Porto Douro River and Sea

porto douro river and sea

The Porto Douro River and Sea Tour is for those who want to know the city of Porto along the Douro River until Foz and still take a dip in the beaches of Matosinhos. 

Your tour starts in the city center. From here it goes directly to Alfândega and here begins a tour with an unforgettable view, with the rabelo boat trips as a backdrop. At the mouth, you will be able to stop at the Passeio Alegre garden and take some beautiful photos along its well-kept avenue full of palm trees. A little further ahead you will be able to take incredible photos at the emblematic lighthouse of Felgueiras. 

You will find wonderful restaurants to enjoy fresh fish or seafood at Pérgola da Foz or Molhe de Carreiros, as well as good beaches for relaxing and diving into the sea of ??cold waters, as at Matosinhos Beach. You will not be able to miss the famous São Salvador city square, where you will be able to find a unique sculpture, by the North American Janet Echelman, in the form of anemone, made with a large net and dedicated to local fishermen. 

Then, it will be time to return to the center of Porto to end your trip on the emblematic streets full of history of the city Invicta. 

If you like relaxing Tours with sea views, this is the right experience for you! 

Share Your Experience

Autonomy, Privacy and Customization

In this 6-hour self-drive city tour in Porto, your independence and privacy are guaranteed. Do you wish to change your route and take an alternative road? Don’t worry, your tour is customizable! Go wherever you want. Just you and yours, no one else to disturb!

sustainability

All of this on board of the fantastic Renault Twizy, a little and funny 100% electric car made for 2. With this totally sustainable and eco-friendly vehicle we have managed to save tons of CO2 emissions to the atmosphere, making the city and our world cleaner places. That is why we were considered the best “Sustainable Tourism” StartUp in the world in 2020, for the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

technology

The Twizy is equipped with a lot of technology that provides you all the comfort and independence you need in this experience. Free WiFi and USB charging points for your smartphones, a GPS guide with several points of interest in the city, and an amazing video camera installed on top of the car that allows you to livestream your entire experience via social media. At the end of the tour we also give you a digital record of your urban road trip to later remember.

safety (covid-19)

For your safety, and in accordance with DGS and WHO standards, we have implemented extraordinary measures to protect you from the Covid-19 pandemic. Live Electric Tours has adopted all published and approved standards so that you can enjoy your tour in a completely protected way. Our cars are disinfected at the beginning and end of each tour. This procedure is performed by our team, which complies with all the rules established for this purpose. We remind you that all of our tours are completely private, so you will not have contact with other people, except the friend/relative which is with you at the car. Interactions with our team will be reduced to a minimum, occurring only at the beginning and end of each tour, with all the security measures adopted.

you choose where to begin

Live Electric Tours deliveries the amazing Twizys wherever you want! You do not wish to come to our store? No problem! We offer pickup and dropoff service! Just write your accommodation address and our team will be there at the schedule time your city tour begins.
In alternative, you are always welcome to our installations - Rua da Restauração 70, 4050-503 Porto.

AdDitional Information

If you exceed the defined duration of your tour, there’s an extra cost of 20 euros per additional hour.

We are also present in other magnificent Portuguese cities such as Evora, whose historical centre is considered World Heritage Site by UNESCO, and Lisbon, the portuguese Capital, a city full of amazing views and a lot of heritage and history at every corner.

• Rental of a Renault TWIZY (capacity: 2 people)
• Civil Liability, Personal Accidents and Car Insurance
• Tour with GPS guide 
• Free Wifi in the vehicle
• Livestreaming of your experience to share with friends and family via Social Media
• Digital recording of the whole experience to later remember 
• Pick up and drop off of the vehicle at your accommodation (extra 20€)
• Vehicle Briefing Before Start
• Assistance at any time

ELECTRIC CAR MUSEUM

Inaugurated in 1992, the Museu do Carro Eléctrico has a collection of electric cars and other support cars that circulated in Porto and that marked the history of urban transport on city rails. Also part of its estate is an example of American cars, of animal traction, that circulated for the first time in Porto in 1872.

