Visit Braga And Guimarães In One Day: Itinerary & Important Info

If you are looking to plan a day trip to both Braga and Guimaraes in one day, read on!

There are a few options for visiting Braga and Guimarães as a day trip from Porto.

Visit both Braga and Guimarães in one day: If you are tight on time in Porto and you want to see both places you can fit a visit to both places in one day. This what I did and can easily be done.
Visit Guimarães and Braga on separate day trips: If you are in Porto for more than a week you can visit Guimarães and Braga on separate day trips from Porto. This takes up 2 full days of your trip, so I only recommend this option for a stay greater than 7 days in Porto. I was there for a month and still chose to see both in one day because there’s so much else to see and do around Porto.
Pick between Braga and Guimarães for your day trip from Porto, if you don’t want to be in “go-go-go” mode or feel rushed. Look at the highlights in each place and decide between the two which is more interesting to you.

One Day Trip To Braga and Guimarães

If you’re looking for the easiest way to visit both cities in Portugal in one day, there are day trip tour operators that will pick you up in your hotel, take you to the main sites in both places and drop you back in Porto in the evening.

However, you can easily visit both cities on your own in a day. This is what I did. Check out my one day itinerary for visiting Braga and Guimarães below.

Best 1 Day Tours Of Braga And Guimarães

If you don’t want the hassle of getting around on your own with public transportation, take a guided tour of Braga and Guimarães. Logistically it may be easier if you don’t want to take the train on your own, but you don’t have the free time to wander and see things on your own. You’ll see strictly what’s on the itinerary.

➡️From Porto: Braga and Guimarães Full-Day Trip: This tour starts and ends in Porto. You’ll travel to Braga by coach/bus in the morning and see the highlights (Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte, guided tour of Braga for 30 minutes, and Braga Cathedral) before you enjoy lunch and then are driven to Guimaraes where you’ll have time to see the castle and get a quick tour of the town.

➡️From Porto: Braga and Guimarães Full Day Tour with Lunch: This tour hits up similar highlights (Bom Jesus do Monte, Braga Cathedral, Guimarães Castle) and includes a traditional Portuguese lunch at a restaurant where you can taste the famed “Vinho Verde” that is produced in the region.

Regardless of which tour you pick, be sure to check what the cost includes (entrance tickets, lunch, etc) so you can budget for expenses properly.

1 Day Itinerary For Braga And Guimarães

This 1 day itinerary will help you hit the top sights and get a taste of the history, architecture, and local culture in these two charming cities. I did this exact itinerary so I can confirm it fit into 1 day without feeling rushed.

🔹Start the day with an early morning train from Sao Bento in Porto out to Braga. Depending on what train you catch it will be about a 60-75 minute journey. During prime commuting hours the cost of a train ticket is a bit higher. I recommend catching a train around 8:00am so you have the full day to explore both places.

The interior of São Bento train station in Porto, Portugal, featuring grand arched windows and walls decorated with traditional blue and white azulejo tiles depicting historical scenes. The high ceiling has intricate moldings and a warm yellow tone. A large clock hangs above the main departure board, and several people stand in the spacious hall, looking at the timetable or waiting near the platform entrance. The scene captures the architectural elegance and cultural richness of the station.

🔹Walk from the train station down the road and through the iconic entrance arch, Arco da Porta Nova, to the historic center. It’s not more than a 10 minute walk. Hopefully, it will be a less rainy day than when I did this 1 day itinerary ;).

A rainy street scene in Braga, Portugal, with a person walking toward the historic Arco da Porta Nova, an ornate stone archway. Surrounding buildings feature classic European architecture, including a blue-tiled facade and yellow-painted walls. A leafless tree stands on the right, and reflections of the buildings shimmer on the wet pavement.

🔹Grab brunch from A Brasileira, an iconic and historic cafe. Or try Maria Miguel or Antu Braga if it’s too busy at A Brasileira. We ate at Antu and enjoyed our breakfast dishes!

