Last Updated on January 2, 2025 by Soumya
Looking for the best day trips from Porto, Portugal? You’re in the right place.
In this epic Porto day trips guide, we talk about the easiest day trips from Porto by train, all of which can be done under two hours of travel time.
There are many interesting things to do in Porto and many amazing places to visit in Porto and its surroundings.
Going on a Porto day trip can mean so many different things – a winery tour in the UNESCO-listed Alto Douro Wine Region, taking a boat ride through the canals of Aveiro – Portugal’s Venice, experiencing history and culture in Guimaraes, and so much more.
In this exclusive Porto trips roundup, we have 8 easy side trips from Porto, including some hidden gems. We have listed the best ways to get to these places from Porto by train and public transport. You’ll also find the best Porto day tours if you’re looking for a more immersive experience.
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8 Best Day Trips from Porto Portugal
Douro Valley – Most Popular Porto Day Trip
Douro Valley is one of the most popular day trips from Porto, Portugal. If you have time for just one Porto day trip, visit Douro Valley.
Douro Valley, also known as the Alto Douro Wine Region, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has long been the main producer of Portugal’s famous Port Wine.
The cultural vibrancy of this region, coupled with traditional viticulture practices and gorgeous sceneries, makes it one of the best places to add to your Portugal itinerary.
There are many wonderful things to do in Douro Valley including winery tours, wine tasting, riding traditional Portuguese boats on the river, and feasting on stunning views of the valley.
Sitting on a Rabelo boat and slowly gliding down the Douro River is beautiful. So is sipping a glass of Port while taking in the gorgeous scenery.
If you’re arriving by train, be sure to admire the painted blue tiles of the museum-like train station in Pinhao.
Practical information to plan your Douro Valley day trip from Porto
- The train journey from Porto to Douro Valley takes about 2.5 hours. Find out how to take the train from Porto to Douro Valley, including tips on what stops to make and where to sit on the train.
- I highly recommend doing a Rabelo boat tour on River Douro. If you’re looking for a more intimate experience, check out this private boat tour of Douro Valley.
- Do not forget to stop at the Pinhao train station for a wonderful immersion into Portuguese azulejos.
👉 This Douro Valley guided tour from Porto is not just my favorite but one of the best Douro Valley tours in the market.
Aveiro Day Trip from Porto
Image courtesy: Lotte Eschbach, who loved road-tripping in Portugal for 2 weeks.
Recommended by Eva from Elevate Calm
Aveiro is often dubbed the “Venice of Portugal” for its canals and colorful boats called “moliceiros”. You cannot leave Aveiro without enjoying a moliceiro cruise.
The town, which grew thanks to its port, is a delightful place to visit near Porto. Its major industries were fishing, salt-making, and seaweed harvesting.
Aveiro flourished, and its historic center was dotted with beautiful art nouveau buildings. If you are a fan of this style featuring floral decorations and other elements found in nature, you might also enjoy a visit to the Arte Nova museum.
After a few hours in the historic center, you can take a bus ride to the Costa Nova beach. It is popular for its wooden houses, painted with stripes in various colors.
The boardwalks that stretch over the sand are lovely for walks and jogs by the ocean. However, Costa Nova’s inconsistent waves make it less popular for surfing than most beaches in North Portugal.
Away from the crowds, this beach is perfect for peaceful activities such as meditation and some soul searching.
Practical information to plan your Aveiro day trip from Porto
- The train trip from Porto (Campanhã station) to Aveiro takes around 50 to 80 minutes. Check ticket prices and train schedules on the Portuguese Railway website here.
- There are trains roughly every 30 minutes, so it’s easy to organize a day trip from Porto by train. Or you can book this highly recommended Porto half-day tour to Aveiro that includes a moliceiro ride.
⭐️ I love this half-day tour of Aveiro from Porto that comes with a moliceiro cruise.
Guimarães
Recommended by Marco Santos from Travel-Boo
A visit to beautiful Guimarães, regarded as the birthplace of Portugal, is one of the best things to do near Porto.
Located just over an hour by train from Porto’s São Bento train station, Guimarães is a perfect Porto day trip destination and a must-add to your Porto travel itinerary.
