Porto is not only a fantastic holiday destination in its own right, but also an ideal gateway for discovering the diverse landscapes and rich history of northern Portugal. Using the city's excellent transport network, a remarkable variety of destinations are accessible as enjoyable day trips.

For history and culture, you can travel to the historic cities of Guimarães, the nation's birthplace, or Braga, its grand religious centre. To the south lies the charming city of Aveiro, notable for its network of canals plied by colourful Moliceiro boats.

For spectacular natural scenery, the terraced vineyards of the Douro Valley offer an unforgettable experience, which can be explored by train, river cruise, or car. This region's coastline, the Costa Verde, also offers a completely different landscape, from the famous striped houses of Costa Nova to the traditional beach towns of Vila do Conde and Espinho.

This range of destinations means there is a perfect day trip for every interest, whether you want to explore medieval castles, sample regional wines, relax on a golden beach, or simply immerse yourself in Portuguese culture. This guide will provide a detailed overview of the best day trips from Porto, with practical travel information to help you choose the ideal excursions for your holiday.
Related articles: Porto introduction - 1 week in Porto

Braga is the religious centre of Portugal and is a fascinating city.

Planning your trip from Porto can be exciting, but the sheer number of potential day trips can feel overwhelming. To help you decide, here is a summary of the most popular destinations, each offering a unique glimpse into the beauty of Northern Portugal.

Guimarães: Known to the Portuguese as the "birthplace of the nation," Guimarães is one of Northern Portugal's most enchanting towns. It exudes medieval charm, with traditional houses lining winding streets that lead up to an ancient castle and an austere Gothic palace. A favourite day trip for most visitors, Guimarães can be fully explored in about three hours. A direct train from Porto makes the journey simple, taking approximately 60 minutes.

Braga: As Portugal's historic religious heart, Braga is home to a stunning variety of grand churches, including the country's oldest cathedral. Beyond its spiritual significance, the city boasts a beautiful centre with bustling shopping streets and an authentic Portuguese atmosphere. A trip to Braga is often paired with a visit to the nearby Bom Jesus do Monte, famous for its magnificent Baroque stairway. Expect to spend four to five hours sightseeing, especially if including Bom Jesus. Like Guimarães, Braga is connected to Porto by a direct 60-minute train ride.

Aveiro: A once important port city that was built around a network of canals. While it has a pretty fishing quarter and several historic buildings, the main draw for most visitors is a relaxing canal tour in a traditional moliceiro boat. Aveiro itself can be seen in a couple of hours, making it perfect to combine with a trip to nearby Costa Nova (8km west) to admire its iconic, colourful striped beach houses. A direct train connects Porto to Aveiro in about 60 minutes.

The Douro Valley: The picturesque heart of Portugal's wine country, where vine-covered hills roll down to the slow-flowing Douro River. This vast region is dotted with towns and villages, with Peso da Régua and Pinhão being the most popular bases for tourists. Lying 100km east of Porto, the Douro Valley is best experienced on a full-day boat tour, by taking the scenic Linha do Douro railway, or by driving the breathtaking N222 road.

Matosinhos: For the best sandy beach easily accessible from Porto, head to Matosinhos. Reachable via Porto's metro, this modern town is the city's favourite coastal escape. While the town centre is functional rather than beautiful, the fantastic coastline is perfect for a day on the beach or a seaside stroll.

Lamego: For a taste of authentic Portugal off the beaten path, consider the delightful town of Lamego. Its Baroque stairway is equally as impressive as the Bom Jesus do Monte (in Braga) and there is an ancient castle, but the real appeal of Lamego is its calm and authentic Portuguese atmosphere.

Other Notable Day Trips
Coimbra - Famous for its historic university, Coimbra offers many sights but is a long journey from Porto. It is best experienced with an overnight stay.
Vila do Conde - A pretty riverside town that also boasts pristine beaches, offering a mix of relaxation and charm.
Viana do Castelo - This historic shipbuilding city on the Rio Lima is rarely visited by foreign tourists, making it a rewarding destination for those who make the effort.
Ponte de Lima - A delightful and incredibly picturesque village, considered one of the oldest in Portugal.
Povoa de Varzim: A modern beach resort town that is a favourite holiday destination for the Portuguese.

To help you visualize your options, the map below pinpoints each destination. You'll find the most popular day trips marked in yellow, and our favourite off-the-beaten-path locations in green.

