Upon arrival in Guimarães, we begin our tour in the upper part of the city, where the Guimarães Castle is located. Our guide will tell you about Portugal's early history as you pass Portugal's oldest medieval castle and begin the descent into the city center.
This church dates back to the 13th century and is currently classified as a national monument. It is a building built in the Romanesque style, which was rebuilt at the beginning of the 20th century according to its original appearance. There is a legend associated with this church, according to which the first king of Portugal, D. Afonso Henriques, was baptized here.
This palace dates back to the beginning of the 15th century and its construction was ordered by D. Afonso (son of King D. João I) at the time of his marriage to D. Constança de Noronha. Over the years it served several purposes, causing wear and tear. At the beginning of the 20th century, the restoration of the palace began. It is classified as a national monument and currently serves as a museum, displaying works of tapestry, furniture, Chinese porcelain and paintings.
Along the descent to the residential area of the city, we will pass through Rua de Santa Maria, one of the first streets in Guimarães, which served as the main connection between the convent of D. Mumadona Dias, the residential area and the Castle.
This is a social square for the inhabitants of Guimarães, where you can find restaurants, bars and terraces, surrounded by the city's typical architecture. According to the legend, the name of the square is due to the apostle James who, on a pilgrimage, left an image of the Virgin Mary here. A church was built there in the 12th century, which was demolished in the 19th century.
Largo da Oliveira is one of the most emblematic and historic squares in Guimarães, Portugal. Its name comes from an ancient olive tree that symbolizes peace and tradition. This place has been the scene of significant events over the centuries, including medieval courts and crucial moments in the formation of Portugal as a nation.
In addition to the church, Largo da Oliveira is known for the Padrão do Salado, a monument that celebrates the victory of D. Afonso IV over the Moors in the battle of Salado in 1340.
From Largo da Oliveira you can see the church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira - Colegiada de Guimarães, whose origins date back to a monastery founded in the first half of the 10th century by Countess Mumadona Dias. The current church was built in 1387 by order of King D. João I, following models of Gothic architecture.
Braga Cathedral is one of the most emblematic and historic monuments in Portugal. Located in the city of Braga, this Catholic cathedral is a testament to the country's cultural and religious richness. Its construction dates back to the end of the 11th century, having been sacred and dedicated to the Virgin Mary by Bishop D. Pedro in 10891. The Braga Cathedral is considered the first Portuguese cathedral, built several decades before the founding of the nation itself.
The Bom Jesus do Monte Sanctuary is a jewel of the religious architecture and landscaping, located in Braga. With over 600 years of history, this site of Christian pilgrimage is a notable example of the European Sacri Monti, created after the Council of Trent in the 16th century. The sanctuary's Via Crucis, which winds up the mountainside, is made up of chapels, fountains and sculptures representing the Passion of Christ, culminating in the neoclassical church built between 1784 and 1811. The Staircase of the Five Senses, a baroque work, is a of the most emblematic elements of the set, symbolizing the human senses through fountains and statues. Bom Jesus do Monte was recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2019, standing out for its harmonious integration with the natural landscape and its cultural and spiritual importance. The sanctuary offers panoramic views of Braga and is a testament to the religious tradition and influence of the Catholic Church in the region.
This was a great day out starting with pick up from hotel. Ivo, our guide, spoke excellent English, was very engaging and knowledgeable. Would definitely recommend as a way to see several locations in a day and get the story at the same time.
Great presentation and very comfortable tour. Everything went on time, lots of historical facts and knowledge. Very impressive
Very informative on the history and well organised with rest room stops and free time properly planned in. Our guide Ivo was enthusiastic and proud of what he was showing us.
Great! Very knowledgeable guide.
Antonio was a great guide. He modified the trip so my 86 year old mom could participate. He spoke with park personnel to get us as close to the sites as possible. He gave us time to shop and eat. He was very knowledgeable but did not rush us at all. We spent all day with him.
