Pickup & Start Point: Your Braga & Guimaraes Tour begins with a convenient pickup in Porto city center, where your local guide will greet you warmly. From here, enjoy a comfortable scenic drive northwards to the first stop of this unforgettable day.
Arrive at the iconic Bom Jesus do Monte, a breathtaking sanctuary perched on the hills above Braga. Experience the famous Baroque stairway known as the Via Crucis — a path lined with chapels and statues telling the story of Christ’s Passion. Admire the historic funicular, the oldest water-powered funicular in the world. Soak in the panoramic views and lush gardens surrounding the sanctuary.
Next, head to the heart of Braga city to visit the majestic Braga Cathedral, the oldest cathedral in Portugal. Explore its stunning Romanesque and Gothic architecture, wander the cloisters and chapels, and absorb the medieval atmosphere that makes this a must-see spiritual landmark.
Charming local restaurant: savor a traditional meal featuring regional specialties from Braga, accompanied by refreshing Vinho Verde local wine — a crisp, lightly sparkling white wine native to Northern Portugal. Vegetarian options are also available upon request to ensure everyone enjoys an authentic and delicious dining experience.
Travel onward to Guimarães, the birthplace of Portugal. Visit the medieval Guimarães Castle, where legends say the first Portuguese king, D. Afonso Henriques, was born. Walk the ancient walls and imagine the battles fought to defend this fortress, crucial to Portuguese identity.
Just a short walk from the castle is the impressive Ducal Palace, once the residence of the Dukes of Braganza. Admire the stately architecture, period furnishings, and lush gardens, reflecting the wealth and history of one of Portugal’s noble families.
Visit Guimaraes medieval town with your guide and pause at Largo da Oliveira, the vibrant square at the heart of Guimarães’ historic center. Admire the Padrão do Salado monument and enjoy the lively atmosphere with your guide sharing stories of the town’s rich heritage.
Finish your tour wandering the UNESCO-listed historic center of Guimarães. It's time to enjoy some free time at this beautifully preserved medieval town which is considered the "Cradle of Portugal," brimming with cultural landmarks and traditional architecture.
After some free time to explore, your guide will meet you here to gather the group and escort you back to Porto, sharing final insights about the street’s history and its beautiful buildings along the way.
After a full day immersed in history, culture, and breathtaking sights, relax on the drive back to Porto where your tour concludes with drop-off at two central locations or a nearby central spot for your convenience.
Alvaro is a fantastic guide. We went with him in this tour and the Douro valley tour. He is very knowledgeable about the history of Portugal and about wine and port. He is an exceptional tour guide. Passionate about his country Portugal and personable in his care of the travelers. I could not give a higher recommendation. You will learn a great deal from him. Book directly with cooloporto tours.
Excellent tour and guide. Alex was fantastic guide. Only 4 people on our tour which was great. Lots of great things to see. FANTASTIC lunch. Well worth it.
My family and I booked a small group full day tour to Guimaraes & Braga. We had one of the best guides ever and I feel terrible I don’t know how to spell his name. He was one of the best dressed guides we’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. While rocking a crisp white linen suit, our guide took us to some of the most beautiful places we have ever seen. He also offered options on how to reach certain points (riding up the hill vs. walking up the hill). He never wanted anyone to feel uncomfortable. We selected the lunch included option and the restaurant we went to did not disappoint. We had traditional Portuguese food served family style. It was nice to get off the beaten path and eat with the locals. Definitely book this tour with Cooltour Oporto.
Nuno was a wonderful tour guide today. He was knowledgeable and informative. The tour had a nice pace, never felt reas
This was an amazing tour. The whole day was awesome. Our guide ninu was awesome. So accommodating and he really made sure we had an amazing time.
Nuno was a great guide! His knowledge kept us intrigued throughout the full trip! Each location was beautiful. Definitely enough time to explore a little at each stop.
