Add dates

Things to do in Vila Nova de Gaia

Our most recommended things to do in Vila Nova de Gaia

Porto: 6 Bridges Douro River Cruise

1. Porto: 6 Bridges Douro River Cruise

Board the original boats used to transport the Port Wine barrels from the Douro Region to Gaia and Porto. The boats have been adapted with the most modern navigation equipment to transport passengers with maximum comfort. Enjoy a journey that stretches from the historic center of Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, upstream to Freixo and then downstream toward the mouth of the Douro. Take the opportunity to admire the rich and breathtaking landscape while you learn the history of the 6 bridges that unite Vila Nova de Gaia and Porto. Discover other points of interest in these two cities. 

Porto: River Douro 6 Bridges Cruise

2. Porto: River Douro 6 Bridges Cruise

Enjoy a traditional “6 Bridges Cruise” along the River Douro and follow in the footsteps of the old wine merchants that transported wine from the valley to the wine cellars. Board the boat at Ribeira Quay and sail along the sparkling Douro river. Admire the beautiful landscapes and red-roofed buildings of the towns of Ribeira and Vila Nova de Gaia from the water. Let the old-fashioned charm of the Rabelo Boat (old wine transport ship) transport you back in time. Get to know the historic bridges that connect Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia, as your boat glides under them. Learn more about their construction and curiosities, and upon arrival at the last bridge, see the sandy beaches of the seafront area Foz do Douro where the river pours into the ocean.

Porto: Cálem Cellar Tour, Fado Show & Wine Tasting

3. Porto: Cálem Cellar Tour, Fado Show & Wine Tasting

Embark on a guided tour of the Cálem Cellars in Porto, enjoy wine tasting and an entertaining live Fado show. Listen and dance to Portuguese music as you get tipsy and enjoy an unforgettable night. Immerse yourself in Portuguese culture and listen to Fado, folk music that originated in Lisbon in the 18th century, also known as the Lisbon blues. Fado is an important part of Portuguese culture. Head to the Caves Cálem winery and embark on a guided tour of the facilities to learn about the history and traditions of port wine production. At the end of your tour, sample 2 port wines, a white port, and a special reserve. As you sip your wine, take in a live Fado performance, a style of music born in the taverns of the 19th century that has become an essential part of Portuguese culture. The performance features male and female vocalists accompanied by a traditional Portuguese guitar and a classical guitar. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear the music and experience the country's soul.

Graham's Port Lodge Tour & Premium Tasting with Pairings

4. Graham's Port Lodge Tour & Premium Tasting with Pairings

Explore the 1890 Graham's Port Lodge on a guided tour where you will learn about the history of the cellar, the production process of Port wine, enjoy a premium wine tasting with food pairings, and marvel at spectacular views of Porto and the iconic two-tier bridge. Visit the historic Graham’s Lodge, which was built in 1890 on a commanding ridge in Vila Nova de Gaia across the Douro River from Porto and only a few hundred meters from the river’s south bank. Admire unique and spectacular views of Porto’s historic city center and the iconic two-tier bridge that connects the two cities of Oporto and Gaia. Graham’s is still a working cellar which makes this tour an even more unique experience. Learn about the history of the cellar and the production process of Port wine in a building currently housing over 2,000 pipes (oak casks) and 40 large oak vats of aging Port wine, as well as extensive cellars of Vintage Port. Throughout the tour, enjoy a premium tasting which includes Graham’s LBV paired with chocolate, Graham’s Quinta dos Malvedos paired with cheese, and Graham’s 20 Year Old paired with Pastel de Nata.

Porto: Graham's Port Lodge Tour & Vintage Room Wine Tasting

5. Porto: Graham's Port Lodge Tour & Vintage Room Wine Tasting

Explore the 1890 Graham's Port Lodge on a guided tour and learn about the history of the cellar and the production process of Port wine. Enjoy a classic wine-tasting experience and marvel at spectacular views of Porto and its iconic two-tier bridge. Meet at the historic Graham’s Lodge, which was built in 1890 on a commanding ridge in Vila Nova de Gaia across the Douro River from Porto and only a few hundred meters from the river’s south bank. Admire unique and spectacular views of Porto’s historic city center and the iconic two-tier bridge that connects the two cities of Oporto and Gaia. Visit the working cellar for a unique experience.  Learn about the history of the cellar and the production process of Port wine.  Stroll through a building currently housing over 2,000 pipes (oak casks) and 40 large oak vats of aging Port wine, as well as extensive cellars of Vintage Port. Finally enjoy tastings of Graham’s Ports.

