The city itself has plenty to offer as well, from the city centers Praa da Repblica to the nearby Casa do Raio, which is a beautiful palace turned museum covered in gorgeous purple-blue azulejos. To this day you can still see some of the chapels dotted around the forest. Nearby is Soajo, with its rows of espigueiros little granite buildings that were elevated to keep water and mice out of the local grain supply. Im hoping to visit Porto this year so this is really going to come in handy when Im planning a day trip from there! But swings and roundabouts! The waves have been known to reach up to 100 feet at times. Viana do Castelo has a charming medieval centre full of 19th-century boulevards, impressive fountains and rococo palaces. What to Pack for the Best Day Trips from Porto, Final Thoughts on Best Day Trips From Porto, link to Her Wanderful World's Instagram account, link to Her Wanderful World's Facebook account, link to Her Wanderful World's Pinterest account, link to Her Wanderful World's Twitter account. The best way to get to Amarante is to catch the bus from the Rodonorte bus station in Porto. Everyone goes mad for them. The best way to explore the region is to rent a car, so you have the freedom to stay at each stop as long as you want. I have a full post on things to do in Guimaraes, so please read through that for more on this magical city. This is the perfect area to stop for lunch. A couple of Portugals most popular dishes are cod and sardines, but you can order anything that comes from the sea! Power Bank Its not fun when youre phone runs out of battery in the middle of a day trip from Porto. Santa Luzia funicular - departs every 15 minutes. If youre interested in art the Alberto Sampaio Art Museum is nearby as well. The small town was also the birthplace of Portugals first king, Afonso Henriques. Want to receive notifications of new posts by email? A train from Porto stops in Pinho, from where a number of wineries, such as Quinta das Carvalhas, are accessible by foot. With thanks to Alya from Stingy Nomadsfor this contribution. Eating out in Aveiro is lovely with many restaurants and cafs offering everything from traditional to international food as well as organic vegan joints. Answer 1 of 2: My husband and I will be vacationing in Portugal this coming September. 6. But because these routes generally take longer, you may want to consider spending the night in the region or only limit your visit to exploring Pinho. For seafood, you cannot miss out on family-run restaurants lining Rua Heris de Frana. The main activities to do here are walking around the forest, hiking up to the viewpoints, learning about the history ofBuaco, and just enjoying a little nature getaway. Get your best pair of walking shoes because Coimbra is quite hilly, and youll need to walk around a bit. Its also the best way to explore multiple destinations in one day, as youll have full control over your schedule and route. With its castle on a hilltop, myriad old churches and winding medieval cobbled streets, the city is straight out of a fairytale. Book . 2023 Lonely Planet, a Red Ventures company. Coimbra is a beautiful city, home to the oldest university in the country and a must-visit on any Portugal itinerary.. The views along the N-222 as it hugs the river east of Peso da Rgua are magical. Amarante is a small town located in the north of Portugal, about 1-hour northeast, or 37 miles (60 km) of Porto making it a fantastic day trip. The region's most famous produce is Port wine, but in reality, any food or drink that comes out of Douro Valley is set to be an explosion of flavor. Vila do Conde is situated 19 miles (30 km) north of Porto. Typical to European dinner times, many restaurants don't open until 7:00 or 8:00 pm. The Douro Valley was recognized as a demarcated wine region in 1756, making port wine exclusive to Portugal in the same way Champagne is exclusive to its namesake region in France. Round trip train from Sao Bento to Viana 16.00 & (senior) 10.50. You can be saving yourself some dollars if you only have time to do 1 or 2 day trips from Porto. Eating fresh locally caught fish and seafood in Vila do Conde is a must. 1 Porto: River Douro 6 Bridges Cruise. For a quick day trip from Porto by bus, you can spend a day lazing on the beach, swimming in the Atlantic, or eating all the seafood you can imagine. 2 From Porto: Douro Valley w/ Boat Tour, Wine Tasting & Lunch. With thanks to Daria from The Discovery Nut for this contribution. Matosinhos would be a good idea if you want to escape the heat and hustle and bustle of Porto for an afternoon on the golden sand. Alternatively, grab some pastel de nata and a takeaway cup of coffee at Pastelaria A Ritinha and have a picnic at one of the benches at Jardim da Praa do Municpio. 16. Stroll through the narrow streets of the Coimbra city center and appreciate the street art. Plus you can stop at all the beautiful viewpoints along the way (and there are many!). Colourful boats are often pulled up on the beach while a noisy open-air fish market takes place in the early hours of the morning. Check the opening times while planning a day trip from Porto to Arouca Bridge and Paiva Pathways. Be sure to check the wave report if you are planning on visiting to ensure you will see the big waves. It was here that McNamara beat the world record for the largest wave ever surfed. 