Porto: Guimaraes & Braga Small Group Tour with Lunch and Tickets
Description
Guimarães, the birthplace of the nation and a UNESCO World Heritage site, exudes a medieval atmosphere with its 10th-century castle and 15th-century Ducal Palace. A stroll through the heart of the city's streets and squares will immerse you in the palpable charm and rich history of Guimarães. During our visit, we'll explore the imposing castle, admire the majestic Dukes of Bragança Palace, and wander through the historic center. After a relaxing lunch break included in the tour, we'll continue our journey to Braga, known as the oldest Portuguese city and the religious capital of Portugal. For centuries, Braga has been a prominent archiepiscopal seat and pilgrimage site. Our exploration of Braga will include a visit to its 11th-century Cathedral, followed by a tour of the Bom Jesus Sanctuary, a UNESCO World Heritage site nestled in the scenic hills surrounding the city. Join us on our small-group tour to discover the most iconic monuments and exclusive spots in these historic cities.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Pickup & Start Point: Your Braga & Guimaraes Tour begins with a convenient pickup in Porto city center, where your local guide will greet you warmly. From here, enjoy a comfortable scenic drive northwards to the first stop of this unforgettable day.
Arrive at the iconic Bom Jesus do Monte, a breathtaking sanctuary perched on the hills above Braga. Experience the famous Baroque stairway known as the Via Crucis — a path lined with chapels and statues telling the story of Christ’s Passion. Admire the historic funicular, the oldest water-powered funicular in the world. Soak in the panoramic views and lush gardens surrounding the sanctuary.
Next, head to the heart of Braga city to visit the majestic Braga Cathedral, the oldest cathedral in Portugal. Explore its stunning Romanesque and Gothic architecture, wander the cloisters and chapels, and absorb the medieval atmosphere that makes this a must-see spiritual landmark.
Charming local restaurant: savor a traditional meal featuring regional specialties from Braga, accompanied by refreshing Vinho Verde local wine — a crisp, lightly sparkling white wine native to Northern Portugal. Vegetarian options are also available upon request to ensure everyone enjoys an authentic and delicious dining experience.
Travel onward to Guimarães, the birthplace of Portugal. Visit the medieval Guimarães Castle, where legends say the first Portuguese king, D. Afonso Henriques, was born. Walk the ancient walls and imagine the battles fought to defend this fortress, crucial to Portuguese identity.
Just a short walk from the castle is the impressive Ducal Palace, once the residence of the Dukes of Braganza. Admire the stately architecture, period furnishings, and lush gardens, reflecting the wealth and history of one of Portugal’s noble families.
Visit Guimaraes medieval town with your guide and pause at Largo da Oliveira, the vibrant square at the heart of Guimarães’ historic center. Admire the Padrão do Salado monument and enjoy the lively atmosphere with your guide sharing stories of the town’s rich heritage.
Finish your tour wandering the UNESCO-listed historic center of Guimarães. It's time to enjoy some free time at this beautifully preserved medieval town which is considered the "Cradle of Portugal," brimming with cultural landmarks and traditional architecture.
After some free time to explore, your guide will meet you here to gather the group and escort you back to Porto, sharing final insights about the street’s history and its beautiful buildings along the way.
After a full day immersed in history, culture, and breathtaking sights, relax on the drive back to Porto where your tour concludes with drop-off at two central locations or a nearby central spot for your convenience.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Most centrally located Porto hotels (when accessible). We will confirm your pickup time and location the day previous to the tour.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
- Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
Reviews(457)
Very well coordinated trip! Our guide Nuno was excellent. He ensured throughout the trip that we were comfortable.
Rodrigo was a fantastic guide he was knowledgeable and patient throughout Lunch was provided by tour which was excellent. Also tour purchased sweets to take back with you to port. Fantastic cathedrals and towns . Definitely worth the purchase.
Thank you so much, Ronald! We're delighted to hear you had such a wonderful day exploring Guimarães and Braga with Rodrigo. He'll be very happy to read your kind words. It's great to know you enjoyed the historical sites, the traditional Portuguese lunch, and the local sweets that made the experience even more memorable. Thank you for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back soon for more unforgettable experiences in Porto and Portugal! — Gonçalo Castanho, Cooltour Oporto
The tour is fantastic!! But Rodrigo the guide is excellent! 100% recommended! You cannot miss this experience.