🔹Visit Braga Cathedral, where you can pay to tour the inside of the cathedral. Plan to be here for about an hour.

The interior of Braga Cathedral in Portugal, displaying a Romanesque and Gothic architectural style with tall stone arches and ribbed vaulted ceilings. Wooden pews line the central aisle, leading toward an intricately designed altar adorned with religious icons and a stained glass window above, casting soft light over the sanctuary. Decorative banners hang on the side walls, and the stone columns and walls give the space a historic and reverent atmosphere.

🔹Walk around to check out other some other sights including Palacio do Raio and the central square with a fountain, Praça da Republica.

The Palácio do Raio, a historic Baroque building in Braga, Portugal, features a facade adorned with blue and white azulejos (ceramic tiles) and intricate stonework. Large, ornately framed windows and blue wrought-iron balconies line the building, while vibrant blue doors stand out against the detailed stone carvings. Statues flank the main entrance, adding to the grand appearance. Two people with umbrellas walk past on the rain-soaked cobblestone street. — **Palacio do Raio**

🔹Optional: Depending on how early you started your day you can visit Bom Jesus Do Monte before continuing onto Guimarães. The iconic sanctuary offers panoramic views and is famed for its baroque stairway. Add another 1.5-2 hours to your time in Braga if you opt to go here. It’s a bit outside of the city so you’ll need to account for the travel time.

🔹Order an Uber for the ~35 minute drive to Guimarães. Set the destination as Guimarães Castle.

🔹You should aim to leave Braga around 1:30-2:00pm (3:30 at the latest if you visit Bom Jesus Do Monte) so you have time to visit both the Castle and the Palace in Guimarães before they close at 6:00pm. Alternatively, you could skip the Palace and just visit the Castle.

🔹Visit Guimarães Castle. This fortress, built in the 10th century, is a national symbol of the struggle for independence.

Stone fortress with tall, crenellated walls and an arched entrance, surrounded by large moss-covered rocks, under a cloudy sky. A Portuguese flag flies atop one of the towers of Guimaraes Castle.

🔹Tour Ducal Palace, a 15th century royal residence that now operates as a museum. Tour the opulent rooms and grand halls to get a glimpse into the lives of Portugal’s former ruling family.

🔹Walk from there down the street a few minutes to the historic center. Here you can wander the stone lanes of the old town, admiring the traditional architecture and stopping to browse local shops.

🔹Grab dinner in the historic center. Praça de São Tiago is a lively central square surrounded by colorful historic buildings and cafés.

🔹Catch the train back to Porto. Be sure you look up the train schedule and start your walk to the train station with plenty of time. It’s about a 15 minute walk (partially uphill) from the historic center to the train station.

view of Guimarães train station in Portugal, featuring a row of tall, dark green doors with arched windows. The building’s facade is adorned with traditional blue and white Portuguese tiles along the lower half, with the station name 'Guimarães' displayed above the central door. Railroad tracks run across the foreground, and an overhanging metal roof with ornate supports provides shelter above the platform.

FAQs: Itinerary For Braga And Guimarães

How much time do you need to visit Braga from Porto?

I’d advise spending three to four hours in Braga itself. If you head out to Bom Jesus Do Monte add another two hours into your time there because of its location outside of Braga.

Keep in mind the train takes about an hour and ten minutes each way.

How much time do you need in Guimarães?

You only need 2-3 hours in Guimarães to see the highlights. You can start with a visit to the castle, then the Palace, and end with a stroll through the historic center. Add another 1.5 hours if you plan to enjoy a nice meal while you’re in town.

You can walk to the train station from the historic center to catch a train back to Porto, but it’s a solid 15 minute walk (with some uphill parts) so allow adequate time to get there.

How to get to Braga and Guimarães from Porto

If you are not taking an organized tour, then I’d recommend taking the train to Braga from Porto. From São Bento train station there are almost hourly trains running to Braga and slightly less frequently to Guimarães.