3pm: head to some museums of interest or shop for souvenirs. You can find her on Instagram @herwanderfulworld. / The medieval city of Guimares. This has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since June 2013. Serras de Aire. The quaint Linha do Douro in northern Portugal doesnt really get you anywhere. Besides some beautiful natural spots, inBuaco National Forest you can also find a rich history. . One of the best day trips from Porto by train is going to Coimbra, the third most important city in Portugal. Uphill from the center are the well-preserved ruins of the imposing Castelo de Guimares; nearby is the Palace of the Dukes of Bragana, which showcases 15th-century decor and manicured grounds. Less than 200 miles away, it . The journey from Porto to Regua takes around 2 or, 2 and a half hours and costs around 15 one-way. How to get to Braga: The Linha de Braga train runs frequently from Campanh station taking just over an hour. You can visit the Museum of Douro in Peso da Regua, ride the Douro historical train, take a river cruise on the Douro river, departing from Pinho or Pipadouro, and explore some of the cute Douro villages such as Pinho, Lamego, Peso da Regua, or Foz do Tua. The train also allows for greater flexibility . Santiago is best known for the Caminhos de Santiago (St. James Way) pilgrim trail following the cult of St. James. Santa Clara Aqueduct is one of the main attractions here. Enjoy a stroll on the seaside promenade or hang out at the largest sandy beach in the Porto District. Tickets cost 18 - 26 and the journey takes 2h 40m. The restaurant O Cais is a great option for a place to eat in town. City Sightseeing Day Trips from Porto. Romantic Day Trips from Porto for Couples - Douro Valley Tour: Wine Tasting, River Cruise and Lunch. Torro is a good place for dinner with a view of the river. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Lisbon Day Trips. Its popular for surfing, which is mildly entertaining to pause and watch. The Retiro do Gers restaurant is located in the heart of the Peneda-Gers National Park and is the perfect place to stop for a bite to eat while exploring the park. Back in Braga, Donna Se is a lovely place to have lunch. Trains from Coimbra-B to Porto Airport cover the 71 miles (114 km) long route and usually take around 2 h 30 min. We will be in Porto and I had originally planned to train to Lisbon for 3 nights with a day trip to Sintra one of the days. Consider hiring a car for the day and nominating a designated driver for full flexibility. The cheapest way to get there is on the Line 9 bus, which will take just over an hour and cost around $17. You can also grab a ticket on the Hop-On-Hop-Off Yellow bus tour where Matosihnos is a stop! Pafoua writes from her numerous excursions about all things travel, from fun itineraries to creating memorable experiences on the road. There is a train that goes directly from Porto to Braga. The local fishing industry means that there are plenty of cafs serving fresh seafood straight off the boats. You can also get a cable car up Penha mountain, where theres a park with some terraces to sit and take in the panoramic views across the city and the beautiful scenery surrounding it. Start your day here by taking in the spectacular views from the Santa Luzia hill, home to the striking white Santa Luzia church looming over the city. Contents1 Is [] Day trip from Porto to Viana do Castelo. Pickup points. Average journey duration: 1 hour and 10 minutes. Not sure if cards can be re-loaded. There is of course, a fourth travel option, which is to use buses to do various day trips from Porto. The town of Matosinhos isnt the most scenic place, Ill be honest. Whatever you do, make sure to try the seafood in Matosinhos. We briefly spent some time in Lisbon and it just wasnt enough! 5 Porto: 6 Bridges Douro River Cruise. Make sure your feet are well-protected as there will be a lot of walking throughout the day. Coimbra is home to one of the oldest universities in the world, the University of Coimbra. The Porto tram tours have 3 different tram lines (line 1, 18 and 22) that interconnect with each other and cover different areas of the city. Costa Nova is also a great destination for a nice seafood lunch. How to get to Amarante: Rede Expressos buses run every 90 minutes or so from Portos Campo 24 de Agosto bus station to Amarante and take about 50 minutes. This beauty showcases some of the finest architecture in the country, with design styles from many centuries. Douro Valley - the most beautiful day trip from Porto (1-2 hours journey time) 2. The train connects Porto with the small village of Pocinho, whereas the 1-day river cruises from Porto only travel to Pinho, much further downstream. You might also like my other Portugal posts: If youd like an email alert when I publish a new post, subscribe using the box at the side (if youre on a laptop) or at the bottom (if youre on a mobile or tablet). Its an important pilgrimage site and a UNESCO World Heritage Site (since July 2019). There are trains roughly every half an hour so it's easy to organize a day trip. Head back into the citys winding streets and enjoy its mixture of architectural styles from different ages. You can also purchase access only for the trail. / The incredible Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gers. It takes about one hour from the center of Porto to the center of Guimares, and you can easily do it by train, bus, driving or on a tour. Do the timetables stay the same all year? When in Peso da Rgua take a scenic boat ride on the Douro river. 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