7 Best Day trips from Porto (Portugal) – Monuments + Nature

Highlights

• Old town of Braga: the cathedral, the archbishop palace and the many museums
• Incredible zigzag Baroque staircase at Bom Jesus do Monte (see my photos)
• The Historic Center of Guimaraes, a Unesco site, with the castle and the Ducal palace

Self-drive information

• Drive from Porto to Braga - 45 min
• Visit the old center of Braga 
• Drive to the parking at the bottom of Bom Jesus - 10 min
• Either walk the staircase to the church or take the funicular
• You can enjoy a great lunch at the restaurant near the church
• Drive to Guimaraes - 40 min
• I recommend skipping the visit of the castle and just admire it from the outside - spend some time in the Ducal Palace
• Walk the old center of Guimaraes to discover its charm
• Drive back to Porto - 45min
• Compare rental prices on Discovercars.com

Organized Day Trip Option

If you don't want to spend time renting a car, join a day trip from Porto to Braga and Guimaraes and learn about the history of those places. It is always great to have a guide to explain the significance of what you are looking at.

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Highlights

• One of the Most beautiful views in Portugal: the Mirador of Pedra Bela (photo above)
• The meeting of the river arms at Adpropeixe
• And if you are ready to drive more, you can also enjoy another part of the national park with Lindoso and its castle

Self-drive information

• Drive from Porto to Adpropeixe - 1h20
• On the way you can stop at Bom Jesus (the sanctuary introduced in the tour above with the incredible staircase)
• Enjoy the views at Adpropeixe and have lunch
• Drive up to the Pedra Bela viewpoint
• If you leave early and are ready to drive more, you can keep going North on N308-1 to enjoy the national park, cross into Spain for a short distance before entering again Portugal for another section of the Penada Geres National Park
• Stop at Lindoso to visit the Castle and enjoy the views. Don't miss the typical granaries from the 17th and 18th centuries
• Compare rental prices on Discovercars.com

Organized Day Trip Option

I have found this day trip departing Porto that includes the Pedra Bela Viewpoint, a little bit of hiking and swimming in beautiful waterfalls! 

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Highlights

• The beautiful hills covered with vineyards
• The Meandering Douro river
• And, of course, the wine 

Self-drive information

• Just head East and enjoy the views! 
• The N108 drive on the North side of the Douro river and the N222 on the South side
• You can cross the river at Porto Manso (1h35 from Porto if not stopping) 
• Or cross further East at Ponte da Ermida (2h from Porto if not stopping)
• Don't drink and drive - if you visit a vineyard, purchase a bottle for later
• Compare rental prices on Discovercars.com
• On my eBook - The Road trip guide - Portugal, I list the GPS coordinates of my favorites views of the Douro Valley

Organized Day Trip Option

This is a popular place in Portugal. There are many Douro Valley day trips available from Porto. Here are 3 different options:

• A tour focusing on wine tasting with the visit of two different vineyards to compare and satisfy your taste buds - 
  Check out program and book

• A tour focusing more on visits and history of the region... but still with tasting  
  Check out program and book

• A Private tour to adapt to your preferences and allow you to stop when you are inspired by the view
  Check out program and book

Highlights

• Bussaco (or Buçaco) is a favorite for the locals and not well known by the tourists. It is a Nature park with a beautiful palace surrounded by peaceful gardens.
• Enjoy the fountains and ponds at the bottom of the hill
• Tour the beautiful palace (now a hotel) with its Manueline decor and enjoy the views from the garden
• Visit the small convent with an interesting atmosphere
• Maybe hike in the park for views of the region

Self-drive information

• Drive from Porto to Bussaco - 1h20
• Pay for entry in the park
• Stop at the pond
• Drive up to the palace - enjoy the areas
• On the drive back to Porto, if you have time, you can stop at Aveiro (that I will introduce in another tour in this article)
• Compare rental prices on Discovercars.com

Organized Day Trip Option

This day tour from Porto, will take you first to Coimbra, where Kings and Queens used to live and where you will find the oldest university in Portugal. Then the guide will take you to the Bussaco park to admire the Palace. A very scenic day!

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Highlights

• There are many sites you can visit in the region I am selecting for this tour
• The most famous of the Unesco sites is the Batalha Monastery with Manueline decor and the unfinished chapels (you can see my photos here)
• There is also the Convent of the Christ in Tomar. This was one of my favorite sites to visit in Portugal. I found that it had a really powerful atmosphere.
• And there is the Alcobaça Monastery with its impressive façade
• And the Fatima sanctuary, a more modern building linked to the apparition of an angel

Self-drive information - My recommendation

• Drive from Porto to Batalha - 2h
• Visit the famous Monastery and don't miss the unfinished chapels
• Drive to Tomar - 40min
• Visit the Convent 
• If you have time explore the old town center of Tomar
• Drive back to Porto - 2h
• Compare rental prices on Discovercars.com

Organized Day Trip Option

I found this day trip that departs from Porto and takes you to Batalha, Tomar and Fatima. Having a historian guide to visit those location will sure make it fascinating!

Check out program and book

Highlights

• The canals and salt pans of Aveiro 
• Enjoying a cruise on the canals aboard a traditional boat which is why it is called the Venice of Portugal
• The interesting houses in the city center
• The 'Avereio Beach' at Costa Nova with the colorful houses on the lagoon side and beautiful white sand on the seaside

Self-drive information

• Drive South from Porto to Aveiro - 50min drive
• Walk around the center
• Enjoy a cruise in a traditional boat that will take you through the old and new parts of the town
• Drive to Costa Nova - 15min drive
• On the lagoon side enjoy the pathway along the colorful houses. 
• Then head for the beach
• Compare rental prices on Discovercars.com

Note: Some people hearing 'Venice of Portugal' will have something in their head and be disappointed. So be aware that it is a charming town with a long history but nothing to do with the grandiose of Venice...

Organized Day Trip Option

This half day trip will give you a taste of Aveiro and Costa Nova, including the small cruise on the canals.
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Want to enjoy a little bit of Spain as well? Well, Porto is not that far from the border with Spain and you can get to Santiago de Compostela if you don't mind a little bit of driving.

Highlights

• The pilgrim city at the end of the famous Camino 
• The Cathedral and all the monuments that make it a Unesco site (learn more here)

Self-drive information

• Drive to Santiago de Compostela - 2h30
• Make sure your rental contract allows you to go abroad!

Organized Day Trip Option

Here is an excursion from Porto that takes you to Santiago de Compostela. And on the way back you stop at another beautiful city in North Portugal, right at the border.
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I stayed in a really great apartment perfectly located called Go2oporto Apartment rentals. They have a several rentals. 

• LUXURY - Located along the Douro River, the Pestana Vintage Porto Hotel is established in a 16th century building - History, heritage and style - Check out photos and book
• BOUTIQUE HOTEL - Right in the heart of the Ribeira, the Descobertas Boutique Hotel is decorated with a lot of taste and fantastic breakfast - Check out photos and book
• GOOD VALUE FOR MONEY - Porto de Rio is centrally located by the Douro River and the studios have really nice design - Check out photos and book
• HOSTEL - Only 50m from the Clerigos Hotel, the Yes! Porto Hostel has a very friendly staff and great facilities - Check out photos and book
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