Three days of regional trains around Porto

Porto is easy to love and easy to leave, because São Bento station sends trains in every direction for the price of a coffee. We gave ourselves three days and a rule: only regional lines, no tours.

Day 1 — Linha do Douro

The early train to Pocinho follows the river for most of the way. Sit on the right side heading east. We got off in Pinhão, walked the vineyard road up to the viewpoint and caught the 16:10 back.

Day 2 — Guimarães

An hour north, a castle, a cable car and the best custard tart of the trip — from a bakery with no sign at all.

Tip: the Andante card works on suburban trains too; top up at any station machine.

Day 3 — Aveiro and the coast

Canals, striped houses in Costa Nova and a slow ride back at sunset. Total spent on trains for three days: under twenty euros for two.