*Braga & Guimarães Tour* I do not usually use social media or write reviews, but I simply could not let this experience pass without sharing it. Our tour to Braga and Guimarães with António Brás was, by far, the best guided tour we have ever experienced. António is far more than a guide; he is a true ambassador of Portuguese culture and history. His knowledge is remarkable, and throughout the day he enriched every moment with fascinating historical facts, stories and insights that brought each place to life. António is also an exceptionally kind, friendly and pleasant person, and Oporto Road Trips should be very proud to have him as part of their team. What touched us the most was António’s human side. My wife has mobility difficulties, and he was incredibly attentive, patient and caring throughout the entire tour. When I thanked him for his kindness, António simply said: “My mother also has mobility problems, and I appreciate it when people show her the same attention and care that I try to give to others.” These words truly stayed with us and reveal the character and humanity of António. Having done a Douro tour with another company the day before, I can honestly say that the difference was enormous. This experience set a standard that is difficult to match. Kudos to António! I highly recommend Oporto Road Trips, especially if you have the opportunity to tour with António. We hope to return soon and that António will once again be part of new experiences that create unforgettable memories. Thank you, António.
Excellent tour with this company of the two cities. Ricardo our guide was great. Would highly recommend this company, tour guide and would book with them again for other cities.
A fun half day trip to see some beautiful close by sites and still be back in time to nap and get dinner. Good for groups or solo travelers!
The stop and sites were beautiful. Rick was a wonderful guide and explained the history of each stop. Small group was perfect. I don’t think it would be as enjoyable tour if it was a large group.
I sign up for English Braga and Guimares Medieval Tour. We got mix with a Portuguese couple not by choice which became a big problem. Diana our tour guide because they speak same Portuguese language our tour became a disaster. She spends most time with them, elaborate more on Portuguese than English.Diana became and serve as their private tour guide than the group tour guide. I was very disappointed with this tour. This tour should have been worth it but became not our moneys worth. It's a waste of our time
We had a wonderful day. Our guide, Nuno, was very nice. He dedicated time to explain to us about all the sites and made sure we had a great day. We really enjoyed Bom Jesus Do Monte.
Great experience. Both beautiful cities well worth visiting. Diana was a wonderful and engaging. Wonderful day out.
Very extensive tour to Braga and Guimarães! We had a very friendly guide, Ricardo Aliveira, who told us and showed us all sorts of things about the cities. There was also plenty of free time. Ricardo picked us up at the agreed meeting points every time.
Ivo was a very personable and knowledgeable tour guide. Our tour occurred when the area was experiencing an extreme heat wave and we were traveling with an elderly family member. Ivo was able to adapt our tour to ensure my Mom got an excellent experience despite not being able to walk for long periods of time in the extreme heat. The tour itself was fantastic, with many sites being firsts for us and Ivo explained the history of the sites while also providing insight into the local culture. Great experience. We’re very happy that we chose this tour.
Diana is very knowledgeable and gave us a lot of information on local history and culture. She always made sure to answer all our questions. We also enjoyed the free time in Braga and Guimaraes which are very beautiful. I recommend this tour to anyone interested in learning more about Portugal and its many traditions in a more personalized setting.
Excellent trip. Communication with company was quick and easy (email/whatsapp). Our tour guide, Diana was fabulous, accommodating (2 older couples), friendly and very knowledgeable. We had a great day exploring Braga and Guimarães. Suggestion for lunch was appreciated and a great choice! Highly recommend Oporto Road Trips (if you can ask for Diana, but I am sure all guides are good). We would not have been able to see and do as much driving ourselves, this was good value for money and very enjoyable.
It was very informative. Our guide, Cheila, conveyed a lot if great information about the sights on our tour. She made the day very enjoyable by getting to know us and providing enough information so we could enjoy our free time on the tour. We highly recommend her.
This experience left a lot to be desired. The guide was knowledgeable enough to narrate on the way to each stop, but his delivery was lackluster and oddly dismissive — frequently questioning the historical accuracy of the very sites he was showing us rather than sharing their significance or the stories behind them. There were also a few awkward moments where he’d point out additional things to see, only to follow it up with the fact that we hadn’t paid for those tickets and didn’t have time anyway. The highlight of the entire day was honestly the lunch we found on our own. If you’re looking for a truly educational and engaging tour experience, I’d skip this one.
