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Best day trips from Porto: From Douro Valley to Spain
Explore the best day trips from Porto. From relaxing in the Douro Valley to visiting Santiago de Compostela, reach these 10 places in just a few hours.
Visiting Porto for a second time? Perhaps you’ve already walked its cobblestone streets and are looking for a new adventure?
From fairy tale cities like Guimarães to vineyards in the Douro Valley, there’s plenty to explore in the surrounding regions. Plus, with these 10 day trips from Porto, you’ll be back before the sun sets on the Porto Bridge Climb.
So, add these ideas to your Portugal travel guide and discover how you can use an eSIM to stay connected during your daily journeys.
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1. Explore the vineyards in the Douro Valley
- Distance from Porto: 201.82 miles (324.80 kilometers)
- How to reach the Douro Valley: A 3:30-hour drive along the A4 and N-122 or a 2:30-hour train to Pinhão from Campanhã Station
- Time required: Full day
The Douro Valley, home to the Douro River, which flows through Porto, is best known as a popular ancient wine region of the Portuguese countryside.
You can visit the valley and take a vineyard tour, where you walk through some of the best sceneries in the valley and try some of the best wines in all of Portugal.
Alternatively, you can rent a rabelo, a traditional Portuguese cargo boat, and float along the river to see the vineyards from a different perspective.
Before you head back to Porto, book your lunch or dinner at Alfândega Douro or Aneto & Table for a delicious meal while watching the mesmerizing landscape.
Travel tip: Some vineyards close during winter, so it’s better to travel during the warmer months.
2. Spend a full day in Guimarães
- Distance from Porto: 34.36 miles (55.30 km)
- How to reach Guimarães: A 45-minute drive along the A3 and A7, a 55-minute train from Campanhã Station, or a 35-minute trip on a bus
- Time required: Full day
Located in the northern part of Porto, Guimarães is a traditional city where historical beauty can be seen everywhere and it’s one of the best day trips from Porto by train.
To kick off your visit, visit the Historic Centre of Guimarães and Couros Zone, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to learn about the city’s history and take in its architecture.
There are also plenty of ancient castles and churches in the city, including the Guimarães Castle, Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira, and the Igreja de São Miguel do Castelo.
Up for an outdoor adventure in the surrounding valley? Hike to Serra da Penha, or take the Penha Cable Car if you prefer not to walk, for a stunning panoramic of the city
3. Enjoy the beauty of Braga
- Distance from Porto: 34.36 miles (54.50 km)
- How to reach Braga: A 45-minute drive along the A3, a 40-minute train from Campanhã or São Bento stations, or a 35-minute trip on a bus
- Time required: Full day
Braga is the third-largest city in Portugal and one of the oldest, making it a great day trip destination from Porto.
The first thing you can do when arriving in Braga is visit the Sanctuary Bom Jesus do Monte, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you’ll have to walk 577 steps to reach the top, where the beauty of the sanctuary and the views are worth the effort. If not, simply hop on the cable car.
Once returning back down, the Santa Maria de Braga Cathedral and the Arco da Porta Nova should be next on your list – both landmarks are a nod to Braga’s years gone by.
If you want to connect with nature, the Santa Barbara Garden and the Parque da Ponte should be your go-to. Here you can walk, have a small picnic, and if you travel in autumn, enjoy the golden landscape colors.
Travel tip: Grab some Pudum Abade de Priscos or Frigideiras for a sweet treat before returning to Porto.
4. Take a ride on the Moliceros through the Aveiro canals
- Distance from Porto: 47.22 miles (76 km)
- How to reach Aveiro: A 55-minute drive along the A1, a 35-minute train from Campanhã station, or a 45-minute trip on a bus
- Time required: Half-day
Located south of Porto, Aveiro is known for its canals. Some say it’s the closest resemblance to Venice you’ll get in Portugal.
Spend the day strolling alongside the water or hopping aboard the moliceros, colorful local boats resembling the Venice gondolas, which will take you through the colorful city.
Once back on dry land, the traditional churches with the Portuguese baroque style make a worthwhile trip, the best iconic being the Igreja de São Domingos.
Even though Aveiro can be a half-day trip, you can switch to a full-day plan to visit Anadia, a UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities, where historical places and nature are worth visiting.
5. Explore the university city of Coimbra
- Distance from Porto: 77.05 miles (124 km)
- How to reach Coimbra: A 1:30-hour drive along the A1, a 1:05-hour train from Campanhã station, or a 1:10-hour trip on a bus
- Time required: Half-day
Home to the University of Coimbra, one of the oldest universities in Europe, this small city is one of the best day trips from Porto.
When you visit Coimbra, you can find Baroque architecture in almost every corner, especially in the historic center, where the Porta do Barbacã, Arco da Almeida, and the Rua Ferreira Borges are the most iconic landmarks.
Still have some time to explore? Visit the Joanine Library, with its beautiful Baroque details, or the Sanctuary of Fátima, a famous site where Virgin Mary is said to have appeared.
6. Try the unique phallic cakes in Amarante
- Distance from Porto: 36.97 miles (59.5 km)
- How to reach Amarante: A 45-minute drive along the A1, a 55-minute train from Campanhã station, or a 35-minute trip on a bus
- Time required: Full day
Amarante is your go-to if you’re up for a half-day adventure where art and architecture mix with local cuisine. In the case of Amarante, it’s all about the phallic cakes.
Once you reach Amarante, make sure to stop at any one of the different bakeries in the city to try the Bolos de São Gonçalo, the city’s traditional phallic cake.
These are offered as a symbol of fertility, but make mostly for a funny moment during your your day trip from Porto.
