Peso da Régua in 3D

Peso da Régua is a municipality in the district of Vila Real, in the Douro sub-region, with about 14,500 inhabitants (2021 Census) and an area of 94.86 km². The municipality was created in 1836 and its seat became a city in 1985. It lies at the heart of the Alto Douro Vinhateiro, a landscape inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001, and is often described as the capital of Douro wine.

Régua's link with wine is a long one: from 1756, with the creation of the General Company for the Agriculture of the Vineyards of the Alto Douro, the region became the world's first demarcated wine region, and Régua was one of the centres of the port wine trade, whose rabelo boats carried barrels down the river to Vila Nova de Gaia. According to Wikipedia, the municipality is about 100 km from Porto and about 25 km from Vila Real.

What to see and do

• Museu do Douro: housed in the former Casa da Companhia Velha, it opened in 2008 and presents the history, culture and landscape of the region. The same complex has a restaurant, a wine bar and a shop.
• Cais da Régua: a riverside area for a stroll along the Douro, the arrival point of river cruises and a place tied to the history of the rabelo boats.
• Estação da Régua: opened on 15 July 1879 as the provisional terminus of the Douro Line, it remains an important station on this railway.
• Miradouro de Galafura (São Leonardo de Galafura): one of the municipality's viewpoints over the terraced vineyard slopes; the municipality and the Discover Douro guide also mention the Santo António do Loureiro viewpoint.
• Quintas and museums: the municipality's website highlights wine estates, and the Discover Douro guide mentions estate visits with wine tastings and the Museu Adega das Giestas Negras.

Flavours and local products

According to the Discover Douro guide, the local table includes sausages, smoked meats and olive oil, red bean soup, roast kid or rabbit, and Teixeira biscuits. The municipality groups its dining offer into traditional cuisine, tapas, grills and chef-led cuisine. Wine, of course, is the star: the Douro is the demarcated region where port wine is made.

Getting there

Régua has a station on the Douro Line (Porto–Pocinho), and the river is navigable up to the town, with regular cruises from Porto. By car the distance from Porto is around 100 km, according to Wikipedia; always check the route and journey times before setting out.

When to go

According to Wikipedia, the festivities in honour of Nossa Senhora do Socorro take place every year from 14 to 16 August, and the municipal holiday is 16 August. Please confirm dates and programme with the municipality.

Neighbouring municipalities

Régua is a good starting point for exploring the Douro: Lamego, Mesão Frio and Santa Marta de Penaguião are neighbouring municipalities.

Where to stay

Our catalogue lists 24 lodgings in the municipality of Peso da Régua, 14 of them in the town of Peso da Régua itself. Ratings shown come from Booking.com guests. See the list of lodgings on this page.