Best Day Trips from Porto & Best Things to Do in Porto
Want to discover Porto and beyond? Find out the best day trips from Porto and the best things to do in Porto, the ideal starting point to explore northern Portugal and Galicia in Spain.
Yeap Tours, Guided Day Trips & Walking Tours
Here at Yeap Tours, we are committed to offer you valuable information and tips to make your trip to the city of Porto truly remarkable.
You will find on this page our free map with the best one day itineraty to help you cover the best things to do in Porto.
After you discover Porto, it will be time to explore further. You can check for yourself, but you’ll easily find out that Yeap Tours offers the best day trips from Porto, providing the most advantageous cost-benefit ratio.
See below the list of the Best Day Trips from Porto by Yeap Tours.
Best Day Trips from Porto
With many recent tourism prizes, including the Europe's Leading City Destination 2022, Porto is in itself an unavoidable destination. Whether it's tasting port wine, exploring iconic towns, immersing in nature, enjoying hot springs, or visiting historic monuments, this vibrant city provides the perfect starting point for unforgettable road journeys.
Keep scrolling down or click on one of the links below to check out the Best Day Trips from Porto by region:
BEST DAY TRIPS FROM PORTO to explore GALICIA in Spain
Galicia is by far the most popular destination region for travellers embarking on Porto tours. That is quite easy to understand! From picturesque mountain villages to charming coastal towns, from magnificent natural landscapes to superb hot spring pools, Galicia offers a variety of experiences that will surely captivate you. For more detailed information, check out the official website: Turismo de Galicia. See below our selection of the best day trips from Porto to explore Galicia.
Tour: Braga, Lanhoso, Gêres, Lobios
From: 30 €
Duration: 12 hours
Min group: 4 adults
Tour stops: Braga downtown; Castle of Lanhoso; Gêres natural pool and waterfall; Lobios public hot spring pool;
Tour highlight: Lobios. Here, you will swim in crystal clear river waters, admire mountainous landscapes, and recharge your batteries in the healing waters of the public hot spring pool and the Caldos River.
Tour: Ourense, Celanova, Lobios
From: 40 €
Duration: 12 hours
Min group: 4 adults
Tour stops: Ourense Downtown and Hot Springs; Celanova historic Center; Lobios Public Hot Spring Pool;
Tour highlight: Ourense. Here, you will visit the stunning Ourense Cathedral, wander through the narrow streets of the old town, and relax at the numerous hot springs pools alongside the Miño River.
Tour: Compostela, Pontevedra, Cuntis
From: 45 €
Duration: 12 hours
Min group: 4 adults
Tour stops: Pontevedra historic centre; Santiago de Compostela; Cuntis Hot Spring Spa;
Tour highlight: Santiago de Compostela. Here, you will marvel at the majestic cathedral, discover the historic centre full of splendid architecture, and taste delicious local food at the traditional market.
Tour: Lanhoso, Gêres, Bande
From: 35 €
Duration: 12 hours
Min group: 4 adults
Tour stops: Castle of Lanhoso; Gêres natural pool and waterfall; Bande Roman Ruins and Hot Springs;
Tour highlight: Bande. Here, you will dive into Roman times, visit the Aquis Querquennis museum, stroll through the well-preserved remains of the fortress, and relax like an emperor in the ancient hot spring polls.
Tour: Ribadavia, Bande, Lobios
From: 40 €
Duration: 12 hours
Min group: 4 adults
Tour stops: Ribadavia Downtown; Prexigueiro Hot Spring Spa; Bande Roman Ruins; Lobios Hot Spring Pool;
Tour highlight: Ribadavia. Here, you will explore the narrow streets of the historic centre, discover the ancient Jewish quarter, visit the medieval castle, marvel at the superb views of the Miño River.
Tour: Vigo, Pontevedra, Combarro, Illa da Toxa
From: 45 €
Duration: 12 hours
Min group: 4 adults
Tour stops: Vigo downtown; Pontevedra downtown; Combarro historic centre; Illa da Toxa;
Tour highlight: Illa da Toxa. Here, you will visit a church completely covered by thousands of seashells, relax in the luxurious hot spring spa, enjoy the picturesque views of the sea.
BEST DAY TRIPS FROM PORTO to discover the NORTH of Portugal
The north of Portugal is a captivating region with plentiful of tour choices. From the charming landscapes of the Douro Valley to the vibrant Porto downtown, from the mountainous Peneda-Gêres National Park to the historical treasures of Guimares and Valença, there are plenty of things to do that will leave an indelible mark on your heart. For more detailed information, check out the official website: Turismo do Porto e Norte de Portugal. See below our selection of the best day trips from Porto to discover the north of Portugal.
