Porto and Day Trips - Just Starting
 

Two years ago we stopped in Lisbon for 5 days (incl a day trip to Casais) and enjoyed it very much.

I'm thinking next summer it might be an idea to spend some time in Porto and do a few day trips from there.
Firstly, the rule is that we don't rent a car in Europe. That rule is non-negotiable. Last summer when there was really no way to see the Loire Valley Chateaux that I wanted and for the time I wanted we hired a driver and that worked out very well.

We are not big museum (though we do visit some) and church goers. We wander around seeing the sights.
What I'm thinking about is possibly 3 days for Porto and two day trips.
One would be raga and Guimaraes. If we choose to visit only one of these which would you suggest and why?
Another day trip would be Aveiro and Coimbra. My guess is this would be too rushed given the train times. One possibility would be to go on an overnight trip keeping our hotel in Porto and taking with just a small backpack each with toiletries and change of clothing.
Any comments and thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks.

I have not been to Raga, but thought Guimaraes was worth a visit. Rather than keeping your hotel in Porto, why not just have the hotel hold your luggage, then return the next day. Duplicate payments for hotels are a waste--have a good meal instead!

Do you mean Braga and Guimaraes? I did both by train from Porto - both are neat but I'd pick Guimaraes because that town also has a really famous pilgrimage church where pilgrims climb the long zigzagging and ornate staircase. Quite a sight:

https://www.google.com/search?q=guimaraes+bom+jesus+images&tbm=isch&tbo=u &source=univ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiY7Yi24f_eAhVpwYMKHdo XBOoQsAR6BAgGEAE&biw=1269&bih=614

For more info on Porto area trains and where to go check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

I recommend a visit of the Valley of Duro. We did it by car, you can do it by boat. I found this blog interesting at the time - in French, but pictures and itiiniraries are easily readable.

https://www.jdroadtrip.tv/blog/visit...llee-du-douro/

I did the whole Duoro River 2 years ago and any place you choose will be great.

Braga and Guimaraes.......... both of these are very nice with their own unique architecture .

Lamego is very nice and I would recommend you go there also, when you visit that Cathedral at the top of the hill ,at the end of main street, it is about 686 step going up but it is

a zig zag pattern of steps, the views from the top are terrific.


Aveiro , this is a very lovely seaside town , you can take a canal ride here........and Coimbra is the University town and from the hilltop ( the University is in the centre of town but on a hilltop) you can see all of Coimbra

Oh yes Coimbra is pronounced Queem- Bra !!

You will not go wrong no matter which place you choose

I spent a few nights in Porto and Coimbra back in May. I got between them by train. Coimbra is an easy day trip from Porto by train. Tip: you'll probably stay near Porto's Sao Bento station, but you have to change at Campanha station to get many places beyond Porto. Coimbra has the same situation: the thru trains use Coimbra-B station, but to get to town you need to take a short trade ride from there to the little Coimbra station. But some regional trains go directly from Campanha to the little Coimbra station. Even though they take a tad longer (make most stops), you won't have to change at Coimbra-B. So one of the fast trains may save you little if no time (but cost more than the regional train).

Coimbra is small and can easily be explored in half a day. Walk up the steep streets of town to the university at the top. You can get a tour of the university (recommended). Unlike Porto and Lisbon, Coimbra isn't especially touristy. There are some Roman ruins outside of Coimbra that I didn't see; I take it you can get out there by public transportation, but I didn't bother.

Percy if you don’t mind me asking how long did you spend in the Duoro Valley? I was thinking 3 days for Porto and 3 more for Duoro.

I saw fantastic roman ruins in portugal, maybe they were the ones close to Coimbra, don't remember - more like a full village than just ruins, with extraordinary well preserved mosaics. A highlight of our trip actually.

Conimbriga, and yes only 16 kms from Coimbra https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Con%C3%ADmbriga
There were 10 tourists when we went. Us included.

If you like restaurants, we had a great evening at Pedro Lemos in Porto (at the end of a tram line something da Foz) a one star michelin that was really worth it.

Thanks for the quick responses.

Burta, as we get older we've started to pamper ourselves a little. So better flights and hotels and keeping our base hotel on overnight day trips is becoming the norm.

Palenq, yes it's a typo. I meant Braga.

Andrew, thanks for explaining Coimbra's train stations

Thanks to all who responded.

You mean Bom Jesus, right? It is outside of Braga, not Guimarães.

It is very pretty but with limited time I'd choose Guimarães. It is the birthplace of Portugal after all and is a more appealing place than Braga in my opinion.
The castle has an interesting timeline of the history of Portugal inside one of the rooms there. If you do visit Guimarães make sure to try one of the pastries they make with spaghetti squash.

If you want to go to the Douro without a car, it would be a good idea to leave your stuff in a hotel in Porto and take the train to Pinhão. You won't be able to get up into the vineyards without a car, but there are a few places in town to do a tasting and tour. And there are taxis in front of the train station.

No, I meant Braga.
I'd be more interested in scenery on the Douro than actually visiting wineries. If there is scenery.

You mean Bom Jesus, right? It is outside of Braga, not Guimarães.>

Oops I went to both and always mix that up! I agree that Guimaraes is a more interesting town And as railatogrl says it part of the Portuguese national patrimony, being birthplace of the nation.

Duroro scenery? I went by train and felt yes it's a nice valley but to me not extraordinary - but the vineyards always are neat even if don't care for wineries.

Duroro valley images: https://www.google.com/search?q=dour...w=1280&bih=625

natylou
I was there for a week and started at the Spain Portugal Border...all the way to the Atlantic oitlet.

I was Porto as my home base for 3 days.
from here I went to many of the other places going to Lisbon.

natylou
I was there for a week and started at the Spain Portugal Border...all the way to the Atlantic oitlet.

I was Porto as my home base for 3 days.
from here I went to many of the other places going to Lisbon.

Thanks. This is becoming a little clearer.

Glad to see Andrew here! We too were in Porto and Lisbon in May of this year. We liked it so much, we are returning May 2019 for a 2 week road trip of the coast.

We stayed at an excellent hostel in Porto. Our 1st hostel and we are likely ruined for life! Had a private room and bath in a newly acquired building across the street from main building. Quiet, clean and Ikea like furnishings.
Gallery Hostel Porto - Luxury Hostel in Downtown Porto - Portugal I can't recommend it highly enough. Nice dinner for 10 Euros and free breakfast which was good too.

Working on the details. Will check back for more ideas.

Umh - what is the difference between a Luxury Hostel and a budget hotel? Curious as to about how much it cost? Thanks.

The hostel was just under 100 euros. A budget hotel = an icky place I wouldn't stay in.

Thanks DBN! Place looks tremendous - a happening place.