The Douro Valley Road Trip Route We’d Choose Again (And It Wasn’t Just the N222)

Day 3: Souselo to Resende

Drive time: Around 1 hour

If you’re looking to shorten this Douro Valley road trip itinerary a little, day two and three are definitely the easiest to combine.

Both days have relatively short driving times and quicker stops, so merging them together won’t make the trip feel too rushed.

That said, we personally liked keeping them separate because it meant we could properly enjoy the slower pace of the route without constantly watching the clock.

This section of the N222 has loads of miradouros scattered along the road, but unfortunately many of them either have very limited parking or awkward access for larger campervans and motorhomes.

If you’re driving the Douro Valley by car, or doing this itinerary in reverse, you’ll probably find them much easier to stop at.

We’ve still pinned them all on our map though, just in case you spot an empty space and fancy your chances!

First Stop: Miradouro da Trincheira

This is probably the easiest and best viewpoint stop for campervans along this section of the N222 route.

Not only is there enough room to park larger vehicles, but there’s also a BBQ area, picnic tables, and plenty of space to stop for a proper break overlooking the Douro Valley.

That said, parking is still fairly limited overall, so if you’re visiting Portugal during summer you’ll definitely want to arrive earlier in the day before it fills up.

From the picnic area, walk past the seating and you’ll find a small trail leading around the side of the hill.

We actually preferred the view from there over the main miradouro itself.

Second Stop: Caldas de Aregos

This ended up being one of my favourite stops on the entire Douro Valley road trip.

Partly because it was beautiful, and partly because it felt weirdly quiet compared to some of the more famous sections of the route.

The only other people we saw were a few bikers pulling over to take photos beside the N222 road marker before continuing on their way.

There’s larger parking for campervans near Caldas Bar Muito, and from there it’s an easy walk towards the tourism office where you can grab your own photo with the N222 sign and pick up route souvenirs like stickers and pins.

Caldas Bar Muito was one of the only places open serving food, it was ok and a decent price for the location, but nothing particularly memorable. If you’re looking to try traditional Portuguese food like a Franchescasina, this probably wouldn’t be the place to go.

The name Caldas de Aregos actually translates to “hot pools of Aregos”, thanks to the natural thermal springs in the area.

There is a thermal spa here… technically.

But it’s apparently been “temporarily closed” for several years now, which feels suspiciously permanent at this point.

Aside from the hot springs, you can also do river tours, water sports, or visit some of the nearby wine estates if you’ve got extra time to spare.

Final Stop: Resende 

Reluctantly leaving Caldas behind, we continued towards Resende along yet another ridiculously scenic stretch of winding road.

As you’re heading through town, keep an eye out for another N222 kilometre marker if you’re collecting the full set of road trip photos along the route.

Resende itself was probably our least favourite stop on the itinerary, not because it’s bad, but because it felt very different from the quieter riverside villages and older towns we’d passed through earlier in the trip.

It’s much more built up and modern, and for us it kind of broke the magic of the route a little bit after spending days driving through tiny villages, vineyard roads, and peaceful viewpoints.

That said, we still think it’s worth stopping here.

Mostly because breaking the drive up at this point means you’ll have plenty of time the next day to properly enjoy what we genuinely think is the best section of the entire Douro Valley road trip itinerary.

And trust me, you do not want to rush day four.

There are a few parking options around Resende for larger vehicles, but we found this hidden little parking area (here) which tucked us away from the main road and gave us a surprisingly lovely view over the surrounding hills.

If by this point you’d rather stay in a hotel or B+B, rather than a campsite, here’s a map of the options so you can check availability!

Day 4: Resende to Peso da Régua

Driving: Around 1 hour

Get ready, because this is easily our favourite section of the entire Douro Valley road trip and, for good reason, we’re leaving the N222 behind.

Up to now, most of the route has involved driving with the best views frustratingly sitting on the passenger side, trying to peek past the driver for a decent look at the river. That changes today.

From Resende, cross over the Douro and join the N108 on the northern bank instead.

This road follows the river much more closely than the N222 along the same stretch, which means the views feel far more immersive and you’ll have the river directly beside you for most of the drive.

It also makes spontaneous photo stops much easier, with plenty of viewpoints and roadside pull-ins appearing along the way.

There’s also a practical reason for switching sides here. A section of the N222 between Resende and Peso da Régua was damaged during Storm Kristin in January 2026 and remains closed at the time of writing.

The official diversion didn’t look particularly enjoyable for larger vehicles, so this alternative keeps the drive far more relaxed and stress free. We promise!

First Stop: Miradouro de Barqueiros

This was a completely unexpected stop for us, but after spending the first part of the drive aggressively taking photos through the windscreen, we were very grateful for it.

And honestly? This was the moment the Douro views finally felt exactly how we’d imagined them before arriving.

The viewpoint sits tucked away above the river with uninterrupted vineyard views stretching down the valley. It felt much quieter and less visited than many of the stops along the N222 and, when we visited, nobody else passed through the entire time we were there.

There’s enough room for a couple of campervans and access is straightforward enough for larger vehicles. Even in summer, we’d be surprised if parking here became too much of an issue.

Keep your eyes open after leaving too, because there are several smaller pull-ins along this stretch that are perfect for quick photo stops.

Second Stop: Miradouro do Imaginário

This was probably the busiest viewpoint of the entire route, but once you arrive, it makes complete sense why.

Unlike many of the more informal roadside viewpoints in the Douro Valley, this one has a small purpose-built viewing platform overlooking the vineyards below and the panoramic views here are genuinely incredible.

