Northern Portugal
Northern Portugal (Portuguese: Região do Norte) is the "oldest" region of Portugal, where the nation began.
Regions
| Douro Litoral centred on the city of Porto, now the capital of the Norte Region |
| Minho Portugal's northernmost region, centered on the city of Braga and bordering Galicia, Spain |
| Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro Portugal's northeast corner, where vast plateaus, river valleys, mountains, and castles abound. The Alto Douro Wine Region is a UNESCO World Heritage Site |
Cities
- 🌍 Porto — the main hub and largest city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- 🌍 Amarante — a beautiful city and a popular pilgrimage destination
- 🌍 Braga — the country's religious capital city, sprawling along the Cávado valley
- 🌍 Bragança — one of the oldest cities in Portugal, with a fine medieval castle
- 🌍 Espinho — a seaside resort and fishing town
- 🌍 Guimarães — the founding place of the nation, an historic city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- 🌍 Lamego — an ancient city, dating back to Roman times, where D. Afonso Henriques was acclaimed the first King of Portugal in 1140
- 🌍 Póvoa de Varzim — one of the oldest fishing towns in Portugal, and a beach resort
- 🌍 Viana do Castelo — visitors come for the Pilgrimage of Nossa Senhora da Agonia and the amazing views of the Lima River
Other destinations
- 🌍 Alto Douro Wine Region – 2,000 year-old wine region, where Port wine (vinho do Porto) is produced, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- 🌍 Peneda-Gerês National Park — Portugal's only national park, set in the mountains of Peneda, Larouco, and Geres
- 🌍 Prehistoric Rock Art Sites in the Côa Valley — prehistoric archaeological area and an inscribed UNESCO World Heritage Site
Understand
Região do Norte (rr(ih)-zhee-UHNW doo NOHR-t(ih), /ʁɨ.ʒi.ˈɐ̃w du ˈnoɾ.tɨ/)
Visitor information
- Turismo do Porto e Norte de Portugal, ☏ +351 258 820 270, turismo@portoenorte.pt. They have tourist offices throughout the north of the country.
Talk
While Portuguese is the national language throughout the country, Mirandese is a recognized local language spoken in the Terra de Miranda area around Miranda do Douro.
Get around
Drive, take the bus or train; subway in Porto metropolitan area.
See
- Porto Riverside (Ribeira do Porto)
- Castles in Guimarães, Feira, Bragança
- Basilica in Viana do Castelo
- Valença Fortification
- Natural wonders of the Douro Valley, Miranda do Douro and Peneda-Gerês National Park
Do
- Porto museums
- Walk through Dom Luis bridge
- Beaches
- Casinos of Espinho and Povoa.
- Douro river cruise
Eat
Bacalhau (cod), Francesinha
Drink
Port wine
Stay safe
Generally safe.
Go next
- Aveiro — city noted for its canals and Art Nouveau architecture
- Beiras – Portugal's central region to the south
- Castile and Leon — Spanish region to the east and northeast with many UNESCO World Heritage cities
- Coimbra — site of Portugal's most oldest and most prestigious university
- Galicia — Spanish region to the north whose Galego language is closely related to Portuguese
- Viseu — historic cathedral city
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