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Bucketlist Bri

Bucketlist Bri

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Is the 6 Bridges River Cruise in Porto Worth It?

Last Updated: February 26, 2022 · Portugal

Beautiful images of the six bridges river cruise in Porto enchanted me as I was searching for what to do in Porto during my week-long solo trip.

Seeing the photos, I imagined myself on a traditional wooden Rabelo boat floating down the timeless Douro River with a gentle breeze in my hair. I am a sucker for a good boat tour, and it seemed I couldn’t leave Porto without doing this one (or so they say).

Boat tour on the River Douro with Dom Luis Bridge in the background
Porto bridge as seen from Douro river boat cruise

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you decide to click through and make a valid purchase (at no extra cost to you). Thanks so much for your support!

So I went on GetYourGuide and booked my ticket for later that day.

In this guide, I’ll share my tips and review of the six bridges Porto cruise experience—is it worth it? And what should you expect? Are there better tours in Porto you could spend your money on?

Read more below to decide whether or not the ever-popular 6 bridges tour is a bucket-list-worthy activity to add to your Porto itinerary!

Table of Contents show
6 Bridges Cruise on the Douro River
Best Porto & Douro River Tours:
What to Expect From the 6 Bridges Cruise
💶 Cost & Reservation
🛶 Does the Porto Bridges Tour Use Rabelo Boats?
🌉 What Are the Six Bridges in Porto?
So… Is the 6 Bridges Cruise Worth It?

6 Bridges Cruise on the Douro River

🎟 Get around with the Porto City Card & save! — Enjoy free entry to 6 museums, unlimited transport, and a 20-50% discount on admission to popular attractions (i.e. wine cellar, river cruise, etc).

Without a doubt, Porto goes hand-in-hand with the Douro River; after all, this famous river, the third-longest in the Iberian Peninsula, spills out in the sea at the mouth of Porto. Considering the Douro Valley’s rich history and cultural significance tied with Port wine, it only makes sense to experience the river and city as one!

Below are the possible ways you can experience both Porto and the Douro River (and Valley).

Best Porto & Douro River Tours:

  • Douro Valley Tour with Wine Tasting, Lunch, & River Cruise (full-day trip, 9 hours)
  • 6 Bridges Cruise in Porto (50 minutes to 1 hour) — the one I did!
  • Private Douro River Cruise with a Local Fisherman (2 hours)
Boat tour on the River Douro with Dom Luis Bridge in the background
View on Dom Luís I Bridge

All three of these tours offer a unique experience of the Douro River. The first is a full-day adventure to the Douro Valley complete with a river cruise, plus Port wine tasting and lunch. It’s a good option if you want to combine it all into one jam-packed day.

The six bridges cruise in Porto is the one I booked. I’ll tell you all about it in detail below!

Lastly, if you’re looking for a more private experience (after all, the boat tours tend to pack whoever in), then consider the tour with a local fisherman.

What to Expect From the 6 Bridges Cruise

view of Ribeira Porto and historic center from the river
Porto Ribeira

The 1-hour six bridges cruise tour is all about the six bridges of Porto — surprise! ✨

There are two tour operators in Porto who offer daily river cruises: Douro Acima and Tomaz Do Douro (Douro Cruises) boats. Your ticket is valid for either operator.

Both are located at the following address: 📍 Cais da Ribeira, 4000 Porto, Portugal

💶 Cost & Reservation

screenshot of GetYourGuide tour of Porto River Douro 6 Bridges Cruise
Porto bridge as seen from Douro river boat cruise
Ponte de Infante

The tour costs about $17 USD when booking online at GetYourGuide.

You can reserve online the day of, but if you do your ticket will be valid only on that day. You can show up anytime for a cruise between 11 AM and 4 PM.

What about the language? Can you book a guided tour?

While you can select “English” as your language, the boat tours actually don’t differentiate and don’t offer personalized tours.