Popular day trips 1) Braga 2) Guimarães 3) Douro Valley 4) Aveiro 5) Matosinhos 6) Coimbra
Lesser-known day trips: 7) Lamego 8) Vila do Conde 9) Viana do Castelo 10) Ponte de Lima 11) Espinho 12) Barcelos 13) Povoa de Varzim

Links to in depth guides
1) Braga
2) Guimarães
3) Douro Valley
4) Aveiro and Costa Nova
5) Matosinhos
6) Coimbra
7) Lamego
8) Vila do Conde
9) Viana do Castelo
10) Ponte de Lima
11) Povoa de Varzim (beach trip) (metro)

Guimarães is the oldest city of Portugal and the best day trip from Porto

With so many possible destinations, it can be a little overwhelming to identify the best day trips and compile a sensible order to visit them. The following is our suggested order, and is how we have shown the region to friends and family:
1) Guimarães 2) Braga 3) Douro Valley 4) Aveiro 5) Lamego 6) Vila do Conde
All of these day trips can be reached using public transport (train or bus).
Advice: Before embarking on day trips from Porto, plan at least two days to explore the city.
Related articles: 2 days in Porto

Vila do Conde combines a delightful town with great beaches

Both Viana do Castelo and Coimbra are major cities and are a comparatively long distance from Porto. They can be visited as day trips using public transport, but due to the time travelling and the number of tourist attractions, we would recommend spending a night in each.
Our advice: Viana do Castelo is a wonderful city, but is almost unknown by foreign visitors. If you wish to escape the tourist masses, this is the city to head too.
Related articles: Viana do Castelo - Coimbra guide

Santuário de Santa Luzia, Viana do Castelo

A rental car allows more of the region to be explored, and can also combine multiple destinations in a single day.

Our suggested order for day trips with a rental car is:
1) Guimarães 2) Braga 3) Douro Valley and Lamego 4) Viana do Castelo 5) Aveiro and Costa Nova 6) Ponte de Lima and Ponte da Barca 7) The upper Minho (Monção, Valença and Cerveira)

Advice: A rental car is not needed while exploring the cities of Porto, Braga or Guimarães; consider renting it just for the time when you will use it.

Guimarães is considered as the birthplace of Portugal

The northwestern coast of Portugal offers dramatic scenery, beautiful beaches and traditional resort towns. If you wish for a day trip from Porto which combines beach time with a characterful resort town, consider these locations:
1) Vila do Conde 2) Miramar 3) Espinho 4) Povoa de Varzim
Advice: Matosinhos is the largest and most popular beach close to Porto, but it is located near a major port and the cruise terminal. The beach is good, and the sea waters are clean, but its natural setting is very poor.
Related articles: Porto beach guide - Vila do Conde - Miramar - Espinho - Povoa de Varzim

Praia de Brito, Espinho

Organised tours are ideal for visitors who are limited for time, as they often combine multiple destinations in one day. The other advantage is that they provide a knowledgeable guide and eliminate the hassle of public transport.

Generally, the standard of tours in Portugal has greatly improved, and now cater for more worldly and clued-up tourists.
Over the last few years we have worked with Getyourguide.com, and some of their best tours from Porto include:

The following section provides a short overview of each of the day trip destinations

Guimarães is a charming and historic city, which is regarded by the Portuguese as the birthplace of their country.

This ancient city was the first capital of Portugal and was where the first king of Portugal (Afonso Henriques 1109-1185) was born.

The early Portuguese dynasty was ruled from the ancient castle that stands at the northern side of Guimarães, while the close by is the Paço dos Duques de Bragança (Palace of the Dukes of Braganza), an imposing medieval palace.

The historic centre of Guimarães is a joy to explore, as it is filled with traditional houses and characterful plazas. After visiting the historic sights, you could take the cable car to the top of Monte da Penha (Penha Hill), which provides pleasant hiking routes and stunning panoramic views of the city.
Guimarães is connected to Porto by a direct train service (1h15min, €7.10 return)
Related articles: Guimarães Introduction - Porto to Guimarães - Guimarães day trip guide

The sombre Duques de Bragança palace dates from the 15th century

Braga is the third-largest city of Portugal and the religious centre of the country.

The city’s extensive religious heritage is reflected in the diverse selection of magnificent churches and ornate religious buildings, among them the oldest cathedral in Portugal. There is a lot to see and do in Braga, and though many of the tourist attractions are of a religious nature, it makes for an enjoyable day trip nonetheless.

