Braga and Guimaraes Day Trip from Porto
From€44
9 hours
Porto, Portugal
About this activity
Experience the rich history and culture of Braga and Guimaraes on this full-day guided tour from Porto, including transportation and lunch.
Highlights
- Explore Braga's historic sites
- Visit Guimaraes Castle
- Discover the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte
- Stroll through Guimaraes' medieval streets
- Enjoy a traditional Portuguese lunch
Full description
Delve into Portugal's rich history with a full-day guided tour from Porto to Braga and Guimaraes. In Braga, explore the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and visit the impressive Braga Cathedral. In Guimaraes, wander through the medieval streets, visit the Guimaraes Castle, and enjoy a traditional Portuguese lunch at a local restaurant. This tour offers a perfect blend of history, culture, and cuisine, making it an unforgettable experience.
Included / Excluded
- Guided tour of Braga and Guimaraes
- Transportation from Porto
- Lunch at a local restaurant
- Personal expenses
Itinerary
1
Pass by: You will meet you guide at our Meeting Point near S. Bento Train Station and he will drive you to Braga, our first stop. On your way to the Minho Region, your guide will give you insights regarding the Portuguese history, development and cultural facts of portuguese heritage.
Admission: NOT_APPLICABLE
2
Famous for religious reasons but also for its architecture, the famous staircase and being the cause of the vertical tram, an amazing piece of 19th century engineering. This was the first of its kind to be installed in Portugal in 1882 and still uses its water powered system to power the 300 meter ramp in just 3min. The church was built by Carlos Amarante, who gave it an Italian-inspired neo-classical design that harmoniously blends into the landscape of northern Portugal. The staircase leading to the top contains 17 landings adorned with symbolic fountains, allegorical statues, and Baroque-style decorations along themes: Stations of the Cross, Five Senses, the Virtues, Moses receiving the Commandments and at the top, the eight biblical figures that contributed to Jesus' condemnation. Any visitor must take in the view from the bottom of the staircase. Facing up are the ornate granite fountains on the various landings and the white chalice-like outline on which the church itself "sits".
Duration: 30 minAdmission: NOT_APPLICABLE
3
The first cathedral, older than Portugal. The Cathedral of Braga was the first Portuguese cathedral, erected several decades before the founding of the country. It began to be built at the end of the 11th century, and was concecrated and dedicated to the Virgin Mary by Bishop Pedro in a solemn session on August 28, 1089. Competing in power with the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela and is the jewel of the city. D. Henrique and D. Teresa, parents of the first king of Portugal, are buried in the Chapel of Kings.
Duration: 30 minAdmission: YES
4
It's now time for a break. Enjoy some free time to explore Braga at your own pace or grab a bite to eat. Discover the city's charming streets, shops, and local attractions.
Duration: 1 hourAdmission: NOT_APPLICABLE
5
Afterwards, we will go on a short drive to Guimarães: Is considered the birthplace of Portugal because Afonso Henriques, who went on to be the first king of Portugal, was born here.
Duration: 2 hoursAdmission: NOT_APPLICABLE
6
The castle´s presence evokes the exciting mixture of legend, poetry and heroism that surrounds the beginning of Portuguese history. On this Monte Largo (Broad Hill), the nucleus of the future nation of Portugal was first developed. In circa 968, Mumadona, the countess of Galicia, ordered a castle to be built on this site, where the population could seek refuge from the constant attacks unleashed upon them by the hordes of Vikings, who arrived by sea from the north of Europe, and the Muslims, who made raids from the territories that they occupied to the south. On taking over the governorship of the province known as Portucalense from his father-in-law, Alfonso VI of León, Count Henry ordered another larger and more solid construction to be built. This represented the beginning of the important defensive structure that we can now see today, dominated by the square keep that stands between the four towers guarding each of the four corners of the walls. Although this is not strictly documented, it is very likely that the building that stands against the inner part of the northern wall was the residence of Count Henry and the birthplace of his son Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal.
