Douro River

The 575-mile-long Douro River originates in north-central Spain and crosses into Portugal, where it meets the Atlantic Ocean near Porto. The balmy Douro Valley has produced sweet port wine for centuries, giving Porto its name. Many historic churches and buildings can be found throughout Porto, which is Portugal's second-largest city. The waterfront is lined with colorful houses, bridges, historic "rabelo" boats and wine warehouses where you can sample local wines. Head to the Ribeira district for inexpensive regional cuisine and interesting architecture. Other stops along the river include charming Portuguese towns such as Lamego, Vila Real and Pinhao, as well as the enduring Spanish city of Salamanca.

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