Close to Braga is one of the most iconic monuments of northern Portugal; the Bom Jesús do Monte Church. This church is positioned at the top of a steep hill, and is reached via a decorative Baroque staircase, which signifies the ascent into heaven.
Porto is connected to Braga by a direct train service (1h10min €6.00 return).
Related articles: Braga introduction - Day trip to Braga

The third flight of steps to the summit of Bom Jesús do Monte Church

The Se de Braga

The Douro Valley The Douro River valley offers some of the most beautiful landscapes of Portugal.
It is a region formed of steep hills and terraced vineyards, with the slow-flowing Douro River meandering through the valleys.

The vineyards of the Douro Valley are the sole source of grapes used for the production of Port. This demand for Port (and the handpicked grapes) has transformed every available piece of land into vineyards, with terraced vineyards being carved into the steep hills.

Along the banks of the Douro River are the pretty towns of Pinhão, Peso da Régua and Tua, which are centres for grape growing and cultivation. Connecting these towns is the Linha do Douro railway, and the section between Peso da Régua and Pocinho is regarded as one of Europe’s most scenic railways.

There is an equally scenic road (the N222) which follows the Douro River, and with a car allows you to explore the picturesque region around Pinhão and Tua. Another option to experience the Douro Valley is to join one of the relaxing river cruises, as they slowly travel along the river.
Related articles: The Douro - The Douro by car - The Linha do Douro railway

The Linha do Douro railway as it follows the river upstream

Aveiro is a likeable Portuguese town that is situated on the edge of a wide lagoon. The town is crossed by a series of canals, and along these waterways, traditional fishing boats (which resemble gondolas and are called Moliceiros) provide boat tours to tourists.

These gondolas and the Art Nouveau style of architecture found within Aveiro, often have the town being referred to as the Venice of Portugal.

Close to Aveiro (and often combined in the day trip) is the charming resort town of Costa Nova, which is famed for its delightful stripe painted holiday houses that line the beach and harbour front.
Related articles: Aveiro introduction

The Moliceiros boats of Aveiro

Lamego is one of the most scenic towns of the Douro region, and contains some excellent tourist attractions.

The Santuário de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios church stands high above the town, and is reached via a grand baroque staircase that climbs the side of the hill. At the opposite end of the town is the ancient castle, and a grand avenue extends along the length of the town.

If you have a rental car the day trip to Lamego could also include the ruins of the Mosteiro de São João de Tarouca, the oldest monastery in Portugal, and the pretty village of Ucanha with its ancient stone bridge.

Lamego is often combined with a visit to Peso da Régua. This town is the location of the Museu do Douro, an informative museum that details the heritage of the region, and the departure location for many of the Douro River cruises. Régua is connected to Porto by the Linha do Douro railway and there is a bus service from Régua to Lamego.
Related article: Guide to Lamego

The historic centre of Lamego as seen from the Castelo de Lamego

Vila do Conde is a small fishing town, which combines a charming historic centre with wonderful beaches, and is ideal for a beach day trip.

The skyline of Vila do Conde is dominated by the Mosteiro de Santa Clara (Saint Claire monastery), and from the rear of the monastery are the ancient stone arches of the aqueduct. At the centre of the town is the gothic Igreja da Matriz Church, while close to the harbour front are traditional fishermen’s houses and the Nau Quinhentista, a replica of a 16th-century Portuguese sailing ship.

The golden sands of Vila do Conde beach extend 3km northwards to the modern resort town of Povoa de Varzim. To the south of the Ave River is the pristine and natural Praia da Azurara beach.
Note: Povoa de Varzim has better beaches than Vila do Conde, but Povoa de Varzim is without the charm and sights of Vila do Conde.
Related articles: Vila do Conde - Povoa de Varzim

The Mosteiro de Santa Clara, as seen from the Ave River

Coimbra is the ancient university home of Portugal and is a city that is steeped in history and traditions. The university students, dressed in their customary black gowns, can be seen throughout the city.

On a map, Coimbra may appear too distant for a day trip from Porto but it is connected to the express rail service, the Alfa Pendular, which makes the journey in less than an hour.
These train tickets must be pre-booked. It is also viable to include Coimbra as a day trip option when travelling between Porto and Lisbon.
Related articles: Coimbra guide