Tour Douro Valley: Vila Real, Régua, Mesão
From: 40 €
Duration: 12 hours
Min group: 4 adults
Tour stops: Vila Real; Peso da Régua; Mesão Frio;
Tour highlight: Peso da Régua. Here, you will see the superb views of the Douro Valley, marvel at the vast terraced vineyards, visit a traditional winery to taste the renowned Port wine and other wine varieties produced locally.
Tour: Valongo, Penafiel, Lousada, Amarante
From: 40 €
Duration: 10 hours
Min group: 4 adults
Tour stops: Valongo; Penafiel; Lousada; Amarante;
Tour highlight: Amarante. Here, you will walk along the picturesque small streets, cross the iconic bridge over the Tâmega River, visit the awe-inspiring São Gonçalo Church, and taste the delicious Amarante pastries.
Tour: Santo Tirso, Guimarães, Felgueiras, Vizela
From: 40 €
Duration: 12 hours
Min group: 4 adults
Tour stops: Santo Tirso; Guimarães; Felgueiras; Vizela;
Tour highlight: Guimarães. Here, you will get to known the ‘Birthplace of Portugal,’ explore the medieval quarter, walk on the narrow cobblestone streets, and visit the magnificent Guimarães Castle.
Tour: Barcelos, Ponte de Lima, Valença
From: 45 €
Duration: 10 hours
Min group: 4 adults
Tour stops: Barcelos; Ponte de Lima; Valença Fortress;
Tour highlight: Valença Fortress. Here, you will feel the medieval vibe walking along the stone walls, see the spectacular views of the Minho River, visit beautiful churches, and explore the narrow streets and the gardens.
Tour: Vidago, Chaves, Verín
From: 45 €
Duration: 12 hours
Min group: 4 adults
Tour stops: Vidago; Chaves; Verín;
Tour highlight: Chaves. Here, you will walk alongside the Tâmega river, cross the ancient Roman bridge, drink healing water from the hot spring fountain, visit the medieval castle, tower, church, and see the remains of a remarkable Roman hot spring spa complex.
Tour: Rota do Românico
From: 40 €
Duration: 12 hours
Min group: 4 adults
Tour stops: Penafiel; Cinfães; Resende;
Tour highlight: Rota do Românico. Here, you will travel back in time to the medieval ages, get to know the rich Romanesque heritage of northern Portugal, and visit impressive monasteries, churches, and bridges, each with its own unique architectural style.
BEST DAY TRIPS FROM PORTO to visit the CENTRE of Portugal
The centre of Portugal is a region with outstanding tourist attractions for your day trip. From the picturesque canals of Aveiro to the colourful streets of Agueda, from the historical charm of Viseu to the breathtaking landscapes of Guarda, from the architectural marvels of Batalha to the mystical vibe of Fátima, this region has abundant sightseeing wonders awaiting you. For more detailed information, check out the official website: Turismo Centro Portugal. See below our selection of the best day trips from Porto to discover the centre of Portugal.
Tour: Santa Maria da Feira, Aveiro, Gafanha
From: 40 €
Duration: 10 hours
Min group: 4 adults
Tour stops: Santa Maria da Feira; Aveiro Downtown; Gafanha da Nazaré; Gafanha da Encarnaço;
Tour highlight: Aveiro. Here, you will get to known the ‘Portuguese Venice’, be captivated by its picturesque canals with plenty of colorful boats, and taste ‘Ovos Moles’, a local pastry delicacy that will leave you craving for more.
Tour: Santa Maria da Feira, Águeda, Espinhel
From: 40 €
Duration: 10 hours
Min group: 4 adults
Tour stops: Santa Maria da Feira; Águeda Downtown; Pateira de Espinhel;
Tour highlight: Águeda. Here, you will visit the Umbrella Sky Project with thousands of colorful suspended umbrellas, see numerous outstanding street artworks, taste the local specialties: ‘Leito da Bairrada’ and ‘Pastéis de Águeda’.
Tour: Aveiro, Águeda, Viseu
From: 45 €
Duration: 11 hours
Min group: 4 adults
Tour stops: Aveiro; Águeda; Viseu;
Tour highlight: Viseu. Here, you will explore the historic centre with narrow streets lined with traditional houses, see the colossal fortress ‘Cava de Viriato’ built in the Middle Ages, and visit the impressive cathedral located on a large square surrounded by eye-catching buildings.
