Top 5 Experiences

Visit a quinta. We were able to arrange a private tour of a neighboring family-owned quinta (Quinta do Mourão) through our hotel. We spent over an hour hearing about the history of port making in the owner's family and, of course, tasting really good port wine (some were more than 50 years old).
Sail down the Douro River with Pipadouro - vintage wine travel. The two hour cruise down the Douro River was awesome. We lucked out, had the boat to ourselves, and spent the full two hours lounging, taking in the scenery, and enjoying a glass of port. It's not a tour - your captain won't narrate your journey, but that's exactly what we wanted.
Drive from Porto to Douro Valley. If you can, rent a car and drive the N-222 to Douro Valley. You won't regret it. The N-222 was voted the best road in the world and I couldn't help but whip my phone out at every twist and turn to try and capture its beauty.
Visit the port cellars. I visited Sandeman, Taylor's - right next to the Yeatman, and Croft. When you visit the cellars, you can choose to either do a tasting OR do a tour of the cellar and a tasting. We did a mix of both: tours and tastings at Sandeman and Taylor's and just a tasting at Croft. Each cellar does tours in multiple languages and we were able to snag spots in the last English tours of the day at Taylor's and Sandeman. We managed to squeeze in visits to three cellars in about 3 hours - there's a chance they might tell you this isn't possible, but it is!
Walk the Ribiera. You can't visit Porto without walking the Ribiera. The crowds, salesy restaurant hosts, and tour operators can make it feel touristy, but it's worth it - spend as little or as much time taking in the scenery there.

Where to stay

Porto River Aparthotel. Stay here for the location - it's right on the Ribiera and a short walk from Vila Nova de Gaia (where all the port cellars are). The apartments are beautiful, you'll feel like a local but you'll have all the amenities of a hotel - best of both worlds.
The Yeatman. The Yeatman sits up on a hill in Vila Nova de Gaia. If you're walking, getting there is a great workout :) It has one of the best views of Porto and if the weather is warm, you can enjoy the views from their beautiful infinity pool. I didn't stay here but I visited and loved my trip to the gift shop and enjoying glasses of port and lunch at the bar/restaurant.
Six Senses - Douro Valley. Six Senses is one of my favorite hotel brands. They won me over with their Vitality Suite and Spa, infinity pool with views of sweeping hills and the Douro River in the background, the Quinta Bar and Lounge, Wine Library and Terrace, activity schedule, and friendly and knowledgeable staff who cater to your every need. I was truly sad when our stay at Six Senses came to end and I can't wait to go back.

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