Comboio Histórico do Douro

The Comboio Histórico do Douro (the Douro Historical Train) is a summer excursion train run by CP, Portugal’s national railway. It runs along the Douro line from Peso da Régua up the river to Tua and back, through the terraced vineyards of the Alto Douro Wine Region, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The train is made up of five historic carriages from the early 20th century, with 254 seats in total. In 2026 it is hauled by a 1400-series diesel locomotive painted in its original colours. If you have seen older photos of a steam engine on this train, be aware that CP lists the diesel for 2026, so don’t promise a train-mad child smoke and whistles.

CP is running 51 trips between 6 June and 18 October 2026, on Saturdays, Sundays and some Wednesdays. The train leaves Régua station at 15:00. The return leaves Tua at 17:07 and gets back to Régua at 18:22, so the whole outing takes about three hours.

Tickets cost €60 for adults and €32 for children aged 4 to 12, and there are special group rates. You can buy them at CP ticket offices or online at cp.pt. CP’s announcement doesn’t mention a price for children under four, so check with CP when you book if you’re bringing a toddler.

The trip starts at Régua with a welcome that includes live music and a glass of Port for the adults. Musicians play on board as the train follows the river upstream. It makes two stops.

At Pinhão, local producers set up at the station so passengers can taste and buy regional food and drink. At Tua, the train pauses again before heading back, and passengers can visit places that show the Douro’s heritage, including the Centro Interpretativo do Vale do Tua. That centre, in a restored railway warehouse at Foz Tua station, has exhibitions on the valley from its rocks to its first settlers, on the old Tua railway line and what its closure meant to local people, and on the Tua dam designed with the architect Eduardo Souto de Moura. It opens Wednesday to Sunday from 12:00, fitting the train’s stop, and was free for children up to 10 when we checked. CP passengers on the Douro line get 50% off the €2 entry.

For a child who loves trains, the draw is the carriages themselves: century-old coaches with their original look, pulled by a heritage locomotive. The line follows the Douro valley through the terraced vineyards, a landscape very different from anything most children know. Stopping at two stations breaks up the journey and gives everyone a chance to get off and stretch.

Children aged about five to twelve who are already train fans will get the most from it. Teenagers who like photography or history may enjoy it too. For a toddler, three hours with music and a crowd may be a lot, and the Port welcome and producers’ tastings are aimed at adults.

With 254 seats and only 51 trips a year, it’s worth booking ahead, especially for weekends. The train runs through the warmest part of a summer afternoon, so bring water, sun hats and snacks for the children. The CP announcement doesn’t describe facilities on board or step-free access to the historic carriages, so contact CP if you need to know about buggies or wheelchairs.

Régua station is on the regular Douro line, so you can arrive by ordinary train and leave the car behind; check CP’s timetable for the connection.

Régua is also where many Douro river cruises start and finish. If your child likes machines, the Douro cruise through the Carrapatelo lock rises or falls 35 metres in a single lock between Porto and Régua. Train fans with more time can head south to Entroncamento for the Museu Nacional Ferroviário, Portugal’s national railway museum, or to the little narrow-gauge engine shed at Macinhata do Vouga.

When does the Douro historic train run in 2026?

From 6 June to 18 October 2026, on Saturdays, Sundays and some Wednesdays, 51 trips in all. It leaves Régua at 15:00.

How much is the Douro historic train for children?

€32 for ages 4 to 12 and €60 for adults in 2026. Ask CP about under-fours.

Is the Douro historic train a steam train?

Not in 2026. CP says this year’s train is pulled by a 1400-series diesel locomotive in its original colours.

How long does the trip take?

About three hours and twenty minutes, from 15:00 to 18:22, including the stops at Pinhão and Tua.

Where do you catch the historic train?

At Régua station in Peso da Régua, on the Douro line.