Tour: Viseu, Celorico da Beira, Guarda
From: 50 €
Duration: 11 hours
Min group: 4 adults
Tour stops: Aveiro; Celorico da Beira; Guarda;
Tour highlight: Guarda. Here, you will enjoy the fresh mountain air, admire the city's tower and medieval walls, visit the imposing cathedral where you’re allowed to access the rooftop and be amazed by the panoramic views.
Tour: Coimbra, Batalha, Porto de Mós
From: 60 €
Duration: 12 hours
Min group: 4 adults
Tour stops: Coimbra; Batalha; Porto de Mós;
Tour highlight: Batalha Monastery. Here, you will stand in awe at the richly decorated façade, visit the church with stunning stained glass windows, admire grandeur of the chapel housing the tombs of several kings of Portugal, and be amazed by the magnificent cloister.
Tour: Coimbra, Fátima, Ourém
From: 60 €
Duration: 12 hours
Min group: 4 adults
Tour stops: Coimbra downtown; Shrine of Fatima; Ourém Castle;
Tour highlight: Shrine of Fátima Here, you will see the sublime shrine that attracts pilgrims from all around the world, visit the beautiful Trinity Basilica, the colossal Sanctuary of Fátima, the sprawling plaza, and the little chapel that, as legend says, the Virgin Mary asked to be built.
BEST THINGS TO DO in Porto
We have listed and organized the top sightseeing places in and around the historic centre of Porto in a sequenced way that you can follow along to discover the city in a one-day walking tour.
Being honest with you, it is a difficult challenge getting to visit all the most remarkable sightseeing places the city of Porto has to offer in just one day. This becomes even more difficult without a well-planned list of the best places to visit, laid out in a logical order that considers their geographical locations. It's always a pain to realize that you've missed out on a cool place, especially when you were so close to it earlier in day but simply didn't realize it was there.
Thinking about that, we’ve created a simple sightseeing route including the best things to do in Porto so you can simply walk from one sightseeing place to the other.
Don’t you worry about too long walks! Weve managed to keep the walking distances short, and you wont have to walk more than 15 minutes from one place to the next. In average, most places lie just 5 minutes away from each other!
Click here to check out our sightseeing route with the 27 BEST THINGS TO DO in Porto What will you need to do to conquer the challenge and complete the one-day walking tour of Porto?
- Wake up early. Since many attractions close before 20h00, we advise you to start your one day tour of Porto early, arriving by 8h00 at the first sightseeing place in our list.
- When stopping to eat, make sure to ask something that is already prepared and ready to be served. Many traditional dishes have complex recipe and take a long time to be cooked.
- Focus on your walking and on your sightseeing list. We recommend you to buy your souvenirs after your one-day tour of Porto is completed. Plenty of souvenir shops will stay open late in the evening.
Free map: BEST of Porto in a Day
Step-by-step Itinerary (+ Map, Timetable & Tips)
Click on the images below to open a full screen view of our free pre-planned step-by-step itinerary for exploring the best things to do in Porto in just one day. If you want to print our free itinerary, click on this link to download the printable version of the map.
Porto: the ideal starting point for your tours
The city of Porto is located in a strategic place that offers many advantages for travellers who want to take tours and explore the north and centre of Portugal, as well as Galicia in Spain.
See below why the city of Porto is an exceptional gateway to a multitude of exciting destinations.
Porto: one city, multiple motorways. Going north, the A3 leads to Braga, Valença, and Tu, Spain. Going south, the A1 goes to Aveiro, Coimbra, and Lisbon. The A28 leads to Viana do Castelo and Caminha, in a route with plenty of popular beaches. The motorway A4 goes to Vila Real, Bragana, and Zamora, Spain.
Porto Airport: a gateway to discover Europe. In addition to serving as a base for TAP Air Portugal, this airport functions as a hub for the leading low-cost airlines, EasyJet and Ryanair. As a result, there is an abundance of low-cost connections to major European destinations.
Porto: a must-do destination for food enthusiasts! Taste the delicious traditional dishes, including Francesinha, pork burger, codfish with cream, and lamprey rice. Indulge in the delightful flavors of Portuguese pastries such as custard tart, regueifa, sponge cake, and kings cake.
Just a short drive from the city lies the enchanting Douro Valley, famous for its terraced vineyards and breathtaking landscapes. This region offers wine enthusiasts a chance to taste exquisite wines while enjoying the stunning views along the Douro River.
Going northwards about 40 minutes, we find several cities with rich history and magnificent medieval architecture, such as the Braga Cathedral, the Guimarães Castle, the Barcelos Tower, and the Roman Bridge in Ponte de Lima.
