From Porto: Viana do Castelo Braga and Guimarães Day Tour
Description
This full-day tour offers an unforgettable experience, combining the best of northern Portugal’s history, culture, and natural beauty. From hilltop sanctuaries and historic cities to charming streets and picturesque views, you’ll discover the essence of this remarkable region.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Embark on a fascinating day tour that takes you through the rich history and stunning landscapes of northern Portugal. Your journey begins with a visit to the Sacred Heart Sanctuary in Viana do Castelo, a majestic hilltop church offering breathtaking views of the surrounding region. After taking in the serene atmosphere, you will head to the center of Viana do Castelo, a charming town filled with history and culture. Here, you’ll have free time to explore its cobblestone streets, admire the traditional architecture, and discover the local shops and cafés.
Visit to the Sanctuary of the Sacred Heart in Viana do Castelo, a majestic church perched on top of a hill that offers breathtaking views of the surrounding region. Did you know it was inspired by the Sacré-Cœur in Paris?
From Viana do Castelo, the tour continues to Braga, one of Portugal’s oldest cities, known for its religious significance and beautiful historical sites. A guided tour will introduce you to the city’s stunning landmarks, including its impressive churches and picturesque squares, before giving you some leisure time to explore at your own pace.
Next, you’ll visit the Bom Jesus Sanctuary, an iconic site nestled in the mountains, renowned for its Baroque staircase and incredible views. Take some time to relax and admire the peaceful surroundings before continuing to your final destination
Guimaraes. Often referred to as the birthplace of Portugal, Guimaraes boasts a medieval center with well-preserved architecture and a rich cultural heritage. Here, you’ll enjoy both a guided tour and free time to wander through the historic streets, visit local attractions, and take in the vibrant atmosphere.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(22)
Our tour was bilingual (English/Spanish). Led by Henrique & Alejandre. We had a wonderful experience as both of them are very knowledgeable and kept our bus ride very entertaining. Alejandre led the Spanish group. He made all of us feel included, informed and kept the group engaged. He made our tour fun and prepared us to make the best of our free time and trip. We really enjoyed our tour and are thankful for the great memories.
I would have loved to give a 5 Star review but unfortunately due to one of the tour guides giving us the incorrect meeting location after our free time in Viana Do Castelo we almost missed the bus. Our tour guides were Miguel and Eduardo. There were 4 of us waiting (2 ladies and my husband and I). After 20 minutes of waiting, My husband contacted the tour company via WhatsApp, they contacted the guides, then came to pick us up. Miguel apologized he gave us the incorrect meeting location. Thank goodness the tour company responded to us immediately or else the 4 of us (the 2 ladies were travelling separately) would have been left in Viana do Castelo. Overall the tour was a good balance, just wished it didn’t rain as well.
I chose this tour over others because it included Viana do Castelo rather htan just Braga and Guimaraes, and I am very glad I did. Viana do Castelo is beautiful, particularly the hilltop basilica with incredible views over the ocean! Braga and Guimaraes were also really interesting, though I am glad we had nice weather before an expected heat wave is set to start. Our guide Alexander was very knowledgeable and really informative, telling us a lot about Porto and the surrounding area while en route, in addition to when we were walking around each location.
Thank you very much for your fantastic review! We're so pleased to hear that choosing the tour including Viana do Castelo was the right decision for you. The Sanctuary and its panoramic views are truly one of the highlights of the region, and we're glad you had the chance to enjoy them in good weather. It's also wonderful to know that you enjoyed Braga and Guimarães, and that Alexander's knowledge and insights about Porto and the surrounding region made the journey even more interesting. We hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable experience!
Great experience. Lots to see with knowledgeable guides, Enrique and Maria. Highly recommend this tour company.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you had a great experience and enjoyed discovering so many beautiful places with Henrique and Maria. They'll be very happy to know that their knowledge and enthusiasm helped make your day so enjoyable. We hope to welcome you on another tour with us in the future!
Great opportunity to see 3 cities in the Minho region in a day. Tour guides were informative. It was a large group tour — maybe 40 people. However, tour was well-organized and paced with sufficient free time. The only thing I would change would be less time in Viano, which while lively cathedral and quaint town, not much to see or do, and spend more time at Bom Jesus. That would allow arrival in Braga in time to tour the inside of the Braga se/cathedral which was closed for lunch while we were there. Overall, we very much enjoyed the tour and would recommend.
Thank you for your detailed review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed discovering the Minho region with us and that you found the tour informative, well-organized, and well-paced despite the size of the group. We also appreciate your feedback regarding the time spent at each stop. Finding the right balance between the different destinations is always a challenge, and comments like yours are very valuable as we continue to improve the experience for our guests. We hope to welcome you again on another tour!
A group of about 30-40 rider on a comfortable charter bus to each destination. One guide in English and one guide for Spanish. At each stop the first half of your time is guided walking and sharing the history and significance of the sites. The second half of each stop gives you time to wander around. We did make a short list of 1 or 2 little places we wanted to maybe check out at each stop, like the Lego specialty shop in Viana. The second stops in Braga, gave time for lunch at one of the many cafes you’ll pass. Not a strenuous tour, but a full day with friendly guides and great sights to see.
Thank you for your thoughtful review Kyle! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the balance between the guided visits and the free time at each stop. Our goal is to give our guests the opportunity to learn about the history and culture of each destination while also having time to explore at their own pace. It's great to know you enjoyed discovering places like the LEGO specialty shop in Viana and had the chance to relax over lunch in Braga. We're also pleased that our guides and the overall pace of the tour helped make it an enjoyable day. We hope to welcome you again on another adventure!
Very good, it is great to know the history of the places, see their beauties and know their peculiarities.
Muito obrigado pela sua avaliação! Ficamos muito felizes por saber que gostou da experiência e que a história, a beleza e as particularidades de Viana do Castelo tornaram a visita ainda mais especial. Esperamos voltar a recebê-lo(a) numa próxima oportunidade para descobrir mais lugares fascinantes. Até breve!
Our guides, Carlos and Nunu, and our driver Carlos have been amazing. They took us to amazing places, filling us with a wealth of information about each place we visited. We learned a lot about the history of Portugal in general, and the cities we have visited. We fell in love with Braga, and felt a spiritual connection with St Luisa and Bom Jesus sanctuaries. We had a rich and fulfilling day thanks to Carlos, Nunu and Carlos! Thank you all!
Thank you very much for your review and for your appreciation on our team! We are thrilled to know that your tour to Viana do Castelo, Braga and Guimarães was such a pleasant trip. We hope you took some amazing memories from this tour and also from Portugal with you! We look forward to having you back again on your next visit!
This was amazing trip. The tour guides were very knowledgable. Bus driver was also professional. Than you.
Thank you for your kind words. We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the trip and that our guides’ knowledge and our driver’s professionalism contributed to a great experience. We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you again on another tour soon!
The guides were fantastic, knowledgeable & humorous. The day worked like a clockwork.
In the first place, we would like to thank you for placing your trust in Buendía to carry out your activity in the destination. Thank you for booking with us. We are delighted to know that the guides were fantastic, knowledgeable, and humorous, and that the day ran like clockwork. We truly appreciate your feedback. Kind regards, Buendía Team.
