Northern Portugal & Porto
Ancient towns like Guimarães and Braga are some of the oldest in europe. Easily accessible from Porto and Galicia in Northern spain, offering fantastic opportunities for a self-drive itinerary off the beaten track.
In the Northern Portugal you can cruise along the Douro River, explore the city of Porto, Guimarães and Brega with its remarkable 12th century cathedral, or discover geological formations at the National Park of Peneda-Gerês.
Porto is a historic and varied city, from the warren of narrow streets that make up the ancient Ribeira district through to the grand plaza of the Trindade district. The region is famed for the production of Port, which is still stored and matured in the vast cellars that stretch along the banks of the Douro River. The Ribeira District is the oldest of the city, a labyrinth of narrow cobbled streets, ancient houses and bags of character with lively restaurants at nights.
Helpful Information
In general, the best times to visit and experience as much as possible in Northern Portugal are between March and early June or mid-September and mid-to-late November, ideal for sightseeing and day trips.
Northern Portugal tend to be cooler and wetter than the rest of the country. The peak season is from June to the end of August, and this season offers hot and dry weather, which is suitable for spending time on the beaches.
During winter there is a very high possibility of rain.
