Samodaes to Amarante and Guimaraes: Private day trip

Pastel charm, riverfront strolls, and the pastries of legends - Amarante is elegance wrapped in stone and sweetness.

With pastel facades, wooden balconies, and the calm shimmer of the Tamega River, Amarante is pure northern Portuguese romance. Begin at the Ponte de Sao Goncalo, then explore the riverside promenade and the Igreja de Sao Goncalo, where azulejo-lined chapels and love legends await. A short walk brings you to the Museu Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso, a striking space showcasing Portugal’s modernist soul. End with a sweet stop for Bolos de Sao Goncalo or papos de anjo, best enjoyed with a view of the water or from Calcada Eduardo Teixeira Pinto, where the light hits just right.

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.