Fabulous tour. Excellent tour guide Alvaro. Informative and fun. Very tasty lunch at Diana restaurant. Highly recommended. Esther and Nita , New York NY
We had a wonderful time on the tour and really enjoyed the experience! My only suggestion would be to keep the tour closer to 8 hours rather than 10+. Since it was our last day, it would have been nice to get back a little earlier and have some time to enjoy the rest of the afternoon. Other than that, everything was great, and we truly enjoyed the tour!
This was a nice tour of Guimaraes and Braga. First we went to a church at the top of a hill. This was a bit confusing of a stop because there wasn’t much to see up there even for someone who takes their time like me. There’s an optional walk down the steps and a funicular that’s out of commission but you can see for pictures. The next stop was a church and a small unguided walk in braga. The free time was nice. Note there wasn’t much time and I didn’t see that many tourist shops here. The next stop included a castle and a guided walk which were the biggest highlights on the tour for me. Then a lunch at a restaurant. Lunch was pretty good. Overall was a nice tour. Some of the history told in the car was lost on me possibly because I was tired and couldn’t process it which is a shame since this sort of tour is done for the history. Except for the first location, I think most of these spots are reachable by public transport. The van was nice but the back row was cramped and had no designated vents. I am small and still had a hard time there with a full row. I didn’t see a usb charging station in the back most row if that’s something you might need. This tour is worth it for reaching a lot of spots quickly. Less worth it if you want to chose which areas to linger. Mixed bag if you end up in the back innermost seat.
Excellent experience. Our guide Alvaro was very knowledgeable, friendly, courteous and funny. It was very helpful to have a driver with all the stops we made. We were easily accommodated as a group of 8, by our guide dropping us off and picking up at convenient spots. We had a delicious lunch of fish, vegetables and potatoes, including wine in Braga. And a lovely dessert in Guimaraes. Perfect day in Portugal with great history.
Wonderful small group tour and we all got along very well. Tour well planned and we got to see everything. The tour guide Nuno was fantastic. Very knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. We were not rushed. Highly recommended.
Miguel, our guide, made this tour an enjoyable experience with his succinct narration. My only disappointment was that at lunch at Braga, I did not have the opportunity to taste Bacalhau a Narcisa, the codfish dish which is the city's specialty.
Philip was amazing and gave us so much interesting information! We loved Bom Jesus!
Great tour just enough history to be interesting, amazing scenery. Lunch was great , The guide Miguel was a great tour guide I would highly recommend him
Alvaro was excellent and very informative of the history of Portugal and the church leadership. He had a great upbeat personality and very supportive of all of the tour participants.
What a great tour, absolutely recommend it. Alvaro did an outstanding job, his knowledge of Portuguese history and pleasant nature made this a wonderful experience. THANK YOU!
Interesting mix of history and great sights. Phillip was an entertaining and informative guide. The lunch was excellent Small group was much better than a busload of fellow travellers.
José was an amazing guide! His knowledge of the region and history of Portugal made for a more interesting tour and was also a great learning experience for us! His love and passion of Porto and Portugal is evident throughout the tour. Both Braga and Guimaraes are beautiful cities with a ton of history and fantastic views that are well worth taking a day to see and explore. José and Cooltour Oporto take the guess work out of it and make it easy to enjoy. The price is well worth it! (Also, José is an excellent driver!)
It was good to get out and away a little bit from Porto into a little less touristy area. Braga and the visit to the Jesus Mountain was extremely interesting. One interested in biblical traditions, particularly from a Roman Catholic tradition could spend far more time there. Every detail of the architecture has meaning and significance. It is a beautiful, peaceful environment.
Great guide who explained a lot of what we saw and relevant history. Covered a lot of terrortory with a wonderful lunch.
Very well coordinated trip! Our guide Nuno was excellent. He ensured throughout the trip that we were comfortable.
Rodrigo was a fantastic guide he was knowledgeable and patient throughout Lunch was provided by tour which was excellent. Also tour purchased sweets to take back with you to port. Fantastic cathedrals and towns . Definitely worth the purchase.
Nuno is an excellent guide and very knowledgeable and accommodating. Lunch was delicious. The free time at every location was very welcomed and nice. The sights are great, it is a must do in my opinion.
