I’ve been finding more and more value in exploring a particular region of a country. This method of travel usually has me choosing one or two (or three, pending length of stay) “home bases” and taking day excursions from there. I find it allows for a slower-paced vacation with more opportunity for a deeper experience. Don’t get me wrong, it is hard to plan a trip to a new place and “limit” myself to one area. I am definitely in the mindset of “who knows when I’ll be back, there are so many other places on my list.” At the end of the day, though, as much as it is an adventure, it is a vacation. I want to enjoy my time, relax, eat good food, experience something new and/or different, and maybe venture off the beaten path.
Long intro short – here are some ideas for day trips from Porto, if you are looking to focus on exploring some of northern Portugal.
The first 3 on the list are places I’ve been, the last 4 are places on my list for next time! Some of these places are over 100 km from Porto; fortunately, Portugal has great transportation, allowing these to be potential day trips.
Summary of Day Trips from Porto
Day Trip Idea 1: Foz do Douro
Where: It is the oceanfront municipality west of Porto, along the Douro River.
Why go & what to do: gorgeous sandy beaches, local restaurants & bars, covered market Mercado da Foz, art galleries, shopping and beautiful sunset views!
How to get there: it’s a super easy and quick trip to Foz from Porto. The most fun way is to take Tram line 1 from Alfândega. These are the old trams for which Portugal is so famous. It’s a bit of a bumpy ride, but definitely a fun experience. These can get super busy in high season, so going early is better – definitely try to get a seat, there are views along the Douro for most of the trip. Alternatively, bus line 500 starts at Praça da Liberdade, just a short walk from Porto São Bento station.
Day Trip Idea 2: Guimarães
Where: a city about an hour northeast of Porto
Why go & what to do: Guimarães is considered to be the birthplace of Portugal, as the first king, Afonso Henriques, was born here. The city center itself is a UNESCO heritage site for its authentic and well-preserved buildings that display architecture through the ages. There is a castle, museums, and art galleries to visit. The city itself is charming and beautiful to wander; it has wonderful landscaping and is blooming everywhere.
How to get there: the bus is faster, but I always prefer trains. From the bus terminal, Porto Gonçalo Cristovão Terminal, take line 500 towards Guimarães. The trip is about 50 minutes, but it only goes a few times a day. Alternatively, the local train from São Bento takes 1 hour and 12 minutes, and leaves every hour.
Day Trip Idea 3: Douro Valley
Where: a region directly east of Porto
Why go & what to do/see: the Douro Valley is the world’s oldest demarcated wine region. It is also home to Portugal’s Port Wine. The region is stunning, with the river cutting through the valley, the hillbanks covered in green. Of course, the popular activity here is wine and port tasting. There are numerous large-scale operations and family-owned ones, each with a story and a unique product.
How to get there: there are a few options, the easiest would be to book a day tour, so that transport and vineyard visits/tastings are organized. You can certainly go on your own, though driving after drinking isn’t the best. There are a few train stations in the bigger towns, but then you’d have to get to the vineyards.
Day Trip Idea 4: Braga
Where: about an hour northeast of Porto and north of Guimarães
Why go & what to see/do: Bom Jesus de Monte complex, Braga Cathedral with a sacred art museum and the Gothic-style Kings’ Chapel, Archbishop’s Palace and Santa Barbara Garden
How to get there: There are many options for the bus with different companies; the journey is about 1 hour. The train from Porto São Bento is also about an hour. It is another local line, with trains leaving about every hour.
Day Trip Idea 5: Aveiro
Where: about 45 minutes south of Porto along the coast
Why go & what to see/do: Aveiro is considered the Venice of Portugal, for it is situated on the Ria de Aveiro lagoon and is a system of canals navigated by colourful boats. The city has a lot of colourful Art Nouveau buildings and is known to have a fun seaside vibe.
How to get there: You can take trains directly to Aveiro from Porto, but some of the trains to Lisbon also stop at Aveiro. The bus is also an option, but it doesn’t run as frequently and takes about 10 minutes longer.
Day Trip Idea 6: Viana do Castelo
Where: north of Porto on the coast
Why go & what to see/do: overlooking the city is Monte de Santa Luzia, with the Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus sanctuary that was inspired by the Sacré-Cœur in Paris, Praça da República, Gil Eannes Hospital Ship Museum, coastline walks & beaches
How to get there: again, bus or train are your options (unless you have a car). The trip is about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Buses seem to run about every 2 hours. Direct trains seem to run every 4 hours, but there are connection options that only add 15-30 more minutes.
Day Trip Idea 7: Coimbra
Where: south and slightly east of Porto, not quite halfway between Porto and Lisbon
Why go & what to see/do: it is a hilltop riverside university city, home to the Portuguese-speaking world’s oldest university, dating back to 1290. The university buildings are UNESCO heritage-designated. Explore the botanical gardens, old palace gardens and learn about the Romeo and Juliet-esque star-crossed lovers.
How to get there: buses and trains again! The buses seem to typically take an hour and a half, leaving quite frequently. The trains also leave often, as Coimbra is a stop on the Porto to Lisbon (and Porto to Faro) route.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking to slow down and have a travel base in Portugal, I hope these ideas for day trips from Porto were helpful in your planning!
Let me know if you have any other suggestions that I should add to my list. I’ll be back in Portugal one day to finally explore the last 4 on this list!
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