The Best Day Trips from Porto by Train

Porto is a brilliant base for day trips by train: one of Europe’s most scenic railway lines runs up the Douro Valley, and cheap suburban trains reach Braga, Guimarães and Aveiro in about an hour. Here are the best day trips from Porto by train.

Quick answer: take the scenic Douro line to Pinhão (about 2h20), urban trains to Braga (about 1h15) and Guimarães, and the train to Aveiro (40 minutes to 1h20). Coimbra is about an hour by Alfa Pendular, and Viana do Castelo about 1h–1h30.

The best day trips

The Douro Valley (Pinhão)

From São Bento, the Douro line follows the river through terraced vineyards. About 2h20 to Pinhão, with a river cruise and quinta tastings within walking distance. Sit on the right heading east. See the Douro without a tour.

Braga

Urban trains from São Bento take about 1h15. See Bom Jesus and its water-powered funicular, the cathedral and the old centre. See Braga and Guimarães.

Guimarães

Urban trains from São Bento, a little over an hour, to the birthplace of Portugal, with its castle and medieval squares.

Aveiro

About 40 minutes by Intercidades or Alfa Pendular from Campanhã, or about 1h10–1h20 by the cheaper urban train. Moliceiro boats, Art Nouveau and the striped houses of Costa Nova. See Aveiro.

Coimbra

About an hour by fast train to Portugal’s old university town. See Coimbra.

Viana do Castelo

About 1h–1h30 north along the coast to the Minho’s capital, with the Santa Luzia funicular and basilica. See Viana do Castelo.

Tips

• Stations: São Bento (central) for urban and regional trains; Campanhã for Alfa Pendular and Intercidades.
• Tickets: urban trains use the Andante card or tickets from machines; book fast trains on cp.pt. See Porto public transport.
• The Douro line has only a few direct trains a day, so plan your return.
• Strikes: check CP the day before. See the Portugal train guide.

More: the best day trips from Porto and the best tours in Porto.

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