Vila Nova da Gaia,Funchal+14 more
Age Range
Ages 8+
Ship
Avalon Alegria
River
Douro
Operated in
English
Operator
Avalon Waterways
8% Off
From
US$7,732per person
+$716 upfront costs
Price based on Private Double Room
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River Cruise
Festive Season on the Douro with 3 Nights in Lisbon and a Taste of Madeira
Duration
15 days
Destinations
Lisbon, Sintra, Cape Roca, Coimbra, Porto, Matosinhos,Porto Antigo,Peso da Regua,Lamego,Pinhao,Pocinho,Barca de Alva,Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo,Salamanca,Mateus,Braga,Guimaraes,Funchal+12 more
Age Range
Ages 8+
Ship
Avalon Alegria
River
Douro
Operated in
English
Operator
Avalon Waterways
8% Off
From
US$7,433per person
+$716 upfront costs
Price based on Private Double Room
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River Cruise
Lisbon & Discover the Rivers of France & Portugal
Duration
18 days
Destinations
Portugal Spain France
Age Range
Ages 12+
River
Douro Rhone Saone
Operated in
English
Operator
Emerald Cruises
8% Off
From
US$22,010per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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River Cruise
Unforgettable Douro with Lisbon
Duration
14 days
Destinations
Lisbon, Porto, Entre-os-Rios, Peso da Regua,Vega de Terron,Pocinho,Pinhao+3 more
Age Range
Ages 18+
Ship
Scenic Azure
Regions
DouroNorthern Portugal+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
8% Off
From $10,370
US$9,494per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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River Cruise
Unforgettable Douro & Spectacular South of France with Lisbon 2027 - 24 Days
Duration
24 days
Destinations
Portugal Spain France
Age Range
Ages 18+
Ships
Scenic Sapphire Scenic Azure+1 ship
Regions
DouroSouthern France+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
25% Off
From $18,350
US$13,842per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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River Cruise
Lisbon to Barcelona & Secrets of the Douro
Duration
14 days
Destinations
Lisbon, Sintra, Porto, Douro, Carrapatelo, Pinhao,Vega de Terron,Salamanca,Pocinho,Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo,Vila Nova de Foz Coa,Peso da Regua,Lamego,Mateus,Barcelona,Montserrat+10 more
Age Range
Ages 12+
River
Douro
Operated in
English
Operator
Emerald Cruises
6% Off
From $8,010
US$7,508per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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River Cruise
Portugal: Lisbon, All-inclusive Algarve w/Douro valley cruise
4.4 (19 traveler reviews)
"My husband and I had an amazing trip to Portugal!! The Tour company took care of every little detail so we could just relax and enjoy the trip."
Rosanne, traveled in September
Duration
10 days
Destinations
Lisbon, Fatima, Sintra, Porto, Pinhao, Albufeira, Faro
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
River
Douro
Operated in
English
Operator
Wanderful Holidays LLC
5% Off
From $3,699
US$3,514per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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River Cruise
Discover Lisbon, Porto and the Douro Valley (port-to-port cruise) (9 destinations)
5.0 (1 traveler review)
"The one thing that I felt could improve would be to spend more time cruising on the river instead of so many shore excursions."
Jennifer, traveled in March
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Lisbon, Coimbra, Porto, Lamego, Peso da Regua, Porto Antigo,Guimaraes+1 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Ship
MS Vasco da Gama
River
Douro
Operated in
English
Operator
CroisiEurope River Cruises
5% Off
From
US$1,525per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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River Cruise
Lisbon & Secrets of the Douro 2026
Duration
11 days
Destinations
Lisbon, Sintra, Obidos, Nazare, Porto, Pinhao,Vega de Terron,Salamanca,Pocinho,Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo,Peso da Regua,Lamego,Quinta da Pacheca,Mateus+8 more
Age Range
Ages 12+
River
Douro
Operated in
English
Operator
Emerald Cruises
8% Off
From $6,315
US$5,807per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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River Cruise
8 Day Lisbon and Porto W/Douro Valley Boat and wine tasting
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Lisbon, Sintra, Cape Roca, Cascais, Estoril, Nazare, Fatima,Óbidos,Porto,Vila Nova da Gaia,Aveiro,Costa Nova do Prado+5 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
River
Douro
Operated in
English
Operator
Wonderful Holidays UK
8% Off
From
US$2,673per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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River Cruise
Lisbon to Madrid with Secrets of the Douro 2026
Duration
14 days
Destinations
Lisbon, Sintra, Óbidos, Nazare, Porto, Pinhao,Vega de Terron,Salamanca,Pocinho,Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo,Peso da Regua,Lamego,Quinta da Pacheca,Madrid,Toledo+9 more
Age Range
Ages 12+
River
Douro
Operated in
English
Operator
Emerald Cruises
8% Off
From
US$7,130per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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