Guimarães & Braga tour from Porto: Birthplace of Portugal lunch

Two medieval cities, one guide, lunch and tickets arranged

A small-group tour from Porto to Guimarães and Braga with a live guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese, visiting Guimarães Castle, the Ducal Palace, Braga Cathedral and Bom Jesus Sanctuary. Hotel pickup in Porto is included, as are entrance fees to the castle and cathedral, a traditional lunch with local wine, and drop-off at Trindade Station or Bolsa Palace. The guide meets you at your hotel and returns you to central Porto after eight hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Bom Jesus do Monte1h
2. Braga Cathedral1h · entry included
3. Guimarães Castle1h · entry included

Explore Braga and Guimarães historic sites

• Pickup in Porto city center
• Drive to Bom Jesus do Monte sanctuary
• Explore Baroque stairway and funicular
• Visit Braga Cathedral
• Enjoy traditional lunch with local wine
• Travel to Guimarães
• Tour Guimarães Castle
• Visit Ducal Palace
• Walk through Guimarães medieval town
• Free time in Guimarães historic center
• Group meets for return to Porto
• Drive back and drop-off in Porto

The experience

Your guide picks you up at a central Porto hotel and drives north through the countryside toward Braga. The route itself is part of the day. You'll see the landscape change as you move into the region where Portugal's history took root. Braga, the oldest Portuguese city, comes first: you'll climb the famous Baroque stairway at Bom Jesus do Monte, a pilgrimage sanctuary set in the hills above the city, where chapels and statues line the path and the oldest water-powered funicular in the world still carries visitors to the top. The views from the gardens stretch across the surrounding landscape.

Back in Braga's center, you'll explore the Cathedral, Portugal's oldest, with its Romanesque and Gothic architecture and cloisters. Then comes lunch at a local restaurant: a traditional meal with regional specialties and Vinho Verde, the crisp local wine, included in the price. Vegetarian options are available if you request them when booking. This break gives you time to sit and absorb what you've seen before the afternoon leg.

The drive to Guimarães takes you to the birthplace of the Portuguese nation. You'll walk the medieval Guimarães Castle, where the first Portuguese king was born, and tour the Ducal Palace just steps away, once home to the Dukes of Braganza. Your guide leads you through the UNESCO-listed historic center, pausing at Largo da Oliveira, the main square, where the Padrão do Salado monument stands. You'll have free time to wander the preserved medieval streets on your own before the group gathers for the return drive to Porto, where you're dropped at Trindade Station or Bolsa Palace.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in Porto and drop-off at Trindade Station or Bolsa Palace.
• professional guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
• entrance fees to Guimarães Castle and Braga Cathedral.
• traditional lunch with Vinho Verde wine and soft drinks.
• bottled water in sustainable packaging.
• comfortable minivan transport for the full eight hours.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight 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 due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Cooltour Oporto

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're arriving in Porto with a free day and want to see the two cities most central to Portuguese history and culture without arranging transport, tickets or a meal yourself. Everything is coordinated and you travel in a small group with a guide who knows both places.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's included in the price for this tour from Porto?

Hotel pickup in Porto, the minivan with a professional guide, entrance fees to Guimarães Castle and Braga Cathedral, a traditional lunch with Vinho Verde wine and drinks, bottled water, and drop-off at Trindade Station or Bolsa Palace are all included.

How long is the full day, and what time does it start?

The tour runs eight hours total. Your guide picks you up at your hotel in central Porto in the morning. The exact time depends on your hotel location and the operator's schedule, so confirm the pickup window when you book.

What is Bom Jesus do Monte and why is it worth seeing?

Bom Jesus do Monte is a UNESCO World Heritage sanctuary perched on the hills above Braga, famous for its Baroque stairway, the Via Crucis, lined with chapels and statues telling the story of Christ's Passion. It also houses the oldest water-powered funicular in the world and offers panoramic views of the surrounding gardens and landscape.

Can I request vegetarian meals or have dietary needs met?

Yes. Vegetarian options are available for the included lunch. Let the operator know your dietary requirements when you book so they can arrange it with the restaurant.

Where exactly do you drop off in Porto at the end of the day?

You're dropped at one of two central locations (Trindade Station or Bolsa Palace), or at a nearby central spot for your convenience, depending on where works best for your plans.