Northern Portugal: Minho and Gerês

Route description

From Porto, head north-east to Guimarães, known as the birthplace of Portugal, with a castle and the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza above a medieval old town. Braga, a short drive away, is a city of Baroque churches, and just outside it the Bom Jesus do Monte sanctuary is reached by a monumental zigzag staircase or a water-powered funicular.

From Braga, head north-east into the Peneda-Gerês National Park, Portugal’s only national park, with granite mountains, waterfalls and old Roman milestones along the ancient road known as the Geira. The spa village of Gerês is a good base.

The route ends in Ponte de Lima, one of Portugal’s oldest towns, with a long medieval bridge on Roman foundations across the river Lima. Its riverside market is held every other Monday.

The mountain roads in Peneda-Gerês are narrow, and wild camping is prohibited in the park. Many Portuguese motorways have electronic-only tolls, so register your vehicle or use a toll device before you travel.