Day tripsCountriesPortugalPortoPorto to Guimaraes: Private, guided half-day tour

Porto to Guimaraes: Private, guided half-day tour

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Private tour with a local expert

5h
Round trip
Private group
Trusted by 1+ million happy travelers across 120 countries
4.9
Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice 2024
Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice 2024
4.9
5176
Reviews

About your trip

Visit Guimaraes without confining yourself to bus and train schedules!Enjoy a guided tour of Guimarães, the cradle of Portugal with its medieval castle and monastery complex where the nation was born. Explore Renaissance noble houses, scenic squares, and architecture that influenced colonial design across continents while learning about Portugal's founding heritage. After you've learned more about Portugal's national heritage and architectural innovation, you'll enjoy a comfortable journey back to Porto, all with the convenience of a tour guide.
Exclusively yours: A premium experience for your group only
Insider insight: Local tips and stories you won’t find online
Perfect balance: Expert guidance with freedom to explore
Ideal for all travelers: Families, friends, or solo adventurers
From €93
Private group ride
per person
Select date and travelers
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before your pickup time.
For a group of 1-3 travelersTotal€279

What to expect

Your day trip begins wherever you are

Meet your guide right where you prefer in Porto whenever suits you best. No time wasted getting to the pickup point, grab your bag and start your trip right away.

Discover more with local expertise

Your guide is both your expert behind the wheel and knowledgeable host throughout the day. They’ll manage the day’s itinerary, share stories and local knowledge, and make each moment along the route feel richer. At every stop, they’re by your side.

Guided experience with space to explore

Spend three and a half hours exploring this historic city, known as the birthplace of Portugal, with its beautifully preserved medieval center, charming streets, and the iconic Guimarães Castle. Your guide, who is also a professional driver, ensures a smooth and comfortable journey, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the rich history and culture of northern Portugal.

Perfect for any private group

Whether you're traveling solo, as a family with kids, or as a large group, this service is tailored for your comfort and flexibility. It's the ideal option especially if you have limited time or a busy schedule.

Good to know

  • Two-way private car transfer in an air-conditioned vehicle
  • Personalized pickup and drop-off
  • Private professional English-speaking driver-guide
  • Complimentary bottled water
  • Free cancellation 24 hours before departure
  • Attraction admission details specified in the itinerary section below
  • Official guided tours inside attractions in Guimaraes can be purchased separately - inform us in advance for itinerary planning
From €93
Private group ride
per person
Select date and travelers
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before your pickup time.
For a group of 1-3 travelersTotal€279

Your trip at a glance

Your trip at a glance

Start in Porto
You choose the pickup spot.
1
Guimaraes
Feel free to explore at your own pace and discover
Stop: 3 h 30 min - admission not included
Guimaraes
Guimaraes
Guimaraes
Guimaraes
Guimaraes
Guimaraes
Guimaraes
A cradle of kings and cobbled lanes, Guimaraes breathes life into Portugal’s storied beginnings. Often called the birthplace of Portugal, Guimaraes is a living museum of medieval beauty and national pride. Begin at Guimaraes Castle and the Palace of the Dukes, where tales of the first Portuguese king echo through stone halls and hanging tapestries. Then wander into the Old Town, through Rua de Santa Maria and Largo da Oliveira, where iron balconies, Gothic arcades, and intricate tiles create a timeless backdrop. Don’t leave without sampling a Toucinho do Ceu or Bacalhau a Ze do Pipo at a tucked-away tavern - Guimaraes is history you can taste.
Back to Porto
We’ll take you back to your starting point.
Duration of the stops can be changed upon request after booking
Have questions or need help?Contact our Customer Support. We are available 24/7

Daytrip is loved all around the world. Here's why.

5.0
5176 reviewson Tripadvisor
or
4.9
991 reviewson Trustpilot
Great transfer option.

I used this service for a transfer from Split in Croatia to Perast Montenegro. My experience was exceptional. My driver Bojan was helpful, informative and ensured my journey was comfortable and enjoyable. I highly recommend the service.