Philip was humorous and funny guide that shared information that helped us to understand history in Portugal. The lunch was very tasty and gave us time to know others in our group. I would highly recommend this tour.
George was our guide. Very professional with a wealth of knowledge to share. The place he took us for lunch was very good
I really enjoyed this tour. I was in Porto for a few days and decided to take a day trip. The meeting place was close to my hotel and easy to find. The drive was not far so we did not spend a ton of time in the car. Our guide was great and very personable sharing enough information, but not too much. The castle was beautiful and the church was stunning. There was a medieval festival going on at the time so that was pretty cool. We had a little time to ourselves at each of the stopping points. Lunch was traditional Portuguese food. It was very good and plenty of food. I would recommend the tour.
Being able to get to visit both of these interesting sites was a great experience. We were in Porto for a month and was glad to be able to venture further.
A great experience! Our guide, Miguel, was fantastic and very communicative— would highly recommend the tour.
We had a great day on this tour: Braga and Guimaraes are interesting with lots of history. Our tour guide Alex was very friendly, knowledgeable, and able to answer all our questions.
David was excellent—very knowledgeable, friendly, and provided great service. To reach the top of the church, you need to climb a long flight of stairs. If you’re unable to do that, David offered alternative routes so we could avoid the long, steep climb. The tour itself is simple, but David made it engaging and enjoyable. All of his recommendations made the visit much more memorable and enhanced the overall experience.
This tour was amazing. Our guide, David, was incredibly knowledgeable, funny, and passionate about the region’s history. The small-group size made the experience feel intimate, and we never felt rushed. The lunch at a family owned restaurant was delicious. Highly recommend this to anyone looking for the perfect journey between the birth of the nation and the country's religious roots.
Two beautiful spots outside of Porto to visit. Our tour guide, David was excellent. We did not feel rushed and he gave us so much historical background without overwhelming us! Lunch was fabulous as well. Highly recommend this tour and it was worth the cost! Don’t miss these two unique and beautiful cities!!
We booked a small group tour deliberately as we prefer to pay a little more for a more personal experience and Alex certainly delivered that 👍we were picked up at our hotel and joined a group of 5 for our trip. The transport was spacious and comfortable and we didn't spend more than an hour in the vehicle a one time. Alex was very flexible and also very knowledgeable. He took us to a really nice restaurant for a 3 course meal and a glass of wine, which was also lovely and not rushed. Overall we had a great day and would highly recommend the trip 👌
Not a very exciting or informative tour. Guide kept dropping us off to do our own thing and then disappearing. We were supposed to get water but even though it was 90 degrees, no water was ever offered. I would recommend you spend your money elsewhere.
We had a great time with David, our guide. He was a fountain of knowledge, yet let us have our own time to explore. He was very personable, responding well to the different types of personalities in our group. I'd highly recommend this tour.
Make sure you have a strong battery for your phone. Photo opportunities are endless. Alvaro is a tremendous guide and font of great information.
Although a rainy day the visits were really interesting and history of the region was amazing . Peter was very knowledgeable and friendly and the lunch was excellent in a local family run restaurant - the tour was a nice break from the Porto city .
Miguel was wonderful! He expertly navigated the tour in English and Portuguese and yet still felt like we were a cohesive group! Braga and Guimarães were both gorgeous! The history is so deep and interesting! The tour went smoothly (minus me going on a little accidental pilgrimage of my own, but luckily they were able to pick me up where I ended up lol) Lunch was delicious and a great time for us all to interact a bit more. We ate, we drank, we laughed! By the end of the trip despite a language barrier, we had a few inside jokes. Miguel sent us some wonderful recommendations as well! It was a great day and highly recommend you add this amazing experience to your itinerary!
Alex was an excellent guide. He was very personable and easy to interact with, whether it was him giving information or answering all of our questions. Hearing the historical significance of Braga and Guimaraes, and the specific sites helped to understand Portugal's role in World History and within the Iberian Peninsula. For lunch Alex took us to a restaurant that served homestyle authentic Portuguese fare. It was nice to have a meal prepared like it was a Sunday lunch with family.
