Porto is one of the most popular travel destinations in Portugal, visited by thousands of tourists every month. Port wine and wine lodges, churches covered in azulejos, a magical bookstore, a lovely old town named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, picturesque winding streets, delicious local cuisine, and pastels de nata… All of that makes Porto a famous travel destination. But what if you would like to be more adventurous and see more than just this city? Keep reading and discover our recommendations for amazing day trips from Porto and explore many scenic places in northern Portugal.
Note. In this post, we focus on day trips from Porto to the lush and green northern Portugal. All mentioned places are located max 1.5h away from Porto, if you’ll be driving by car.
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Day trips from Porto, Portugal
Ponte de Lima
Ponte de Lima is located about 85km from Porto. It’s Portugal’s oldest village, founded in 1125 by Teresa de Leão, the countess of Portugal and the mother of the first king of Portugal – Afonso I.
What is waiting for you in Ponte de Lima? Beautiful stone Ponte Romana bridge behind which lies a fascinating legend, a charming well-preserved old town, beautiful views, and fancy gardens displays. Not that big, yet not that small, and absolutely worth the visit! Without a doubt, it’s one of the best ideas for a scenic day trips from Porto, Portugal!
Travel tip. You can easily connect a trip to Ponte de Lima with a visit to nearby Ponte da Barca.
Ponte da Barca
Ponte da Barca is located about 100km from Porto. It’s a small and truly charming town in Northern Portugal that sits on the banks of the Lima River and at the foot of Peneda-Geres National Park.
Beautiful landscapes, many green areas near the river perfect for relaxing or having a picnic, charming old town with iconic stone medieval bridge and lovely streets perfect to get lost in. Chill vibes, tasty food, and Vinho Verde wine at every step… All of this, and more, can be found there.
Travel tip. You can easily connect a trip to Ponte da Barca with a visit to Ponte de Lima.
Guimaraes
Guimaraes is located about 55km from Porto. This remarkable town is considered the birthplace of the Kingdom of Portugal as it’s a place where Afonso Henrique, the first Portugal king, was born! Guimaraes is full of history, and its streets invite you to take a step back in time, straight to the Middle Ages. For sure, Guimaraes will be one of the most unforgettable day trips from Porto you’ll take!
It’s a pure delight to slowly stroll around Guimaraes old town. Without a doubt, it’s one of the most beautiful and authentic historic centers you’ll find in Portugal. Narrow streets, old stone houses with typical medieval wooden upper parts, vibrant squares, and a well-preserved castle makes an impressive combination. No wonder Guimaraes Old Town was classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site! We think it’s one of the best places for a day trip from Porto, not to be missed.
Viana do Castelo
Viana do Castelo is located about 75km from Porto, at the mouth of the Lima River. It’s a very enjoyable and interesting coastal city in northern Portugal, and a popular travel destination ready to win your heart.
There you’ll find a charming old town, with many historical buildings, an iconic mountaintop church – Santuario de Santa Luzia, a fascinating Gil Eannes Hospital Ship museum, and even some beaches where you can relax for a moment… All of this makes Viana do Castelo one of the best day trips from Porto, Portugal.
Caminha
Caminha is located about 100km from Porto. It’s a small and pleasant town located at the mouth of the River Minho. It was founded in the 13th century and for hundreds of years played an important military role in defending Portugal’s northern borders.
Caminha is still not a well-known destination, but it has its own charm and for sure offers some proper northern Portugal vibes. Nowadays, it’s slowly becoming a popular spot for today’s invaders – travelers and digital nomads. Apart from the lovely old town full of medieval streets and buildings, there you’ll find stunning landscapes with beaches, mountains, river, ocean, forests…
Travel tip. You can easily connect a trip to Caminha with a visit to Vila Nova de Cerveira and/or Valença do Minho.
Braga
Braga is located about 55km from Porto. It’s one of the oldest cities in Portugal and definitely the most religious one. Thanks to a huge number of churches, as many as 47, Braga is often called the Rome of Portugal. It’s also an important stop for many walking the Camino Portugues. If you are a religious person or a huge fan of churches, you’ll have a blast here and Braga quickly will become one of your favorite day trips from Porto!
But this city has more to offer than just dozens of churches and spiritual experiences. In its old town, you’ll find a building predating Portugal itself! There are as well a lot of streets and squares full of old buildings and historical landmarks. Magnificent viewpoints are waiting just outside the city, mostly from churches like the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus or the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Sameiro).
Vila Nova de Cerveira
Vila Nova de Cerveira, or just Cerveira, is located about 100km from Porto. This small Portuguese town is located on the banks of the River Minho, right across from Spain. Cerveira was named after the deer population that used to inhabit the area (cervos means deer).
Stunning viewpoints with magnificent panoramic views over the area, an iron deer statue that carefully observes the village from above, a huge cerLove swing, a small but charming old town perfect for a lazy stroll, a castle, and a huge weekly Saturday market – Vila Nova de Cerveira has it all. We’re sure that this small town will be one od the most scenic day trips from Porto you’ll take!
Travel tip. You can easily connect a trip to Vila Nova de Cerveira with a visit to Caminha and/or Valença do Minho.
Valenca do Minho
Valenca do Minho, or just Valenca, is located about 115km from Porto on the left bank of the River Minho, right across from Spain. This unique Portuguese fortress town’s history goes back to Roman times, and over the years it played an important military role in defending the Portuguese borders.
Valenca Fortress is without a doubt the most recognizable highlight of the town and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in northern Portugal. Inside, among its narrow stone-paved streets, you’ll find many beautiful old buildings, a few churches, historical landmarks, and of course lots of restaurants and cafes perfect for a short break.
Travel tip. You can easily connect a trip to Valenca with a visit to Caminha and/or Vila Nova de Cerveira.
Peneda-Geres National Park
Peneda-Geres National Park, or just Geres, is the first and only National Park in Portugal. It’s located at its northern end, right on the border with Spain. It consists of four mountain ranges: Peneda, Geres, Soajo, and Amarela. Together with Parque Natural Baixa Limia on the Spanish side, they form a protected territory divided by borders but united by the characteristics of nature and culture. Peneda-Geres is a truly unique and beautiful place in North Portugal, filled with breathtaking landscapes and some tiny medieval villages like Lindoso or Soajo. It’s definitely one of the most scenic day trips from Porto you can take!
Barcelos
Barcelos is located about 60km from Porto. What makes it worth visiting? Barcelos is the birthplace of the famous and colorful Rooster of Barcelos! It’s probably the most recognizable and iconic symbol of Portugal, behind which lies a fascinating and miraculous legend…
There’s also a pleasant old town that has retained some of its medieval vibes. It’s full of charming and well-kept streets that invite for a lazy stroll while admiring buildings dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries. It’s a really cool place to visit near Porto, perfect for a day trip.
Explore local attractions
Day trips from Porto, Portugal – Summing up & our TOP3
Lots of ideas for day trips from Porto, right? You definitely won’t be bored if you’re planning on staying longer in the area and discover the northern part of the country! Enjoy your trips and let us know which villages, towns, and cities you chose to explore.
So far, we’ve spent almost 2 months in the Alto Mingo region, and it quickly became our favorite in Portugal! We loved our trips during which we explored all the mentioned white villages, towns, and natural sites. We stayed there during April & May, so there were no wild crowds and we explored most of the places in peace.
So what are our TOP3 places in Northern Portugal? Guimaraes, Peneda-Geres National Park, and Ponte de Lima.
One more tip. Traveling by car is the best and fastest way of getting from Porto to all the mentioned places. So if you’re not traveling by car, we recommend you rent one via Rental Cars website.