During the cruise, there is an automated recording in Portuguese, French, and English that will give you a brief explanation of the history and significance of each of the six Porto bridges and some surrounding landmarks to take note of.

medieval wall, funicular and houses in Porto Portugal
Porto’s old fort walls and funicular

Once you purchase your ticket online, you’ll receive a confirmation email with a PDF. You can download the GetYourGuide mobile app to have easy access to your booked activities. However, when I showed up, the ticket lady just asked me for the code found in the PDF email attachment. She then handed me a ticket stub to show the captain before boarding.

Tip: Wait in line near the boat dock ten minutes before departure time to be among the first to board. I found that the views from the right side of the boat gave the best views both coming and going.

🛶 Does the Porto Bridges Tour Use Rabelo Boats?

The bridges tour doesn’t use the traditional Rabelo boats you see docked in the water in front of the Vila Nova da Gaia opposite Porto.

Instead, the boat tours use Rabelo-inspired motored boats with “wooden” details (but with engine power). There is indoor seating with glass windows or exterior seating.

Depending on how chilly or windy it is, I’d recommend snagging a seat on the deck for the best views!

Porto Boat Cruise on modern "Rabelo" boats
Porto’s modern cruise boats (the real Rabelos are just for decoration now)

🌉 What Are the Six Bridges in Porto?

While the tour will give you more info on each of the bridges, I wanted to quickly go over them so you know what to expect!

First off, the boats depart from Porto’s riverbank and head south, starting with the most iconic bridge of Porto: the Dom Luís I bridge.

In order, you’ll see:

  1. Dom Luís I
  2. Ponte de Infante
  3. Dona Maria Pia Bridge
  4. Ponte de São João
  5. Freixo Bridge
  6. Ponte da Arrábida
Tour boat operator on Douro River in Porto with Dom Luis bridge in background
Dom Luis I bridge and monastery in Porto, Portugal
View of Douro River and Vila Nova da Gaia with seagulls
Ribeira Porto, Portugal with riverside tiled houses

The Dom Luís Bridge dons amazing views on Porto and Vila Nova da Gaia, especially at sunset—you can’t miss the view from the top! (Just watch for the incoming trams.)

After you cross under the Dom Luís I Bridge on your boat tour, you’ll begin to hear explanations in the languages for the upcoming bridges.

The next is the Ponte de Infante, the contemporary road bridge, and thereafter the wrought iron Maria Pia Bridge designed by Gustave Eiffel—the same person who designed the Eiffel Tower, as you might’ve already guessed! It was built in 1877 as a railway bridge, but it’s no longer in working use and is considered a National Monument of Portugal.

Next is the modern São João railway bridge which replaced the Maria Pia. Finally, your boat will begin to turn around as you briefly hear about the Ponte do Freixo which enables better traffic flow in between the outskirts of the cities.

The cruise then makes the trip back to Porto, but instead of stopping, continues along the riverbank to reach the last of the six Porto bridges: Ponte da Arrábida.

While I thought this bridge was nothing special in itself, you do get a glimpse of the ocean out near Foz, in addition to a few explanations of historic buildings such as the blue-tiled chapel in honor of Henry the Navigator and the Palácio de Cristal gardens on your way to/back to the Porto Riberia.

Infante Bridge Porto river cruise
Ponte Maria Pia bridge as seen from boat tour cruise on Douro River in Porto

So… Is the 6 Bridges Cruise Worth It?

While I think they could do a much better job at using the time on board to explain the bridges (or perhaps the history of the Douro River itself), the six bridges tour does give a beautiful new perspective of Porto!

There’s something about being on the water instead of just looking at it that makes Porto feel a bit more charming. You can just imagine what it might have been like to transport Port wine and other goods from the Douro Valley to here. Amazing!

Ready to set sail? Book your 6 Bridges Cruise Ticket here!

Historic Porto as seen from the six bridges river cruise tour
How cute is Porto’s historic center?

All in all, I’m glad I decided to go! I think the $17 was worth it, but looking back now, I’d probably combine it with another river cruise + Port wine tour or bundle it all together and splurge on the all-included day trip to the Douro Valley.

If you have any questions for me or about any other tour in Porto, feel free to shout!