Installed in the former Massarelos Thermoelectric Power Station, a building classified as of municipal interest, the museum also exhibits a series of original equipment that were intended for the production and transformation of the electric energy that fed the electric traction network throughout the entire century. XX.

The Museum offers different programs of educational and entertainment services and has a documentation and information center. It also offers space rental and electric car services and event organization.

CALEM GARDEN

Small garden space that is almost at the mouth of the Douro River.

It offers magnificent views over the river and it stands out the tall black poplars, as well as a monument that recalls the Ceuta expedition of 1415. The Garden extends through lined plane trees, which extend to the Passeio Alegre.

Along the way, in Sobreiras, some lawns and plantations of trees and shrubs expand the green space.

FOZ

Foz is a chic parish right at the mouth of the Douro. The real name is Foz do Douro, but the locals simply call it Foz. The coast has a mixed relief with rocky parts and sandy beaches, and there is an excellent geological walk with informative signs right next to the cafes and restaurants in the area. The São João da Foz Castle (an old fortress from the 16th century) is next to the sea, near a small lighthouse that marks the exit from the Douro to the Atlantic.

There is a style from Foz regarding attitude and fashion. Everyone in Porto knows what that means. The wealthy people tend to live here, but it remains a pleasant and inviting place, whatever their social level. One of Porto's historic tram lines ends at Jardim do Passeio Alegre. If you have time and feel like being by the sea it is worth going to Foz.

MATOSINHOS BEACH

Praia de Matosinhos, with an immense sand, offers spaces for the practice of various activities, such as volleyball and beach soccer, surfing and bodyboarding.

This beach has several supports for bathers, such as renting awnings, sunbeds, bars and toilets. Fishing is a very present activity on this beach.

The statues that exist there prove this, in a kind of homage to fishermen and families.

CHEESE CASTLE

If you head north from Foz along Avenida do Brasil (which later turns into Avenida Montevideu) you will cross Castelo do Queijo on the rocky coast.

The fort was named after the rocks on which it was built resembled pieces of cheese. The official name is Forte de São Francisco Xavier. The fort is very beaten by the sea. It is an excellent place to feel the sea breeze on your face. The Castelo do Queijo marks the end of Avenida da Boavista.

There is a plaque embedded in the center to commemorate the races of the Grand Prix of Porto (Boavista Circuit).

FELGUEIRAS LIGHTHOUSE

Neoclassical hexagonal lighthouse, ten meters high, dated 1886.

It has a balcony and red lanterns and a small annex building with plastered walls painted in white.

The designation "Molhe de Felgueiras" was attributed to it because it was built towards the Felgueiras rock, to the West.

It was modernized in 1945 and automated in 1979, being controlled at a distance from the Leça lighthouse. In the 90s it underwent conservation works.

Before its deactivation, in 2009, the beacon had a range of 9 nautical kilometers, emitting red lightning every 5 seconds.

Currently, it only maintains the audible signal.

ANEMONA ROUNDABOUT

Secure by three metal posts, this gigantic 42-meter diameter net moves with the wind, imitating the movement of anemones. It is a sculpture in constant mutation, and, for that reason, they gave the name She moves (It moves). But we treat her affectionately by anemone.

Unfortunately, our anemone has been experiencing some difficulties. In 2007 the structure started to deteriorate rapidly due to weather conditions. The Municipality of Matosinhos and Janet Echelman reached an agreement regarding the rehabilitation of the sculpture, and the artist promised to pay for the replacement of the network, since it had a 5-year warranty.

More recently, the night lighting system, which was in the garden under the sculpture, was vandalized, with a loss of € 20,000 in property damage. The Mayor appealed to the population to provide any information that would lead to the capture of the people who did this damage. For this reason, I believe that more than ever Anemone needs the nocturnal eye of the population, to ensure the safety of its beloved sculpture.