Diana is an excellent guide. Very knowledgeable and professional. Highly recommended.
Very easy way to visit two of the nicest places in Portugal. The van is an 8 seater and it was full, but still comfortable. Diana was super knowledgeable and gave us lots of information.
Everything about this tour was great! (I accidentally wrote a review of THIS tour under a different activity though, so I'm going to review Porto Walking Tour here. If you really care about my opinion on Braga, read it over there instead!) This walking tour was a great introduction to the city; it was my first full day and helped me understand how to get around a bit more. Our guide, Giofranco, was borderline too chatty and often took time to entertain individual semi-unrelated queries rather than focus on the task at hand, but what he knew, he knew well and conveyed it in a nice, easy way. He might have put some people off with his free use of low level cursing, but it didn't bother me once the semi-shock wore off. The route we took was full of important Porto sites and history, some of which I came back to to learn more about on my own. He was obviously very popular with the local folks we encountered along the way and then sent good recommendations post-tour.
We had a wonderful tour! Our tour guide, Ivo, was very knowledgeable, friendly and personable. He shared many details and stories regarding the sites we visited and the history of Portugal that we would not have known otherwise. He was punctual yet flexible and attentive to the group’s needs. All entry fees were included with the tour. He thoroughly seemed to enjoy his job which made the tour more enjoyable for us as well. We would definitely book a tour with him again.
It turned out to be a very pleasant day. We made the right choice by picking this company. Ivo proved to be a very informative and excellent guide-driver. He took us around Braga and Guimarães and told us many interesting stories. Thank you very much!
Wonderful tour and our guide Deana was fabulous! Bom Jesus in Braga was beyond words beautiful and could have spent the day there! Guimares was a quaint historical town. Deana provided great historical context and information about each destination. Highly recommend!
We had a lovely time on our tour with Diane! She was passionate and knowledgeable about each area we visited and offering a general history of the country, super friendly and enthusiastic to answer everyone's questions, and in general was just a great person to spend the day with. The tour itself felt like the perfect amount of time at each place and the perfect amount of things to see in one day. We felt full without being drained by day's end and couldn't have asked for a better trip. Highly recommended!
Highly recommended for this small group tour with Diana! Diana is a wonderful tour guide with great communication skills, calm attitude, extensive knowledge of local history and culture, and great driving skills. She is also noted for her ability to have a good laugh with the guests while navigating the towns.
Not as interesting as expected
A full day out visiting two cities nearby to Porto, both interesting but different to one another. Our guide, Antonio, was very knowledgeable about locall history and we felt like we were in safe hands. The tour is well paced with enough time to enjoy each location.
Length of visit in Bom Jesus Do Monte, The itinerary stated that we would have one hour for sightseeing, but the guide only gave us 35 minutes. We also had to climb several hundred steps, so there was simply not enough time to explore, and we didn’t even have the chance to enter the church
An amazing day out! Highly recommend this trip. The sites were brilliant and Ivo was knowledgeable and enthusiastic. We would go again.
Ricardo was an excellent guide .He was knowledgeable and helpful, gave us history lessons, and information about Portugal culture, schools, crops etc. I would recommend his services!!
Cheila was an exceptional guide, and we thoroughly enjoyed our trip. We had ample time to explore both cities. The Bom Jesus Cathedral was truly remarkable. There was plenty of downtime to do your own thing, such as exploring, having lunch, or enjoying coffee. We highly recommend this excursion!
Good trip. Plenty of history , good guide
Our Guide Diana was amazing. Prompt collection from our Hotel. We were in a small group of only two more couples and my Husband and I . Despite the wet weather Diana was a brilliant, informative Guide. We felt like we had made a new friend by the end of the tour.
If we could give ten stars we would have. Ivo the area and what he does. He is a gem and made the tour amazing. Definitely recommend him and the tour to anyone visiting Porto. He knows all the community and ensures the travellers go to the best places. He is also so knowledgeable about wine and port. Very good driver too. He connects to the clients and embraces learning. Thank you thank you from the Canadians in the front seat with you.
