The Best Day Trips from Porto

Porto is the perfect base for exploring northern Portugal: wine country, historic cities, colourful canals and wild mountains, all within about an hour or two. These are the day trips our Porto Travel Tips members recommend most.

Quick answer: the Douro Valley is the must-do. After that, Braga and Guimarães make a great pair, and Aveiro is an easy, fun half-day by train.

Day trips at a glance

Trip	Getting there	Travel time	Best for
Douro Valley	Tour, car or train	About 1.5–2.5 hrs	Wine, scenery
Braga	Train from São Bento	About 1 hr	Churches, Bom Jesus
Guimarães	Train from São Bento	About 1–1.25 hrs	Medieval old town, castle
Aveiro & Costa Nova	Train	About 1–1.25 hrs	Canals, striped houses
Coimbra	Train	About 1–1.5 hrs	Historic university
Peneda-Gerês	Car or tour	About 1.5–2 hrs	Waterfalls, hiking
Viana do Castelo & Ponte de Lima	Car, train or bus	About 1–1.5 hrs	Coast, Minho villages

1. Douro Valley: the must-do

Terraced vineyards tumbling down to the river, wine estates (quintas) and some of the most beautiful scenery in Europe. You can:

• Take a tour: the easiest way, with tastings and no drink-driving worries. Options include all-inclusive day tours, premium small groups, river cruises with tastings and 4x4 vineyard trips.
• Take the train from São Bento up the valley to Pinhão. It’s a scenic ride along the river.
• Drive for the most freedom, but nominate a driver.

See our full guide: 10 top-rated Douro Valley wine tours.

2. Braga

Portugal’s religious capital, with a lively old centre and grand churches. The highlight is the Bom Jesus do Monte sanctuary on the hill outside town: climb the famous zig-zag baroque stairway, or ride the water-powered funicular from 1882, the oldest of its kind still running. Trains from São Bento take about an hour, then a local bus runs up to Bom Jesus.

Places to stay in Braga

3. Guimarães

Known as the “birthplace of Portugal”, with a beautifully preserved medieval centre, the castle and the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza. It’s easy to combine with Braga on the same day, or on a tour.

4. Aveiro and Costa Nova

The “Venice of Portugal”: colourful moliceiro boats on the canals, art nouveau buildings and the sweet local treat ovos moles. Hop on a bus to Costa Nova to see its famous candy-striped beach houses. Trains from Porto take about an hour.

5. Coimbra

Home to one of Europe’s oldest universities and the spectacular Joanina Library. It works as a day trip from Porto or a stop on the way to or from Lisbon. See Lisbon to Porto by train.

6. Peneda-Gerês National Park

Portugal’s only national park: granite mountains, waterfalls, wild ponies and stone villages. Best by car or on a guided tour, and great for hiking and swimming in natural pools in summer.

7. Viana do Castelo and Ponte de Lima

Head north into the green Minho region: Viana do Castelo has a hilltop basilica with sweeping sea views, and Ponte de Lima is one of Portugal’s oldest towns, with a medieval bridge and riverside walks.

Tips from our groups

• Trains to Braga, Guimarães and Aveiro leave from São Bento or Campanhã, and you buy tickets at the station. Check which station and platform before you go.
• Douro tours fill up in harvest season (September to early October). Book ahead.
• Want a private driver? Several Porto-based drivers on our local guides page run Douro and Minho day trips.
• Getting into Porto from the airport: see our Porto airport guide.

More ideas: browse Porto tours and day trips, or ask the members of Porto Travel Tips.

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