The Vintage House, Pinhão

Relax at The Vintage House, a luxury hotel in the town of Pinhão overlooking the Douro River. Pinhão is a charming town that's 1.5 hours from Porto by car or 2.5 hours by train. Whether you take the train or not, be sure to check out the 19th-century railway station just behind the hotel, where blue and white azulejo tiles show scenes of life around the Douro. If you're looking to explore the area, you can hop on the train to reach Vila Nova de Foz Côa in an hour (1.5 hours by car), where you'll find ancient cave drawings and carvings dating back 25,000 years.

This former 19th-century wine lodge is now a boutique hotel with about 50 rooms, most of which face the Douro River. The traditional style uses vintage pieces and original elements to capture a historic and romantic feel. All room options are spacious, and suites can accommodate extra guests on sofa beds. All include balconies, which are perfect for watching the sunset with a glass of wine, and some Master Suites have fireplaces for extra coziness. Bathrooms include tubs and showers.

The outdoor pool overlooks the river, making it a great place to relax. Break a sweat on the tennis court or grab one of the bicycles to explore the town. The welcoming Library Bar captures a different era with its ceiling of old wooden beams, and Rabelo Restaurant offers local cuisine paired with wine from the Douro area. Get gifts for yourself and loved ones at the hotel's wine shop, do tastings at the Wine Academy, or enroll in a course to learn more about the history and traditions of the world's oldest demarcated wine region, where production first began 2,000 years ago.