The Douro Valley region is probably Portugal's most famous wine region and one of the most beautiful and oldest ones in the world, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2001. Pafoua is the author and creator of Her Wanderful World. But inside its a riot of gorgeous gold and blue-and-white azulejo tiles, with an intricate ceiling fresco. Espinho is a small fishing town close to Porto. Day trips from Porto by car or bus can be a bit more difficult to navigate than by train, as the roads can be winding and narrow or the trains just dont run to these amazing destinations. North Beach is one of the most popular beaches in the wintertime because Nazare has one of the biggest swells in the world. You can also visit the nearby museums and have lunch at one of the small squares where you can enjoy authentic Portuguese specialties. 2 13 Best day trips from Porto. Check the train timetable before signing up for tours, as return trips to Porto can be limited. Pafoua writes from her numerous excursions about all things travel, from fun itineraries to creating memorable experiences on the road. Cheers. If you choose to rent a car in Portugal, youll just need your U.S. drivers license and not stay more than 185 days. Travel back in time and jump onboard an old and beautifully restored tram to see all the sights and sounds of the city. Its rare to find a battle-tested castle you can visit. Located just 100 km away from beautiful Porto, Douro Valley is a region in Northern Portugal known for its terraced vineyards and dramatic landscapes overlooking the Douro river. Pour yourself a wine and lets get planning. From here the wine barrels were transported to Vila Nova da Gaia. Serras de Aire e Candeeiros Nature Park was created in 1979 and covers about 35,000 hectares - much of it Estremadura's limestone massif, the biggest limestone area in Portugal. Check the train timetable before signing up for tours, as return trips to Porto can be limited. / The incredible Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gers. inter-regional and inter-city train services, Hotel Quinta Nova Winery House Relais & Chteaux, Porto itinerary: 3 days in Portugals stunning second city, A guide to Mrtola, Portugal: a hidden hilltop gem, 10 things to do in Guimares: a guide to the birthplace of Portugal, The best restaurants in Madeira and Funchal, How to do a day trip to Curral das Freiras from Funchal, How to do a day trip to Porto da Cruz from Funchal, A guide to spending a week in Madeira: a 7-day itinerary without a car, How to do a day trip to Camara de Lobos from Funchal, 5 train-themed things to do in Japan for railfans and train enthusiasts, Things to do in Kirkby Lonsdale: a beautiful market town in Cumbria, 4 days in Reykjavik, Iceland: things to do, see and eat, First, for shorter trips, you can use the, Second, for slightly longer trips, Porto has an. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'herwanderfulworld_com-banner-1','ezslot_4',131,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-herwanderfulworld_com-banner-1-0');The castle is a 20-minute walk from the train station. Its a world-famous pilgrimage site for Catholics who come here to pray and visit the Sanctuary and large church that has been built here. Pay attention to the bus schedule because there may be intervals of up to 1 hour between two buses. Being traditionally a fishermens village, they serve fresh fish and shellfish dishes that are to die for. If youre staying for longer than a few days or returning to Porto for a second visit, a few day trips would be well worth it. Explore Porto by tram. Its home to an impressivemedieval castle. The best way to get to Amarante is to catch the bus from the Rodonorte bus station in Porto. 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. Douro Valley - the most beautiful day trip from Porto (1-2 hours journey time) 2. Setbal. You will then enjoy the boat trip to Porto, with a typical Portuguese meal served at lunchtime. Guimares is brimming with history and said to be the countrys birthplace. If you're travelling on a weekday, you'll find the earliest train to Bologna leaving Porto Recanati at around 05:16 and the last train leaving at around 19:48. When visiting the city, your top priority is visiting the university complex: the Pao das Escolas, Joanina Library (one of the most beautiful libraries of Portugal), S. Miguel Chapel, Botanical Gardens, and the Science Museum. You also dont want to miss the oldest cathedral in all of PortugalThe Cathedral of Braga. Take the train from Porto to Penafiel (45-minute trip) for one of the best hikes in Portugal. Wow! $11 (9) Direct train. Most vineyards also offer typical Portuguese lunches with their wine tastings. Walking along the narrow cobbled streets of Vila do Conde is the best way to explore the town. 2.3 Guimaraes. Amarante is a pretty town and a popular day trip from Porto. If you don't feel like leaving Porto, there are plenty of sights and things to do within the city itself. Are Fanny Packs Good for Travel in Europe? However, there is a lot more to discover. Whether youre planning to take day trips from Porto by train, bus, or car, there is no shortage of amazing destinations. / The medieval city of Guimares. How to eat well, go sightseeing, get around and even take a day trip for under 300 euros. Take a stroll amid the colorful flowers of Jardim de Santa Brbara and visit the S for a peek inside the oldest cathedral in Portugal. While the average ticket price for this route costs around $11 (9), you can find the cheapest train ticket for as low . A more realistic day trip (or trips) is the sights to the west of Lisbon, especially Sintra. Douro Valley day trip #3 - Vila Real (2 hour journey time) 4. Guided tour: You can book a full day trip tour from Porto. 