Although the term “bleisurism” may be new, the idea of merging business trips with leisure travel hardly is. Porto elevates the combination to a fine art, with a compact and fascinating city and cruises on a scenic river boarding right in its heart. Few destinations make it so easy to merge business with the pleasure of a relaxing river cruise.

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Porto’s fortunes derived from its position at the mouth of the Douro River, famed for its vineyards and port wine estates. The wines produced there were carried in boats to the city’s great wine houses to age before shipping to England — the primary market in the early days of the industry.

Wine remains a major player in Porto, with several of the great wine lodges — Graham’s, Cockburn’s, Ferreira, Taylor and others — lining the steep banks of Vila Nova Gaia, facing the city’s busy Ribeira district across the river. Wine tastings and tours of their cellars represent the city’s most popular tourist attractions.

You’ll find restaurants, clubs and riverside cafés with views of the impressive Dom Luis Bridge, Vila Nova Gaia and busy boat traffic on the river along the narrow medieval streets of Ribeira. This and the rest of the historic center comprise a UNESCO World Heritage site, highlighting the gold-encrusted Church of São Francisco, whose interior is testament to the Brazilian gold brought by early Portuguese explorers.

Your business day will likely revolve around the higher Boa Vista neighborhood, home to Porto’s corporate offices and financial institutions. Sometimes called “The New Porto,” this vibrant neighborhood mixes residential, high-end shopping and cultural centers with its business offices.

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You’ll find some of the city’s most contemporary architecture here, including Casa da Música. Take a moment to stop inside to see the beautiful tiled hall. For an art fix or to unwind on a garden stroll, go to Fundação Serralves, a villa with a cutting-edge art museum.

If you’re entertaining clients or looking for a good dining spot for leisure moments, Impar Flores, on a picturesque street above the Ribeira, offers flavorful Portuguese and Mediterranean dishes with good options for all diets. To dine with a spectacular view of Ribeira rising across the river, reserve a table at Taberninha do Manel, situated on the riverbank in Vila Nova de Gaia.

Combining a business stay in Porto with a Douro cruise proves easy — board your ship right on the quai at Vila Nova de Gaia — and you can choose from several lines. Your choice will depend on scheduling it to coincide with business obligations, as well as the travel package, as some cruises include days in Lisbon at the beginning and end of a trip.

AmaWaterways and Scenic Cruises offer the most time on the river, as well as the most travel flexibility with arrival and departure from Porto. AmaWaterways’ seven-night cruise spends five days sailing and stopping riverside and at nearby towns, including options of excursions and local experiences.

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The itinerary includes a tour of the Baroque Mateus Palace and its gardens, an excursion to the hilltop town of Castelo Rodrigo, meals and tastings at wine quintas, and a visit to the pilgrimage town of Lamego. One day is devoted to an excursion to Salamanca, Spain. Some of the options at various stops include bike tours, hikes and tastings of regional specialties.

Scenic Cruises’ eight-day itinerary on a 96-guest Scenic Space Ship includes food tastings, such as a visit to the historic manor house of Morgadio da Calçada to taste bola, a traditional Portuguese pastry. At Pinhão, guests can try their hand at painting tiles in the traditional Portuguese style or go kayaking on the Pinhão River, a Douro tributary.

A trip to the Côa Valley can include a visit to the Côa Valley Museum to learn about the largest, open-air Paleolithic rock art site in the world or to the Casa Painova estate to see the family home and a demonstration of making sugared almonds. Other options are a day in Salamanca, touring the Mateus Palace and gardens, and a trip to Lamego.

The ship returns to Porto, where guests can choose from city tours or a day in Portugal’s first capital of Guimares to see the Ducal Palace and explore the old town. Or consider the third option, a visit to Quinta da Aveleda, a 150-year-old wine producer, for a tasting and tour of the wonderfully whimsical gardens.

A highlight of the week for Scenic passengers is a private evening concert inside the Church of São Francisco, where guests can admire the Baroque gold interior as they take in a performance. Whether your cruise is scheduled before or after your business engagements, Porto promises a seamless fit between the two.