Hi everyone,
I'm planning my first trip to northern Portugal during the first week of September. I am wondering which charming city or village would be an excellent base for day trips (e.g., to Geres NP, Duoro, Braga, Guimaraes, Minho, etc). I want to rent a car to access more remote areas and need flexibility for my trip planning because of the wildfires. If you've done this or something similar, I'd be grateful for suggestions.
Thank you!
Genevive
Posted by
Vermont
17 posts
We spent three wonderful nights in Guimares. We really liked the Minho area.
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
7926 posts
Choosing a base would be dependent on where one wants to day trip to. I’d choose the town closest to most of the places I want to visit. When I make day trips I try to go no further than 1.5 hours from my lodging. I go to the furthest place first then work my way back.
Fortunately, right now there are no fires in the Geres, Braga area. Where there may be fires in September is anyone’s guess.
Posted by
Cascais, Portugal
1938 posts
I spent five nights in Braga last year and visited the places you mentioned. It was not too long a drive to the other cities other than Castelo Branco. It was a great place to stay a few nights. Lots of restaurants and the Bom Jesus church outside of town.
BTW - if you want to do wine tastings, they must be booked ahead of time with the wineries. They don’t have the same set up as in the U.S. and you can’t just drive up and expect a tasting.
And, historically, fires calm down by September. But, this year has been especially bad, so it’s wise to stay aware.