Braga and Guimarães day trip from Porto: Birthplace of Portugal

Two cities that shaped a nation, one morning and afternoon to see them

A full-day guided tour from Porto to Braga and Guimarães in the Minho region, traveling by air-conditioned minibus with a professional guide in your chosen language. You visit Braga Cathedral (the first cathedral in Portugal, built before the country itself), and Guimarães Castle, where the first king was born, plus the medieval streets of Guimarães' UNESCO World Heritage centre. Entrance tickets to the cathedral and castle are optional at checkout. The tour includes the minibus, guide and a walking tour of Guimarães' historic centre.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Portuguese Centre of Photographypass by
2. Braga Cathedral30m · entry included
3. Guimarães Castle30m · entry included
4. Guimarães30m

Explore Braga and Guimarães

• Meet guide near S. Bento Train Station
• Drive to Braga with historical insights
• Visit Bom Jesus do Monte staircase and church
• Tour Braga Cathedral
• Free time to explore Braga
• Drive to Guimarães
• Visit Guimarães Castle
• See S. Miguel do Castelo church
• Walk through Guimarães historical centre

The experience

Meet your guide near São Bento Train Station in Porto and travel north into the Minho, a region of green landscapes and river valleys. On the drive, your guide shares Portuguese history and cultural context. The foundation for what you'll see when you arrive. Braga comes first, and the city opens with the Bom Jesus Sanctuary, famous for its 17-landing staircase built into the hillside. The staircase itself is the draw: granite fountains sit on each landing, allegorical statues line the path, and the white chapel at the top sits like a chalice against the sky. A water-powered vertical tram from 1882 still carries people up the 300-meter ramp in three minutes, an engineering feat that was the first of its kind installed in Portugal.

Braga Cathedral comes next. It was built starting in the late 11th century and consecrated in 1089: decades before Portugal existed as a nation. The parents of Portugal's first king are buried in the Chapel of Kings. The cathedral competed in power and prestige with Santiago de Compostela and remains the jewel of the city. You have free time to explore Braga's streets, shops and local spots before the short drive to Guimarães.

Guimarães is called the birthplace of Portugal because Afonso Henriques, the first king, was born here. Guimarães Castle sits on Monte Largo, built around 968 by Countess Mumadona as a refuge from Viking and Muslim raids. Count Henry later ordered a larger fortress. The square keep and four corner towers you see today date from that expansion. The small Church of São Miguel do Castelo, built in the 13th century (though tradition places it earlier), stands near the castle and holds the graves of the nation's founding warriors. The medieval centre of Guimarães is a UNESCO World Heritage site: narrow streets, iron verandas, granite balconies, mansions and arches create a setting that feels removed from time. Your guide walks you through this restored historic quarter, pointing out the Mota Prego house, Vila Flor and Toural palaces, and the details that give Guimarães its singular atmosphere.

What’s included

• Transportation in an air-conditioned minibus.
• professional guide in English, Spanish, Portuguese or French.
• entrance to Bom Jesus Sanctuary in Braga.
• walking tour of Guimarães' UNESCO World Heritage historic centre. Entrance tickets to Braga Cathedral and Guimarães Castle are optional add-ons at checkout.

Options for this experience

8 options

Spanish departure without entrances07:50Tour in Spanish without entrance tickets to Guimarães Castle and Braga Cathedral. Choosing this option books the tour in Spanish with no entrance tickets included.

Portuguese departure without entrances07:50Tour in Portuguese without entrance tickets to Guimarães Castle and Braga Cathedral. Choosing this option books the tour in Portuguese with no entrance tickets included.

English departure without entrances07:50Tour in English without entrance tickets to Guimarães Castle and Braga Cathedral. Choosing this option books the tour in English with no entrance tickets included.

See 5 more options

French departure without entrances07:50Tour in French without entrance tickets to Guimarães Castle and Braga Cathedral. Choosing this option books the tour in French with no entrance tickets included.

Tour in English with entrances07:50Choosing this option books the tour in English with tickets to Guimarães Castle and Braga Cathedral included.

Tour in French with entrances07:50Choosing this option books the tour in French with tickets to Guimarães Castle and Braga Cathedral included.

Tour in Portuguese, entrance fees included07:50Choosing this option books the tour in Portuguese with tickets to Guimarães Castle and Braga Cathedral included.

Tour in Spanish, admissions covered07:50Choosing this option books the tour in Spanish with tickets to Guimarães Castle and Braga Cathedral included.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:50

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 27

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats available

Operated by Living Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to cover Guimarães and Braga in one day with a guide steering you through both cities' historical centers. The minibus handles the travel between them, and you choose which sites to enter.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What is the Bom Jesus Sanctuary staircase, and why is it famous?

The Bom Jesus Sanctuary in Braga features a monumental staircase with 17 landings built into a hillside, each adorned with symbolic fountains, allegorical statues and Baroque decorations representing themes like the Stations of the Cross and the Five Senses. The staircase is famous for its architecture and for the 1882 water-powered vertical tram alongside it (the first of its kind in Portugal), which still carries visitors up the 300-meter ramp in three minutes.

Why is Guimarães called the birthplace of Portugal?

Guimarães is where Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal, was born. Guimarães Castle, built around 968 and expanded by Count Henry, was the nucleus where the future nation developed. The city's historical centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site because of its role in Portugal's formation and the authenticity of its medieval restoration.

Is entrance to Braga Cathedral and Guimarães Castle included in this tour?

Entrance to Braga Cathedral and Guimarães Castle are optional. You choose at checkout whether to add admission tickets to either or both sites. The tour always includes the minibus, your guide, and a walking tour of Guimarães' UNESCO-listed historic centre.

What is included in the tour price?

Transportation in an air-conditioned minibus; a professional guide specialized in the destination; a walking tour of Guimarães' UNESCO World Heritage centre; and entrance to the Bom Jesus Sanctuary in Braga. Entrance tickets to Braga Cathedral and Guimarães Castle are separate options you add at checkout. Lunch and gratuities are not included.

Are there any restrictions on visiting Guimarães Castle?

Guimarães Castle has limited access. Entry to the castle walls is currently prohibited. You can visit the castle grounds and the Church of São Miguel do Castelo nearby, but access to the fortification walls themselves is not available.