¡Muchas gracias, Arturo! Nos alegra muchísimo saber que disfrutaste de la experiencia. Rodrigo estará muy feliz de leer tus palabras. Es un placer saber que hizo que tu visita a Guimarães y Braga fuera tan especial. ¡Gracias por tu recomendación! Esperamos darte la bienvenida de nuevo muy pronto para vivir más experiencias inolvidables en Oporto y Portugal. — Gonçalo Castanho, Cooltour Oporto
Nuno is an excellent guide and very knowledgeable and accommodating. Lunch was delicious. The free time at every location was very welcomed and nice. The sights are great, it is a must do in my opinion.
Thank you so much, Shawn! We're delighted to hear you had such a great day exploring Guimarães and Braga with Nuno. He'll be very happy to read your kind words. It's wonderful to know you enjoyed his knowledge, the traditional Portuguese lunch, and the balance between guided visits and free time to explore at your own pace. Thank you for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back soon for more unforgettable experiences in Portugal! — Gonçalo Castanho, Cooltour Oporto
Philip was humorous and funny guide that shared information that helped us to understand history in Portugal. The lunch was very tasty and gave us time to know others in our group. I would highly recommend this tour.
Thank you so much, Jadon! We're delighted to hear you had such an enjoyable day exploring Guimarães and Braga with Filipe. He'll be very happy to read your kind words. It's wonderful to know you enjoyed his sense of humor, the historical insights he shared, and the traditional Portuguese lunch, which gave everyone the chance to get to know each other. Thank you for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back soon for more unforgettable experiences in Portugal! — Gonçalo Castanho, Cooltour Oporto
George was our guide. Very professional with a wealth of knowledge to share. The place he took us for lunch was very good
Thank you so much, Leonard! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed your day exploring Guimarães and Braga with Jorge. He'll be very happy to read your kind words. It's wonderful to know you appreciated his professionalism, knowledge, and the traditional Portuguese lunch. Thank you for joining us, and we hope to welcome you back soon for more unforgettable experiences in Portugal! — Gonçalo Castanho, Cooltour Oporto
I really enjoyed this tour. I was in Porto for a few days and decided to take a day trip. The meeting place was close to my hotel and easy to find. The drive was not far so we did not spend a ton of time in the car. Our guide was great and very personable sharing enough information, but not too much. The castle was beautiful and the church was stunning. There was a medieval festival going on at the time so that was pretty cool. We had a little time to ourselves at each of the stopping points. Lunch was traditional Portuguese food. It was very good and plenty of food. I would recommend the tour.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed your day exploring Guimarães and Braga with us. It's great to know you appreciated the relaxed pace of the tour, the balance between guided visits and free time, and the traditional Portuguese lunch. It sounds like your visit coincided with the medieval festival, making the experience even more special! Thank you for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back soon for more unforgettable experiences in Portugal! — Gonçalo Castanho, Cooltour Oporto
Being able to get to visit both of these interesting sites was a great experience. We were in Porto for a month and was glad to be able to venture further.
Thank you so much for your kind review! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed exploring Guimarães and Braga during your stay in Porto. It's wonderful to know the tour gave you the opportunity to discover more of Northern Portugal beyond the city. We hope you had a fantastic month in Porto and that we'll have the pleasure of welcoming you back for more unforgettable experiences in the future! — Gonçalo Castanho, Cooltour Oporto
A great experience! Our guide, Miguel, was fantastic and very communicative— would highly recommend the tour.
Thank you so much, Hannah! We're delighted to hear you had such a great experience exploring Guimarães and Braga with Miguel. He'll be very happy to know you appreciated his communication and guidance throughout the day. Thank you for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back soon for more unforgettable experiences in Portugal! — Gonçalo Castanho, Cooltour Oporto
We had a great day on this tour: Braga and Guimaraes are interesting with lots of history. Our tour guide Alex was very friendly, knowledgeable, and able to answer all our questions.
Thank you so much for your kind review! We're delighted to hear you had such a great day exploring Guimarães and Braga with Alex. He'll be very happy to know you appreciated his friendly approach, knowledge, and the time he took to answer all your questions. Thank you for choosing to travel with us, and we hope to welcome you back soon for more unforgettable experiences in Portugal! — Gonçalo Castanho, Cooltour Oporto
