Braga and Guimarães from Porto

Porto's best day trips run in two directions: east up the Douro for vineyards, which is covered by our Douro Valley tour, and north into the Minho for history. This guided tour is the efficient way to do the second. It visits two cities, both within an hour of Porto, that together tell the story of how Portugal began. Braga is the religious capital of the country, a city of churches with Portugal's oldest cathedral at its heart, and on its outskirts stands the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte, a UNESCO-listed pilgrimage church reached by a monumental Baroque zigzag staircase of fountains, statues and chapels. Guimarães, a short drive away, is known as the cradle of Portugal: the first king, Afonso Henriques, is associated with its castle, and its compact medieval centre, also on the UNESCO list, is one of the most atmospheric in the country, all granite squares, balconies and arcades. The tour sold through Tiqets is run by Living Tours, the same operator as the Six Bridges cruise in our guide. It leaves early in the morning from beside Porto Cathedral and returns in the late afternoon, about nine hours in all, travelling by coach with a live guide. The day includes free time at Bom Jesus, a visit to Braga's historic centre and cathedral, a guided stop at Guimarães Castle and a guided walk through the old town with free time for lunch, and entry to Bom Jesus, Braga Cathedral, Guimarães Castle and the little Church of São Miguel is included. Lunch, drinks and hotel transfers are not. As a bonus, the ticket includes a guided walking tour of Porto on another day. The trade-off is pace: two cities in one day means you see the highlights, not the corners. For most visitors, that is the right balance.

Why go north: Porto is a merchant city, shaped by the river and the wine trade. Braga and Guimarães show the older, more devout and more aristocratic Portugal. In Braga, the cathedral predates the kingdom itself, and the city's many churches and Baroque facades explain why it has long been called the Portuguese Rome. Bom Jesus is the showpiece: the staircase is a theatrical climb through symbolic stages, with fountains representing the senses and virtues, and the view from the top over the city and the green hills of the Minho is wonderful. A historic water-balanced funicular offers an easier way up for those who do not want to climb, but the walk down the stairs is the real experience.

Guimarães in a few hours: the castle sits on a hill above the town, beside the Church of São Miguel, where tradition says the first king was baptised. Below them, the Palace of the Dukes of Bragança is an impressive fortified residence with distinctive brick chimneys; on this tour it is seen from outside rather than visited. The old town is the joy: the Largo da Oliveira and Praça de Santiago are among the most beautiful squares in Portugal, with café tables under arcades, and it is a lovely place to spend your free time and find lunch. On a wall near the old town, a famous sign proclaims that Portugal was born here.

Practical advice: wear comfortable shoes with grip for the Bom Jesus stairs and the cobbles of Guimarães, carry water and a layer because the Minho is cooler and wetter than the coast, and budget for lunch. The early start from the cathedral means breakfast at your hotel should be quick. Independent travellers can also reach both cities by train from Porto, but combining them in one day is far easier with a tour. Fit: history lovers, second-time visitors to Porto, and anyone wanting to see more of northern Portugal in a single day.