Love Porto and Guimaraes (we stayed in the Pousada, which I would highly recommend) and now want to go back to see the other places you suggest! This is a delightful and convenient way to experience the Douro Valley. Its location is also what made the city important in the trade and production of Port wine. Since youre there you should see both. Do the timetables stay the same all year? For those looking to experience a more modern side of the city, there are lots of trendy cafes and restaurants to explore. Alternatively, you can go up via a small cable car. Day Trip Lisbon to Porto: Self-Drive. Distance from Porto: 39 miles/62 km. Youll find two plazas connected by covered walkways. Today, the city center is a Unesco World Heritage Site, where tidy rows of colorful buildings line the streets, and slender laneways lead to cobbled squares and alfresco cafes. Listen to some Fado and do not forget to try the delicious food atSete Restaurant. to get trip updates and message other travellers. The best way to explore the town is on foot to stroll along the narrow cobbled streets, stopping at charming street cafs that offer great coffee and delicious freshly baked pastry. Since you're doing a day trip to Porto from Lisbon, chances are you'll be taking a 6:00, 7:00, or 8:00 pm train or bus back. Portugal is the destination with everything. However, lovely Amarante is best done by bus so I have begrudgingly included that. Additionally, theres a nice childrens playground in the park with a typical snack bar serving ice cream, coffee, and light bites that looks out over one of the beautiful bridges crossing the Nabo River running through town. Uphill from the center are the well-preserved ruins of the imposing Castelo de Guimares; nearby is the Palace of the Dukes of Bragana, which showcases 15th-century decor and manicured grounds. The University of Coimbra was established in 1290 and to this day attracts many Portuguese as well as international students. This Galician capital is important for religious reasons, since St. James is purported to have been buried there, but it has a lot more to help . Consider hiring a car for the day and nominating a designated driver for full flexibility. No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission. Day trips from Porto. Guimares and Braga 34 miles (55 kilometers) from Porto Discover Portugal's architectural and religious heritage with a guided trip to Guimares, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its 10th-century castle and the . There are some nice sea views to be had from here, although the fort itself is not very exciting inside. You can visit the Museum of Douro in Peso da Regua, ride the Douro historical train, take a river cruise on the Douro river, departing from Pinho or Pipadouro, and explore some of the cute Douro villages such as Pinho, Lamego, Peso da Regua, or Foz do Tua. From there, it's another 30-minute bus ride to Regua. Some may be obvious but you never know. Coimbra is also the ideal spot to try typical Portuguese conventual sweets, made with sugar and plenty of egg yolks. So without further ado, let's dive in and discover all the best day trips you can take from Porto! So, its definitely worth a day trip from Porto by train. Coimbra is home to one of the oldest universities in the world, the University of Coimbra. How to eat well, go sightseeing, get around and even take a day trip for under 300 euros. In addition to the towns mentioned in this article, the following are also good day trips from Porto. There are several interestingthings to do in Coimbra. Amarante is called home of the artists as several early 20th-century Portuguese artists were born there, including the popular expressionist, Antonio Carneiro. One of the best day trips from Porto by train you can do is to Portugals Venice Aveiro. If you don't have much time, a Porto day trip from Lisbon is definitely possible in a single day. Even better than getting there by car or bus, Vila Nova de Gaia is a short 5-minute trek across the Dom Luis I Bridge to the other side of the Douro River, making it one of the best day trips from Porto. The restaurant O Cais is a great option for a place to eat in town. So much to see in Portugal. Thus. A 3-hour round trip from Rgua to Tua and back. A more realistic day trip (or trips) is the sights to the west of Lisbon, especially Sintra. The train leaves from Braga train station and takes about 1 hour to get back to So Bento Train Station in Porto. 2.8 Chill out at Congida Beach. Fastest journey around 5h43. 