Private Guide-Driver, 8 Hours

Private Guide-Driver, 8 Hours, 8 hours, rated 4.9 across 88 traveller reviews.

Overview

This is a full day out of Porto with a single guide and driver, run privately so only one group travels in the vehicle. Portugal Autêntico picks you up at your hotel and spends the day between two historic cities: Guimarães, the medieval town where Portugal's first king, Afonso Henriques, was born and a UNESCO World Heritage site, and Braga, whose Roman past as Bracara Augusta still shows in the streets.

The shape of the day is roughly half and half. In Guimarães the itinerary covers the castle, the old centre and the hilltop park at Penha, with entry to the castle already paid for. In Braga the group stops at the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte, the Torre de Menagem, the Sé de Braga, whose entry is also covered, and then gets free time in the city itself. Bottled water sits in the van and all fees and taxes are folded into the booking.

It suits people who want the two cities in one day without self-driving, and reviewers describe a guide who adapts to the group, with one family reporting that the order of the cities was reshuffled around their children's lunch schedule. Lunch is not included, so budget for a meal during the day.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Hotel Pickup In PortoThe guide collects the group from the hotel in Porto in an air-conditioned vehicle. Water is available in the van.
2. Guimarães CastleA 30 minutes stop at the castle, with the admission ticket included in the tour.
3. Centro Histórico De GuimarãesTwo hours in the medieval old centre, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the birthplace of Afonso Henriques. Entry is free.
4. Montanha, Parque Da PenhaOne hour, 30 minutes at the hilltop park above Guimarães, with free entry.
5. Bom Jesus Do MonteOne hour at the sanctuary. Admission is free.
6. Torre De Menagem And Sé De BragaA 15 minutes stop at the tower, then 30 minutes at the cathedral. The Sé admission ticket is included.
7. Braga Free Time And ReturnTwo hours in Braga itself, with no entry fees. The day runs to 8 hours in total before the drop-off back in Porto.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points come up again and again across the reviews, and they are worth knowing before booking a full day in a private van.

• Pace And Fitness. This is a long day, and one reviewer warned to be ready for it. The listing states that most travellers can participate.
• Who You Travel With. Only your own group rides in the vehicle, which the listing states plainly. Reviewers travelling as couples and as families with children both said the guide adapted the day to them, including reshuffling the order of the cities around a children's lunch time.
• Food And Drink. Lunch is not included in the price, so plan on paying for a meal mid-day. One reviewer mentioned the guide's recommendations for where to eat. Bottled water is free in the van.
• Tickets. Entry to Guimarães Castle and to the Sé de Braga is covered by the tour, and all fees and taxes are included. The other stops, including Bom Jesus do Monte and the Penha park, are free to enter anyway. Gratuities and personal expenses are extra.
• Photography. One reviewer mentioned the guide pointing out good vantage points and photo spots, and offering options to view sites from different angles.
• Weather And Timing. The day runs to roughly 8 hours, so plan for a full outing rather than a half-day trip. One reviewer noted there is a lot of scenery in both cities.

Common issues. The honest limits: the tour is not wheelchair accessible, though pushchairs are fine and infant seats are available. It is a long day, so it may not suit travellers who want a short outing. Lunch is not included. Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.

Common Questions