I have already told you about the best cities in Portugal and the best day trips from Porto, but I thought you could also use a list of the most beautiful villages near Porto too.
Most of them are within 30 minutes / 1h driving distance from Porto and hence they make a great getaway from the city. I hope you enjoy it!
No time to read a long article? Here’s a summary of the villages near Porto:
| Village | Distance to Porto | Tours |
| Ponte de Lima | 1h by car | Private Minho region tour |
| Afurada | 10 minutes by car / 45 minutes walking | No need! |
| Quintandona | 35 minutes | No need! |
| Viana do Castelo | 1h by car | Private Minho region tour |
| Santo Tirso | 35 minutes by train | No need! |
| Santa Maria da Feira | 20 minutes by bus | No need! |
| Fafe | 1h by car | No need! |
| Póvoa de Varzim | 40 minutes by bus | No need! |
As you can see there are plenty of villages near Porto that you can explore on your own. Most of them are accessible by public transportation, but you can also rent a car on either AutoEurope or DiscoverCars so that you have total flexibility when planning your trip.
These are the most beautiful villages near Porto:
Ponte de Lima
Another great day trip from Porto is Ponte de Lima, an ancient village at the heart of the Green Wine Region. Ponte de Lima is so proud of being the oldest village in Portugal that it refused to be turned into a city. True story. You cannot find a more beautiful village near Porto!
What I particularly enjoy about Ponte de Lima is its deep connection to nature. Besides visiting its cute historical centre (you can do this in a couple of hours), you can walk by the riverside or by the lagoons of Bertiandos or S. Pedro d’Arcos. If you are not so much into walking, consider appreciating the view from Santo Ovidio Viewpoint, it is stunning.
If you don’t feel like exploring it on your own, you can simply book a Private tour of the Minho Region which includes not only Ponte de Lima but also Barcelos and Viana do Castelo, which are also very pretty, and enjoy a traditional lunch in between.
Where to Stay in Ponte de Lima: in this city I am completely in love with
Quinta do Ameal – Wine Tourism and Carmo’s Boutique Hotel, even though they are both terribly expensive, staying there is one of the best things you can do in Portugal! A good B&B is Casa das Neves. For apartments I suggest Casa do Carvalho. As for hostels, I suggest the old Village Hostel.
Viana do Castelo
I just couldn’t leave Viana do Castelo out of this list because I have to tell you about the absolutely delicious Bolas de Berlim that I tasted there. (I’m a sweet tooth, what can I say?)
While Bola de Berlim, a type of custard doughnut, can be found everywhere in Portugal, the best that I have ever tasted are from Manuel Natário Bakery. They’re so good that they have been recognised internationally on an article in The Guardian. So if you ever find yourself in Viana do Castelo, eat one or two. Maybe three. 😉
On your visit to Viana do Castelo, one of the most beautiful villages near Porto, you should include the Santa Luzia Sanctuary, famous for its unmatchable view of the region.
If you don’t feel like exploring it on your own, you can simply book a Private tour of the Minho Region which includes not only Viana do Castelo but also Ponte de Lima and Barcelos, and a traditional lunch in between.
How to get there: Unfortunately there is no train connection from Porto to Viana do Castelo. But it is a 40 minutes drive from Porto, so you can just rent a car on DiscoverCars.
Where to stay in Viana do Castelo: you could stay at Hotel Laranjeira, an intimate but spacious hotel, right in the centre of the city and close to the Atlantic Ocean. If you prefer, you can stay in Cantinho da Matriz, a cozy apartment in the city centre. A more affordable option is the Albergue de Peregrinos, which is next to the Santa Luzia Sanctuary.
Quintandona
Quintandona is a hidden gem just half an hour driving distance from Porto. This is one of the beautiful villages near Porto where the amazing beauty of its typical shale houses captivates us from the first glance.
In Quintandona there is not much to do besides walk its little streets and wonder how it would be to live in the past. You will be able to see the public pillory, a centenary chapel, some typical stone structures called canastros, where farmers used to store their corn, and even a public place where women used to wash their clothes called lavadouros.
And, in my humble opinion, to be able to check how people used to live in ancient times is one of the best things to do in the beautiful villages near Porto 🙂
How to get there: The only way to get to Quintandona is by car – check the best car rental prices with DiscoverCars.
Once in Quintandona: There is a tapas place called WineBar Casa da Viúva. I wasn’t particularly fond of the tapas itself (then again I love proper food, so it is probably a matter of preference!) but its wine list is simply superb.