If you’re travelling with a dog though, stay alert.

While we were waiting for our turn on the platform, a couple of dogs from the property below spotted Lilly and charged up towards the viewpoint growling and barking. It definitely wasn’t a friendly “let’s play” situation. We ended up putting her back in the van while Dec dealt with them long enough for us to grab a few photos before leaving.

Aside from that slightly stressful moment, it’s absolutely worth stopping for.

There are a couple of spaces suitable for larger vehicles and, if the café opposite is closed like it was during our visit, you can usually pull in there briefly as well.

If you’re visiting during cherry season, you’ll also notice roadside stalls scattered along this section of the valley.

Farmers sit out selling fresh cherries, bread, and local produce. We didn’t buy anything ourselves this time, but previous roadside fruit purchases in Portugal have set the bar dangerously high for supermarket produce.

Final Stop: Peso da Régua

Don’t put your camera away after leaving Miradouro do Imaginário because the scenery continues almost the entire way down the N108 towards Peso da Régua.

There are fewer stopping opportunities along this stretch, but the slightly slower traffic and occasional traffic lights still give you plenty of chances to properly enjoy the views.

When we drove this route, part of the waterfront road near town was still closed following storm damage, which diverted traffic through a short narrow section only really wide enough for one vehicle at a time. It looks worse than it actually is.

There are temporary traffic lights in place and, although they weren’t functioning properly when we passed through, traffic was still moving steadily enough. We followed behind a truck with no real issues, but you’ll want to keep an eye on the deep drainage ditch running alongside the road.

What surprised us most was just how busy Peso da Régua felt compared to everywhere else on the route.

Up until now, most overnight stops had been relatively peaceful, usually with only one or two other campervans nearby.

That definitely changed here.

Because Peso da Régua connects the popular routes of N2 and N222, while also acting as a major base for river cruises, wine tours, and day trips, it felt noticeably busier even in May.

The designated campervan parking was packed when we arrived, although we eventually managed to grab a space right beside the river.

If you need electricity (€3 per 24 hours), it’s worth arriving earlier in the day or being prepared to wait for someone to leave because the hookup spaces are in high demand even outside peak season.

We ended up staying a couple of extra days here because the riverside park just outside the main tourist area was surprisingly peaceful. Most visitors seemed unaware it even existed and, when we walked through, it was basically just us and a couple of local fishermen sitting along the riverbank.

There’s also plenty to do if you fancy slowing the pace down for a day or two, including the Museu do Douro, river cruises along the Douro, and more wine bars than you’ll realistically know what to do with.

Day 5 (optional): Peso da Régua to Pinhão

Originally, we planned to continue from Peso da Régua to Pinhão along what’s often described as the most iconic stretch of the N222.

But after several days on the road, a dramatic weather shift rolled into the valley and we decided to head north towards Vila Real instead as we continued towards Spain.

Looking back though, we don’t actually feel like we missed out.

While the Peso da Régua to Pinhão section is famous for hugging the river more closely, a lot of the dramatic scenery people associate with the Douro Valley had already felt more immersive to us along the N108 the day before.

That route gave us closer river views, more opportunities to safely pull over in a campervan, and less of the “trying to admire scenery while concentrating on the road” feeling we’d had on parts of the N222 earlier in the trip.

When is the best time for a Douro Valley road trip? 

September to October (The Harvest): This is the ultimate “gold standard” for the Douro. You’ll see the vineyards in shades of burnt orange, smell the grapes in the air, and catch the action of the Vindima (harvest).

May to June (Lush Green): If you want vibrant, electric-green hills and wildflowers, come in late spring. The weather is perfect, warm enough for the N222 drive but before the oppressive summer heat kicks in.

Late February (Almond Blossoms): A hidden gem season. While the grapevines are still bare, the almond trees in the Upper Douro erupt in white and pink blossoms.

July & August (The Heat): Expect temperatures above 35’c (95’F). It’s beautiful, but you’ll spend most of your time chasing shade to park in.

November to March (Quiet Season): It’s moody, misty, and much cheaper. You won’t see the lush vines, but you’ll have the viewpoints and the winding N222 almost entirely to yourself.

Ready For An Epic Douro Valley Road Trip?

Before this trip, I’d built the Douro Valley up massively in my head.

I’d seen the photos of the terraced vineyards, read countless articles calling the N222 one of the best roads in the world, and fully expected the drive to either feel overrated, incredibly busy… or terrifying in a 7m campervan.

Instead, it ended up becoming one of our favourite road trips in Portugal.

Not because every stop was perfect or because we followed the “official” route exactly, but because slowing down and adjusting the route as we went made the whole experience feel far more personal.

Some of our favourite moments weren’t even the famous parts:

• the unexpectedly peaceful viewpoints
• the roadside cherry stalls
• the tiny riverside villages
• or the sections of the N108 where the Douro suddenly opened up beside us.

And that’s probably the best advice we can give for driving the Douro Valley:

Don’t get too fixated on ticking off every famous stop or strictly following the N222 from beginning to end.

Some of the best parts of this road trip happen in between.

If you’re travelling Portugal by campervan, hopefully this itinerary helps you avoid some of the stressful bits, find the genuinely worthwhile stops, and enjoy the route without constantly wondering whether your GPS is about to ruin your day.

And if you’re continuing your Portugal road trip afterwards, we’ve also shared our favourite overnight stops, scenic drives, and campervan-friendly routes across the country below.