We had the best time of our lives in beautiful Portugal! 🇵🇹❤️ My husband and I, along with another couple who are dear friends of ours, had been planning this vacation for a year, and finally, our dream came true! Our trip was everything we hoped for and more, and we were never disappointed, especially with our wonderful tour experience. A special thank you to Anabela, our amazing tour guide, and Marcia, our wonderful driver! Anabela was fun, knowledgeable, and incredibly informative. She always anticipated our needs, from bathroom stops to managing our time, coordinating pickups, and finding opportunities for beautiful photos. Her thoughtfulness and professionalism made our journey so enjoyable and stress-free. I highly recommend this tour group! They are reasonably priced, professional, accommodating, and truly committed to making your experience memorable. You will definitely get your money’s worth! Portugal is absolutely worth visiting! The beauty, culture, and unforgettable experiences made this trip one for the books. We came home with beautiful memories, wonderful photos, and grateful hearts. Thank you, Anabela and Marcia, for making our dream vacation even more special! ❤️🇵🇹
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- Porto City Walking Tour (available from the day after your experience)
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Transport by air-conditioned vehicle
- Private tour
- Driver/guide
- Portuguese Lunch with drink included (vegetarian and gluten-free preferences upon prior notice)
Excludes
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Gratuities
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- Traveler pick up offered
Itinerary
Your expert guide will collect you from your hotel/accommodation or meeting point and will drive you to Braga, our first stop. On your way to the Minho Region, your guide will give you insights regarding the Portuguese history, development and cultural facts of portuguese heritage.
The first stop and visit will be at the highest point of our tour: Sitting at the top of the hill of the same name, at 566 metres of altitude, the Shrine of Our Lady of Sameiro is one of the most visited places of Marian worship in Portugal, providing a privileged view over the city of Braga. Every year attracting many devotees, especially during the pilgrimages of the first Sunday of June and the third Sunday of August.
Sitting at the top of the hill of the same name, at 566 metres of altitude, the Shrine of Our Lady of Sameiro is one of the most visited places of Marian worship in Portugal, providing a privileged view over the city of Braga. Every year attracting many devotees, especially during the pilgrimages of the first Sunday of June and the third Sunday of August.
The first cathedral, older than Portugal. The Cathedral of Braga was the first Portuguese cathedral, erected several decades before the founding of the country. It began to be built at the end of the 11th century, and was concecrated and dedicated to the Virgin Mary by Bishop Pedro in a solemn session on August 28, 1089. Competing in power with the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela and is the jewel of the city. D. Henrique and D. Teresa, parents of the first king of Portugal, are buried in the Chapel of Kings.
It's now time for a break. If you chose the lunch included option the guide will take you to a local restaurant where you will have a delicious traditional portuguese meal with drinks included. Try the very famous "Vinho Verde" wine, a white wine with unique caracteristics. If you decided to not to include lunch on your tour, you will have free time and restaurant options to lunch on your own or to explore a bit more Braga's old city center. (Vegetarian option during lunch is available, make sure you request it during the booking process)
After lunch, we will go on a short drive to Guimarães: Is considered the birthplace of Portugal because Afonso Henriques, who went on to be the first king of Portugal, was born here.
The castle´s presence evokes the exciting mixture of legend, poetry and heroism that surrounds the beginning of Portuguese history. On this Monte Largo (Broad Hill), the nucleus of the future nation of Portugal was first developed. In circa 968, Mumadona, the countess of Galicia, ordered a castle to be built on this site, where the population could seek refuge from the constant attacks unleashed upon them by the hordes of Vikings, who arrived by sea from the north of Europe, and the Muslims, who made raids from the territories that they occupied to the south. On taking over the governorship of the province known as Portucalense from his father-in-law, Alfonso VI of León, Count Henry ordered another larger and more solid construction to be built. This represented the beginning of the important defensive structure that we can now see today, dominated by the square keep that stands between the four towers guarding each of the four corners of the walls. Although this is not strictly documented, it is very likely that the building that stands against the inner part of the northern wall was the residence of Count Henry and the birthplace of his son Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal.
The small church of S. Miguel do Castelo was built in the 13th century. However, according to tradition, this church would have been built in the 12th century by Count Dom Henrique (Henry of Burgundy), where he would have baptised his son, the 1st King of Portugal Dom Afonso Henriques. Of Romanic style and reduced dimensions, this church reveals great simplicity in terms of decoration. Inside, under the floor of this church lie buried the great warriors of the nation’s founding period
The historical centre in the area that was within the Guimarães city walls, is associated with the formation and identity of Portugal, and was classified a World Heritage site based on the originality and authenticity applied in its restoration. The city still has a harmonious, well-preserved heritage that is evident in the graceful iron verandas, granite balconies and porticos, mansions, arches connecting the narrow streets, paving slabs smoothed by time, towers and cloisters. For a moment you might imagine yourself to be in a mediaeval setting, where the nobility built their houses over time, such as the Mota Prego house, the Vila Flor and Toural palaces, and the many others that give Guimarães its unique atmosphere.
