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Full-Day Pilgrimage Site Tour: Visit Santiago de Compostela and Valença do Minho from Porto
4.7
405 Ratings
Porto
Embark on a full-day pilgrimage site tour from Porto to Santiago de Compostela and Valença do Minho. Explore the magical city of Santiago, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and visit the famous pilgrimage way. Then, stop at Valença do Minho to admire its stunning Vauben-style fortress. Don't miss this opportunity to discover the beauty of these two southern European cities!
Duration:
10 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Porto - Your expert guide will collect you from your hotel/accommodation or meeting point and will drive you to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. On your way to Santiago, the guide will give you insights regarding the Portuguese history, development and cultural facts of portuguese heritage. Crossing the border and entering in Spain, insights regarding the pilgrimage and the story and facts of Santiago will be given. - Santiago de Compostela - Once in Spain, you will arrive to our main destination. Santiago de Compostela, is one of the most magical cities in Galicia, Spain. Santiago concentrates in itself, culture, religion, people, academic life and tourism. And, because of its beauty, the city won the title of World Heritage. Its famous pilgrimage way, known as the “Caminho de Santiago” (St. James way) won also the title of World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Visit this amazing City, exploring the one of the most important pilgrim sites in Europe. You will have free time to explore on your own the historical city center of Santiago and its famous Cathedral. - Cathedral De Santiago de Compostela - Once in Santiago, you guide will give you free time to explore this incredible site. You will be able to visit and explore the Cathedral! - Santiago de Compostela. Casco Historico - IN CASE YOU CHOSE THE LUNCH INCLUDED OPTION, the guide will escort to a traditional tapas restaurant at the historical city center so you can taste and drink some of the traditional food from Galicia! Drinks are included on your meal as well. - Valenca - After lunch it’s time to return to Portugal, to your next stop: Valença do Minho! Standing on the border with Spain and overlooking the River Minho, Valença is surrounded by walls and displays all the characteristic features of a town that was fortified in the seventeenth century in the style of the French military architect, Vauban. Its first name was “Contrasta”, which referred to a village standing opposite another one and was clearly a reference to its position directly across the River Minho from the Galician town of Tui. Today, it is a city with a flourishing trade, in which some of the most popularly sought after items are the pieces produced by the local craftsmen.
What's Included
- Valenca Fortress tour
- Included lunch
- Expert local guide
- Comfortable minibus transport
- Hotel pick-up/drop-off in Porto city center (optional)
- Bottled water provided
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
- Hotel pick-up and drop off
Additional Information
Santiago de Compostela holds a bewitching charm being one of the most enchanting cities in Galicia, Spain. It’s a melting pot of culture, religion, academia, population and tourism. Its captivating beauty led it to be designated a World Heritage site. Its known pilgrimage route, the ‘Caminho de Santiago’ or St. James Way, has also been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Embark on an exploration of this remarkable city, one of the most significant pilgrim destinations in Europe. On your way back, do not forget to tour Valença do Minho, renowned for its impressive Vauben-style fortress.
Experience the captivating allure of these two southern European cities on a comprehensive day tour from Porto.
- Usually our tours run in one language but there are cases of one extra language.
- Tours run in small groups up to 27 passengers.
- We support our communities. By taking a tour with us you are contributing to our cause: we offer a meal for the homeless and people in need.
- Please kindly be aware that the overall duration of the activity could be influenced by traffic conditions. We highly advise against scheduling any additional activities or making other plans within the hour following the anticipated completion time.
- Vegetarian and Gluten-free meal options are available if requested before the day of the booking. Make sure you inform us before the tour starts.
- Discover Porto in a unique way with a Free Walking Tour with Living Tours, available to all customers who book this activity. Free Walking Tour departs daily in English and Spanish at 9:30 a.m. from Cordoaria (Campo dos Mártires da Pátria 31, Porto) and 4:30 p.m. from Batalha (Rua Alexandre Herculano 412, Porto).
Location
R. de Mouzinho da Silveira 352
Rua de Mouzinho da Silveira
We collect you from the Tourist Service/Living Tours located at Rua Mouzinho da Silveira, 350, Porto - next to Porto - São Bento train station.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.7
(405 Ratings)
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Steven_d
May 22, 2024
Great day trip to Spain - Very beautiful trip and memorable day. Manu was an amazing person who was an incredible host the whole day. Lunch was nice and the drive was easy. Would recommend that you read about the area first as it is impossible to see it all.
Review provided by Viator
Getaway209242
May 19, 2024
Worth the Trip - My wife and I to this tour while on our anniversary trip. Our driver/guide Paul was excellent! He shared historical information on the long drive from Porto to Santiago. The visit to the cathedral was definitely worse the trip it was a special experience for her hands on the shoulder of Saint James at the Cathedral. The stop in Valenco was short, but delightful.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Free-please
May 9, 2024
A stellar day - Mario Pinto was our guide. Mario was very knowledgeable and opinionated. His knowledge was very impressive. The lunch was outstanding.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ortopediai2024
May 2, 2024
Great trip - Perfect trip from porto to see Compostela. Also Valanca is very nice city. Ride was smooth with great assistance from Paolo.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Miguel
May 2, 2024
Excelente - Everything was excellent
A rainy day but the trip was so good
Bus clean and safety
Paulo and esteves were amazing (guide and driver)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
182erikai
May 1, 2024
Recommended! - We recommended Manu and Silvino for a tour to Santiago de Compostela. It was a very pleasant tour.
Weather was terrible but we enjoyed it anyway.
Thank you very much for the good time.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Amanda_h
May 21, 2024
The city is great. Skip... - The city is great. Skip lunch and wander around. It’s a lot of time on a bus listening to a lot of bad, very loud music. Probably best to rent a car and go it alone without the tour.
Review provided by Viator
Reldas2017
May 17, 2024
A great destination with an excellent guide but the trip plan could be improved. - The guide Manuel and the driver were excellent. Manuel provided a comprehensive and entertaining commentary on the history and other relevant information on the places we visited or passed. The trip plan itself seemed as though it could do with a revision. We arrived about half an hour before lunch when a scheduled mass was in progress and we could not visit the church. Lunch itself was very good but took about an hour and a half which meant there was little time to visit the church in detail before we had to depart. It might have been better to visit Valença on the way rather than on the way back. This would have given us more time for the cathedral which was the main object for the trip.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bradley_s
May 14, 2024
Not great - Tour guide basically very indifferent. Just told everyone to meet back at bus. Raining all day and cold. Wouldn’t recommend to anyone
Review provided by Viator
Zeynep_t
May 6, 2024
Putting your guests needs first - When we arrived to Compostela, it was pouring rain which is very common for this season. Also, it is common that the rain would calm down in 5-10 mins. Instead of telling us, let's wait in the bus for a couple of minutes, and then we would leave, we were asked to get off the bus in and walked to the site. You might think that they are on a tight schedule but that's not the case because when we were asked to return to the bus station by 3pm to leave for Porto, all except the tour guide and the tour bus were present. We waited for them and left 10 mins late. Allowing that 10 mins in the beginning would have made such a difference. We walked around completely soaked all day and got sick the next. Next time, please put your guests need first and don't make them walk in heavy rain when it is easy avoidable with waiting in the bus for 5-10 mins.
Review provided by Viator
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