Duration: 30 minAdmission: YES
7
The small church of S. Miguel do Castelo was built in the 13th century. However, according to tradition, this church would have been built in the 12th century by Count Dom Henrique (Henry of Burgundy), where he would have baptised his son, the 1st King of Portugal Dom Afonso Henriques. Of Romanic style and reduced dimensions, this church reveals great simplicity in terms of decoration. Inside, under the floor of this church lie buried the great warriors of the nation’s founding period.
Duration: 10 minAdmission: NOT_APPLICABLE
8
The historical centre in the area that was within the Guimarães city walls, is associated with the formation and identity of Portugal, and was classified a World Heritage site based on the originality and authenticity applied in its restoration. The city still has a harmonious, well-preserved heritage that is evident in the graceful iron verandas, granite balconies and porticos, mansions, arches connecting the narrow streets, paving slabs smoothed by time, towers and cloisters. For a moment you might imagine yourself to be in a mediaeval setting, where the nobility built their houses over time, such as the Mota Prego house, the Vila Flor and Toural palaces, and the many others that give Guimarães its unique atmosphere.
Duration: 30 minAdmission: NOT_APPLICABLE
Meeting point
Start Location
Unknown location
Important information
Know before you book
- Tour operates rain or shine
- Minimum booking of two people required
- Please inform of any dietary restrictions in advance
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes
- Bring a camera to capture the sights
- 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
- Duration: the hours of duration are approximate 9 hours, The Tour is subject to local traffic, visit schedules, etc
- Please kindly note that access that the castle of Guimaraes has limited access and the access to the walls are now prohibited.
- Tours are usually in one language, but a second language may be used.
- Group size maximum capacity is 27 people.
- 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
- Please note: this activity is available with different ticket options, with or without entrance fees included for Guimarães Castle and Braga Cathedral.
Traveler reviews
4.72,991 reviews
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Braga and Guimaraes is gonna worth a visit
Had a wonderful time without a driver and tour guide. Anna I was very knowledgeable and took pride in all her knowledge and stories
Grace TJul 11, 2026TRIPADVISOR
Great trip and wonderful guide and driver
It was a great experience joining the tour. Our guide Rafael is an amazing and professional guide who introduced us to all the history and fun facts about Portugal and our driver Silva is also very professional and careful during driving. Definitely recommend the tour!
tanyalZ4484YCJul 10, 2026TRIPADVISOR
Fantastic!
Our tour guide,Bruno A., was fantastic! He made sure everyone had a great time, took the time to translate everything so everyone could follow along, and was incredibly knowledgeable throughout the entire tour. His enthusiasm and attention to everyone in the group made the experience even more enjoyable. Our driver Rui L. was also very friendly and made the trip comfortable and pleasant. Highly recommend!
679trinityjJul 9, 2026TRIPADVISOR
Great tour, beautiful places and good people.
Bom Jesus is definitely the star of the show. It was magnificent and a great way to start off the trip. We really enjoyed the information and guidance from the tour, while also getting time to explore the cities and areas on our own. Our tour guide was Bruno A, he was a wonderful guy who had lots of information to share and great energy. He also spoke 3 languages on the tour which was truly impressive. Our driver Rui L provided a smooth, safe trip and was very kind with his well wishes. Definitely worth the money and time if you’re considering this tour.
X721VLmichaelhJul 9, 2026TRIPADVISOR
Excellent tour! Beautiful cities, great guide. Just needed a bit more time in Guimarães.
It was a very enjoyable and well-organized trip. The attractions were excellent. The only thing missing was enough time to explore the city of Guimarães at a more relaxed pace. An additional hour would have been very helpful.
1978MGAJul 9, 2026TRIPADVISOR
Additional information
Duration: the hours of duration are approximate 9 hours, The Tour is subject to local traffic, visit schedules, etc
Please kindly note that access that the castle of Guimaraes has limited access and the access to the walls are now prohibited.
Tours are usually in one language, but a second language may be used.
Group size maximum capacity is 27 people.
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