Home > Porto > Santiago de Compostela and Valença do Minho Day Trip from Porto with Lunch
USD $113.00
Santiago de Compostela and Valença do Minho Day Trip from Porto with Lunch
Porto, Portugal
Cross the border into Spain and retrace part of St James Way – a sacred route followed by centuries of pilgrims – on a visit to Santiago de Compostela from Porto. On this memorable day trip, explore Compostela's famous cathedral and the city's UNESCO World-Heritage-listed Old Town. Back in Portugal, pay a visit to Valença do Minho, dominated with a fortress of two towers and a double great wall projected in the Vouban style during the return ride to Porto.
Travel from Porto, Portugal, over the border to northwestern Spain to walk in the footsteps of pilgrims and discover the Gothic and Baroque glory of the world-renowned cathedral in the city of Santiago de Compostela. One of the world's most important pilgrimage routes since the early Middle Ages, St James Way leads to the cathedral, where the remains of the apostle St James lie interred.
Your guided visit reveals why this is one of the world's most famous cathedrals, filled with Romanesque sculptures, multi-tiered bell towers, porticoes, cloisters and portals. See and experience the highlights of the cathedral's breathtaking interior, including the lofty barrel-vaulted nave, the air thick with heady incense, the golden altar and the crypt housing St James’ remains.
Have free time to have a traditional lunch of octopus or seafood in Santiago (own expense) and explore Santiago's UNESCO World-Heritage-listed old town.
After your visit to Santiago de Compostela, get back in your air-conditioned coach and travel to Valença do Minho, an historical village in the north of Portugal, located on the border between Portugal and Spain. Also known by its "Caminhos de Santiago" Valença do Minho is dominated with a fortress of two towers and a double great wall projected in the Vouban Style. An Engineer and an military architect from the XVII e XVIII centuries.
Take time to explore this great city with its historical essence before returning to Porto, where your day trip concludes.
It was great to visit Santiago and Valenca but the guide simply gave us a map and said see you back in an hour. No tour round the city and no explanation.
Review by: George H, May 2018
knowledgeable guide....fun and saw lots of fun things, way beyond what was promised!!!
Review by: Catherine S, April 2018
Excellent trip with very knowledgeable guide. The pilgrims service is very moving. Lunch was excellent. It just needed to have been made clear that we had time after lunch for a walk round santiago. I left, and regret, the service early not realizing that.
Review by: hstephano, March 2018
This tour was arranged in a small group of 8 people in a van that drove by our tour guide, Ricardo. He explained to us some geographical facts about the cities that we saw along the journey, and gave us a clear understanding about Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage. He's very cautious about safety and constantly reminded us to wear seat belt plus the music selections in his van's playlist was another plus point. Kudos to Ricardo!
Review by: joao.botelho10, March 2018
Viagem muito bem organizada. Paisagens muito interessantes.
Review by: sandusky, March 2018
When I arrived at the pick up point, I was informed by the tour guide that I was the only person.So it was just like a private tour, only cheaper. And that's great but my tour guide is also a very affable and easy-going kind of fella._br/_ It was raining on and off the whole day, but luckily I managed to take pictures in between. It wasn't really a good day in Santiago DC as the rain just wouldn't let up when we got there. But Francisco my guide was great to be with and his taste in music for someone as young as he, is quite impressive. The Tapas lunch was superb and they are all yummy. The table wine was not bad either. So in spite of the rain it was a great trip.
Review by: Lilian, February 2018
This tour was amazing!
Review by: Joy, January 2018
This was a very worthwhile day trip. It was a small van with 8 people plus the driver so a good size, with delivery in 2 languages. There was a short orientation of Santiago de Compostela, followed by free time to visit the cathedral and/or wander the streets of the old town. We then met for a traditional lunch in a small restaurant - plentiful food, a variety of dishes, and staff eager to provide additional food for people who wished something different from what we ate. On the return trip we drove through Valenca do Minho, a fortified city on the Spain/Portugal border, and had time to wander around the city walls and through the streets before returning to Porto.
