Braga and Guimarães Full Day Tour from Porto

Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte, Braga

Perched on a wooded hill above Braga, Bom Jesus do Monte is one of the most photographed places in northern Portugal and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A monumental Baroque stairway zigzags up the slope past fountains, chapels and statues that symbolise the five senses and the Christian virtues, ending at a neoclassical church with a wide terrace.

Allow time to climb or simply admire the staircase and the gardens, then enjoy the views over Braga and the Minho countryside. The sanctuary is a highlight of any Bom Jesus do Monte tour, and a nearby water-powered funicular from the 19th century is one of the oldest of its kind still working. The best time to visit is morning, before the heat and crowds.

Braga's historic centre

Braga was founded by the Romans as Bracara Augusta and has been a religious capital for centuries, which is why locals sometimes call it the Portuguese Rome. Your guide leads a walk through the old town, past elegant squares, Baroque façades, the arcaded Praça da República and narrow lanes lined with traditional cafés and pastry shops.

This is also when you have free time for lunch, so you can try a local restaurant or a quick bite. A day trip from Porto to Braga is easy because the city is only about an hour away, and the compact centre is ideal for a relaxed stroll before the tour moves on to Guimarães.

Braga Cathedral (Sé de Braga)

Braga Cathedral is the oldest cathedral in Portugal, begun in the late 11th century. Its plan is Romanesque, but later centuries added Gothic chapels, Manueline details and a richly decorated Baroque organ, so the building reads like a history lesson in stone. Inside are royal tombs and a treasury of religious art.

With the default option your ticket for the cathedral is included, and the guided visit lasts about half an hour. If you are searching for a Braga Cathedral tour, this is a good way to see the highlights and hear the story of the archbishops who shaped the city.

Guimarães Castle

Guimarães Castle stands on a hill above the old town and is tied to the birth of Portugal. It has origins in the 10th century, and tradition holds that Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal, was born nearby. The stone keep and battlements rise above a small park, and a nearby wall carries the phrase saying that Portugal was born here.

Your ticket for the castle is included with the default option, and you have time to climb the keep for views over the rooftops. A Guimarães Castle tour from Porto is one of the easiest ways to understand how medieval Portugal began, and the walk up from town is short.

Guimarães UNESCO old town

The historic centre of Guimarães is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with cobbled streets, wooden balconies, granite houses and lively squares such as Largo da Oliveira. The Palace of the Dukes of Braganza, a 15th-century residence with tall brick chimneys, is one of the landmarks you see on the walk.

Your guide explains the city's role in the founding of the nation and its lasting traditions, and you have free time for shops and cafés. Guimarães is often named among the best places to visit in northern Portugal, and it makes a quieter, more intimate ending to the day than the larger cities.