Dating back to the 9th century when the city was known as Vimaranes, Guimarães is one of Portugal’s most historic & culturally important cities.
Said to be the birthplace of Portugal’s first king Afonso Henriques, the city is within close proximity to where the Battle of São Mamede took place. This battle played an important part in the eventual establishment and acknowledgment of the Kingdom of Portugal in the year 1139.
Today you can visit Guimarães and wander through the charming historic town center, visit the Ducal Palace (Palace of the Dukes of Braganza), check out the Guimarães Castle, or pay a visit to the Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira church.
Practical information to plan your Guimaraes day trip from Porto
- Take a morning train from Porto to spend maximum time in the city. The train journey takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Check ticket prices and train schedules on the Portuguese Railway website here.
- Guimarães’ city center is a short 10-minute walk from the train station.
- Before you head out to explore, pay a visit to the tourist office. Here, tourist officers will hand you a free map of the city and explain all the top sights and attractions that you’ll want to see when visiting.
✦ Pro Tip: Combine both Guimaraes and Braga on this amazing full-day tour from Porto.
Braga
Image courtesy: Pixabay
Visiting Braga is one of the most historic things to do in Portugal. If you are looking for more culture-filled day trips from Porto, head to Braga to see some of Portugal’s finest monuments.
One of the best things to do in Braga is to visit the religious landmark of Bom Jesus do Monte with its Sacred Staircase, a true Baroque masterpiece.
You can also visit the Sameiro Sanctuary, one of the largest shrines in Portugal.
Braga also has a pretty city center that houses the Braga Cathedral, several Roman ruins, and the notorious Raio Palace.
Practical information to plan your Braga day trip from Porto
- You can easily and quickly get to Braga from Porto Sao Bento train station. The journey takes a little more than 1 hour. Check ticket prices and train schedules on the Portuguese Railway website here.
- You can also get a bus, which is slightly faster.
✦ Pro Tip: Combine both Guimaraes and Braga on this amazing full-day tour from Porto.
Viana do Castelo
Image courtesy: Jorge from Travel Drafts
Recommended by Jorge from Travel Drafts
Viana do Castelo is a coastal city in the North of Portugal, located at the mouth of the Lima River. The city has a mixture of natural beauty and historic relevance, making it well worth visiting on a day trip from Porto.
Viana do Castelo has a big connection to the sea with a big port and a historic shipbuilding (although declining) and fishing industry. It is one of the best places in Portugal to eat fish.
The city also has an impressive historic center with old beautiful buildings and cobbled streets.
The two most iconic attractions that you can’t miss are the Santa Luzia Basilica, with its panoramic views, and Gil Eanes, a former hospital ship converted into a museum.
Kayaking on the Lima River is an unmissable adventurous activity in Viana do Castelo.
Practical information to plan your Viana do Castelo day trip from Porto
- The city is only about 45 miles (70 km) north of Porto. It takes just one hour to reach by car or close to 2 hours by train from Porto-Sao Bento train station.
- There are several trains from Porto to Viana do Castelo in a day. Check ticket prices and train schedules on the Portuguese Railway website here. You can also take a bus.
✦ Pro Tip: Book this Viana Castelo and Ponte Lima Private Tour for an immersive experience of this erstwhile fishing town and its natural beauties.
Vila do Conde
Image courtesy: Alya & Campbell from Stingy Nomads
Recommended by Alya & Campbell from Stingy Nomads
Vila do Conde is a small charming town 20 miles (30 km) north of Porto. It’s a perfect place to visit as a Porto day trip to relax on its beautiful sandy beaches and discover impressive historical monuments.
The town of Vila do Conde is situated on the Portuguese Camino, one of the most popular Camino de Santiago routes. Thousands of pilgrims walk through it every year.
Vila do Conde is famous for its well-preserved historical center that includes Convento de Santa Clara, Fort of São João Baptista, the Aqueduct, Manueline Igreja Matriz, and others.
It’s a real pleasure to explore the town on foot; walk along narrow cobbled streets, stop for coffee with a pastry at a cozy cafe, and visit a picturesque harbor.
