Northern Portugal Tours and Trips 2024/2025

Braga’s Baroque charm, Porto’s sunsets dancing off of colorful buildings, Vila Nova de Gaia’s underground Port cellars, and the medieval castles of Guimarães beckon travelers to Northern Portugal. Home to some of Portugal’s most important landmarks (like Valença Fortress), Unesco World Heritage Sites (Côa Valley), natural attractions and a whole lot of history, you can feel like a true adventurer and explorer in this part of the country. Travel inland and you will be greeted by rocky mountains, national parks, and terraced vineyards. For a memorable seaside escape during your Portugal trip, Norte Region, as it is also known, has several beaches, like Praia de Moledo, Praia de Afife, and Praia do Cabedelo, to choose from.


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Northern Portugal — Tour Highlights and Travel Tips

A woman stands in front of a stunningly designed Baroque architecture
The Baroque style construction of the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus spanned over six centuries.

Northern Portugal Tour Highlights

  • Follow the insightful Romanesque Route, covering three regions in Northern Portugal (Sousa Valley, Tâmega Valley and Douro Valley). Outlined with 58 monuments, monasteries and castles, investigate the country’s medieval roots.
  • Go Porto-tasting through the terracing Douro Valley, pit-stopping at the traditional family-run Quintas.
  • Go on an eight-kilometer walk along the wooden Paiva Walkways (Passadicos do Paiva), straddling the Paiva River in Areinho. From here, go abseiling or add a river rafting adventure to your Northern Portugal itinerary. Also, don’t miss the second-longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the world: 175-meter-high Arouca Bridge!
  • Spot the endangered Iberian Wolf during hikes inside Peneda-Gerês National Park or chase powerful waterfalls created by the River Olo within Parque Natural do Alvão.
  • Visit one of the world’s most stunning bookstores (Livraria Lello), photograph the iconic blue tiles (azulejo) at São Bento Train Station and stroll the cobbled alleyways in Porto.
  • Marvel at Braga’s Baroque masterpiece: the 17th-century organ inside the Braga Cathedral.
  • Take a scenic one-hour train ride from Porto to Guimarães, the birthplace of Portugal. Once here, catch the town’s gondola up Penha hill. On a clear day, the views up top stretch over the North, and you can walk back down.
  • Photograph the candy-colored houses in Aveiro or go surfing at Praia do Bico in Afife or Matosinhos beach.
  • Hunt down these “stairways to heaven,” i.e., miradouros (viewpoints): Boneca, Ujo and Olhos do Tua.

Northern Portugal Travel Tips

  • Plan your days wisely. Northern Portugal is large, so you will want to spend at least a week exploring the region. While villages can easily be explored on a day trip, you must dedicate at least two days to tour major cities.
  • Hiring a car is a great way to travel around Northern Portugal, as some places can’t be reached on public transports.
  • Save money by using the regional trains and buses. Fantastic day trips from Porto via train include Guimarães, Braga, Aveiro, Matosinhos and the Douro Valley.
  • If Porto is your base, consider purchasing a Porto Card (including free local transport, museum admissions and discounts at city attractions).
  • Summer (June to September) is the busiest season and also the most expensive time to travel. Winter (December to March) brings rain, but everything is cheaper.
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