Vila Real is the largest town in the immediate Douro area and the district capital, set on a high plateau above the river gorge. It is a working Portuguese city rather than a tourist destination in its own right, but it is a useful base for visits to Mateus Palace and the upper valley, and the cathedral and pedestrian centre are pleasant for a half-day visit.
The town hosts the Circuito Internacional de Vila Real, a city street circuit that has staged European racing since the 1930s and still runs an annual round of the World Touring Car Cup. Otherwise life is quiet — university students during term, market stalls on Saturdays, and a steady trickle of wine-country travellers passing through.