Review by: Vivian N, December 2017
Overall good as Pedro was very knowledgeable about the towns and places we visited but tour itself seemed a bit haphazard as the star of the tour was essentially Santiago de Compostela which he didnt or was not allowed to guide us around. Seems a bit disjointed considering how far wed travelled from Porto only to then be dumped in the town with nothing but a few scribbles on a map. Pedro did his best but he was simply too hampered by the punishing schedule and inability to actually do any guidance.
Review by: Michael H, December 2017
Fantastic journey with a great guide on Palm Sunday
Review by: Mary B, October 2017
Our tour to Santiago de Compostela and Valencia do Minho was great. Our guide was very knowledgeable and personable and he gave us lots of background information on the area we were traveling through. The tapas lunch that was included in the tour was delicious and generous. All in all, the trip was just what we were hoping for and we would highly recommend it as an easy way to get to Santiago from Portugal. Also, it was nice to be in a group, which gave us a chance to meet new people. We enjoyed Santiago, as well, which was a special destination that this trip made possible.
Review by: Saskia S, October 2017
Even though the tour starts very early in the morning, getting up is worth it. You first drive straight to Santiago de Compostela. During the drive, our guide and driver Ricardo answered a lot of questions and gave us a lot of information about Portugal and the areas we were travelling through. We stopped at at service stop in Vigo which had a very nice view and gave us the possibility to walk around. Ricardo also provided us with maps of Santiago and gave us tips for visiting the cathedral. In Santiago we were on our own to visit the cathedral there was a mass going, but you could still go and visit and listen in to the mass. Lunch was included and we had a real Spanish lunch which was actually very tasty and enjoyable. _br/_ On the way back to Porto we stopped at Valenca again and had some free time to roam the city again. Whenever we had a question, Ricardo was able to answer about anything we wanted to know._br/_ I can really recommend this tour which is also kept very small we were only 6 persons.
Review by: Peer K, October 2017
Very interesting tour and we had an excellent guide ! Highly recommended !!
Review by: Gustavo B, October 2017
Good tour. Bus very comfortable and the tour guide very knowledgeable. Long day but the site is amazing. Lunch provides was OK.
Review by: Brenda B, September 2017
There is a lot of driving involved in this tour - almost 3 hours in each direction. However, our driver Tiago talked to us about many topics related to Portugal and Santiago de Compostela during the drive and this shortened the time. He has a great personality that fits with his job - is very charming to his guests. The way the trip is organized is very good - free time at the beginning to wander around in Santiago then a lunch of tapas then a visit to the Cathedral. A stop on the way home at Valence was interesting - again, the timing was just about perfect in terms of giving us a break when we needed it and this fortress is an interesting piece of Portuguese history. The traditional lunch of Spanish tapas was incredibly good and such a lot of food - no going hungry when you travel with Tiago!
Review by: Claudio F, September 2017
Maravilhoso passeio. Grupo realmente pequeno e um excelente guia capaz de dar todas as informações. O translado realmente limpo e confortável. Belo almoço típico também.
Review by: Ghassan G, September 2017
Great tour well organized
Review by: kelly F, September 2017
Manoel was our guide, he gave us a lot of info and details about all the places we went, it was a great trip!
Review by: frnklw, September 2017
I had difficulty in confirming my trip as the agency would not call me back, only to find out that they had oversold. I was promised a makeup two days later, but the same thing happened. Finally, I got my trip on the day before my departure. The agency did give me another tour because of their errors, so that was appreciated. The tour was enjoyable, but the driver kept his cell in his lap and looked at it constantly, to and return from Santiago de Compostela. That was unnerving.
Review by: Wes P, July 2017
Great tour
Review by: Carolyn S, July 2017
This tour was more than we expected. The tour guides Andre and Francisco were knowledgable and informative. The tips given to make the most of our time in Santiago were invaluable. We were so glad to have witnessed the swinging of the incense burner in the cathedral. The lunch which was part of the trip was really enjoyable. I would recommend this trip to anyone who wishes to make the most of a trip to Santigo de Compostela.