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Camera To capture all the amazing sights and memories you make on your day trips from Porto. The site is among the best preserved ruins from the Roman Empire. Stroll through the narrow streets of the Coimbra city center and appreciate the street art. 2.2 Do a wine tasting & winery tour. Explore Porto by tram. While the average ticket price for this route costs around $11 (9), you can find the cheapest train ticket for as low . A big thank you to the other bloggers who kindly sent me their excellent tips. The best way to get to Costa Nova from Porto is to take the train to Aveiro, which takes approximately 1 hour, and then take the bus to Costa Nova, which takes another 30 minutes. 2.3 Go for a Douro River cruise. The symmetrical spires of the Nossa Senhora da Consolao and medieval arches of Padro do Salado add architectural interest to the cityscape. Obviously, visiting one of the many vineyards for a (port) wine tasting, and buying the bestPortuguese souvenir(aka port wine) is the number one thing to do in the region. Plus, you wont have to worry about a thing! Before heading back to Porto, you can dine at riverfront spots in Pinho like Veladouro. The beautiful village of Costa Nova is mostly known in Portugal because of its colorful striped houses. Before we get into the day trips from Porto, its worth grasping a bit about public transport in Porto. The cost of this train is 10 one way. Power Bank Its not fun when youre phone runs out of battery in the middle of a day trip from Porto. Amarante is also home to a few good restaurants like Adega Regional Quelha, which serves up local specialties like smoked meats and the popular vinho Verde grown from its Terras de Basto wine region. You can find her on Instagram @herwanderfulworld. There is no direct train or bus, meaning that with public transport it would take over 2 hours to wait for connections. You can be saving yourself some dollars if you only have time to do 1 or 2 day trips from Porto. After the dissolution of the monasteries in 1834, an extravagant neo-Manueline palace was built. Even more, traveling by train or bus is also very affordable. To make this a more comprehensive list of possible day trips, I roped in some other travel bloggers to give me their ideas too. For the rest of the day, the beach (Praia de Espinho) fills up with locals enjoying the golden sand and the waves. Summer is the best time to visit Vila do Conde to relax on its sandy beaches, swim in the refreshing sea, and enjoy fresh seafood. By train to Faro, bus to Seville. By car, its a 1 hour and 15-minute drive on toll roads A4 and A24. Guimares - 55 km or approximately 45 minutes. Getting to Guimares. This part of Portugal, although famous and a UNESCO World Heritage site, still does not attract masses of tourists to make it overcrowded.It is a quiet and enchanting area, where terraced hills flow through one another to create a bucolic but perfectly ordered scene giving a little insight into the ingenious human work . This sanctuary is located on the slopes of Mount Espinho. Just over 100km away on the border with Spain, this is the biggest national park in Portugal. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'herwanderfulworld_com-sky-3','ezslot_21',146,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-herwanderfulworld_com-sky-3-0');In addition to enjoying the beach, there are also other attractions in Matosinhos that you can explore. The town of Matosinhos isnt the most scenic place, Ill be honest. Here's my complete guide to the best things to do in Obidos on a day trip from Porto. This is the perfect area to stop for lunch. / The Duoro Valley. Tickets cost around 3.25 one-way and can be purchased online or through the Comboios de Portugal's website (which is the Portuguese rail company). It is home to the magnificent Santa Cruz Cathedral, the Royal Palace of Alcacova, and an opulent Joanine Library the inspiration for the library at Hogwarts. And yet, theres a whole world of intrigue just beyond the city. Alternatively, grab some pastel de nata and a takeaway cup of coffee at Pastelaria A Ritinha and have a picnic at one of the benches at Jardim da Praa do Municpio. In the middle is a stop at Pinho. And with so many charming villages and towns located nearby, there is no shortage of things to see and do. It makes a great day trip from Porto, although it's too far for a day trip from Lisbon. 7) Povoa de Varzim (beach trip) (metro) Below is an interactive map of the locations of the day trips from Porto. However, there is a lot more to discover. 