Where to Stay in Quintandona: I love Casa Valxisto, it is such a lovely place! 🙂
Afurada
Afurada is a tiny fishermen village located just 3 km away from Cais de Gaia (where the Port wine cellars are located).
This beautiful village near Porto was renovated recently and now it is a joy to walk among its colourful houses, in between humble restaurants where they serve delicious grilled fish.
I enjoy it so much that I already wrote an article about the best things to do in Afurada.
How to get there: you can simply walk from Cais de Gaia, but my recommendation is to rent a bike – this way it is much faster, and after visiting Afurada you can continue your bike ride to the beaches in Gaia.
Once in Afurada: you should have grilled fish at one of its restaurants. I am not going to lie to you – the fish in Afurada is better than in Porto but it pales in comparison to Matosinhos’. However, it is part of the experience! 🙂
Santo Tirso
I have only been to Santo Tirso a handful of times but it was enough to catalogue it as one of the most beautiful villages near Porto because it has some fantastic convents, such as São Bento monastery.
It is also home to an unusual open air museum dedicated to contemporary sculptures, that are spread across town. You can find more information about this project on the MIEC museum, which was designed by the famous architects Siza Vieira and Souto de Moura.
Santo Tirso also has a great urban park called Sara Moreira, which consists of a forest of cork and oak trees overlooking the Ave River.
How to get there: the best way to get to Santo Tirso from Porto is to take a train at São Bento train station (direction: Guimarães). The trip takes around 40 minutes.
Once in Santo Tirso: do not forget to try Jesuítas and Limonetes (two very famous pastries from this village near Porto) at Confeitaria Moura.
Santa Maria da Feira
Santa Maria da Feira is a relatively small city that became famous for organising an impressive Medieval Fair during the first two weeks of August. It is definitely the best time to visit Santa Maria da Feira as you will be able to watch recreations of medieval events (such as tournaments) and street performances, eat “medieval”ish food and buy thematic souvenirs.
If you are not able to attend the Medieval Fair in Santa Maria da Feira worry not, there is still a lot to do in this beautiful village near Porto!
I suggest you to visit the castle of Santa Maria da Feira and the Lóios Convent. If you are into history, visit the roman ruins of Romariz Archeological Site. If you just want to spend a relaxed day, head to the river beach of Mamôa. 😉
How to get there: Unfortunately there is no train connection from Porto to Santa Maria da Feira. Fortunately it is a short 25 minutes drive from Porto so you can just rent a car on DiscoverCars. You can also take the bus from Campo 24 de Agosto or from Hospital de São João.
Fafe
I already mentioned Fafe as one of the best day trips from Porto. Fafe, one of the most beautiful villages near Porto, is worth a visit not only because it is completely off the tourist radar but also because is has been shaped by the return of Brasileiros Torna Viagem (Portuguese emigrants that went to Brasil, made a fortune and came back to Portugal).
These returned Portuguese migrants were so key in the economical and cultural development of Fafe that there is a small (but impressive) museum solely dedicated to them, called Museu das Migrações e das Comunidades.
Once in Fafe, don’t forget to visit the Cine-Theatre as it is a superb concert house.
For nature lovers, I suggest you to visit Aldeia do Pontido and take a 2h walk from there, all around the secluded lake close by. It is SUCH A ROMANTIC place! 🙂
How to get there: Unfortunately there is no train connection to Fafe. You can get there by bus or by car – check the best car rental prices on DiscoverCars.
Where to Stay in Fafe: in this city I have already stayed at Casas do Ermo and really enjoyed it!
Póvoa de Varzim
With its appealing beach sands, Póvoa de Varzim is one of the best summer destinations in the North. It is one of the most beautiful villages near Porto and it has many restaurants with delicious grilled fish, freshly plucked from the ocean by the local fisherman, straight to your table.
The best way to enjoy Póvoa de Varzim is to walk by the ocean. You can also shop in Rua da Junqueira with its myriad of stores and coffee shops, catch a music show in Cine-Theatre Garrett, or visit the local star shaped fortress.
To finish your trip, try your luck in the Póvoa de Varzim Casino while enjoying dinner with live music.
How to get there: the best way to get to Póvoa de Varzim is to take the subway of Porto from line B to the last station (destination: Póvoa de Varzim).
Where to stay in Póvoa de Varzim: right next to the Casino, you can find Grand Hotel da Póvoa, a 4 star hotel located by the sea front (5 minutes from the metro station on foot). It’s got excellent service, and I urge you to have breakfast in the private room verandas, with a stunning view of the Atlantic ocean.
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