Great transfer option.
Robyn COctober 2, 2025
It was a fantastic trip.

We were extremely satisfied with the quality of service we received from Day Trip. We had two Day Trip rides on August 31 from Athens to Lefkada and September 7 from Lefkada back to Athens. Both trips included stops at scenic sites in Greece. Both drivers were excellent and accommodating. However, we’d especially like to recognize Panos Peppas, who was our driver from Lefkada to Athens. Panos was incredibly nice & pleasant and delivered outstanding customer service, which included handling all of luggage, providing us with cold waters throughout the trip, providing us protein bars, providing us with printed materials on the Corinth Canal (one of scenic stops), looking up and providing us with terminal & gate info for our flight back home and providing us with a recipe for tzatziki.

It was a fantastic trip.
Daydream20046758137September 20, 2025
Best transport company anywhere

We absolutely love this company and have used it many times over the years to get from A to B without the hassle of hiring a car ourselves. Excellent drivers every time. Efficient and professional. It’s worth every penny and we can honestly recommend Day Trip to everyone. It’s 5 star rating is well deserved.

Best transport company anywhere
Mary LSeptember 15, 2025
Excellent experience in traveling

We traveled from Nuremberg to Munich in a beautiful Audi. Driver picked us at our hotel at the exact time requested. Got us to Munich in plenty of time for our next tour. Driver made sure we were comfortable

Excellent experience in traveling
Steve NAugust 20, 2025
Reasonably Priced and Safe Transportation

Gonzalo from daytrip was our driver and he was absolutely amazing. He went over and beyond trying to locate us as our service wasn't so good on our phones. He patiently awaited our arrival to the lobby so he could take us from Tulum Dreams Resort to our other hotel in cancun an hour and a half away near the airport prior to our departure flight home. He was polite, respectful and kind. Made sure we were comfortable during our long ride. Fast and to the point. I recommend this company as finding a one way ride from Tulum to Cancun isn't easy or cheap and this company provides a great service for a great price. I will definitely be using them again whenever I'm in the Cancun/Tulum area. Thank you DayTrip and Gonzola.

Reasonably Priced and Safe Transportation
COCOApril 22, 2025
Daytrip never disappoints

We were picked up by Marianna to drive us from Heraklion to Chania. The weather was terrible & due to this Marianna arrived a few minutes late. She contacted me to advise of this. Marianna lives in Chana and she made our trip very interesting by informing us of local things to do and see in Chania. Marianna is a safe driver and we all felt comfortable with the speed she drove at and how good her driving was in heavy rain. She is a lovely person with fluent English. We highly recommend Daytrips and if you are in Heraklion or Chania please make sure you ask for Marianna.

Daytrip never disappoints
Julie MApril 2, 2025
Great driver in Egypt

Used the service to go from Luxor to Hurghada, Egypt. Ahmed H was our driver and he was perfect. The car was new, clean, he had water and snacks for us, and accommodated our stops. Great service from him and would recommend it.

Great driver in Egypt
Maps315861February 28, 2025
Comfortable and Safe Rides in Mexico

Used Daytrip for two rides in Mexico, which were both great. So comfortable, and we arrived at each of our destinations at a great time. Both were incredible drivers, and we felt so safe. One of our drivers, Miguel, also played the best music! Will definitely use Daytrip on our next trip to Mexico.

Comfortable and Safe Rides in Mexico
GolourdesduarteFebruary 20, 2025
Great way to travel and see some sights on the way

We did not know what to expect with this trip and booked from Australia. We were initially looking for an easy way to travel from Granada to Malaga. We decided not to waste the opportunity to see something additional on our way. Miguel certainly exceeded our expectations. His English was excellent (unfortunately we speak very little Spanish), and he was very friendly and helpful. We thoroughly enjoyed hearing about the regions as we passed through and also discussing some of the local ways. Miguel took us to Antequera as planned and ensured we were able to easily get our tickets to the attractions without any sense of rushing us. We were picked up and dropped off punctually and really enjoyed our trip. Hopefully we will return to Spain and we can use this service again sometime.