Pin this to your Portugal bucket list!

tomaz do douro boat operator offering 6 bridges cruise on River Douro in Porto, photo with text overlay

By: Bri · In: Portugal

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Tips from a long-time nomad ⬇️✨ 💻 WORKIN Tips from a long-time nomad ⬇️✨

💻 WORKING ONLINE
While not all nomads/remote workers have online-specific jobs, it’s the easiest way to sustain an income for full-time or long-term travel. Here are some jobs you can do as a digital nomad!

• Blogging (This is what I do full-time!)
• Content Creation / Brand Sponsorship
• Virtual Assisting
• Social Media Management
• YouTube or Podcasting
• Graphic / Web Design
• Coding / Development
• Photography / Videography
• Freelance Writing (How I started)
• Marketing / Amazon FBA / Ecommerce

📍PICKING YOUR DIGITAL NOMAD DESTINATION
There are many countries out there offering digital nomad visas, but you don’t even need one to just travel as a tourist and stay in-country for 30, 60, 90, or 180 days. Nomads go everywhere as long as there’s a Wi-Fi connection, some countries you may consider are Portugal, Mexico, Costa Rica, Thailand, Vietnam, Croatia, Canada, Colombia, Indonesia, Brazil, and beyond! Even lesser-known places such as Namibia are starting to offer nomad visas to entice long-term travelers to visit.

🏡 FINDING HOUSING ABROAD
Read my blog post for the full guide on this, but basically, check local Facebook groups for renting local housing for extended stays and then use Airbnbs for shorter stays or to negotiate longer contracts with the owner. There are even more “nomad rental websites” these days to make finding accommodation even easier. Don’t overlook co-living/working spaces too like Selina where the digital nomad community tends to congregate.

💛 EXPLORING LOCALLY/RESPONSIBLY
As always, be mindful and respectful when you visit these communities. Many small towns are struggling with rapid growth and overdevelopment so be mindful of your choices of where you stay, how you spend your money, and who you support.

My best advice + detailed guides are all on the blog, free for you to use! Let me know if you have any questions about digital nomad life! 

Lastly, don’t overthink it. Moving countries isn’t as intimidating as you may think! It’s become second nature for us now after several years! 🐈‍⬛💃🌎✨
I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to discover t I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to discover this incredible country beyond the resorts and beaches, having lived temporarily in 5 out of the 32 Mexican states (Nayarit, Quintana Roo, Chiapas, Oaxaca, and now Baja California Sur) as a digital nomad who’s been slow traveling/living in and out of Mexico since 2018. 

There is so, so much cultural and natural beauty in Mexico — I wish more people could experience this country for themselves and not through the eyes of the media.

***Please visit Mexico as a digital nomad (or tourist in general) responsibly and mindfully. Stay local, eat local, drink local, shop local, support local. Leave No Trace and be conscious of your choices and impact!*** 

Here are the cities/towns we’ve slow traveled/lived in for extended stays.

• Oaxaca City — a colorful, historic open museum rich in indigenous culture and gastronomy 
• San Cristóbal de las Casas — an endearing pueblo mágico in the Chiapas Highlands
• La Paz — the capital city of BCS teeming with marine life, diving, fish tacos, and desert vibes
• San Pancho — an eco-conscious town in Nayarit famous for its sunsets and community
• Tulum — no introduction needed (and I wouldn’t go back here as a nomad due to overdevelopment)

Other great cities/towns/destinations for digital nomads are:

• Guadalajara (state of Jalisco)
• Santiago de Querétaro (state of Querétaro)
• San Miguel de Allende or Guanajuato City (state of Guanajuato)
• Playa del Carmen (state of Quintana Roo)
• Valladolid or Mérida (state of Yucatán)
• México City/CDMX (state of México)
• Sayulita (state of Nayarit)
• Puerto Vallarta (state of Jalisco)
• Puerto Escondido (state of Oaxaca)

I’d love to know what you think about Mexico and where you’ve been in the comments! 🇲🇽💛

And for the detailed guide of 13 places to live/visit, read my blog @bucketlistbri .com (just type in “places to live mexico” in the quick search bar if you can’t find the post under my “Mexico” category).