Review by: TomG, July 2017
A great tour. It was very interesting to See Santiago de Compostela and hear about the history and see the church and surroundings. The lunch was excellent. The restaurant owner brought lots of excellent tapas and we had more than we could eat. Valenca is an interesting place to visit. I enjoyed walking through the town.
Review by: Habib Mikhael A, June 2017
I went there last May. Our Guide Tiago was so friendly, informative and a great driver too. He provided us with so much information about portugal. The Church is awesome. It has the tomb of St James the apostle.
Review by: Tamas D, June 2017
the tour guide was so nice and the lunch was the best you can imagine! Highly recommended
Review by: omarviator, June 2017
I highly recommend this tour.
Review by: Dorothy J, June 2017
A great day out! Our guide, Nuno Pires, was brilliant being punctual, friendly, knowledgeable and a good driver throughout this long trip. Santiago is, of course, so interesting and our 3 course lunch was generous and delicious. Valenca made for an interesting break on the return journey. In short, a well planned and very professionally executed trip.
Review by: Mary P, June 2017
Paola was an excellent tour guide. She made sure we knew a lot of information about the locations and she took the time to learn something about each of us so she could relate to us on a more personal level.
Review by: Diann M I, June 2017
Excellent tour!
Review by: yoonelena, June 2017
It was a long drive of 2 and half hour from Porto to Santiago de Compostela, great place to visit, but too bad that our tour guide couldnt give us more personalized tour, due to Spanish tour would not allow to portuguese tour guide to guide in Spanish territory. Next time I might want to do again with spanish tour. Great lunch. Very nice tour guide.
Review by: Richard F, April 2017
Excellent tour. Our multi-lingual guide, Pedro Xavier, promptly picked us up at our Hotel. The van had a total of 4-couples 3-from Brazil and us from USA. The trip to Santiago was full of enlightening, interesting dialogue about the area we were passing through, Portuguese history and culture. Pedro effortlessly, communicated in both Portuguese and English. We discussed many subject s of interest , including the el Camino - it's history and how it is today. Upon arriving in Santiago, we visited en-route the Church of St Francis and some local shops. Pedro briefed us on what to expect in the Cathedral and let us explore on our own for an hour or so, while he organized a most amazing lunch at Cotolay a local restaurant. The lunch was several courses of local fare served Tapas or family style - seafood, meats, vegetables, rice, potatoes, wine, beer, soda and water. Finished off with a selection of local deserts. We got a true sampling of local Galician cuisine. After lunch we leisurely returned to the van, enjoying more sights along the way. From Santiago we stopped at Valenca do Minho, a quant Portuguese border town. It is an 18-century Vauban fortress town, but today it is more about shopping, local crafts market and beautiful buildings and streets. It was enjoyable 1-hour break in the return journey. Pedro returned us safely to our Porto hotels, just in time for dinner. The van was clean our guide Pedro was excellent and engaging a long day 11-hours but very rewarding. There was plenty of time to explore at both locations. I would strongly recommend it to everyone.
Review by: Susana K, March 2017
The tour to Santiago de Compostela is amazing, we went there with 9 sitter van, which was I really like because not many people and the lunch was absolutely delicious . The guide from living tour Christian and Gustavo were really nice, friendly and explained every thing so well. Over all this tour was Amazing highly recommended .
Review by: Alan F, March 2017
Having wanted to visit Santiago de Comostella for years, we finally combined it with a trip to Porto. Honestly, unless I were really religious I wouldn't say I would go again. The cathedral was nothing special and the town, mediocre. Yes it was nice to see and here about the pilgrimages, which still go on today, but I must say we were disappointed. However the trip to Valenca, on the Portuguese side on the return journey was well worth the visit. Although a shopping destination for Spaniards, the town itself, built on a hilltop and walled, is stunning. Wonderful views and great to wander around. The lunch was really excellent and Eliou, apologies if I my spelling is incorrect was brilliant. He gave us really interesting information and made the day.