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. . This is a delightful and convenient way to experience the Douro Valley. Paiva is one of the best day trips from Porto for nature-loving travelers. Love Porto and Guimaraes (we stayed in the Pousada, which I would highly recommend) and now want to go back to see the other places you suggest! Braga and Guimares are relatively close to each other (25km distance). Today, the city center is a Unesco World Heritage Site, where tidy rows of colorful buildings line the streets, and slender laneways lead to cobbled squares and alfresco cafes. 2 one way or 3 r/t. Moliceros are colourful boats that are similar to the iconic gondolas you see in Venice. Its working fishing port is a bit fugly and totally dominates the landscape. Be sure to check out the old town as well. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. If you have extra time, take a trip to Costa Nova, a quaint fishing village near Aveiro with wooden waterfront cottages painted in vertical stripes. 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. 3pm: head to some museums of interest or shop for souvenirs. Visitors can hike through the parks mountains and forests, swim or kayak in the huge lakes, explore its numerous caves, Roman ruins, or go on a road trip in the wilderness. The action is all over before 9am, though. Travel by bus and train: 1 hour and 20 minutes (change in Aveiro) Travel by bus: 1 hour 30 minutes (change in Aveiro) Tour : Half day tour of Aveiro and Costa Nova. Train station Viana do Castelo. / The iconic Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela. You can go by train, with frequent departures from one of Porto's railway stations, So Bento or Campanh, with a journey time of just around 1 hour and 15 minutes. The city can be reached by car, public transit, and boat. Or do as the pilgrims did and climb the stairs on your knees as penance for your sins. 1. If youre campervanning in Portugal, you can even stay overnight at one of the wine estates (dont drink and drive!). Ill have to bookmark your site to refer back to it because Portugal is definitely on my list. Tackle the 580 steps on foot (recommended, so you can check out the statues and gardens along the way) or take the funicular to the top: the elevated views are ace. Beautiful sandy beaches around Vila do Conde are one of the main reasons to visit the town. This beautiful UNESCO-listed wine region is located about 60 miles (97 km) from Porto and is most famous for its ancient cultivation of port wine grapes, though they also produce grapes for regular table wine. With its dramatic landscapes and abundant wildlife, the Peneda-Gers National Park is an unforgettable destination that should not be missed as a day trip from Porto by train. Day trips from Porto: Santiago de Compostela. It is right on the water and full of beautiful Portuguese architecture, and a lot of different options for food. (2.30 each way; 40 minutes) 4. I have a full post on things to do in Guimaraes, so please read through that for more on this magical city. In Nazare, you can also check out the Forte de Sao Miguel Arcanjo. There are plenty of points (such as Granja, Aguda or Miramar) where you can leave and walk inland to a railway station and catch the train back to Porto. Sign in to get trip updates and message other travellers. 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. This Galician capital is important for religious reasons, since St. James is purported to have been buried there, but it has a lot more to help . One of the most popularthings to do in Aveirois to go on a canal cruise in a colorful Moliceiro. Both have plenty of cafs and bars to sit outside and get stuck into a bit of people-watching over a glass of wine. for a delicious Simpson donut. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'herwanderfulworld_com-sky-3','ezslot_21',146,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-herwanderfulworld_com-sky-3-0');In addition to enjoying the beach, there are also other attractions in Matosinhos that you can explore. Board IR 861 from Porto Campanha at 7:25 am and arrive at Pinhao at 9:46 am. Guimares is a small town northeast of Porto. Whether you take a day trip here, pass through on your way from the north, or are looking for a reason to move to Portugal, Tomar is absolutely worth a visit. The Douro Valley is famous for its vineyards and incredibly dramatic landscapes, from the winding river to the towering cliffs above. Coimbra is also the ideal spot to try typical Portuguese conventual sweets, made with sugar and plenty of egg yolks. Renting a car in Porto is a great way to explore some of the off-the-beaten-track destinations nearby. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'herwanderfulworld_com-small-square-1','ezslot_25',152,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-herwanderfulworld_com-small-square-1-0');Fatima is not located by the coast and popular for a very different reason. Popular day trips 1) Braga 2) Guimares 3) Douro Valley 4) Aveiro 5) Matosinhos 6) Coimbra. With thanks to Lotte from Phenomenal Globe for this contribution. Often simply referred to as Gers, the park covers a series of mountain ranges and spills over the Spanish border. Be sure to walk across the Pedro Ines bridge to enjoy some stunning views of Coimbra by the river. Activities You Can't Miss: Paiva walkways. Small villages are scattered throughout the park. 5. With the dramatic granite mountains of Serra do Maro to the east, the town lies in the hilly valley of the Tmega river. There are guided boat trips, canoes and pedalos to rent, and a fun water park. Coimbra is home to one of the oldest universities in the world, the University of Coimbra. Its also the best way to explore multiple destinations in one day, as youll have full control over your schedule and route. Pack The Suitcases uses affiliate links. Be sure to check the wave report if you are planning on visiting to ensure you will see the big waves. Source: Dennis van de Water / shutterstock. When in Peso da Rgua take a scenic boat ride on the Douro river. You should also visit the Old Santa Clara Monastery and the New Santa Clara Monastery. 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