#mexicomagico #digitalnomad #visitmexico #livingabroad #fulltimetravel #mexicotravel #mexicodestinations #nomadadigital #nomada #mexicomaravilloso #slowtravelling #mindfultravel
PSA: Your anxiety, problems or (bad) habits will f PSA: Your anxiety, problems or (bad) habits will follow you around the world until you face them no matter how much you travel or move countries 🙃 

I know I’m not the only one that feels restless at times and idolizes moving to a new region/country/continent to shake my feelings of anxiety or self-doubt or fear! (Also, I tend to think about moving to another country even when I just moved to a new one 😅)

I know because I have lived abroad for 8+ years. I used to try to drown out my icky feelings and past traumas with lots of alcohol but now I carry them with me like I do my mismatched socks — they add to the quirkiness and remind me I don’t have to be, and am not, perfect. 

And that life is more interesting that way, anyway. 

Anddd that most importantly, whenever I get lost, I can and will be found again — I just may look and think differently after new adventures but I am still loved and never lost forever 🧦 ✨💛 

In sum, whether you travel full-time or not, take care of yourself ✨💛

#nomadness #nomadlife #lifeofadventure #livingabroad #fulltimetravel #offbeattravel #remoteworklife #homeawayfromhome #slowtravelstories #mentalhealthawarness
The 4 core ingredients to a recharged Bri: 💛 P The 4 core ingredients to a recharged Bri:

💛 Paul
😻 Yoda
🌍 Traveling & adventuring
👩🏼‍💻 Blogging & writing

Among other things like nature, photography, reading, animals, journaling, art, playing Zelda/games, dancing/music, culture/languages, enjoying rly good food and drinks! 😋 

What about you? What recharges you?? 

#rechargemysoul #blogging #adventures #writing #soulfulliving #mindfulliving #mindfultravel #nomadcouple #creativeliving
1 WEEK COSTA RICA ITINERARY👇🦋✨ 🌋 ARENA 1 WEEK COSTA RICA ITINERARY👇🦋✨

🌋 ARENAL // LA FORTUNA (2 days)
- Hike in the Arenal Volcano National Park
- Indulge in a local chocolate/coffee tour (s/o to @northfieldscafe)
- Go on a wildlife safari float (s/o to Raúl for pura vida vibes!)
- Lounge in natural hot springs (highly recommend the budget-friendly Relax Termalitas in Fortuna)
- Visit La Fortuna waterfall
- Check out the Butterfly Conservatory

🦥 QUEPOS // MANUEL ANTONIO (2-3 days)
- Take a guided or DIY tour of Manuel Antonio National Park
- Chill out on the Espadilla beach
- Explore the cute towns
- Watch for wildlife in the trees!

🌿 MONTEVERDE // SANTA ELENA (2 days)
- Visit/hike in the Monteverde Cloud Forest
- Go ziplining
- Birdwatching on a canopy tour
- Monteverde coffee tour
- Do a nature night walk

My sister and I surprised our mom with this bucket list trip on her birthday, and we had a blast! 🥹

Send this itinerary to someone you know who has always wanted to go to Costa Rica 🦋💛✨🌿🦜🐒

#costarica #bucketlisttrip #puravida #costaricaitinerary #lafortuna #manuelantonio #monteverde #ecotourism
Swimming with the biggest fish in the world is a q Swimming with the biggest fish in the world is a quite a humbling experience, and one that’s been at the top of my bucket list for ages! 🥺

Right now is prime whale shark season in La Paz in Baja California Sur, Mexico, so Paul and I made sure to go before we jetted off to see family for the holidays! I’m still in awe of these gentle giants and the fact that we got to swim alongside them!

Read all about the best whale shake tours in La Paz + ethical whale shark tourism in my latest blog post! Link in bio 💛

Send this to a friend who loves whale sharks! 🐳🦈

#whalesharks #lapaz #bajacaliforniasur #ethicaltravel #responsibletravel #ecotourism #golapaz #mexicotravel #bucketlist #seaofcortez
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