Great way to travel and see some sights on the way
Michelle RFebruary 10, 2025
Excellent service

We used the service twice while in Thailand. Extremely prompt and efficient customer service. Best rate being offered in Chiang Mai for the travels. Polite, punctual, professional and English speaking drivers. Clean, comfortable vehicles. Being a regular visitor to Thailand, this was hands down the best service. Most pleased with the company. I hope it sustains the excellence of service that was rendered to us.

Excellent service
OmarJanuary 25, 2025

Know more about your day trip

Guimaraes earned this title because Portugal's first king, Afonso Henriques, was born here in the 12th century. The city was the country's first capital and the site where Afonso declared Portugal's independence from Leon. During your 3.5-hour visit, you'll discover how this UNESCO World Heritage city's medieval castle, palace, and historic center played crucial roles in the formation of Portuguese national identity.
With 3.5 hours in Guimaraes, prioritize the imposing medieval castle, the 15th-century Palace of the Dukes of Braganza, and the well-preserved historic center with its charming squares like Largo da Oliveira. Don't miss the Nossa Senhora da Oliveira Church, Santiago Square, and the unique balconied buildings along Rua de Santa Maria. The cable car to Penha mountain offers panoramic views for those with extra time.
Guimaraes' historic center is compact and mostly pedestrianized, making it ideal for walking. The castle and palace are located uphill from the center, requiring some moderate climbing. Most major sites are within a 15-minute walk of each other. The historic center features some cobblestone streets, but they're generally well-maintained. Comfortable shoes are recommended for making the most of your 210-minute visit.
Sample "tortas de Guimaraes" (sweet pastries filled with squash), "toucinho do ceu" (almond cake), or "queijo da serra" (mountain cheese). For savory options, try "rojoes" (fried pork chunks) or "bacalhau a Gil Eanes" (codfish). Local wines include vinho verde from the surrounding Minho region. Your driver can recommend authentic restaurants in the historic center where you can enjoy these regional specialties during your visit.
The 10th-century Guimaraes Castle allows visitors to explore its interior courtyard, walk sections of the defensive walls, and climb the main tower for panoramic views. While some areas have limited accessibility due to the medieval structure, the main courtyard is accessible to most visitors. The castle's well-preserved state offers insight into medieval military architecture and provides excellent photo opportunities of both the structure and surrounding city.
Guimaraes features a remarkable architectural timeline from the Romanesque castle and Gothic churches to Renaissance palaces and ornate baroque buildings. The historic center displays a distinctive style with granite facades, colorful balconies, and timber-framed upper stories. Many buildings feature the unique "Manueline" style—a Portuguese late Gothic approach with maritime motifs. This architectural diversity earned the city its UNESCO World Heritage status.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have any questions, here are the answers.
Day trips offer travelers private round-trip transportation to popular sightseeing locations. One of our professional drivers will pick you up in a luxurious, climate-controlled car, take you to the site of interest, and wait for you while you explore before driving you back to your hotel.
Yes! You’re free to choose the pickup and drop-off times that work best for you. However, the time spent at the destination is fixed and cannot be changed.
Each sightseeing stop has a recommended duration that includes plenty of time to explore. However, it is possible to customize the time spent at each sightseeing stop at a later stage in the booking process to best fit your unique schedule.
Your Daytrip driver will wait for you nearby for the duration of your exploration, meaning you’ll never have to wait for your return trip transportation to arrive. Your comfort and convenience are our top priorities, and we aim to close out your day trip with a return on your schedule.
The price of a day trip does not include any entrance tickets, guided tours, or meals you may partake in at your destination. The price covers round-trip transportation in a luxury vehicle with a professional driver who can provide local insights en route.
Day trip bookings can be canceled up to 24 hours before your trip for a full refund, no strings attached. While the destination and stops are predetermined, it is possible to change your pick-up point, whether it is at your hotel or some other location within the city.
Day tripsCountriesPortugalPortoPorto to Guimaraes: Private, guided half-day tour