A Family Adventure from Porto to Braga and Guimarães

We had four days in Porto, Portugal so decided to take a day trip from Porto and see something nearby. Perusing the various tour options from Porto, and looking to steer clear of the wine tours because we had an elementary-aged kiddo with us, I came across the “Best of Braga and Guimaraes Day Trip from Porto” on a few sites and decided it was the one for us.

Visiting at the end of October, leading into the rainy season in Portugal, we were graced with our tour on the rainiest day of our time in Porto, but we made the best of it and saw clear blue skies by afternoon thankfully. This full-day guided tour, departing from Porto, offered us a blend of bucolic countryside views, historic cities, and delicious cuisine. It was definitely a memorable tour.

Is the Best of Braga and Guimaraes Day Trip from Porto family-friendly? Find out how we made it work:

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Bom Jesus do Monte
Lunch at Donna Se
Braga Cathedral
The Castle of Guimarães
Stroll through Guimarães
Nossa Senhora da Consolação e dos Santos Passos Church

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You can book this tour on Klook and on Get Your Guide

Bom Jesus do Monte

Our first stop of the day was Bom Jesus do Monte which is a Catholic shrine just outside of Braga. The longest journey on the bus was from Porto to this site. If you’re taking the kiddos, just pack a book or two for them to dig into on the way.

Bom Jesus do Monte means “Good Jesus of the Mount”. One of the most picturesque sites on the entire tour, even in the rain, there was something magical as the clouds covered the city below and the fog enveloped us on the steps.

Known for its symbolism and peaceful atmosphere, the site was enchanting. Be prepared for the hike though. From the parking lot, you’ll come into the site at the top and then have to walk down the long zig-zagging flight of stairs to the bottom. Be sure to look inside the mini chapels on the sides of the stairs for dioramas of bible scenes.

Once at the bottom, you’ll want to look out over the city and into the clouds like us, but you should also turn around and see the majestic beauty of the staircase behind you and then prepare yourself to hike back up again. The 577-step staircase, adorned with fountains and statues representing various religious and allegorical themes, was definitely the highlight but of course, don’t miss entering into the main chapel. It’s gorgeous inside.

Address: Estrada do Bom Jesus, 4715-056 Tenões, Portugal
Hours: Every day: 9:00am ~ 7:00pm

Family-friendly tips:

Bathrooms: There are two bathrooms on the premises. One has a fee associated with it, but one is free. For the free one, you can find it on the right side if you’re looking at the main chapel.
Mini-Chapel Dioramas: As you descend on the steps, you’ll wan tto look at the dioramas of bible-scenes in the mini-chapels. They may not all be child-friendly though, so check first to decide how you feel.

Lunch at Donna Se

After visiting Bom Jesus de Monte, the bus weaved back down the mountain and into Braga’s central area where there are plenty of restaurants to choose from for lunch. Our guide showed us where the Braga Cathedral was so we knew were to meet back up after lunch and then let us on our way.

The tour has the option to have lunch with the guide or go on your own to find a restaurant. I heard the lunch that was included was great. We opted to go on our own mostly because I may have some picky eaters and it’s just easier to have some control on the food front and down time from a group, I’m sure other parents out there get me. If you want to know what else we ate in Portugal, check out our family-friendly food guide to Porto.

Prior to our tour, I had checked out the food scene in Braga a bit and had marked a couple spots and saw that Donna Se was right around the corner from where we were. Perfect! We had a delicious bacalhau dish. Bacalhau à Narcisa is a dried and salted codfish dish which is a favorite in Braga. To balance it out with my beef loving daughter, we got a delicious and perfectly cooked steak. We walked in sopping wet from the rain that just happened to start pouring when we got off the bus and the staff welcomed us in with open arms, even my crying daughter who was not a fan of the downpour situation. Lunch was amazing.

Address: Largo do Paço 18, 4700-317 Braga, Portugal
Hours: Every day: 12:00pm ~ 4:00pm and 7:00pm ~ 11:00pm

Family-friendly tips:

If you have a child that is a picky eater or needs a little downtime from a group atmosphere that can be overstimulating, opt to get food on your own in Braga. There are plenty of restaurants to choose from. Just look up a few options in advance of arrival so you know where to go. You’ll want to choose something around Braga Cathedral on the map.

Braga Cathedral

In Braga’s city center, the Braga Cathedral, a monument dating back to the 11th century, awaited us after lunch. We met back up with our tour guide and he took us into this amazing historical landmark. It is said to be one of the most important buildings in the country. The Diocese of Braga dates from the 3rd century AD. The cathedral’s stunning organ and the burial site of Saint Peter of Rates added layers of historical and religious significance.

Address: R. Dom Paio Mendes, 4700-424 Braga, Portugal
Hours: Every day: 8:00am ~ 7:00pm

The Castle of Guimarães

In Guimarães, we stepped back in time at the Castle of Guimarães. This 10th-century castle, linked to the foundation of Portugal, was a testament to the nation’s rich history. Unfortunately, our stop here was pretty quick because it was under construction so we couldn’t climb up. We got to go inside the main walls, but couldn’t go up as I noticed others had in the past.

Address: R. Conde Dom Henrique, 4800-412 Guimarães, Portugal

Stroll through Guimarães

From the castle at the top of the hill, we strolled through Guimarães enjoying the picturesque buildings, and of course still spotting as many Portuguese tile works as we could, as the guide pointed out some of the beautiful facades and decoration. Guimarães is a historic town that has been listed as an UNESCO World Heritage Site for being an exceptionally well-preserved and authentic example of the evolution of a medieval settlement into a modern town in Europe.

Guimarães precedes the foundation of Portugal and because of its role in the foundation of the country is known as the “cradle of the Portuguese nationality”. Doesn’t that just sound beautiful?

Family-friendly tips:

The most walking you’ll do all day is when you stroll through the village walking down from the castle to the village’s main area. It’s not substantial but more than other spots so point out things to see along the way so your little one doesn’t realize all of the steps.

Nossa Senhora da Consolação e dos Santos Passos Church

After weaving through the cobble streets with beautiful facades, we came down to this beautiful formal garden that led up to the Church of Our Lady of Consolation and the Holy Steps. Considered one of Portugal’s most exquisite baroque church, it was built in the 18th century. We didn’t go inside, unfortunately, but enjoyed the zig zagging through the garden up to the steps where we got back on our bus to head back to Porto.

Address: Largo de São Brás 42, 4810-531 Guimarães, Portugal

Our day trip from Porto to Braga and Guimarães was more than just a tour; it was an immersion into the heart of Portugal’s history, culture, and beauty. Doing a full day trip with a child isn’t always the first thing parents sign up for, but this tour was just the right balance of bus and walking that it wasn’t too intense for the little person we had in tow. Opting out of the formal lunch with the group was also ideal so that we could have a little down time of our own.

If you’re looking for a beautiful day trip option from Porto for your family, this is a great option to learn about the history, culture, and beauty of northern Portugal.

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