Embark on an unforgettable journey through the charming cities of Barcelos, Braga, and Guimarães, ad have a tasting of the North of Portugal.
Barcelos – A town bursting with color and creativity. Famous for its traditional ceramics and the legendary Rooster of Barcelos.
Braga – known as the “Portuguese Rome” for its incredible concentration of religious landmarks and architectural wonders. With its blend of ancient traditions and modern charm, Braga is a perfect destination for those fascinated by history, culture and religion.
Guimarães – We conclude your journey in Guimarães, the historic city known as the “birthplace of Portugal.” With its well-preserved medieval architecture and charming streets, Guimarães offers a glimpse into the country’s past while showcasing its peacefull modern life.
Schedule & prices
Runs
Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, and Fri
Start times
9:00 AM
Next available
Thu, Oct 8
Adult (ages 18–64)
$117
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 7.
Tour Options
Barcelos, Braga & Guimarães Tour
Pickup included
Itinerary
30 min
On Thursdays you have the possibility to visit the biggest market of Portugal. This market takes place right in the center of Barcelos.
10 min
We will visit this baroque church with its lovely blue tiles and golden carvings. This church is known for its legend about a dark wooden cross.
Torre do Cimo da Vila
15 min
One of the old city defence towers. On the top of the tower you have an beautiful view on the baroque gardens and the marketsquare. Inside of the tower there is an interesting artcraft expositions from local artists.
Igreja Matriz da Paroquia de Santa Maria Maior
10 min
We will visit the main church which is the oldest church in the city.
Museu Arqueologico de Barcelos
10 min
Here you will discover the legend of the rooster and see the original cross from the legend.
There are also some other interesting artifacts found all over the city.
Ponte Medieval de Barcelos
10 min
Enjoy the lovely view on the Medieval bridge from the 15th century castle of the duke of Bragança.
5 min
We will start our citywalk in Braga entering by the old citygate.
Jardim de Santa Barbara
10 min
Wander around in the Gardens of Santa Barbara and enjoy the flowers of the season.
Torre de Menagem
5 min
You will pass by the remainings of the 11th century castle part of the old city wall.
Praca da Republica
5 min
On the central square of Braga -where the ´old locals´ gather around to socialize- you will see a mix of interesting architure from different periods.
Igreja de Santa Cruz
10 min
Constructed in the 17th century the front of the church is hiding two roosters. According to the legend nearly weds should find this 2 roosters for a long and happy mariage.
Se de Braga
20 min
We will visit the main church of the city. Parts of this church are even older than Portugal itself.
In one of the chapels of this cathedral you will find the tumuls of the parents of the first King of Portugal.
30 min
The sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte is famous for its extensive staircase and its lovely gardens.
Here you will enjoy the beautiful scenery with a spectacular view over the city of Braga.
Pass by
Enjoy the silence at the most peacefull sanctuary of Braga.
The sanctuary is build in neoclassical style and is the the largest Marian devotional shrine in Portugal, second only to the Sanctuary of Fátima.
Centro Historico de Guimaraes
60 min
The typical Largo da Oliveira is named after a miracle with a 500 years old olivetree what was situated on the square.
The square is surrounded by some 17th century traditional ´Porch Houses´ and the ´Nossa Senhora da Oliveira´ Church.
In the middle of the square there is a porch called "Padrão do Salado".The porch referes to the succesfull battle of Salado in the 14th century.
The charming square of San Tiago is marked by the presence of the old City Hall building and some residencial buildings from the 17th and 18th century. Lunch time (not included).
Paco dos Duques de Braganca
20 min
The Palace of the Dukes of Bragança was built in the 15th century by D. Afonso. He was the ´bastard´ son of King João I.
We will also visit the museum on the first floor of the palace with a collection of national and international antiques.
Igreja de Sao Miguel do Castelo
5 min
According to the legend the first king of Portugal, D. Afonso Henriques, was baptized here. The presumed baptismal font that was used in the ceremony is kept here.
15 min
We will see the castle where the first King of Portugal was born and the chapel where he was baptised.
What's included
Included
Entrance to the Palace of the Duke of Bragança
Entrance to the Castle of the first King of Portugal
Bottled water
Entrance to ´Sé Cathedrale´ in Braga
Not included
Food and drinks, unless specified
Entrance fees, unless specified
Lunch
Pickup Locations & Times
This tour does not start from Porto district, please check our pickup points.
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
3.7
3 reviews
5
2
4
0
3
0
2
0
1
1
How it compares in Braga
Starting price $117 is 28% above the typical $92 for tours of similar length in Braga
Excurgo comparison of 135 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
Not recommended for travelers with reduced mobility
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Barcelos, Braga & Guimarães Tour take?
Barcelos, Braga & Guimarães Tour lasts about 6–7 hours. The itinerary has 18 stops.