Instagram post with the phallic cake posted? Great, now back to the sightseeing. You can visit the Monastery São Gonçalo, where locals tell you that you can find love by rubbing a statue above Gonçalo’s tomb. Or perhaps you prefer to skip this and visit the art museum inside the monastery, which has many paintings by famous Portuguese artists like Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso.
Once you’re done, take your time to follow the Tâmega River to where the Portuguese were once victorious against the French during the Peninsular War.
7. Connect with nature on the Peneda-Gerês National Park
- Distance from Porto: 36.97 miles (59.5 km)
- How to reach Peneda-Gerês National Park: A 1:30-hour drive along the A1. Buses and trains take up to three hours to reach the park.
- Time required: Full day
If you want to get off the beaten track and away from Porto’s bustling streets, rent a car and head to Portugal’s northern-most region.
Here you’ll find the only national park in Portugal. It runs over 270 square miles and is home to rivers, lagoons, mountains, and medieval villages that sink into the surrounding mountainous scenery.
Fill your day by hiking around the Miradouro da Pedra e Cascada de Rajada, Poço Azul, and Miradouro Vleho da Pedra Bela. If you are in good shape, you can visit remote areas, like Rio Caldo or Soajo, which offer a more intense trek.
Or simply relax by the mountains, where you can take your time to see how the sun moves throughout the day, spot wildlife, and prepare your camera for some extraordinary photos.
8. Explore the coastal city of Viana do Castelo
- Distance from Porto: 46.32 miles (74.40 km)
- How to reach Viana do Castelo: A 1-hour drive along the A28, a 1:05-hour train from Campanhã station, or a 50-minute ride on a bus
- Time required: Full day
Looking for a beautiful place without many tourists? Then, hop on a day trip to Viana Do Castelo.
Viana do Castelo is truly a hidden gem. The Sanctuary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, also known as the Santa Luzia Church, should be your first stop.
This hill has the most beautiful church in the city, plus the best panoramic views of Viana from above, where the green landscape blends with the Lima River in mesmerizing scenery.
Similar to other cities in Portugal, the medieval boulevards, rococo palaces, and Baroque buildings are part of the landscape, so you’ll feel like traveling in time while walking around Viana do Castelo.
You must also try the Bolas de Berlim, a local pastry similar to a fried doughnut, filled with cream and dusted with sugar.
Left with some spare time? Visit the Igreja da Misericórdia and the Museu do Traje before returning to Porto.
9. Take a short trip to Santiago de Compostela
- Distance from Porto: 142.91 miles (230 km)
- How to reach Santiago de Compostela: A 2:30-hour drive along the A3 and AP-9, a 5-hour train, or a 3-hour ride on a bus
- Time required: Full day
A combination of Baroque, Gothic, and Romanesque influences blend into one of the most beautiful cities in Spain – Santiago de Compostela.
Thanks to its location, you can visit the Old Town of Santiago, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in just a day. Or, you can spend 14 days walking over 155 miles from Porto for the ultimate pilgrimage adventure.
If not, a day trip starting from Porto is enough for you to visit iconic landmarks like the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, the Porch of the Glory, or Alameda Park, where modernity mixes with traditional buildings and nature.
Travel tip: Booking a tour is usually the best idea for visiting Santiago de Compostela. These tours include a short stop at Valença do Minho, a small village between the Portugal and Spanish border, so make sure to take an eSIM for Europe to stay connected in both countries.
10. Go on a bike trip to Alameda do Senhor da Pedra
- Distance from Porto: 9.30 miles (15 km)
- How to reach Alameda do Senhor da Pedra: A 15-minute drive along the A1 or a 55-minute ride on a bike starting on Av. Gago Coutinho.
- Time required: Half day, max
To visit the Capela do Senhor da Pedra, you’ll need half day max to explore this area and the nearby attractions, like the Douro Estuary Nature Reserve and the Afurada fishing village.
You can visit the Capela do Senhor da Pedra in just 15 minutes with a car or a bus ride. However, the best way to visit the Capela is with a 55-minute bike ride.
On the way, you’ll cross the Douro Estuary Nature Reserve, where you can stop for a brief bird-watching plan, and head to the Afurada fishing village, a colorful area to relax before continuing your ride.
Once you reach the Capela do Senhor da Pedra, the beautiful chapel close to the ocean makes one of the most interesting things to do near Porto.
You can take photos, relax on the beach, or enjoy the sunset if you visit in the afternoon.
Fun fact: This was an ancient pagan worship site that became a religious chapel when Christianity became more common in Europe.
Enjoy the best day trips from Porto with Holafly
When planning your day trips from Porto, don’t forget to consider your mobile internet.
Whether you need it to check the route to the Douro Valley or translate a Portuguese bakery menu into English, having a solid connection goes along way. The best options to stay online in 2025?Choosing from one of the best eSIMs for Portugal.
With the Holafly eSIM for Portugal, you’ll be able to explore the entire country with peace of mind. Prices start at $6.90 and reach as little as $1.55/day for unlimited data—ideal for those who want to explore every corner of the country.
The eSIM also gives you access to 24/7 customer support and up to 500 MB of data sharing daily.
But what for more demanding users or digital nomads? With hidden costs and long delivery times, a pocket WiFi for Portugal is out of the question. Instead, using Holafly Connect – a monthly eSIM service – is a more reliable option. For $64.90 per month, you’ll get:
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So, whether you’re traveling only around Portugal or visiting other European destinations, Holafly is the best option for staying connected.
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I first started my content creation journey as a freelancer in 2019, before connecting with Holafly in 2021. At Holafly, my travel and tech interests come together in one place as I craft high-quality articles about the eSIM and related markets. My content aims to help travelers stay connected, wherever they are.