Language Offered
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
Reviews
We had a wonderful experience with a driver who was caring, professional, and attentive throughout. Their kindness and warm approach made us feel comfortable and well looked after from the very beginning. The journey was smooth and enjoyable, and we truly appreciated the thoughtful service and attention to every detail. We would happily recommend this experience to others.
Carlos Daniel did a wonderful job giving us great information about Braga and Guimaraes. He made it fun and enjoyable
Carlos Daniel was a wonderful guide and gave us a personal insight into Portugal!
Carlos Daniel our guide was lovely and very entertaining.
We had a tour of Braga and Guimares today (04 Oct), with Alex as our guide. Alex was right on time to pick us up at the Cruise port. He gave us an overview of the entire day to confirm if we needed/wanted to change anything. Our time in port was shorter than the time originally posted by the cruise line. Alex told us we could still see/visit things as planned and he would make the shorter amount of time work. The towns were beautiful and Alex explained sites perfectly, not to much and not to little information. We could tell he truly loves these cities and his Country. Alex made the entire day fun, informative, and relaxed. Parking was horrible in a few locations, but he made it all work. When we return to this region of Portugal we would definitely book another day with Alex. Thanks for everything Alex!
Christian was excellent with knowledge and managing the agenda proactively to adjust for weather and duration. Walking kept to a minimum and he engaged the whole bus very well. Pedro the driver was skilled and delivered a smooth ride in tight spaces.
Alex was great! Very knowledgeable and thoughtful.
Paulo our tour guy and Gabriel our driver provided excellent services. We had a great time and safe trip. Highly recommended trip
Great tour with Anabela and Franco! I had lots of fun and learned a lot!
As a group of four, we decided to pay extra and do the small bus tour, and it was a great option which we would recommend. Paolo Monteiro was our driver and guide, and he was a a safe and confident driver. Paolo's knowledge and enthusiasm was excellent and we all learnt so much about Braga and Guimarães - it really was the best day out. Thank you from Val, Graeme and friends from the UK.
When in Porto for your next Full Day tour, Bruno is your guy. He was very knowledgeable and friendly and accommodating while showing us around the towns of Guimaraes and Braga.
Wonderful day our guide DiogoFerro was amazing was great that he is from Braga made our trip unforgettable,and our driver Bruno very nice and helpful.
Highly recommend visiting Braga and Guimaraes for the day if you’re in Porto. They are both small, quaint, picturesque walking towns. Bruno was the best guide—patient, kind, and speaks great English! He is also so knowledgeable; you’ll definitely learn a lot about Portugal.
Very good, very kind guide, and worth it. Our tour guide was Bruno was amazing.
Paulo, our guide, and Bruno, our driver made our full day trip in Braga and Guimaraes fly by so quickly. Warm, approachable guides and safe tour!
An excellent day with plenty of stops for photographs and my wife who does not walk well was looked after by the driver. Two memorable towns to visits with lots to see.
We had a great time with Bernardo! He was very informative and funny. He was such a good guide, we would highly recommend him. He was kind and flexible with our group. Thank you! 🙂
Fantastic day trip small tour bus to Braga, many sites along the way. Seeing the amazing Bon Jesus was a highlite, beautiful gardens and surrounds and if course the Church is outstanding. Would gave liked time to climb the 500 odd steps to the top.
At first I thought the tour aspects would only begin at each location, but the guide discussed plenty of historical facts as soon as we boarded the bus! We had plenty of time to get pictures while sticking to an appropriate regimen. In both Guimaraes and Braga, the tour guide had suggestions for cafes and restaurants where we enjoyed our lunch. Our tour was bilingual but he was very fluid in switching between languages for us. The only drawback was slight motion sickness on the way back due to traffic from a football game, but that wasn't in their control. I'd definitely take this tour again!
We had a fabulous day with Anabela our guide and Tropa our bus driver. Fabulous knowledge of the area and a very smooth trip around all the sites. Outstanding.
One of our favorite days in Portugal! Bernardo was a fantastic guide with great knowledge of the places we visited. He also provided local suggestions for restaurants and points of interest for our stay in Porto.
Great full day tour. Nuno was a great guide. His knowledge of both cities was fantastic. He enjoys his work and is a fantastic guide. Highly recommended.
Amazing knowledge and the perfect amount of walking/riding. I really enjoyed the option to explore on our own. The guide was very friendly and funny.
It was a great trip. Our guide Carlos and the driver Sheila were excellent, friendly. Carlos knew very well the history of the two towns.
Fred was an exceptional guide, my husband and I learned so much about Braga and Guimares! He really brought history to life and was charming and fun: Highly recommend!
Jorge was a wonderful guide. So knowledgeable and very kind. Tour company easily accommodated our gluten free requirements. Both Braga and Guimarães were amazing and well worth the visit.
Tour was great. Cities and landmarks we visited were amazing. Our tour guide Carlos is very knowledgeable and professional. He made the trip more pleasurable. He took his time to explain every detail and answered all our questions. Our driver Jose was very good especially taking into account the foggy conditions we had in the morning. All in all it was a lovely experience that I would definitely recommend!
