Unforgettable Braga & Guimaraes: Birthplace Tour from Porto
The Minho region is an old Portuguese province and its located in the North of Portugal. Minho is known for its green landscapes, crossed by affluent rivers, and the biodiversity enriches the views for those who visit Minho. The region presents a big coastal zone with beautiful beaches. The full-day Tour to Minho gives you the opportunity to visit the region and two cities: Guimaraes and Braga. Travel through the Minho and visit the historical centers of these two cities learning about Portuguese history in the process.
Reviews
Reviews and Rating (Tripadvisor)
5 stars
4 stars
Reviews by Tripadvisor travelers
Wander45547232899, 10/22/2025 3:48:26 PM
The tour guide Tanya is awesome (also the driver), both are professional and great. A joyful and memorable trip. Already expect next day trip.
Dianne_G, 10/22/2025 3:08:19 PM
The Basilica was very amazing, followed by an interesting and informative visit to the town of Braga. The fort at Guimaraes was a shell but could walk along the top of the walls. Guimaraes itself was quite small and not a lot to see but used as a lunch stop. Guide was knowledgeable but was difficult to understand at times.
Key_S, 10/21/2025 6:38:18 AM
Pedro was a great guide and Manuel an excellent driver. Although we had a lot of rain we were able to see the highlights of each city.
Leesa-Maree A, 10/21/2025 2:12:03 AM
Even though it was a rainy day, it didn’t dampen the spirits of anyone on board. Our tour guide, Castro, was absolutely fantastic – as was our bus driver. Castro was enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about sharing the beauty and history of his country. The tour was filled with so many highlights that it’s hard to choose just one, but a special mention goes to lunch in Braga with Castro at a local restaurant he always frequents. The traditional Portuguese food, reasonable prices, and welcoming atmosphere made it a real highlight of the day. It was incredible to visit so many historical sites, including the birthplace of Portugal – truly a memorable and educational experience. I have to commend Castro for his professionalism and patience. He delivered all explanations in both Portuguese and English, which must have been exhausting by the end of the day, and he also managed to assist an elderly couple who were finding the cobblestones, inclines, and steps quite challenging. Hats off to him – he did a fantastic job! One small suggestion: if numbers allow, perhaps consider having separate buses for Portuguese and English-speaking groups. It would save time and energy for the guide and allow for a more relaxed experience for everyone. Finally, a note of feedback for passenger health and comfort: at least two people on our small bus were coughing throughout the trip. It might be worth including a condition that participants should be symptom-free before boarding, as confined spaces with air-conditioning make it easy for illness to spread. Overall, despite the weather, this was a brilliant day tour and I’d highly recommend it to anyone visiting the region.
CatherineM_E, 10/20/2025 11:15:01 PM
Very informative. Really loved the castle. Rainy dat but tour guide pushed through. Bus ride was nice with good people
Holly_G, 10/20/2025 3:17:46 PM
Loved it. Pedro was great as our guide. Plenty of time at each stop. Beautiful van to ride in. Cool day
KIRSIMARJA_D, 10/18/2025 1:49:47 PM
The tour was very good and nice. Our guide Castro was good. It was hard to follow some of the info because he was talking to both Spanish speaking people and English speaking people. When I booked the tour, I booked the English tour but to our surprise it was in two languages, not the best idea.
vinni456, 10/18/2025 4:59:25 AM
Apart from having to get up early everything was wonderful. Our tour guild was a fountain of knowledge about every aspect of our excursion. Keeping us well informed and entertained. The fact that the weather was sunshine all day and our driver handled the driving with such confidence was the icing on the cake. The cherry on the cake were the other passengers who were delightful and we made some good friends. Braga and Guimaraes make for a wonderful day out stepping back into ancient history.
Nigel_F, 10/16/2025 9:06:03 AM
In 2 languages but much of the commentary was on the mini bus so not really an issue. Very informative and sufficient time to explore on your own.
Julie_F, 10/15/2025 12:46:41 PM
The 2 cities we visited were lovely. It was nice to do something a bit off the beaten path. Our group consisted of both English and Spanish speaking tourists. Though our guide did his best to accommodate both groups, it did make things a bit clunky.
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Duration: the hours of duration are approximate 9 hours, The Tour is subject to local traffic, visit schedules, etc
- Please kindly note that access that the castle of Guimaraes has limited access and the access to the walls are now prohibited.
- Tours are usually in one language, but a second language may be used.
- Group size maximum capacity is 27 people.
- Discover Porto in a unique way with a Free Walking Tour with Living Tours, available to all customers who book this activity. Our Free Walking Tour is available on a daily basis, in English and Spanish, at 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. departing from Living Tours Agency located in Rua Mouzinho da Silveira 352, 4050-418 Porto
Departure point
Meeting Point: Calçada da Vandoma, Porto – just next to Porto Cathedral (Sé do Porto). Look out for our friendly staff dressed in red and clearly identified with Living Tours. They’ll be ready to check you in and introduce you to your guide for the tour.Return details
The Minho region is an old Portuguese province and its located in the North of Portugal. Minho is known for its green landscapes, crossed by affluent rivers, and the biodiversity enriches the views for those who visit Minho. The region presents a big coastal zone with beautiful beaches. The full-day Tour to Minho gives you the opportunity to visit the region and two cities: Guimaraes and Braga. Travel through the Minho and visit the historical centers of these two cities learning about Portuguese history in the process.Redemption
Meeting Point: Calçada da Vandoma, Porto – just next to Porto Cathedral (Sé do Porto). Look out for our friendly staff dressed in red and clearly identified with Living Tours. They’ll be ready to check you in and introduce you to your guide for the tour. Please note that the drop-off point at the end of the tour is currently Rua Alexandre Herculano, next to Batalha Square.24 hours before travel date - 100% refund
Less than 24 hours before travel date - 0% refund