4.9(10 reviews)
Barcelos Half-Day Private Tour from Porto
From€151
4 hours
Porto, Portugal
About this activity
Discover Barcelos' rich history and culture on a private half-day tour from Porto, including visits to historic churches and scenic river views.
Highlights
- Explore Barcelos' historic center
- Visit the iconic Bom Jesus da Cruz Church
- Discover the Matriz Church's architecture
- Stroll along the picturesque Cavado River
- Experience local culture and traditions
Full description
Embark on a captivating half-day private tour from Porto to Barcelos, a town renowned for its rich history and vibrant culture. Accompanied by a knowledgeable English-speaking guide, you'll explore the historic center, visit the iconic Bom Jesus da Cruz Church, and admire the architectural beauty of the Matriz Church. Enjoy a leisurely stroll along the picturesque Cavado River, immersing yourself in the local ambiance. This personalized experience offers a unique glimpse into Barcelos' traditions and landmarks, making it an unforgettable addition to your Porto itinerary.
Included / Excluded
- Private transportation
- Professional English-speaking guide
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Meals and beverages
Itinerary
1
Pass by: Your expert guide will collect you from your hotel/accommodation or meeting point and will drive you to Barcelos. On your way to Barcelos, the guide will give you insights regarding the Portuguese history, development and cultural facts of portuguese heritage. Specially regarding the North of Portugal area.
Admission: NOT_APPLICABLE
2
After crossing the old bridge over the River Cávado, we enter into one of the most emblematic cities of popular Minho art, Barcelos. Is an ancient city, situated in an area that has archaeological remains dating back to prehistoric times, although it was really in the 12th century that its history began. Learn how is beautiful town was settle and delevoped through the years.
Duration: 1 hourAdmission: NOT_APPLICABLE
3
By the end of the XIV century, Barcelos belong to a very famous noble Nuno Álvares Pereira, He then gave Barcelos as a dowry in the marriage of his daughter D. Beatriz to D. Afonso, the bastard son of D. João I. A period of great development and dynamic growth for Barcelos, displayed by the building of the bridge, the city walls, of which there still remains the Torre da Porta Nova, the Paço dos Duques and the Igreja Matriz.
Duration: 30 minAdmission: NOT_APPLICABLE
4
Pass by: A stroll around Barcelos must necessarily include the old fairground, now known as the Campo da República, where you will find the 18th-century churches of Bom Jesus da Cruz and Nossa Senhora do Terço and where Portugal's largest handicraft fair is held every Thursday.
Admission: NOT_APPLICABLE
5
If you miss the weekly market, you should definitely visit the Ceramics Museum and Barcelos Handicraft Centre, where you can get a good general view of Minho arts and crafts. The brightly-coloured Barcelos Cockerel is the most representative of all the pieces produced here, but one should not forget the brass bands and the figures depicting the region´s customs and habits.
Duration: 30 minAdmission: NOT_APPLICABLE
Important information
Know before you book
- This is a private tour; only your group will participate
- Hotel pickup and drop-off are included in Porto
- Meals and beverages are not included in the tour price
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes for exploring the town
- Bring a camera to capture the scenic views and historic sites
- Check the weather forecast and dress accordingly
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation up to 1 days before the activity starts
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Infant Seats Available
Good to know
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Please kindly be aware that the overall duration of the activity could be influenced by traffic conditions. We highly advise against scheduling any additional activities or making other plans within the hour following the anticipated completion time.
- We pick up from any hotel in Porto or Gaia city center. In alternative, we can collect you from the Tourist Service/Living Tours located at Rua Mouzinho da Silveira, 350, Porto - next to Porto - São Bento train station.Reservation is mandatory and requires na emai request/confirmation. Bookings must be confirmed at least 48 hours befor the date of the servisse. Cancellations within 48 hours or less will be fully charged.
- Discover Porto in a unique way with a Free Walking Tour with Living Tours, available to all customers who book this activity. Our Free Walking Tour is available on a daily basis, in English and Spanish, at 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. departing from Living Tours Agency located in Rua Mouzinho da Silveira 352, 4050-418 Porto
Traveler reviews
4.910 reviews
5
9
4
1
3
0
2
0
1
0
Another thousand thanks Fred:)
Superb day spent in Porto thanks to our guide Frederico, very efficient and friendly: balanced program, relevant and eclectic comments and varied and enthusiastic conversations.
Excursion59072221804Sep 4, 2025TRIPADVISOR
Great day out to Barcelos
We had a really nice day visiting Barcelos with Nuno. He was quite personable and knowledgeable and gave context to what we were seeing. Our visit flew by and we came home with plenty of rooster pictures! If you want to see some areas outside of Porto this is a great option and ask for Nuno!
KimZeeDeeAug 7, 2025TRIPADVISOR
Barcelos: very worth seeing!
We loved the tour; super complete and our guide, Pedro M., in addition to very kind, showed us the best of Barcelos! We highly recommend!
analuciac846Dec 19, 2024TRIPADVISOR
Private half day tour to Barcelos
Pedro was an excellent tour guide! He had great communicative skills, was easy to understand, and was extremely flexible on our private tour. We would highly recommend him!
Linda_BMay 1, 2024VIATOR
David and Bruno are brilliant- book now!
David and Bruno were outstanding. Friendly, informative and knowledgeable. This all day 2 vineyard, boat, lunch and village tour exceeded my expectations by 1000%. The winery lunch alone was worth the price of this tour. Outstanding and I would look out for tours with this competition again
blackreddersApr 10, 2024TRIPADVISOR
Additional information
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Please kindly be aware that the overall duration of the activity could be influenced by traffic conditions. We highly advise against scheduling any additional activities or making other plans within the hour following the anticipated completion time.
We pick up from any hotel in Porto or Gaia city center. In alternative, we can collect you from the Tourist Service/Living Tours located at Rua Mouzinho da Silveira, 350, Porto - next to Porto - São Bento train station.Reservation is mandatory and requires na emai request/confirmation. Bookings must be confirmed at least 48 hours befor the date of the servisse. Cancellations within 48 hours or less will be fully charged.
Discover Porto in a unique way with a Free Walking Tour with Living Tours, available to all customers who book this activity. Our Free Walking Tour is available on a daily basis, in English and Spanish, at 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. departing from Living Tours Agency located in Rua Mouzinho da Silveira 352, 4050-418 Porto