The Minho, in the far north-west on the border with Spanish Galicia, is Portugal's greenest and rainiest region: wooded hills and vineyards, clear rivers, stone granaries (espigueiros) and densely settled countryside. The country was born here: Guimarães, the "cradle of the nation", was the birthplace of Afonso Henriques, and Braga, the city of bishops, has been Portugal's religious heart for two thousand years, with the sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte and its Baroque stairway.
Minho towns are small and full of character: Barcelos, with its rooster and big Thursday market, Ponte de Lima, said to be the oldest town in the country, with its medieval bridge, Viana do Castelo, on the Atlantic, famous for its traditional costumes, gold filigree and the Senhora da Agonia festival, and along the Minho river the fortresses of Valença and Caminha and the Alvarinho vinho verde country of Monção and Melgaço.
Inland stretches Peneda-Gerês National Park, Portugal's only national park: granite mountains, waterfalls, lakes, communal villages, Roman roads, garrano horses and Iberian wolves. It is one of the country's best destinations for hiking and nature.
Getting around
Braga and Guimarães are under an hour from Porto by train; Viana do Castelo is on the Minho line. For Gerês and inland villages you need a car. Below you will find the destinations on the map, our guides and all the municipalities of Braga and Viana do Castelo districts.
Destinations on the map
Guides to the region
Barcelos
The town of Portugal's most famous rooster, with one of the country's largest weekly markets.
Braga
The "Portuguese Rome", a city of churches, Baroque stairways and religious festivals.
Caminha
An elegant town at the mouth of the Minho, with Spain on the opposite bank and one of the north's finest beaches.
Gerês
Granite mountains, waterfalls, ancient woods and shepherd villages in the country's only national park.
Guimarães
"Aqui nasceu Portugal", Portugal was born here: a perfectly preserved medieval town.
Monção
Portugal's two northernmost towns, home of Alvarinho white wine.
Ponte da Barca
Granite granaries on a rock threshing floor, mountain villages and an old bridge, on the road to Gerês.
Ponte de Lima
A gentle town on the banks of the Lima, with a very long bridge and a Roman legend about the river that makes you forget.
Valença
A star fortress where you cross the border into Spain on foot along the Way of St James.
Viana do Castelo
The pearl of the Minho, with a hilltop sanctuary, a Renaissance square and the north's most colourful festival.