Authentic Braga & Guimarães: Small Historical Group Tour
Description
Enjoy the scenic landscapes of Minho, noted for its popular Vinho Verde, and visit two of the region’s historic cities, Guimarães and Braga, to discover their architectural heritage. The first stop on this full-day tour is Guimarães, the birthplace of Portugal. The city center has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001. Marvel the Guimarães Castle, dating from the 10th century, where you’ll learn about the early period of Portugal’s history. Admire the Dukes of Bragança Palace and the architecture of this medieval city, full of unique buildings, streets, and squares. Continue to Braga, a city once occupied by the Romans and one of the most important Christian centers of Portugal. Take a break to enjoy a traditional lunch with Vinho Verde. After that continue learning about the history of Braga and pay a visit to its most important landmarks such as the Cathedral from the 11th century, Bom Jesus do Monte, and the Sameiro Sanctuary. You will arrive back to Porto close to 5pm.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Upon arrival in Guimarães, we begin our tour in the upper part of the city, where the Guimarães Castle is located. Our guide will tell you about Portugal's early history as you pass Portugal's oldest medieval castle and begin the descent into the city center.
This church dates back to the 13th century and is currently classified as a national monument. It is a building built in the Romanesque style, which was rebuilt at the beginning of the 20th century according to its original appearance. There is a legend associated with this church, according to which the first king of Portugal, D. Afonso Henriques, was baptized here.
This palace dates back to the beginning of the 15th century and its construction was ordered by D. Afonso (son of King D. João I) at the time of his marriage to D. Constança de Noronha. Over the years it served several purposes, causing wear and tear. At the beginning of the 20th century, the restoration of the palace began. It is classified as a national monument and currently serves as a museum, displaying works of tapestry, furniture, Chinese porcelain and paintings.
Along the descent to the residential area of the city, we will pass through Rua de Santa Maria, one of the first streets in Guimarães, which served as the main connection between the convent of D. Mumadona Dias, the residential area and the Castle.
This is a social square for the inhabitants of Guimarães, where you can find restaurants, bars and terraces, surrounded by the city's typical architecture. According to the legend, the name of the square is due to the apostle James who, on a pilgrimage, left an image of the Virgin Mary here. A church was built there in the 12th century, which was demolished in the 19th century.
Largo da Oliveira is one of the most emblematic and historic squares in Guimarães, Portugal. Its name comes from an ancient olive tree that symbolizes peace and tradition. This place has been the scene of significant events over the centuries, including medieval courts and crucial moments in the formation of Portugal as a nation.
In addition to the church, Largo da Oliveira is known for the Padrão do Salado, a monument that celebrates the victory of D. Afonso IV over the Moors in the battle of Salado in 1340.
From Largo da Oliveira you can see the church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira - Colegiada de Guimarães, whose origins date back to a monastery founded in the first half of the 10th century by Countess Mumadona Dias. The current church was built in 1387 by order of King D. João I, following models of Gothic architecture.
Braga Cathedral is one of the most emblematic and historic monuments in Portugal. Located in the city of Braga, this Catholic cathedral is a testament to the country's cultural and religious richness. Its construction dates back to the end of the 11th century, having been sacred and dedicated to the Virgin Mary by Bishop D. Pedro in 10891. The Braga Cathedral is considered the first Portuguese cathedral, built several decades before the founding of the nation itself.
The Bom Jesus do Monte Sanctuary is a jewel of the religious architecture and landscaping, located in Braga. With over 600 years of history, this site of Christian pilgrimage is a notable example of the European Sacri Monti, created after the Council of Trent in the 16th century. The sanctuary's Via Crucis, which winds up the mountainside, is made up of chapels, fountains and sculptures representing the Passion of Christ, culminating in the neoclassical church built between 1784 and 1811. The Staircase of the Five Senses, a baroque work, is a of the most emblematic elements of the set, symbolizing the human senses through fountains and statues. Bom Jesus do Monte was recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2019, standing out for its harmonious integration with the natural landscape and its cultural and spiritual importance. The sanctuary offers panoramic views of Braga and is a testament to the religious tradition and influence of the Catholic Church in the region.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We will notify each booking by email regarding the pick up time prior to the day of the tour. The clients should wait for our guide by the door of the address provided.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Travel time is already included with the total tour duration.
- Green wine - legal age to drink is 18 years old and above
Reviews(107)
Excellent tour with this company of the two cities. Ricardo our guide was great. Would highly recommend this company, tour guide and would book with them again for other cities.
Dear Traveler, We're delighted to hear that you had such a great experience with Oporto Road Trips. We're very pleased to know that Ricardo helped make your visit to Braga and Guimarães so enjoyable, and we truly appreciate your confidence in our team. Thank you for your recommendation! Kind regards, Joana Alves Oporto Road Trips
A fun half day trip to see some beautiful close by sites and still be back in time to nap and get dinner. Good for groups or solo travelers!