How much does Barcelos, Braga & Guimarães Tour cost?
Prices start at $117 per person for this Braga experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Barcelos, Braga & Guimarães Tour run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, starting at 9:00 AM.
Can I cancel Barcelos, Braga & Guimarães Tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. This tour does not start from Porto district, please check our pickup points. Pickup points include Santana Hotel & Spa.
What languages is Barcelos, Braga & Guimarães Tour offered in?
The experience is available in PT, EN, FR, NL, ES.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 6 participants.
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Not recommended for travelers with reduced mobility
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Confirmation is sent by the operator within 24 hours of booking.
Is Barcelos, Braga & Guimarães Tour worth it?
Travellers rate it 3.7 out of 5 across 3 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by ImagineTours Portugal.
Reviews(3)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
O
OnAir21144304584
February 26, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Pessima
Vcs canceled the tour, without even warning, bad service, I do not recommend to anyone, I had to arrange the tour with another operator
Operator response
Lamentamos o seu comentário, porque você nunca teve da nossa parte nenhuma confirmação de aceitação de reserva e por isso o seu comentário não tem qualquer fundamento.
Da próxima vez que fizer qualquer reserva com qualquer Operador aconselhamos a informar-se corretamente sobre o normal procedimento das mesmas e não fazer comentários infundados sobre uma suposta reserva que nunca aconteceu.
M
mediaguru
August 1, 2018 · via Tripadvisor
Very thorough tour, excellent if you love history, architecture, or churches
We went on a tour of Barcelos, Braga, and Guimaraes with José and his companion Evangeline (?) and it was a great day. They picked us up right outside our place in central Porto in the morning, and then we headed to the street market in Barcelos (which runs on Thursdays... we didn't buy anything, but it was fun to experience)...
Other than the market, Barcelos is a fairly sleepy town, feels pretty "local" and off the beaten path, though it is famous for the legend of the "Rooster of Barcelos" which has become a symbol across all of Portugal.
From there, we headed to Braga, which has something like 26 churches -- and we got to take a look at probably a dozen of them over the course of the day, including the impressive Cathedral which was a major seat of Catholic power in the area... in addition to the nearby Bom Jesus, which is beautifully located up a mountain at the end of a long-stretching staircase (although unfortunately they are doing renovations inside the church right now... but the exterior views are the star of the show, anyway.)
Finally, we made our way to Guimaraes, the "birthplace" of Portugal since this is where the first king, Alfonso Henriques was born, and where he battled his mother to declare independence from Spain (long story. The guides will tell it to you!) There is a castle here, but we walked past it and spent time touring the more grandiose Dukes manor nearby. The town itself is also pleasant to walk through -- quaint and medieval in its layout, but still a fairly large city.
After all of this, we were quite satisfied but, even though the tour was technically done, José was nice enough to show us a few more sights... he had time, so he extended the tour to do a little detour down the coastal region, seeing the beach towns and fisherman villages, such as Vila Nova do Conde, with a historical Portuguese sailing ship and a couple more interesting churches.
Oh, I forgot to mention... this is billed as a "small group tour" which would have been fine, but it ended up being a private tour for just the two of us! Even better!
M
Matthew_G
August 1, 2018 · via Viator
We went on a tour of Barcelos...
<p>We went on a tour of Barcelos, Braga, and Guimaraes with José and his companion Evangeline ? and it was a great day. They picked us up right outside our place in central Porto in the morning, and then we headed to the street market in Barcelos which runs on Thursdays... we didn't buy anything, but it was fun to experience... <br/>
Other than the market, Barcelos is a fairly sleepy town, feels pretty local and off the beaten path, though it is famous for the legend of the Rooster of Barcelos which has become a symbol across all of Portugal.</p>
<p>From there, we headed to Braga, which has something like 26 churches -- and we got to take a look at probably a dozen of them over the course of the day, including the impressive Cathedral which was a major seat of Catholic power in the area... in addition to the nearby Bom Jesus, which is beautifully located up a mountain at the end of a long-stretching staircase although unfortunately they are doing renovations inside the church right now... but the exterior views are the star of the show, anyway. </p>
<p>Finally, we made our way to Guimaraes, the birthplace of Portugal since this is where the first king, Alfonso Henriques was born, and where he battled his mother to declare independence from Spain long story. The guides will tell it to you! There is a castle here, but we walked past it and spent time touring the more grandiose Dukes manor nearby. The town itself is also pleasant to walk through -- quaint and medieval in its layout, but still a fairly large city. </p>
<p>After all of this, we were quite satisfied but, even though the tour was technically done, José was nice enough to show us a few more sights... he had time, so he extended the tour to do a little detour down the coastal region, seeing the beach towns and fisherman villages, such as Vila Nova do Conde, with a historical Portuguese sailing ship and a couple more interesting churches.</p>
2 people found this helpful
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