Vila Nova de Gaia – Port Wine

Vila Nova de Gaia and the Douro River

Vila Nova de Gaia is a must see destination if you are visiting Portugal. I was there with my family in 2010 and fell in love with it. Simply known as Gaia by the locals, the city is located on the south bank of the Douro River, facing Porto from the other side of the river. Known worldly for its port wine, Gaia offers many tours of Port Wine cellars and caves, tastings, and rooftop terrace restaurants amidst spectacular views. This is a destination not to be missed.

In Gaia there are many beautiful architectural buildings, granite monuments, pastel coloured houses, terracotta rooftops and sloping cobbled streets. As a merchant city it has a vibrant urban centre with museums, parks, restaurants, cafes and shops. If you enjoy exploring by foot, the city is compact and easily walkable.

Vila Nova de Gaia

Gaia is known for its stately bridges that provide panoramic views of the city landscape. Dom Luis 1 bridge, built in 1886, connects Gaia to Porto

Ruin near bridge

Learn the history of Port wine production in the region and enjoy the many wine cellars and caves.

A wine tasting tour of the region’s rich ports is highly recommended.

A boat cruise along the Douro river is another way to explore the cultural richness of this beautiful city.

Leisure boat cruises

A visit to Gaia and the Douro Valley are two complementary destinations to experience. You can take a 1 or 2-day boat cruise to the Douro vineyards or rent a car to map your own itinerary. That’s what we did.

The Douro Valley

While in Porto you must taste the “francesinha” (Frenchie sandwich). It is made with bread, wet-cured ham, linguiça (blood sausage), fresh sausage like chipolata, steak or roast meat and covered with melted cheese and a hot thick tomato and beer sauce usually served with french fries. The local “francesinha”