A really excellent day out from Porto is to take the morning train up towards the Douro valley. It goes to Peso da Régua and beyond but for this trip change at Livraçao on to the branch line for Amarante. There is time for a picnic lunch there and it is very pleasant to sit overlooking the river.
The next stage is by bus to Vila Real, where you have to make some haste to the station to get a train on the Corgo line. The bus trip is very pleasant and the Corgo Line is terrific. The only problem is whether to sit on the right and face the glare of the sun or the left and risk somebody drawing the curtain!
The Corgo line terminates at Régua, as it is usually known, and you take the main line train