Dear Gabrielle, Thank you so much for your lovely review! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed your visit to Braga and Guimarães and that the tour fitted perfectly into your day. We truly appreciate your kind words! Kind regards, Joana Alves Oporto Road Trips
The stop and sites were beautiful. Rick was a wonderful guide and explained the history of each stop. Small group was perfect. I don’t think it would be as enjoyable tour if it was a large group.
Dear Katherine, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed the beautiful sights and that Ricardo's knowledge helped make your experience even more enjoyable. It's also wonderful to know you appreciated the small-group format. We truly appreciate your kind words. Kind regards, Joana Alves Oporto Road Trips
Our guide was Diana; although we had booked the tour in English, since we were all Spanish speakers, she made the effort to do it in Spanish. Everything she told us was very interesting, the history, the legends/traditions 😜 Very kind, she drove the van herself, and by the way, she drives very well, very carefully; she would drop us off at one point to take a tour and pick us up at another point, so we didn't have to walk back. The tour is 100% recommended and Diana is a fantastic guide. Thank you Diana
Dear Traveler, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed your day exploring Braga and Guimarães with Diana. It's especially rewarding to know that her effort to conduct the tour in Spanish made the experience even more enjoyable and that you appreciated both her knowledge and thoughtful organisation throughout the day. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for another adventure in Portugal someday! Kind regards, Joana Alves Oporto Road Trips
I sign up for English Braga and Guimares Medieval Tour. We got mix with a Portuguese couple not by choice which became a big problem. Diana our tour guide because they speak same Portuguese language our tour became a disaster. She spends most time with them, elaborate more on Portuguese than English.Diana became and serve as their private tour guide than the group tour guide. I was very disappointed with this tour. This tour should have been worth it but became not our moneys worth. It's a waste of our time
Dear Teresita, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are genuinely sorry to hear that the experience did not meet your expectations. Our tours are shared experiences, and guests booking in different languages may join the same departure. When this happens, we ensure that the tour is conducted in all the languages selected by our guests. In your case, the tour was provided bilingually in both English and Portuguese, so that everyone could fully enjoy the experience they had booked. Regarding your comments about Diana, we would like to clarify that she is one of our most experienced and dedicated guides. If she had conversations with the Portuguese-speaking guests in Portuguese, it was because they addressed her in their native language, just as she would have responded in English had you spoken to her directly. She would never intentionally prioritise one group of guests over another, and she always strives to make every participant feel included, regardless of the language they speak. We are truly sorry that this gave you a different impression, as that was certainly not our intention. Your feedback is appreciated, and we will share it with our team to ensure we continue providing the best possible experience for all our guests. Kind regards, Joana Alves Oporto Road Trips
We had a wonderful day. Our guide, Nuno, was very nice. He dedicated time to explain to us about all the sites and made sure we had a great day. We really enjoyed Bom Jesus Do Monte.
Great experience. Both beautiful cities well worth visiting. Diana was a wonderful and engaging. Wonderful day out.
Dear Traveler, Thank you so much for your lovely review! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed visiting Braga and Guimarães and that Diana helped make your day so engaging and memorable. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back for another wonderful adventure in Portugal! Kind regards, Joana Alves Oporto Road Trips
Very extensive tour to Braga and Guimarães! We had a very friendly guide, Ricardo Aliveira, who told us and showed us all sorts of things about the cities. There was also plenty of free time. Ricardo picked us up at the agreed meeting points every time.
Dear Traveler, Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed your day exploring Braga and Guimarães. It's fantastic to know Ricardo helped make the experience both enjoyable and informative while giving you plenty of time to discover each city at your own pace. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back for another tour in Portugal! Kind regards, Joana Alves Oporto Road Trips
Ivo was a very personable and knowledgeable tour guide. Our tour occurred when the area was experiencing an extreme heat wave and we were traveling with an elderly family member. Ivo was able to adapt our tour to ensure my Mom got an excellent experience despite not being able to walk for long periods of time in the extreme heat. The tour itself was fantastic, with many sites being firsts for us and Ivo explained the history of the sites while also providing insight into the local culture. Great experience. We’re very happy that we chose this tour.
Dear Wayne, Thank you so much for your thoughtful review! We're delighted to hear you and your family had such a positive experience on your tour with Ivo. It's especially rewarding to know he was able to adapt the day to ensure everyone, including your mother, could comfortably enjoy the experience despite the extreme heat. Kind regards, Joana Alves Oporto Road Trips
Diana is very knowledgeable and gave us a lot of information on local history and culture. She always made sure to answer all our questions. We also enjoyed the free time in Braga and Guimaraes which are very beautiful. I recommend this tour to anyone interested in learning more about Portugal and its many traditions in a more personalized setting.
Dear Luca, Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed discovering Braga and Guimarães with us. We're so pleased Diana's knowledge and dedication helped you gain a deeper appreciation of Portugal's history and traditions. Thank you for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back for another tour in the future! Kind regards, Joana Alves Oporto Road Trips