Check the train schedule but there should be plenty of options for planning your day.

🚆 São Bento (Porto) ➡️ Braga

🚆 São Bento (Porto) ➡️ Guimarães

🚗 Alternatively, you can rent a car from Porto and drive yourself to both cities.

How to get from Braga to Guimarães

While the train from Porto to both cities is easy, there is no direct train between Braga and Guimarães. It would require you to take the train back towards Porto and then transferring to another line to go back out towards the other city.

I recommend taking an Uber between Braga and Guimarães. This is what I did and it worked perfectly for seeing both cities in one day from Porto. The cost of the Uber (especially if you are sharing with travel companions) is still significantly less than the cost of the organized tours to both cities in one day.

The drive between Braga and Guimarães only takes about 35-40 minutes. The Uber we took cost €25 mid-day.

🚗 Alternatively, you can rent a car from Porto and drive yourself to both cities.

Guimarães vs. Braga: which is better to visit?

The answer truly depends on what you seek in your travels. Guimarães is smaller and less commercial than Braga. If you are a history buff or looking for a more relaxing historic center to enjoy then head to Guimarães.

For a more of a modern energy mixed with older charm, Braga might be more appealing. There’s a more diverse culinary scene and more places to go out if you are planning an overnight trip.

If you prefer a slower pace of travel, you can easily fill up a full day in each place.

Top Things To See in Braga

Braga, one of Portugal’s oldest cities, offers a mix of historical sites and a vibrant, modern energy.

Arco da Porta Nova

Archway that serves as a pedestrian entrance to the historic center on a lively shopping street.

Braga Cathedral

The oldest cathedral in Portugal, with stunning architecture and art. You can take a tour to admire the Romanesque and Gothic architecture, and don’t miss the ornate 18th century silver altar.

Bom Jesus do Monte

This UNESCO-listed site features an iconic Baroque staircase that winds up the hillside, dotted with chapels. Enjoy the gardens and take the elevator or walk up the steps to reach the church at the top for some nice views.

Raio Palace

Admire the striking Baroque architecture of this 18th-century palace, known for its pretty blue and white façade.

A grand, ornate building facade with intricate architectural details, including a large blue wooden door framed by elaborately carved stone elements. The building is adorned with a patterned tile wall and decorative wrought-iron balconies. A person's hands are shown holding a smartphone, capturing a photograph of Palacio do Raio.

Braga Municipal Stadium

For sports enthusiasts, a visit to this unique stadium, designed by famous architect Eduardo Souto de Moura, is a must. It’s embedded in the Monte Castro hillside, offering stunning views. Check the schedule ahead of your trip to Braga.

Top Things To See in Guimarães

Guimarães is synonymous with the birth of Alfonso Henriques, who would become Portugal’s first king. The city was central to his early life and his eventual declaration of independence from the Kingdom of Leon.

The Battle of São Mamede (1128) is often cited as the foundational moment of the Portuguese nation, this battle near Guimarães saw Alfonso Henriques defeat his mother’s forces to establish his sole rule. This victory is considered the pivotal step toward Portugal’s independence as a separate entity from the Kingdom of Leon.

Guimarães Castle

This medieval castle is a symbol of Portuguese identity and a must-visit for history enthusiasts.

Ducal Palace

A 15th-century architectural marvel, showcasing the splendor of the Braganza dynasty. There’s an entrance fee to get inside and see the palace and museum.

Historic Center

A UNESCO World Heritage site, the charming streets and plazas of Guimarães are filled with historical intrigue.

TLDR: Braga And Guimarães 1 Day Itinerary

Both Guimarães and Braga offer enriching experiences steeped in culture and history. Guimarães captivates with its medieval charm and significant historical sites, while Braga has more of a lively atmosphere with a small city feel.

Consider visiting both! They are close enough to each other to make a combined day trip feasible, allowing you to experience the best of both worlds.

Are you looking for other activities while in Porto? Don’t miss a Porto boat tour during your trip!