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An easy stroll along the south bank of the Douro, from the port wine lodges of Gaia, under the great concrete arch of the Arrábida bridge, to a fishing village where laundry dries in the sun and fish sizzles on street grills. Lunch at the grills, ferry back to Porto.
Across the river from Porto's Ribeira, Vila Nova de Gaia is lined with the lodges where port wine ages in barrels. Walk west along its quays and the city gives way to a quieter river, and then to a village that still lives from the sea.
The riverside path heads downstream from Cais de Gaia, past rabelo boats and lodges, to pass under the Arrábida bridge: built between 1956 and 1963 to a design by Edgar Cardoso, its single concrete arch was the largest in the world when completed.
Beyond lies São Pedro da Afurada, a fishing village of tiled houses, nets and boats, with a communal washhouse where locals still do laundry. Its restaurants grill fish outside on the street. Continue a little further to the Douro estuary bird reserve at Cabedelo, or take the small ferry across to the Porto side.
Keep the river on your right. Paved all the way.
Start on the Gaia quay opposite the Ribeira, among rabelo boats and lodge signs. Stop for a tasting now, or on the way back.
The path follows the river west under the soaring concrete arch of the Arrábida bridge.
Wander the village lanes, see the washhouse, and sit down for grilled sardines or sea bass. Take the ferry over the river back to the Porto side.
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Cross the lower deck of the Dom Luís I bridge from the Ribeira, or take metro line D across the top deck to Jardim do Morro and walk or ride the cable car down to the quay.
A small passenger ferry links Afurada with Cantareira on the Porto side, near Foz. From there, tram 1 or buses run back to the centre.
From Cantareira, continue along the Atlantic: see Foz to Matosinhos.
Food in the guide →
The Atlantic promenade to Siza's tide pools.
Train up the river, walk the terraces at Pinhão.
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Wooden walkways in a gorge and a 516 m bridge.
Granite peaks, waterfalls and stone granaries.
Wikimedia Commons photographs are used under their Creative Commons licences.
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