Braga and Guimarães Historical and Cultural Tour from Porto
Description
We may start visiting the very traditional and interesting Braga City Centre. It has the oldest Cathedral in Portugal. The first one to be built in the country. After this visit, we will head to the breathtaking and famous place, Bom Jesus do Monte and its stately sanctuary. On our way to Guimarães, enjoy a very tasty and typical lunch in a highly recommended restaurant. Arriving Guimarães prepare youself to be amazed by unforgetable afternoon in the majestic Castle and the stunning Duques de Bragança Palace, including visiting each room, full of the most historical details. Afterwards you will be able to enjoy Guimarães centre free time to shopping, walk around and taste some typical pastry. After some free time in this beautiful place, we will drive you back to Porto, full of new memories to remember and stories to tell. The estimated time of arrival to Porto is around 06:00 PM. Please note that the tour will be conducted in maximum 8-seater vehicles for your convenience.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Travelers will explore the legendary Guimarães Castle, considered the birthplace of Portugal. Accompanied by your guide, you'll walk through the castle walls and towers while learning about the early formation of the Portuguese nation and the role this fortress played in its history.
Travelers will visit the impressive Palace of the Dukes of Bragança, a 15th-century noble residence built in medieval style. Inside, you'll explore its grand halls, historic artifacts, and period furniture while your guide shares stories about the influential Bragança dynasty and the role the palace played in Portuguese history.
At the Bom Jesus do Monte Sanctuary, travelers will explore one of Portugal’s most iconic pilgrimage sites, known for its monumental baroque stairway and panoramic views over Braga. You’ll also have the option to ride the historic water-powered funicular, the oldest of its kind still in operation. Your guide will explain the site's religious and architectural significance, while allowing time to walk the grounds or enjoy the peaceful setting.
Lunch in Braga and Visit the Historical City Center
Travelers will visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Sameiro, one of the most important Marian pilgrimage sites in Portugal. Perched on a hilltop with breathtaking views of Braga and the surrounding countryside, this neoclassical sanctuary offers a peaceful and spiritual atmosphere. Your guide will share insights into the site's religious significance and history while allowing time to explore the grounds or reflect in the serene setting.
The Jardim de Santa Bárbara is one of the most charming spots in Braga, located next to the historic Archbishop’s Palace. During the visit, travelers will have the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of this historic garden and, if they wish, enjoy a short coffee break at one of the nearby cafés, taking in the peaceful and picturesque surroundings.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- A minimum of 3 people is required to conduct the tour
Reviews(38)
This was a great tour! Antonio was great adding history as well as current information. We had plenty of time to enjoy all the sites and being a private tour made it even better because we were able to set our own pace! Definitely do this tour!!!
Afonso is a great guide, We had an amazing day, learned a lot about both cities as well as Portugal. He is very passionate about his job and culture. Extremely recommended!
Well worth it! We ended up having to get a private tour, as not enough people signed up for the regular tour. I would highly recommend spending a bit more for this experience. Our guide Nuno was the best guide we have ever had. It was a very rainy day, and he picked us up at the door at every location throughout the day. He spoke at length about history, which we loved. He is very friendly, and he speaks perfect English. Bravo! A wonderful experience.
David is extremely knowledgeable about the area and its history. Thoroughly enjoyed the entire trip. Make sure that this is part of your trip to Porto and Braga. Loved it!
Beautiful visit with our guide thiago who knew how to make us appreciate the beautiful cities of braga and marshmallows. The breakfast sharing together was very nice and full of flavors.
Maravilhoso tour! The cities of Braga and Guimarães are beautiful. The Nuno guide is very friendly, knows a lot about the region and tells several important facts about the history of the cities. My family and I highly recommend this trip.
Nuno is a great tour guide, extremely knowledgeable and loving his country and it shows throughout the tour. We had a wonderful time touring Braga and Guimaraes with Nuno and I highly recommend touring these towns with Nuno!
Julio is an incredible guide. He is very knowledgeable and personable. We enjoyed both cities. The history is fascinating and it is all beautiful. I highly recommend this tour.
Tiago is a very good guide in French. He is familiar with the history of Portugal and the region. He also knows the right places: restaurant, bar, ... We had a great day with him.
We enjoyed the Braga and Guimaraes tour. Nuno was fabulous tour guide! This tour covered everything we wanted to see without the hassles of trying to figure out how to get around. With a small group, this allowed us to explore many sites independently. We all set a time to meet at a certain spot. Highly recommend this small group tour! It is more flexible than with a large group. Many thanks to Nuno!