Wow! What an absolutely fantastic experience with our tour guide, Alvaro Santos! From the moment the tour began, it was clear how passionate and knowledgeable he was about the rich history and culture of these two incredible historic cities. The tour was thoughtfully planned from beginning to end, with the perfect balance of fascinating historical information, beautiful locations, and a relaxed, enjoyable atmosphere. One of the things I appreciated most was the small and intimate group setting, which made the entire experience feel much more personal, engaging, and authentic. It never felt rushed or overcrowded, and there were plenty of opportunities to ask questions, take in the surroundings, and truly enjoy the experience. And the food — absolutely fabulous! Every stop added something special to the day and really highlighted the local culture and flavors. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a more personalized small-group experience with an exceptional guide. Truly one of the highlights of our trip!
This was a great day trip from Porto to visit the historic towns of Braga and Guimaraes. Rodrigo was our driver and guide and we had a group of 6 in a very comfortable van. Pick up and drop off were arranged near where we were staying. Rodrigo was extremely knowledgable and explained so much about the locations we were visiting and guided us around the towns. Lunch was at a very nice restaurant and entry fees were included. There was some free time during the day too and it was nice to meet other travellers from the US (we are Aussies). Overall a nice break from Porto, if have the time to adventure out.
Can highly recommend this tour with maximum group size of 8 (in one van). Can't fault Rodrigo's knowledge, demeanour, patience or helpfulness. Booked direct with Cooltour Oporto due to cheaper rates. Excellent, varied lunch was served family style but more than enough to go round. Sufficient free time at each stop for shopping and further sightseeing.
Excellent driver/guide. Good locations to visit.
The guide was excellent. Very knowledgeable and personable. One of the best tours we have ever had.
Fantastic trip and amazing guide. Really knew the area and history. Braga and Guimarães have amazing history going back much further than Lisbon and Porto. The guide was very personable and knowledgeable. Great tour!
Very goid guide with comfortable van. Our Guide Jose was punctual, pleasant, accommodating and very knowledgable. Interesting and leisure trip. Thank You!
Miguel is a great guide - bilingual, engaging, excellent knowledge of Portuguese history and attentive to everyone’s needs. Small group tour with an excellent, traditional Portuguese lunch included in a restaurant where the local Portuguese eat (we eat vegan and Miguel made sure that even vegan food was available). We certainly recommend this tour of Braga and Guimarães.
Our guide was very knowledgeable about the history of the two cities. He also knew much of the religious history of greater Europe that influenced Portugal at that time. It enhanced our understanding of the country. The tour ran over time but was very interesting. We had sufficient time at each stop. Our guide even helped a guest who needed assistance on steep surfaces. One note: lunch was thin beef or whole fish with head. Beef was very tough. Others said fish was tasty.
I love when a tour guide is a true local, and Diogo fits the bill! Growing up in Braga, he entertained us with stories of his youth to help make the history of the city come alive. His knowledge of and love for the city were infectious and made the place feel warm and inviting. He made sure to show us the highlights of Guimaraes and then gave us time to explore on our own. Diogo expertly navigated any challenge that came our way, from an accident on the freeway to numerous school groups to leading the tour in two languages. He was even able to accommodate a special request from me at the end of the tour. My husband and I had a wonderful time and highly recommend this tour!
The tour was truly fantastic. Rodrigo with CoolTour Porto was an exceptional tour guide. He is a native of Porto. Family grew up near the pier. His passion and pride for the city of Porto was evident throughout the tour. His historical and religious knowledge of each place we visited on the tour was exemplary. I learned a lot about Porto, Braga and Guimaraes. Honestly he could put history teachers to shame. If you have the opportunity to book this tour, definitely ask for Rodrigo with CoolTour. Also make sure to try the pastry called Tortas de Guimarã. It takes 36 hours to make. Buy two… trust me when I say one will not be enough.
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