The town is a great place for outdoor lovers, too. Beautiful sandy beaches (Praia do Forno and Praia Azul), boardwalks along the coast, cycling routes, and watersport activities attract thousands of local and foreign tourists to Vila do Conde every summer. Stand-up paddleboarding is a sought-after experience in Vila do Conde.
Practical information to plan your Vila do Conde day trip from Porto
- It takes about 30 minutes to get to Vila do Conde by car from Porto city center. Rent your car in Porto here.
- There is a direct train from Porto to Vila do Conde, metro line B, that takes about 1 hour. Plus, there are buses too.
👉 Experience Stand-Up Paddleboarding in Vila do Conde.
Amarante
Image courtesy: Chrisoula from Travel Passionate
Recommended by Chrisoula from Travel Passionate
Amarante is a picturesque town in Northern Portugal just 37 miles (60 km) away from Porto. The town is part of the Romanesque Route because of the number of cultural sights you can find here.
Some of the main attractions include the Ponte de São Gonçalo, a beautiful bridge over the Tâmega River that leads to the impressive church of São Gonçalo with the 16th-century Renaissance doorway.
Other interesting sites include the baroque church of São Domingos and the municipal museum Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso, which hosts contemporary exhibitions.
You should also make a stop at Confeitaria da Ponte and definitely try the local Portuguese desserts.
Lastly, if you are interested in wine, the area is famous for the production of Vinho Verde. A nice winery nearby to visit that does wine tastings is the Quinta da Aveleda, housed in a beautiful mansion.
Practical information to plan your Amarante day trip from Porto
- From Porto, you can get to Amarante by a rental car or by bus that you can catch at the Rodonorte bus station in Porto. The journey takes around 50 minutes.
- If you decide to visit Amarante by car, there are many interesting sites to see outside the town, like the Monastery of Travanca and the Neolithic sites of Aboboreira.
✦ Pro Tip: Explore the historic town of Amarante on this highest-rated half-day tour from Porto.
Coimbra
Image credits: Renata from Bye Myself
Recommended by Renata from Bye Myself
The UNESCO-listed University Town of Coimbra is one of the best places to visit in Portugal. Plus, it is so walkable that as soon as you get off at the train station, you can start exploring right away by walking.
Coimbra’s most important landmark is the University complex, which moved to the city from Lisbon in the 16th century. Taking a walking tour of this historic university is a fun way to see and learn more.
While the Paço das Escolas, the impressive main square, some galleries, and of course all the streets between the outer university buildings can be visited for free, you only need a ticket if you want to see the famous Biblioteca Joanina, the university’s old library, completed in 1728.
There are more amazing structures to admire on the premises. For instance, Chapel São Miguel and Torre da Universidade grant a fantastic panoramic view of the city and the surroundings.
What is interesting is that before you climb up, a student has to announce your arrival upstairs. Mind you, the staircase is so narrow that only one person at a time can go up or down at a time.
Once done with the university, there are other wonderful things to do in Coimbra in one day.
Visiting Portugal dos Pequenitos (a miniature park), walking through the old town, and exploring the Roman ruins of Conimbriga are just a few examples.
Practical information to plan your Coimbra day trip from Porto
- You can reach Coimbra from Porto by train in a little over an hour. Check ticket prices and train schedules on the Portuguese Railway website here.
- The best way to explore Coimbra is on this walking tour with local guides who studied at the university.
- When visiting Coimbra, you’ll have to do some serious climbing in narrow alleys covered with slippery cobblestones. Make sure to wear sturdy shoes with slip-resistant soles.
✦ Pro Tip: Combine both Coimbra and Aveiro on this small-group tour from Porto that also includes a river cruise.
| Experience more of Northern Portugal Read our posts on Visiting Douro Valley | Plan the perfect Douro Valley day trip from Porto by train. Best Things to do in Porto | Grab this list of the best things to do in Porto including the best places to see Portuguese blue tiles in Porto. Perfect Porto Itineraries | From spending one busy day in Porto to enjoying an Porto trip of 3 days, our itineraries are definitely going to wow you. |
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