Our guide Jose M was so great! He was so knowledgeable and explained so much of the history. He did the tour in English and French and kept us entertained and intrigued. The sites were so nice to see and it was great to see other parts of Portugal. The towns and streets were nice to spend your free time and the walking tours with the group were great as we got entry into castles and churches.
Amazing and informative tour of both Guimaraes and Braga. Both Anabela and Paulo were lovely hosts and gave us really interesting information about the monuments and locations we visited.
The tour to Minho was amazing. Braga and Guimarães are very beautifull and with many history. The guide Anabela is an excelent profissional, with knowledge and always giving relevant information. A really pro. Our driver, André, was simply the best!! Very friendly, and did a safe and perfecf trip. All of passengers commented about the perfection of the driver. Living tours in this tour to Minho, for sure give us the best professionals they have. Thanks Anabela and André. Our day was incredible!!
Rui picked us up in a very comfortable air conditioned van. We toured Castelo Guimarães first, the birthplace of Portugal, Igreja de São, and the Paço dos Duques. After that we toured the charming town of Guimarães. Our guide Rui is very personable and has a wealth of knowledge regarding the history of each of the places we toured. Next we had a traditional Portuguese lunch in Braga, and then went on to the Braga Cathedral. And then finished our day at Bom Jesus de Monte in the mountains overlooking Braga, after which Rui dropped us back at our hotel. Over all it was a very pleasant, very educational day and we had a lot of fun. Thank you, Rui! — Ronald, Samuel, and Karen
Tour was great! Informative with guides David and Antonio! They provided a balance of free time and learning. Highly recommend if you’re in Porto
Our tour guide Daniel was fantastic. Full of information and history about the towns and area. Helped tailor the trip to our interests. The towns are both beautiful. Definitely worth the time
Castro Is an amazing guide... He explained very well every historical aspect of the tour!! We recomnend him !! Thank you!!
Bruce was an amazing tour guide. We very much appreciate his knowledge and detailed preparations. Elizabeth was a very skilled driver. We highly recommend this tour.
We had a great time with Andre Vidal. He was very knowledgeable and engaging with the history. We can tell he enjoyed his job. This was our 4th tour in Portugal and he was the best guide.
George was an excellent tour guide! He is extremely knowledgable, efficient and communicates flawlessly!
The bus fish-tailed on the highway because of excessive speed during wind and rain conditions. Passengers felt unsafe and abandoned the tour at the destination. Being a bi-lingual tour, it created wait times with no information. The information was not equally presented.
Wonderful day trip to Braga and Guimaraes! Nuno, our guide was excellent: knowledgeable, friendly and patient. The trip was well organized and the lunch was delicious! Highly recommended!!!
Decided to go on this tour whilst visiting Porto. Excellent trip. Ines Rodriguez in the ticket office of livingtours.com at Sao Bento was very friendly and helpful. She even remembered my name when we went back to book another trip (it's a difficult enough Irish name to spell as it is 😬. Our guide Antonio was very informative, helpful and friendly. The coach was very clean and comfortable. The Portuguese lunch in Guimaraes was beautiful. 3 courses with breads and salads included. My only negative is that we didn't get a lot of time to spend at Bom Jesus which is absolutely stunning. Fantastic trip non the less
Our guide Jessica very good and nice and professionally prepared. The driver Marcia transported us with impeccable driving. The content of the tour was interesting, the lunch was not particularly typical and the temperature of the place was a bit cold. In conclusion, it was a pleasant trip.
Very good tour. Worth noting the trip out of Porto. Paulo Castro and Marcia were great. The area is beautiful and a must see in Portugal vPaulo and Marcia did a good job in showing it.
Jose and the team (Lucas and Maria) were very knowledgeable about Guimaraes and Braga. Great tour, highly recommended!
Gustave was a wonderful guide, very informative and provided alot of information regarding the trip. Braga and Guimaraes are beautiful cities with lots of heart and beauty. An easy recommendation
Great towns and history. Our guide Nunno did an excellent job sharing his knowledge of the region. This was a private tour with the guide and 3 of us. Best type of tour to do. Your pace, your questions specifically answered.
Valdemar was excellent and knowledgeable. Valdemar exceeded our expectations. He is so passionate about his job. We will not hesitate to recommend him and the company he works anytime. Great job Valdemar. Thank you for an excellent tour.
Pedro was a fantastic and flexible guide - he accommodated our preferences and made the tour feel intimate while answering a lot of questions from our group. The company picks you up at your accommodation and drops you off in town where you request and brought multiple car seat options for our toddler.
Fantastic tour of Braga and Guimares. Our tour guide Daniel is so outstanding, took care of us greatly. He is very knowledgable, patient and passionate about the city. Our family had a great time during this tour, relaxed and enjoyable. Luckily weather was nice. The tour included lunch and the restaurant we ate at, the food was delicious. I would surely prefer to use Living Tours next time. Thanks again for the great tour.
Castro was a fantastic guide who gave very detailed explanations about the tourist attractions. He was very patient, humorous & charismatic throughout the tour which made the tour more exciting & interesting for all of us. We enjoyed the tour very much & we appreciate his service & time.
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