Portugal
Pinhao, Portugal
Pinhão: A Tiled Railway Station Among the Douro's Port Vineyards
- Port traffic
- BusyNext 30 days
Good to know
What to Expect
River cruise ships call at the Pinhão quay from May to October, and your cruise line confirms the berth.
- Pinhão is a small town on the route of Port wine, with the Douro on one side and the Pinhão river on the other.
- The railway station, on the Douro line between Porto and Pocinho, is known for its tile panels.
- Quinta do Bomfim, a wine estate in Pinhão, takes visitors all year round.
Getting Around
Pinhão is a stop on the Douro railway line, which links Porto with Pocinho.
- The train between Régua and Pinhão takes about 25 minutes. A one-way InterRegional ticket was €3.15 in October 2026; check before you go.
- About six trains a day ran in each direction in the August 2026 timetable, so check the timetable for your return before you leave.
- From Porto, a one-way ticket to Pinhão was about €12.
- By road, the EN 222 links Pinhão with Régua.
What to Eat
Local cooking in Pinhão centers on cozido à portuguesa and oven-roasted kid.
- For something sweet there are convent pastries (doces conventuais) and bolo borrachão, a local cake.
- The area produces both fortified and table wines.
The Station Tiles and the Port Estates
Pinhão station is covered with 24 panels made of more than 3,000 tiles, showing the people of the Douro at work.
- The panels follow the wine year, from digging and pruning the vines to the harvest, with baskets of grapes being carried and rabelo boats going down the river.
- The tiles date from 1937 and were ordered from the Aleluia factory.
- Quinta do Bomfim is open from 10 am to 7 pm between March and October, with the last visit at 5:30 pm, and keeps slightly different hours in winter. Visits include its modern lagares, built to imitate treading grapes by foot, and vineyard walks are offered.
- The estate's old lodge dates from 1896 and holds the young wines until they are sent down the river to Gaia.
- Grapes at Quinta do Bomfim are picked by hand, typically from September to early October.
- Pinhão's annual festival, in honor of Nossa Senhora da Conceição, is held on the second Sunday of July.
History
Pinhão grew as a trading post for Port wine, shipped out by rabelo boat, later by rail on the Douro line and later still by tanker truck.
- The railway station was built in the 19th century.
- The road bridge over the Douro was designed in the 19th century and is credited to Gustave Eiffel.
- Pinhão became a parish in 1933. It was the first in the Vila Real district to have a telephone, a permanent postal service and piped water.
- The district's first Casa do Povo (House of the People) was set up here in 1934.
- The Douro landscape is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Traveling with Family
The Historic Douro Train, five vintage carriages running between Régua and Tua from June to October in 2026, stops at Pinhão station.
- The train starts and ends at Régua, with regional music on board, and its stop at Pinhão on the way back gives time to see the tiles.
- A ticket for the round trip was €60 for adults and €32 for children aged 4 to 12 in October 2026; check before you go.
- The train runs on weekend afternoons, and on some Wednesdays in summer.
What to Buy
Local crafts around Pinhão include miniature rabelo boats.
- Others include tinware, blankets, lace, embroidery, baskets and hats.
- The Wine House in the station building sells regional products.
- Jams and honey are made locally.
Port crowds
Next 30 days
Oct 18Quiet70°F21°C / 56°F13°C
Oct 19Normal68°F20°C / 46°F8°C
Oct 20Normal69°F21°C / 46°F8°C
Oct 21Busy70°F21°C / 50°F10°C
Oct 22Busy71°F22°C / 50°F10°C
Oct 23Busy69°F21°C / 55°F13°C
Oct 24Busy62°F16°C / 49°F9°C
Oct 25Very busy67°F20°C / 45°F7°C
Oct 26Very busy69°F21°C / 54°F12°C
Oct 27Very busy70°F21°C / 50°F10°C
Oct 28Very busy74°F23°C / 57°F14°C
Oct 29Normal74°F23°C / 57°F14°C
Oct 30Normal74°F23°C / 57°F14°C
Oct 31Busy74°F23°C / 57°F14°C
Nov 1Busy62°F17°C / 48°F9°C
Nov 2Busy62°F17°C / 48°F9°C
Nov 3Busy62°F17°C / 48°F9°C
Nov 4Very busy62°F17°C / 48°F9°C
Nov 5Busy62°F17°C / 48°F9°C
Nov 6Busy62°F17°C / 48°F9°C
Nov 7Busy62°F17°C / 48°F9°C
Nov 8Very busy62°F17°C / 48°F9°C
Nov 9Very busy62°F17°C / 48°F9°C
Nov 10Very busy62°F17°C / 48°F9°C
Nov 11Busy62°F17°C / 48°F9°C
Nov 12Quiet62°F17°C / 48°F9°C
Nov 13Normal62°F17°C / 48°F9°C
Nov 14Normal62°F17°C / 48°F9°C
Nov 15Normal62°F17°C / 48°F9°C
Nov 16Busy62°F17°C / 48°F9°C
Nov 17Normal62°F17°C / 48°F9°C
Traveler photos
Photos from travelers
Reviews
Traveler reviews
Be the first to share your experience.
Suggest an edit
See something missing or incorrect?