Review by: Laraemwill, February 2017
This tour was really excellent. Our guide 'John', he said that was the English version of his name, was really knowledgeable and enthusiastic. He spoke in Portuguese, Spanish for the other guests and English for us, not an easy thing to repeat the info three times in different languages. He explained everything in detail and had a wealth of knowledge about the history of both the Portuguese and Spanish influence in the area. Lunch was really good, traditional Spanish food from the region.We had a really enjoyable day.
Review by: Rozani Feyth, January 2017
Foi emocionante conhecer a Catedral. _br/_ É linda e uma energia maravilhosa. _br/_ Assistimos a missa dos peregrinos. Foi lindo e revigorante. _br/_ Passeio para renovar/reforçar nossa Fé!!
Review by: Jose A L, January 2017
Excellent our guide, I believed I changed her name to Paula, picked up at hotel on time, great choice of restaurant for lunch, which was included in the tour. Very knowledgeable tour guide.
Review by: Cezar, December 2016
Highly recommended...very well spent day with a knowledgeable guide! And not to forget...the food was excellent! Great day!
Review by: Julee N, November 2016
Our guide, Christian, was great! He shared a lot of great information and tips with us about Portugal, the Spanish border region, and of course about Santiago de Compostela and the Camino. Christian is a super multi-tasker, as driver and guide, he drove us around, explained things in English then translated to Portuguese for some guests, took care of the group - all while staying patient and enthusiastic the whole time. It was quite impressive.
Review by: marilely0813, October 2016
The drive was long, and too little time in Santiago de Compostela. Lunch was very good and our stop at Valenca do Minho was nice, very beautiful views and very picturesque walled-in town. Would definitely like to be at Santiago de Compostela longer, perhaps this was not the right tour for us. Happy to see the Cathedral, very beautiful!
Review by: KURIEN S, October 2016
The tour was conducted by livingtours. Excellent guide Jonathan, comfortable touring in an 8 seater van, good commentary and explanations, fantastic tapas lunch included and sufficient free time. A must do!!
Review by: ERNESTO R, October 2016
Amazing city. Lots of history. Good shops and lots of restaurants to have lunch or dinner.
Review by: IAN S, October 2016
excellent guide well worth visiting these towns.
Review by: jimbeau333, October 2016
Excellent guide. Provided maps of Santiago de Compostela with detailed instructions. In addition, Tiago provided a map of Porto with recommended restaurants, handwritten on to the map. Uses vans with 4 rows to accommodate 9 people. The CoolTour people use vans with 3 rows to accommodate 9 people.
Review by: Yucel Kivanc S, October 2016
Great tour, we had wonderful time.
Review by: Donna W, September 2016
Santiago de Compostela was absolutely beautiful! Our tour guide was wonderful, and the included lunch was good and plentiful. We stopped at the fort on the Portugal/ Spain border on the way back, and that was really interesting to see as well. I had a great day.
Review by: Sandra W, September 2016
Excellent guide, lovely lunch, great experience
Review by: Rebecca F, August 2016
Miguel was a fountain of information. Great opportunity to get out and about when in Porto.
Review by: Ann K, August 2016
My friend and I took this tour yesterday. We were collected from our apartment in a sparklingly clean minibus and then collected others from their hotels. The guide, Tiago, was fantastic. He was unfailingly polite, helpful we are getting on a bit and not so agile getting in and out of transport, cheerful and amusing. His commentaries, in both Portuguese and English, were very informative and we learned a good deal...very useful for first-time visitors to Portugal. The party had a very good tapas lunch together following free time in Santiago de Compostela. We highly recommend this trip and especially Tiago Santos as guide.
Review by: Julie B, August 2016
Excellent tour Joel was great and very knowledgable.
Review by: Agnello F, July 2016
If you take the tour from Porto you can enjoy the awesome countryside. Very informative. Santiago de Compostela was simply fantastic. The guide Mr. Pedro was superb and very friendly with awesome knowledge. My sincere suggestion to future clients if you are taking this tour from Porto please request Mr. Pedro as your tour guide.
Review by: Kathy B, July 2016
Great day! Our guide/driver was very informative and courteous. Santiago was almost too much to see and do in one day....overwhelming! Highly recommend!
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