Braga and Guimaraes

Look at another guidebook! The RS guide for Portugal is woefully inadequate, really only seems to cover the places that the RS tours go to. I also used the Lonely Planet guide and internet resources too. One of the best is Julie Dawn Fox. I also got a lot of useful info on this site. Scroll to the bottom for links to the places it covers and take the practical information with more than a grain of salt.

I will echo Chani. RS has his favorites and that’s fine, but, there are many wonderful places he leaves out - in Portugal and every other country he writes about.
That said, with 3-4 days in Porto, I’m not sure I would do two day trips. Porto itself is very lovely, and, if you include time spent in Gaia (Port and wine tasting) and Matosinhos (for wonderful grilled fish), you can easily fill the limited time you have.
Taste Porto has a great food tour of Porto that is well worth your time.

Thanks for the responses.........Much appreciated.

Braga and Guimarães are on separate rail lines, so you would have to pick one for a day trip. I liked Guimarães but I have never been to Braga, so cannot advise further.

We enjoyed Guimares, sleeping at the Pousada, with a rental car. I remember how the weekend cablecar rides were dominated by locals, not tourists. We saw an old but still active municipal public hand laundry pavilion along the road.

Thanks again fro the responses.

We also stayed at Guimares’ pousada and enjoyed the town a lot. It was Portugal's original capital so has historical sites, a castle and more.
Rick Steve’s books are not comprehensive. I use Cadogan, Frommers, Fodors, DK Eyewitness.
I would not do two day trips if only in Porto for only three days.
We found the day cruise up the Douro monotonous, terraced vineyards the whole way.