The slow Douro Line train from Porto's São Bento station is the classic way to arrive: about two hours to Régua and another forty-five minutes to Pinhão, with the last hour running along the river bank in views that justify the journey on their own. Bring water and snacks — there is no buffet car.
By car, the IP4 motorway from Porto reaches Vila Real in under an hour and a half, and the N222 from Régua east to Pinhão has been called one of the best driving roads in Europe. River cruises, ranging from day trips to seven-day expeditions, leave from Porto's Cais da Ribeira and Vila Nova de Gaia.