2 h 30 min. 2. But thats not all. Braga - 54 km or approximately 45 minutes. Jeronimos Monastery. Entrance is free and visitors can light a candle in the large church or simply marvel at the intricately carved statues and art that decorate this pilgrimage location. Step 2, take a bus from Faro to Seville. You can also marvel at the intricate layout of this planned city by starting in the town square, Praa da Repblica, and working your way up and down the gridded streets. There are numerous hiking trails, Roman ruins and sparkling waterfalls. The city itself has plenty to offer as well, from the city centers Praa da Repblica to the nearby Casa do Raio, which is a beautiful palace turned museum covered in gorgeous purple-blue azulejos. Theres also a really good costume museum (Museu do Traje). The journey takes just over an hour and a return ticket costs 7. However, the locals decided to paint the boats in vivid colors and created the biggest tourist attraction in Aveiro and which has put the town on the map. The best way to get to Amarante is to catch the bus from the Rodonorte bus station in Porto. The forest spans an area of 105 hectares, and is full of lots of beautiful corners just waiting to be discovered. The waves have been known to reach up to 100 feet at times. This train ride is famous for its scenic views of Douro river. Caroline Rowe, Pack The Suitcases, 2016-2023. We will be in Porto and I had originally planned to train to Lisbon for 3 nights with a day trip to Sintra one of the days. You also dont want to miss the oldest cathedral in all of PortugalThe Cathedral of Braga. Nearby is Soajo, with its rows of espigueiros little granite buildings that were elevated to keep water and mice out of the local grain supply. With an entrance fee of only 2, theres no excuse not to pop in for a visit. All the while following the river and having mesmerizing views of the hills with vineyards. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'herwanderfulworld_com-leader-2','ezslot_9',135,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-herwanderfulworld_com-leader-2-0');The park covers an area of nearly 70,000 hectares and is home to an abundance of wildlife, including Wolves, Eagles, and Wild Boar. Day trip from Porto to Viana do Castelo. If youre campervanning in Portugal, you can even stay overnight at one of the wine estates (dont drink and drive!). 15. Day 1: Arrive in Lisbon and take the train to Porto: Porto: Day 2: Visit the Douro Valley for a wine tasting: Porto: Day 3: Enjoy a walking tour of Porto - Take the train to Lisbon: Lisbon: Day 4: Explore the sites and scenic vistas of Lisbon: Lisbon: Day 5: Catch the train to Algarve - Enjoy a sunset on the beach: Lagos: Day 6: Discover . This beautiful UNESCO-listed wine region is located about 60 miles (97 km) from Porto and is most famous for its ancient cultivation of port wine grapes, though they also produce grapes for regular table wine. So I wanted to share with you some of my favourite day trips from Porto by train (and a few by bus) that Ive enjoyed. . 2.2 Day trip to Braga from Porto. You are going to love spending time in Nazare one of the best places to day a trip from Porto. Select a pickup point. Praia do Forno and Praia Azul are the most popular beaches in Vila do Conde. This can impact your experience and may mean that the church is inaccessible. We briefly spent some time in Lisbon and it just wasnt enough! A train from Porto stops in Pinho, from where a number of wineries, such as Quinta das Carvalhas, are accessible by foot. Cant wait to see everything in the area and Ill definitely be taking the train. Day Trips from Porto: Douro Valley. Book the Arouca Bridge and/or Paiva Walkways + Aveiro and Costa Nova tour from Porto. The quaint Linha do Douro in northern Portugal doesnt really get you anywhere. One of the best-known views is of the river with the So Gonalo bridge and the church of Igreja de So Gonalo. This is a pleasant and flat stroll along the coastline using a wooden boardwalk. Douro Valley - the most beautiful day trip from Porto (1-2 hours journey time) 2. The capital of the Port wine region is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. To get to Matosinhos from Porto, you can take the local 500 bus, which is near the Sao Bento Train station, or take the metro line A. Moliceros are colourful boats that are similar to the iconic gondolas you see in Venice. It almost has a dreamlike quality to it, making it a perfect day trip from bustling Porto. We want. And you get a sneak peak into many of Porto's highlights. Spend the first half of the day in Pinhao - take a Rabelo boat ride and/or tour a winery, have lunch. 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