Amarante: A Day Trip from Porto

Amarante is a lovely riverside town about an hour east of Porto, with a graceful stone bridge over the Tâmega river, a grand church, famous convent pastries and a museum dedicated to one of Portugal’s greatest modern painters. It’s an easy day trip or a stop on the way to the Douro.

Quick answer: Amarante is about 1 hour by car or bus from Porto. See the São Gonçalo bridge and church, the Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso museum, the riverside, and taste the town’s convent sweets. Combine it with the Douro or Guimarães. See places to stay in Amarante.

Things to do

• The São Gonçalo bridge: an 18th-century stone bridge, the symbol of the town.
• The Church and Convent of São Gonçalo: named after the town’s patron saint, a matchmaker for those hoping to marry.
• Museu Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso: the modernist painter was born nearby, and the museum shows his work alongside local art.
• Pastry shops: try the convent sweets made with eggs and almonds.
• The riverside: paddle boats, terraces and gardens along the Tâmega.
• The Ecopista do Tâmega: a greenway on an old railway line, good for cycling. See cycling in Portugal.

Getting there

By car via the A4, or by bus from Porto. Some Douro tours include a stop in Amarante. See Douro tours.

Combine with

• The Douro Valley: continue east. See the Douro itinerary.
• Guimarães: about 40 minutes north. See Braga and Guimarães.
• Vinho Verde: Amarante is in the Vinho Verde region. See the vinho verde guide.

More: the best day trips from Porto and the most beautiful small towns.

Some links in this guide are affiliate links (GetYourGuide, Booking.com, Discover Cars). If you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep our groups and this site free.