Porto: Santiago de Compostela and Valença do Minho Day Trip
Description
Cross the border into Spain and retrace part of St James Way – a sacred route followed by centuries of pilgrims – on a visit to Santiago de Compostela from Porto. On this memorable day trip, explore Compostela's famous cathedral and the city's UNESCO World-Heritage-listed Old Town. Back in Portugal, pay a visit to Valença do Minho, dominated with a fortress of two towers and a double great wall projected in the Vouban style during the return ride to Porto.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Cross the border between Portugal and Spain to reach the city of Santiago de Compostela.
Discover one of the routes that take pilgrims for centuries to the city of Santiago de Compostela, the famous Camino de Santiago. Seen as a kind of affirmation of the Catholic faith and devotion of those who walk it, this road connects various points of Europe to this Spanish city. An incredible network that serves as a pilgrimage to the sanctuary of the apostle Santiago in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, Galicia.
Finally, we can enjoy the stunning Santiago de Compostela Cathedral - the ultimate goal! - for many pilgrims from all over the world. In Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque style, this Cathedral is a true landmark, not only in Galicia, but also throughout Spain.
Have free time to enjoy your lunch at the historic area of Santiago de Compostela. This typical area, full of history and traditions, is considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
You just had a great experience in Santiago. Now say goodbye to Spain and return to Portugal: there are still plenty of places to discover on this full day tour! We will head towards Valença do Minho, an iconic city in northern Portugal of a unique and respected work of art: the Heart of Viana, in Portuguese filigree. This "Heart of Viana" is the true medal of Portugal and has a strong importance in the region of Minho. A golden heart that will surprise you.
Discover the city's biggest tourist attraction: the Fortress, built to protect the village from Spanish attacks. An impressive medieval structure with two strong towers and a large double wall designed in the Vauban style, a military architect. You will have enough time to explore the incredible Fortress before safely returning to Porto. Take as many photos as you want and save this tour forever in your mind!
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
- There is no bathroom on board the bus
- Dress code is smart casual
- The tours may be changed without prior notice
- A moderate amount of walking is involved
Reviews(191)
We always use Viator when we travel to visit popular places. Santiago de Compostela was no exception. Philip, our guide, gave us so much information and helped us find places of interest to us. Such a great day.
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you had such a great day in Santiago de Compostela. We'll be sure to share your kind words with Philip, who will be pleased to know that his knowledge and recommendations made your visit even more enjoyable. We hope to welcome you again on another tour soon!
Manuel was a fantastic guide. Very informative and helpful. Our guide really helped bring it all alive for us.
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that Manuel made your experience so enjoyable. We'll be sure to share your kind words with him—he'll be thrilled to know that his knowledge and enthusiasm helped bring the tour to life for you. We hope to welcome you again on another tour in Portugal!
Really fun trip with Francisco. The large amount of free time to explore was really appreciated. The van was also very comfortable which isn't always the case with all tours. Highly recommend this tour.
Thank you for your kind feedback. We are delighted to hear that you had a fun and enjoyable trip with Francisco. It is great to know that you appreciated both the free time to explore and the comfort of the vehicle. Thank you for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you again on another tour in the future.
Excellent guide . His name is Bruno. Too many expectations on been on time for the mass and the real time to enter the church is 10 am not 12m.
Thank you for your feedback. We are pleased to hear that you enjoyed Galicia and that Bruno contributed positively as a guide. We also take note of your comment regarding timing and coordination for scheduled visits, as this is valuable information for improving our planning and communication. We appreciate you sharing your experience and hope to welcome you again in the future.
The tour was very informative and made interesting by our excellent guide Paul he was friendly and knowledgeable
Thank you very much for your kind feedback. We’re delighted to hear that you found the tour informative and enjoyable, and that Paul’s friendliness and knowledge made the experience even better.
Trip was pleasant Tour guide Diego - very accommodating and friendly Gave good explanation about the history
Thank you for your feedback. We’re very pleased to hear that you had a pleasant experience and that Diego made the tour enjoyable with his friendly approach and clear historical explanations. We will be sure to pass along your kind words to him.
Great tour very interesting insisted into the history of Portugal. Also watching pilgrims finish was inspiring. Our guide Suzana was great she pointed out many interesting historical and relevant facts. Worth doing. Downside pickup point not clearly explained. There was a lot of confusion as a number of tours were leaving from the same location.
Thank you for your feedback. We’re glad to hear you found the tour interesting and inspiring, and that Suzana helped bring the history of Portugal to life with her insights. We’re sorry for the confusion at the pickup point and understand how that could have caused stress, especially with multiple tours departing from the same location. Your comments are very helpful and will be taken into account to improve our communication and organization.
Christian our guide was excellent. He’s knowledgeable, funny and very patient. Enjoyed talking with him.
Thank you for your feedback! We’re delighted to hear that Christian made your experience so enjoyable with his knowledge, humour, and patience. We’ll be very happy to pass your kind words on to him.
Frank our guide was great, very knowledgeable, friendly and helpful . it was a really good Day Trip
Thank you for your feedback! We’re delighted to hear that Frank made your day trip so enjoyable with his knowledge and friendliness. We hope to welcome you again soon!
Highly recommend this tour. Our guide Miguel was awesome. Friendly and knowledgeable Santiago was beautiful. The cathedral was breathtaking
Hi there, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you had such an epic experience on your day trip, and that Santiago de Compostela made such a strong impression — the cathedral truly is breathtaking. We’re especially pleased to know that Miguel contributed so positively to your day. His friendliness, knowledge, and dedication are a great asset to our team, and we will be sure to pass along your kind words. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back on another tour in the future!
