Getaways
Coming to Porto can be an opportunity to take short trips – one day or longer – to some popular destinations in Portugal. Here are a few notes on possible getaways:
DOURO VALLEY AND VINEYARDS. The Alto Douro Wine Region is UNESCO World Heritage. As we can read at the UNESCO World Heritage Convention’s website, “The cultural landscape of the Alto Douro Wine Region is an outstanding example of humankind’s unique relationship with the natural environment”. From Porto, among other ways, you can visit the region on the Douro Historical Train, which runs between June and October.
Image credits: Associação de Turismo do Porto e Norte, AR | CC BY-NC-ND
GERÊS. The Peneda-Gerês National Park is located in the north-west of Portugal, spanning the districts of Braga, Viana do Castelo and Vila Real. It is the only protected area in Portugal classified as national park. In Gerês you can take part in activities to explore the local fauna (e.g., the garrano ponies, the Barrosã cattle or the Castro Laboreiro dogs) and flora (e.g., the Gerês lilly), in watersports, as well as go hiking, and visit river beaches and the abundant waterfalls.
Image credits: Associação de Turismo do Porto e Norte, AR | CC BY-NC-ND
EXPLORING CITIES IN MINHO. Located 60 km north of Porto, Guimarães is deemed the birthplace of the country. A few kilometers away, Braga is another historical town worth visiting. Viana do Castelo is a coastal city, known for its rich ethnographic traditions.
Image credits: Associação de Turismo do Porto e Norte, AR | CC BY-NC-ND
The Portuguese Way of St. James (Caminho Português de Santiago) is full of beautiful paths through nature and traditional towns, so if you like walking, this is a great plan, even if you don’t go all the way to Galicia. If you’re starting from Porto, explore the Portuguese Coastal Way.
Image credits: Associação de Turismo do Porto e Norte, AR | CC BY-NC-ND
In case you prefer to go south of Porto, it is worth visiting the cities of Aveiro and Coimbra. Both cities are situated close enough for a one-day trip.