Great tour. Highly recommend.
Ciela was knowledgeable friendly and very helpful! She was early to pick us up and constantly kept us informed about what to expect. She answered all our questions and lovely to chat with. I would book more with er if I was staying in Porto longer!
Chile’s was the best! She was on time in a very comfortable van. She was extremely knowledgeable and professional! If I was staying in Porto longer I would book another tour with her! Such great value and enthusiasm!
The day trip to Braga & Guimarães was easy and informative. From the start, our guide, Diana, picked us up on time at our hotel. She was friendly and engaging. Diana provided context and helped us connect with Portugal’s history at the locations we visited. Be advised to check for religious holidays as they may increase crowd size and limit access to certain churches. In all, our guide Diana made the trip a wonderful experience. We would book with Oporto Road Trips again.
(EN below) Fizemos o tour de Braga e Guimarães com o Ivo, e foi uma ótima experiência! Além de ser local e ter muito conhecimento, ele era super divertido e autêntico, e tornou o dia leve, informativo e muito especial. Adoramos! No dia anterior fizemos outro tour pela Oporto, do Vale do Douro, e gostamos muito das equipes das duas Quintas visitadas, a primeira foi a Quinta do Tedo e a segunda foi a D'Origem. Além disso, o passeio de barco foi bem gostoso. Recomendo! (ENGLISH) We took the tour of Braga and Guimarães with Ivo, and it was a great experience! Not only is he a local with a lot of knowledge, but he was also super fun and genuine, making the day lighthearted, informative, and very special. We loved it! The day before, we took another tour of Porto and the Douro Valley, and we really liked the staff at the two wineries we visited—the first was Quinta do Tedo and the second was D'Origem. Plus, the boat ride was really enjoyable. I recommend it!
Amazing tour, guide full of interesting historical information and fun facts. Skillful driver and comfortable van,must to!
Braga was amazing specifically the Braga Cathedral which was one of the most beautiful churches I have ever seen and I have been to many throughout Europe. See photos We had door-to-door service from our driver which was a plus. In addition she did the walking to get the van and drive it to us during our day instead of us navigating hills, etc which was also a plus
Nice trip with an easy-going guide.
The tour was interesting, the size of the group was perfect (6). The lunch was much better than I expected. I wish we got more information during the rides and had more time roam around.
We enjoyed an excellent informative and entertaining tour with our guide Brahim. Brahim was incredibly knowledgeable about the area and the history of Portugal over the centuries. We found out so much we could never have discovered on our own while seeing the beautiful sites of both cities. We highly recommend.
Great tour! Guide Brahim was exceptional and very informative! Pedro was with him and gave us a lot of humor which made the rainy day sunny!! Highly recommend this tour and Oporto Road Trips. Thank you for a great day!!
We had a very enjoyable day tour to Braga and Guimarães with our guides Cheila and Luís. The tour had an excellent balance of guided moments and free time to explore. We also had nice chats during the time riding between the cities. The guides provided lots of interesting information about the History and Geography of Porto, Braga, Guimarães and Portugal. We recommend this tour very much!
Fun day trip. We learned a lot about both cities snd saw some beautiful sites. Food recommendations were great. Cheila was a fantastic driver and guide.
The most memorable part of our trip were our 3 guides. They made the tour so enjoyable. The 2 cities were wonderful and we enjoyed everything. Brahmin was so knowledgeable and such a great guide. I learned so much from Brahmin. We took 4 tours while we were in Portugal and this one was our favorite. I recommend this to everyone.
We had an excellent day with Cheila today. We shared an authentic Portuguese meal and we let Cheila do the ordering. It was delicious. Portugal is experiencing a crazy storm right now and Cheila timed the tour to maximize the dry spells. She was a wealth of knowledge and her driving skills were appreciated - taking all the pressure off of us going ourselves. This is the only way to visit these towns for the first time - you need someone to explain what you’re seeing or you’ll miss too much. We enjoyed the day very much
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