One terrific way to spend a day in Portugal is with a day trip from Porto to Braga and Guimarães. These two historic cities are great for people who appreciate history and culture. Located about an hour north of Porto, you can get there by public transportation or by booking a guided tour.
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Braga
Our day trip from Porto starts in Braga. Known as the “Rome of Portugal,” Braga is full of historical and cultural attractions reminiscent of the Eternal City. You can spend the day visiting religious sites, getting lost in the winding lanes of the historic city center, and enjoying the natural beauty of the landscape.
Bom Jesus do Monte Sanctuary
Start your day with a visit to the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte. This is an important pilgrimage site dating from the 14th century where pilgrims ascended the hill on their knees to remind them of Christ’s suffering on the cross. Today, there’s a church at the top that is reached by an incredible zig-zagging marble staircase.
You can reach the church by taking the stairs or riding the Elevator of Bom Jesus. Built in the 1880s, this is the first operating funicular on the Iberian Penisula and the oldest to use a water counterweight system in the world. No matter how you get up the hill, the views from the top are amazing! Also take some time to visit the gardens.
Se Cathedral
Another must-see site on our day trip from Porto is Se Cathedral. Construction of this Romanesque cathedral began at the end of the 11th century making it older than the country of Portugal! You must go inside to admire the carved alter, main chapel, and twin pipe organs. You can also opt to visit the connected Treasury Museum containing priceless religious artifacts from the past 15 centuries. A guided tour of the upper choir and various outlying chapels is also available.
Cathedral Square & Historic City Center
After visiting the Se Cathedral, it will be time for lunch. This works well because the Cathedral Square has lots of restaurants to choose from. If you still have some time to kill, wander around the streets near the square. This is the historic city center where every time you turn around you will see set another gorgeous old building or charming café!
Guimarães
There’s plenty more to do in Braga, so feel free to linger if you can stretch this day trip from Porto into two days! But make sure you allow time to explore another Portuguese jewel, the city of Guimarães. This charming town is regarded as the birthplace of Portugal because it was where the first king, Dom Afonso Henriques, was born in 1109. It will take about 30 minutes to get there from Braga.
Guimarães Castle
One must-see site in Guimarães is the 10th century Castelo De Guimarães. It was constructed to defend a nearby monastery from attacks by Moors and Norsemen. The outer walls are still intact and are definitely impressive. The inside is in ruins, but you can climb up to the top and admire the views.
Palace of the Dukes of Braganza
After visiting the castle, walk to the nearby Palace of the Dukes of Braganza. Built in the 15th century, this impressive palace has gorgeous ornate ceilings and is fully furnished. I particularly liked the little nooks with bench seats facing each other at every window. Imagine all of the dalliances and negotiations that probably occurred in those nooks!
Historic City Center
The historic city center of Guimarães is in walking distance of the castle and palace, so you will want to wander over there next. Walk down the cobble stone Rua de Santa Maria street and you will feel like you have gone back in time. Along the way you will see the 16th century Convent of Santa Maria which now serves as City Hall.
Spend some time in the Praça de Santiago square which retains wonderful medieval characteristics. Find an outdoor café and enjoy a glass of vihno verde, a refreshing wine from a small region in Northern Portugal. It’s slightly acidic and a bit carbonated with a lower alcohol content than other white wines, perfect for toasting your wonderful day trip from Porto!
What do you look most forward to during your day trip from Porto?
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