Porto is the gateway to northern Portugal, the country's greenest, most traditional region, rich in monuments. By train from São Bento or Campanhã, or on an organised tour, you can reach medieval towns, sanctuaries, vineyards and nature parks on a day trip. It is part of the Porto guide; see also the Porto and Douro region and the Minho.
Day trips at a glance
| Destination | What to see | How to get there | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Douro valley | UNESCO vineyards, quintas, Pinhão | Train from São Bento or cruise | 2-2.5 hours |
| Guimarães | Castle, Dukes' palace, UNESCO centre | Train from São Bento | about 1 hour 15 |
| Braga | Cathedral, Bom Jesus do Monte | Train from São Bento or Campanhã | about 1 hour |
| Aveiro | Canals, moliceiros, Costa Nova | Train from São Bento or Campanhã | 40-70 minutes |
| Amarante | The bridge, the convent, sweets | Bus or car | about 1 hour |
| Coimbra | University, Joanina Library | Alfa Pendular from Campanhã | about 1 hour |
| Viana do Castelo | Santa Luzia, old town, coast | Train from Campanhã | about 1.5 hours |
| Peneda-Gerês | The country's only national park | Car or tour | about 1.5 hours |
Guimarães
Considered the cradle of Portugal, because the first king, Afonso Henriques, was born here in 1109, Guimarães has a UNESCO-listed medieval centre with the 10th-century castle, the Paço dos Duques de Bragança with its chimneys, and the arcaded squares of Largo da Oliveira and Praça de Santiago. A cable car climbs Penha mountain. A city wall bears the words Aqui nasceu Portugal, here Portugal was born. See Guimarães.
Braga
Braga, Portugal's oldest city and seat of the archbishop, is called the "Portuguese Rome" for its many churches. See the cathedral, the country's oldest, the pedestrian historic centre, the Santa Bárbara garden and, just outside town, the Bom Jesus do Monte sanctuary, UNESCO-listed, with its great zigzag baroque staircase and a water-powered funicular of 1882. See Braga.
Aveiro
Called the "Venice of Portugal", Aveiro is crossed by canals plied by moliceiros, colourful boats with painted prows that once gathered seaweed in the lagoon. Try ovos moles, egg-yolk sweets in shell-shaped wafers. A few kilometres away, the striped houses of Costa Nova are among the country's most photographed. See Aveiro.
Amarante
On the Tâmega river, Amarante is a romantic town with the São Gonçalo bridge, the convent of the same name and a tradition of convent sweets. It is an ideal stop on the way to the Douro valley. See Amarante.
Coimbra
The former capital of the kingdom, Coimbra has one of Europe's oldest universities, founded in 1290: the baroque Joanina Library is one of Portugal's most beautiful places. The city also has its own fado, sung by students in black capes. See Coimbra.
The Minho and Gerês
Further north, the Minho is the land of vinho verde, lush green hills and towns such as Viana do Castelo, with the Santa Luzia sanctuary and ocean views, and Ponte de Lima, with its Roman and medieval bridge. Peneda-Gerês National Park, the country's only national park, offers mountains, waterfalls, granite villages, wild horses and Roman roads. See the Minho and nature parks.
Tips
- Guimarães and Braga combine well in one day on an organised tour; by train, give each its own day.
- Regional trains leave from São Bento, right in the centre; for Coimbra and Lisbon leave from Campanhã.
- For Gerês and the Douro a car or tour lets you see much more.
See also itineraries and transport.