7 Best Day Trips From Porto by Train
While living in Porto at the beginning of 2024, I spent most of my weekends discovering the best day trips by train. From watching traditional moliceiros float by in Aveiro to exploring Medieval alleyways in Guimarães, I fell in love with this sleepy region of Portugal.
Train travel has always been my preferred method of transportation! Watching the countryside slowly slip by without having to lift a finger. Before you know it, poof! You’ve arrived at your destination.
The enchanting landscapes of Northern Portugal make for the perfect backdrop to your train travels. From rolling hills as you make your way deeper into the interior on day trips to Guimarães or the Douro Valley to glimpses of the coast on the way to Aveiro.
This guide to the best day trips from Porto by train will help you decide which day trip suits you best and how to book your tickets!
Quick Guide to Day Trips From Porto
- Best for History Buffs: Guimarães 🏰
- Best for Architecture Lovers: Braga ⛪️
- Best for Foodies: Viana do Castelo 🦐
- Best for Wine-o’s: Douro Valley 🍷
- Best for Nature: Vigo 🌸
Train Stations in Porto
Porto has two main train stations, São Bento and Campanha. São Bento is located in the heart of the Historic Center, while the larger Campanha station is tucked in the Bonfim neighborhood.
While Campanha is the larger train station by far with many more connections around Portugal (including Lisbon), most trains from São Bento pit stop here. This basically means that every destination that leaves from São Bento is essentially also serviced by Campanha.
The benefit to hopping on the train at the São Bento station is that 1.) it’s absolutely beautiful with some of the best azulejos in Porto and 2.) it’s often closer to where most visitors are staying in the city.
São Bento
If you’re staying in the Historic Center of Porto or close to the river, the São Bento train station will probably be the most convenient for you. The station may be small, but its absolutely stunning with some of Porto’s most beautiful tiles.
You can technically get a ticket from São Bento to most anywhere in Portugal that’s serviced by train, but you’ll need to change at Campanha. For example, if you purchase a ticket from São Bento to Lisbon, you’ll need to change trains at Campanha.
Campanha
Although Campanha is a bit off the beaten path (i.e., not in the tourist center of town), it’s only a 30-minute walk from São Bento station. This is Porto’s largest train station and where you’ll find connections south, like Lisbon, and most other destinations in Portugal.
Booking Train Tickets in Portugal
Portugal has several different kinds of trains, from the fast Alfa-Pendular to Regional and Urban trains. If you’ve traveled by train in other European countries, you might find the Portugal’s trains are a bit slower than what you’re used to.
Depending on which type of train journey you’ll be making, you can book tickets online with Portugal’s official train website, Comboios de Portugal, and in person at kiosks in Porto’s train stations.
Regional and Urban tickets unfortunately can’t be booked online. Most of the trains that service the city’s near Porto are Regional and Urban trains and you’ll have to buy your tickets at the kiosks inside the train station.
You can do so on the day of your departure or a few days in advance. The machines are very easy to use and have different language options.
The Best Day Trips From Porto By Train
One of the best parts about visiting Portugal is that it’s so easy to get around! While high-speed trains don’t connect this tiny, coastal country to neighboring Spain (yet!), they do connect most major cities and villages in the country itself and a few towns just over the border.
From the Medieval village of Guimaraes to colorful Aveiro, these are the best day trips by train from Porto, Portugal!
Guimaraes
- Train Length: 1 hour and 15 minutes
- Average Ticket Cost: €7.10 roundtrip, €3.55 one way
- Highlights: Medieval architecture, hilltop castle, UNESCO Old Town
Guimarães was easily my favorite day trip from Porto! This Medieval village, crowned by the Guimarães Castle, might be one of the most beautiful towns in Portugal. In fact, it was named the most beautiful small town in Europe by Conde Nast in 2022.
Stroll down the cobbled alleyways of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, sip Vinho Verde in sun soaked squares surrounded by ancient architecture, and explore the castle or Palace of the Dukes.
Don’t forget to find a local bakery (I highly recommend Casa Costinhas) for Tortas de Guimarães, a confection stuffed with sweet spaghetti squash. It might sound a bit strange but I promise it’s delicious!
Trains run every hour from both São Bento and Campanha to Guimarães, starting around 6:00 am and ending around midnight, although the last return trip leaves Guimarães at 11:00 pm.
Bonus: The landscapes out your window on the train to Guimarães are magical! Think rolling green hills, burbling creeks, and tiny villages tucked in between it all.
Aveiro
- Train Length: 45 minutes – 1 hour and 20 minutes
- Average Ticket Cost: €7.80 roundtrip, €3.90 one way
- Highlights: Colorful buildings, traditional moliceiro boats, idyllic canals
Often touted as the “Venice of Portugal,” Aveiro combines a unique local heritage, coastal landscapes, and colorful buildings, making for one of the best day trips from Porto.
Despite its nickname, Aveiro’s canals are much smaller and narrower than Venice’s. Still, they certainly add a distinct air to this tiny coastal town.
Spend your time walking through the historic core, sailing along the canals by traditional moliceiro, and seeking out the salt flats and striped seaside houses in nearby Costa Nova.
Don’t forget to grab a box of ovos moles from Confeitaria Peixinho before you leave town. They maintain the original recipe!
Trains run every hour from Porto, sometimes multiple times an hour, starting at 4:45 am and ending at 11:35 pm. The same goes for return trips from Aveiro to Porto, starting at 4:31 am and ending at 23:26 pm.
Douro Valley
- Train Length: 2.5 hours
- Average Ticket Cost: €12.20–€13.15
- Highlights: Wine tastings, dramatic landscapes, river cruises
The Douro Valley might be the most popular day trip from Porto! And it’s no wonder why, with its dramatic, undulating landscapes, hill-clinging vineyards, and idyllic river cruises.
