We will be on a tour with the option of spending an afternoon one day or a full day another day in Porto or:
1} taking a 5 hr day trip to Guimaraes and not seeing Porto at all that day.
and on the last full day:
2} taking an 8 hr day trip to Braga and Barcelos. We will only have the prior evening to explore Porto, and whatever time we have left upon our return from these two Northern Portugal cities.. If we don't go to these two cities, this would be our only full day to explore Porto, since we will be leaving the next morning for home. I'm torn. Are these two cities so unique that missing exploring Porto for the day is worth it?
Posted by
Cascais, Portugal
1824 posts
I, personally, would stay in Porto. It’s such a lovely city, it would be a shame to miss it. While I enjoyed Braga and Guimarães, you would be spending a few hours in a car rather than having a relaxing day strolling around Porto and enjoying the food, scenery, etc. I’m also thinking you will be driving a lot on the tour and ready to spend a day outside a car.
Posted by
Paris
7312 posts
I would skip Braga & Barcelos. Guimarães is lovely and still leaves a bit of time in Porto on that day.
Posted by
OP
Folsom, California, usa
39 posts
Thank you both for your replies! This is exactly the feedback I needed to hear!
Our tour consists of 7 days on the Douro River, with day trips from the ports where we're docked.
I think we'll go ahead with Guimaraes, which does leave us with the evening, but skip the all day Brago & Barcelos bus tours. We've traveled extensively in Europe/Asia/India so we have seen many "old cities" so we'll concentrate on our full day in Porto. Any suggestions as to perhaps a foodie tour or fado performance?
Also, this is for Kathryn: I see you are from Cascais. We will be forgoing the Lisbon day tour before we head to board the river cruise in Porto. (we've been to Lisbon before} and taking the train to Cascais. Any suggestions while we're there?
Posted by
Los Angeles, CA
700 posts
Its not that Porto is so lovely, its a major tourist magnet and you can easily spend a day or more just hanging out on the bridge, both shorelines, or in the area near Sao Bento station. It's super hilly. A lot of traffic. Plan to do a lot of walking! It's an over-the-top place that can not be digested in an afternoon, or perhaps a single day.
Guimaraes is much smaller, more laid back place. The city center is slightly prettified medieval city center - nothing too pretty, and nothing too old or crude. It is also got a number of charming cathedrals, duke's palace, and castle. There are tourists but very few really. So it makes a nice day trip. the city center is about 20 minute walk from the train station.
Posted by
Cascais, Portugal
1824 posts
For Cascais, just wander is my suggestion. There will be a crowd when you get off the train, you can just follow the crowd into town. The part of town on the train station side of town is nice but if you walk down the hill and cross a busy street, it takes you up to a more charming part of town with narrow winding streets. There is a section called ‘yellow street’ with lots of restaurants (most of which are quite good).
You can walk or take an Uber or Bolt to Boca do Inferno then walk back town along the sea. Or, walk the Paredão from Cascais to Estoril along the water. Be sure to have a long lunch someplace.
Posted by
OP
Folsom, California, usa
39 posts
Thank you "Rail Rider" and Kathryn for your great input!
Kathryn: If we walk or ride to Estoril from Cascais how would we get back to Lisbon from Estoril?
How far apart are the two cities and how long would it take to ride or walk there?
And once in Estoril, what do you suggest we do there? Or, should we just concentrate on spending the day in Cascais and not attempt to overdo it our first full day after flying into Lisbon from San Francisco?