Porto: Cockburn’s Cellar Tour Classic or Pairing Option

6. Porto: Cockburn’s Cellar Tour Classic or Pairing Option

Visit the Cockburn’s cellars, also known as ‘lodges’, and discover the most extensive wine cellars in the historic quarter of Vila Nova de Gaia. Located opposite the twin city of Porto across the Douro River, this region is known for its beauty.  Watch the dedicated team of coopers disassemble barrels stave by stave for maintenance and then reassemble them.  Go inside the sturdy granite walls of the Cockburn’s lodge house which boasts 6,518 seasoned oak barrels of maturing Port and the equivalent of a further 10,056 barrels held in tones and vats.  This sizeable and priceless stock provides the basis for the creation of Cockburn’s renowned Ports, including the famous Special Reserve. On this guided tour, you will have an authentic experience of a fully working Port cellar. Start your visit with a trip to the Cellars museum which charts Cockburn’s fascinating 200-year history.  A series of exhibits reveal the stories of the families that built Cockburn’s; their planting of vineyards in the Douro Valley and the making of legendary Ports that turned Cockburn's into a world-renowned producer.  Your visit continues through the working sections of the buildings where thousands of oak barrels and vats hold Cockburn’s valuable stocks of maturing wines. At this point, you will pass through the longest aging gallery of any Port cellar in Vila Nova de Gaia.  Filled with the impressive sight of thousands of barrels, stacked 4 high you'll learn about the importance of maturing Port in seasoned wood as well as the central role of the cooper. In the tasting room, you will enjoy a classic tasting, or if you select the premium tasting option then you will have the following: Classic:• Cockburn's Special Reserve• Cockburn's Late Bottle Vintage• Cockburn's 10 years old  Premium tasting with chocolate pairing:• Cockburn's Fine White paired with Passion fruit chocolate • Cockburn's 10 Years old paired with Yuzu cinnamon chocolate• Cockburn's Quinta dos Canais Vintage paired with Raspberry chocolate Vintage Tasting paired with cheese:• Cockburn's Quinta dos Canais Vintage paired with Sheep Cheese (Nisa dop)• Cockburn's 2011 Vintage paired with Goat Cheese (Beiralacte)• Cockburn's 2015 Vintage paired with Cow Cheese (S. Jorge dop) Super Premium Tour:• Cockburn's Special Reserve• Cockburn's 20 years old • Cockburn's 2011 Vintage • Tastings in the John H. Smiths room

Porto: Cálem Cellar Tour, Interactive Museum & Wine Tasting

7. Porto: Cálem Cellar Tour, Interactive Museum & Wine Tasting

In a healthful balance between Port tradition and new technologies, you will discover Douro region and Port wine – from “terroir” to the wine grapes, from the categories up to the aromas, trough our recently interactive museum, with personalized and intuitive access. In the guided visits to Cálem caves you will learn about the Douro Demarcated Region, know how the Port is produced and stay abreast of all the details of the history of this House. The cellars themselves remain active and visitable. It is there that you will learn more about the unique characteristics of each type of Port, even next to the barrels where they grow old, protected from light and heat. Then, you will be invited to a Cálem wine tasting: a white Port and a Tawny Port. With one of your guides, you will have the possibility to learn some more Port secrets and taste our wines.

Porto: Six Bridges Cruise

8. Porto: Six Bridges Cruise

Explore the calm delights of the Douro River by traveling on a typical Rabelo Boat along the pastel-hued riverbanks of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia. On this 50 minute cruise, you'll get to breathe Porto's faded but rich history, and glimpse architectural wonders such as the Gustav Eiffel Bridge. The program includes an audio guide for the tour (Portuguese, English, Spanish, and French).

Porto: Live Fado Show with Glass of Port Wine

9. Porto: Live Fado Show with Glass of Port Wine

Learn about the uniquely Portuguese musical form of fado with a live show in the intimate surroundings of the Casa do Fado. Enjoy a glass of port wine as you hear more about this aspect of Portuguese identity, declared ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity’ by UNESCO. Be transported to the Porto of old with a trip to Casa do Fado, a project developed by friends who love the music genre. Choose between two Casa do Fado venues in the historic center of Porto: the Ribiera, a 19th-century cellar, or the Sé, a former guitar luthier workshop. Listen to outstanding musicians as they perform live in a venue with acoustics ideally set up for fado. Sip on a glass of port wine, the drink that Porto is famous for, as you hear more about the music and its origins.

Porto: City Train Tour, River Cruise & Wine Cellar

10. Porto: City Train Tour, River Cruise & Wine Cellar

Explore the picturesque and historic city of Porto on the Magic Train Tour. The train departs every 60 minutes from the Sé Catedral (Cathedral of Oporto) and travels around the city center with an audio guide available in Portuguese, Spanish, French, English, and Italian. The train takes you directly to the oldest wine cellar in Portugal — Real Companhia Velha. A guide will take you on an unforgettable tour inside the wine cellar which includes a short 15-minute film, a 30-minute visit to the old parts of the cellars, and a tasting of 2 quality port wines. After the wine tour, the train will pick you up and continue the tour around the city. See the most important monuments such as St. Johns Theater, the Famous Batalha Square with the Santa Catarina Street, Aliados Avenue, Clerigos Tower, Carmelitas Church, and more.  Once the train tour is over, go down to Ribera to join a 1-hour boat cruise along the Douro River. Relish this extraordinary way of viewing the city from a different perspective.

Available activities

75 activities found
Sort by:
Page 1 of 5

Frequently asked questions about Vila Nova de Gaia

What top attractions are a must-see in Vila Nova de Gaia?

The must-see attractions in Vila Nova de Gaia are:

Other Sightseeing Options in Vila Nova de Gaia

Want to discover all there is to do in Vila Nova de Gaia? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Vila Nova de Gaia

Overall rating

4.3 / 5

based on 10,343 reviews

Was a great experience walking through Versailles. There were different queues for the different times. I would recommend the audio guide as all the signs are only in French. At times it was a little confusing where you were but there is also a map.

We loved it! A quick and easy way to get some great views of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia and basic, but interesting information about the 6 beautiful bridges. Perfect if you don't want to spend too much and are there for a shorter visit.

Visit that I recommend to anyone who wants to know a little more about one of the most important products in our history.

Very interesting and enjoyable trip. Great way to see parts of Porto you could miss and informative

It was very nice, although you didn't really need the audio guide