While most travelers take off to the Douro Valley by boat, it is possible to visit the region by train! This also makes for a more budget-friendly option than the more pricey cruises.
You’ll want to take the train to Pinhao or Pocinho, both towns are good options with wineries within walking distance of the train station and delicious restaurants. You can also find Douro River cruises that leave from either town and sail along the river for an hour or two.
Trains are more sporadic, only leaving about five times a day (6:55 am, 9:20 am, 1:20 pm, 3:20 pm, and 4:55 pm) Returns 8:07 am, 12:12 pm, 2:09 pm, 6:13 pm, and 10:24 pm.
Braga
- Train Length: About 1 hour (give or take 15 minutes)
- Average Ticket Cost: €7.10 roundtrip, €3.55 one way
- Highlights: Religious significance, vibrant culture, Bom Jesus de Monte
Tucked further inland than Porto, Braga is the oldest city in the country and another famous Northern Portuguese town.
Braga was founded by the Romans in 16 B.C. and is considered to be one of the oldest Catholic cities in the world. Renowned for its religious significance, most visitors make a beeline for the Bom Jesus de Monte Sanctuary, although there are multiple monuments to Catholicism in town.
While the famous francesinha, a Portuguese take on croque monsieur, is popular in Porto, many think they’re actually better in Braga!
Trains leave at least once an hour, sometimes twice, starting at 6:15 am and ending at 11:10 pm from Porto to Braga. Returns begin at 4:34 am and end at 23:32 pm from Braga to Porto.
Coimbra
- Train Length: 1-2 hours
- Average Ticket Cost: €9.65–€25
- Highlights: Vibrant college town, oldest university in Europe, Romanesque architecture
You may have seen dapper, black-cloaked students walking around Porto or singing and playing instruments in one of the squares, but Coimbra is the true center of Portugal’s student life.
Home to the oldest university in Europe, Coimbra is a vibrant college town dripping with Romanesque architecture.
Spend the day walking the pedestrian streets, attending a fado performance, and seeking out chanfana, a traditional goat stew. Another highlight is popping into the Biblioteca Joanina, a Baroque library that’s worthy of its title as one of the most beautiful libraries in the world.
Trains leave at least once an hour, if not twice. Because Coimbra is a fairly large town, you’ll find several different kinds of trains running between it and Porto.
The longer regional train, which takes around two hours, is the least expensive at around €9.65 each way. If you’re willing to pay a bit more, you can also take the Alfa Pendular, which takes just an hour but doubles in price at around €25.
Viana do Castelo
- Train Length: 1 hour and 15 minutes–2 hours
- Average Ticket Cost: €7.50–€24.20 one way
- Highlights: Traditional pastries, hilltop sanctuaries, beaches
An underrated and often overlooked day trip from Porto, Viana do Castelo is the perfect destination for those who want to visit a smaller city in Portugal, shrug off the tourist crowds, and explore off-the-beaten-path.
Explore the nearby beaches, pay a visit to the ruins of a pre-Roman settlement, and visit the Museu do Traje to see traditional, Portuguese costumes.
Whatever you do, don’t miss the chance for panoramic views from the striking Santa Luzia Basilica. Hop on the funicular to reach this religious monument, perched on a precipice over the city, for panoramic views of the Limia River and red-roof skyline below.
Trains leave at least once an hour from Porto to Viana do Castelo, sometimes twice.
Vigo, Spain
- Train Length: 3 hours and 40 minutes
- Average Ticket Cost: €16.25 one way
- Highlights: Galician heritage, protected wilderness, fresh seafood
One of the most important port cities in Europe, Vigo clings to the Spanish-Portuguese border in the province of Galicia.
It’s well worth making your way from Porto, across the border into Spain, to visit this coastal city.
Vigo might be an industrial port town at heart, but its nearby estuary makes it the perfect day trip destination for nature lovers. You’ll also have the chance to swap Portuguese cuisine for Spanish, indulging in pulpo (octopus) and percebes (barnacles).
Known for its nearby national park, Atlantic Islands of Galicia, it’s easy to hop on a tour that takes you to these isolated isles.
Trains leave twice a day, once at 7:55 am and again at 7:00 pm. Return trips back to Porto leave Vigo at 8:58 am and 7:56 pm. The train trip back takes just 2.5 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most beautiful train ride in Portugal?
Many consider the Linha do Douro to be the most beautiful train ride in Portugal, traveling from Porto to Pinhão or Pocinho in the Douro Valley.
Is the train from Porto to Lisbon pretty?
Yes! The train from Porto to Lisbon is very scenic, with glimpses of the sea, charming villages, and rolling landscapes. Book seats on the right side of the train for the best views.
Where do trains from Porto go?
Trains connect many of Portugal’s largest cities to Porto. The deeper you go into the interior, the fewer and further between train connections are, but if you’re traveling down the coast, you’ll be able to find a train to your destination from Porto.
How many days do you need in Porto?
If you’re planning to do a few day trips from Porto (which you should!) I highly recommend planning for five days in the city. You’ll have just enough time to see the best of Porto and throw in a day trip or two. At the minimum, I recommend three days with one day trip.
Can you reach the Algarve by train from Porto?
Yes, technically you can reach the Algarve by train from Porto. You’ll need to take a train to Lisbon before connecting to the Algarve’s train network.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, you can’t go wrong with any of these day trips from Porto by train! If you only have time for one or two, I highly recommend Guimarães, Aveiro, or the Douro Valley. It takes just a few hours (or less) to reach each of these destinations and they provide incredible bang for your buck.
Porto is one of those cities that I know I’ll return to over and over again and I can’t wait to keep discovering more hidden gems in Northern Portugal by train when I do. Happy travels in the land of azulejos, port, and fado!
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