CP's Almond Blossom Circuit returns to the region and brings new features

Enjoy a magnificent journey on sustainable transport with panoramic windows that allow you to appreciate the beauty of the Douro landscape, classified as a UNESCO heritage site. Visit the Côa Museum, discovering another world heritage site, the Prehistoric Art of the Côa Valley; and see one of the region's natural spectacles, the almond trees in bloom. This is the proposal for the 71st edition of the Almond Blossom Circuit, CP - Comboios de Portugal's oldest tourist programme, which is a landmark in the national tourist calendar, attracting visitors from all over the country for an unforgettable journey between Porto and Vila Nova de Foz Côa.

After sold-out trips in 2024, this circuit returns over three weekends, between 15 February and 2 March, bringing new features. In this edition, a cafeteria and bar service will be available on the train in a restaurant car recovered by CP. In one of the programmes, passengers can opt to have lunch at the Côa Museum, one of the largest in the country, tasting a menu full of delicacies and featuring local products.

‘This railway tourism project is one of CP's contributions to the regions. It's important to bring tourists to the interior, especially to areas with great cultural and historical value, such as Foz Côa,’ according to the Chair of CP's Board of Directors, Pedro Moreira.

Restaurant car recovered by CP

At a press conference held in the noble hall of Vila Nova de Foz Côa Town Hall, Pedro Moreira thanked the municipality for its support for railway tourism, pointing out that the Almond Tree Route, now in its 71st year, and the Almond Blossom Festival, now in its 43rd year, have an important heritage value for the region.

Since a partnership was established with the municipality, it has been possible to ‘enrich the product and improve the experience’ for those who choose the train and the Almond Tree Route. ‘Passenger feedback has been fantastic and we've sold out every journey,’ attests the President of CP. ‘But we listened to our customers and partners and we wanted to improve. That's why there are new features this year. For the first time, a restaurant car recovered in CP's workshops will let passengers have breakfast during their journey. And one of the programmes includes lunch in the Museum's restaurant, which adds to the experience,’ he added. ‘the feedback was good in previous years, so we're convinced that this year will be even better,’ Pedro Moreira added.

During the press conference, the programme for the Almond Blossom Festival 2025 was presented, which brings together gastronomy, handicrafts, culture, sport and entertainment, with a wide range of events, as well as the new brand ‘Foz Côa - Capital of Almond Blossom’, a new visual identity for the municipality that ‘meets the identity of a people’. The Mayor of Vila Nova de Foz Côa pointed out the benefits that the partnership with CP has brought to the municipality. João Paulo Sousa has no doubts: ‘It's through culture that we're able to attract people to the area and leverage sustainable tourism and CP has been a fundamental partner in this’.

Almond Blossom Circuit 2025

The Almond Blossom Circuit is CP's oldest tourism programme and is a unique celebration of the natural beauty, culture and tradition of Portugal's inland regions.

Passengers will make the journey in two Schindler carriages, with assigned seats and panoramic windows that allow them to enjoy the scenery along the Douro River. This year, on the outward journey, a cafeteria and bar service will be available on board, using a restaurant car reserved exclusively for participants in the Almond Blossom Circuit.

Passengers can choose between two programmes, both of which include guided visits to the Castelo Melhor almond grove and the Côa Museum and all the necessary transfers. Programme ‘1’, which is new, starts with a visit to the Museum, includes lunch at the Côa Museum Restaurant (with starters, main course, dessert and drinks), free time to visit the Almond Blossom Festival and a visit to the almond grove. Programme ‘2’ begins with a visit to the almond grove, allows time for a free lunch and a visit to the festival and the town of Foz Côa, and reserves a visit to the Museum for the afternoon. All passengers will receive a regional delicacy - an almond sweet - and a bottle of water on their return from Pocinho Station.

The Almond Route takes place on Saturdays and Sundays, 15, 16, 22 and 23 February and 1 and 2 March. The train leaves Porto Campanhã at 7.25 a.m. and arrives in Pocinho at 10.48 a.m. On the return journey, the trip starts at 5.12 p.m. in Pocinho and is scheduled to arrive in Porto São Bento at 8.30 p.m.

Each trip (round trip) costs €76 (programme 1) or €51 (programme 2) per adult, and €39 (programme 1) or €26 (programme 2) for children aged 4 to 12. There are discounts for groups.

The Almond Blossom Circuit is a partnership between CP and the Vila Nova de Foz Côa Town Council.

The full programme and more information can be found at www.cp.pt.