Holiday in Minho
Region in Portugal — tips, highlights & best time to visit 🇵🇹
Country
Portugal
Type
Region
Best time to travel
May–September
Budget/day
55–90 €
Getting there from Germany
Flight to Porto (2.5–3h), then by rental car or train to Minho (1–2 hours).
About Minho
Minho, Portugal's greenest and most traditional north, stretches from the Atlantic to the Spanish border and enchants with lush river valleys, granite villages, and a culture deeply rooted in history and folklore. The region between the Minho and Douro rivers is the cradle of the Portuguese nation — the Kingdom of Portugal was founded in Guimarães in 1143. Braga, the religious capital of the country, impresses with the monumental sanctuary Bom Jesus do Monte and over 30 Baroque churches. Guimarães captivates with its perfectly preserved medieval old town (UNESCO World Heritage) and the Paço dos Duques de Bragança. Viana do Castelo on the coast combines Art Nouveau architecture with the Santuário de Santa Luzia, which offers a panoramic view over the Atlantic. Minho is home to Vinho Verde — a sparkling, slightly effervescent wine that tastes best in the quintas among the vines. The Festas and Romarias (folk festivals) of Minho are among the most colorful in Portugal, especially the Festa de São João in Braga. Portugal's only national park, Peneda-Gerês, is located in the eastern part of the region and offers granite wilderness, waterfalls, and free-roaming Garrano wild horses. The coast from Viana to Caminha surprises with wind-swept beaches and the charming border town of Valença with its fortress overlooking the Rio Minho.
Top 4 highlights in Minho
The places you absolutely must not miss.
Nationalpark Peneda-Gerês
Portugal's only national park delights with waterfalls, granite peaks, wild horses, and some of the oldest oak forests in Europe.
Guimarães
The 'Cradle of Portugal' with its UNESCO-protected old town and the castle where the first king was born.
Ponte de Lima
Portugal's oldest town on the banks of the Lima impresses with a medieval bridge and one of the country's most beautiful weekly markets.
Vinho-Verde-Weinberge
The granite-pergola-planted vineyards of Minho produce the unique, slightly effervescent Vinho Verde.
Hotels in Minho
Vergleiche tausende Hotels, Apartments und Resorts auf Expedia – mit Bestpreis-Garantie, kostenloser Stornierung und Bonuspunkten.
* Weiterleitung zu Expedia.de. Es gelten die dortigen Nutzungsbedingungen.
Pauschalreisen & Rundreisen
Berge & Meer – 170 Tage Cookie
Best time to travel for Minho
Recommended travel time
May–September
Summer
Warm, 22–28 °C, occasional rain
Winter
Cool, 6–13 °C, frequent rain – the rainiest region in Portugal
How much does a holiday in Minho cost?
Average costs per person per day
Budget
30–45 €
Hostel, Street food, Public transport
Mid-range
55–90 €
Hotel, Restaurant, Excursions
Luxury
120–260 €
Boutique hotel, Fine dining
Book a package holiday to Minho
Compare thousands of package holidays to Minho and find the best deals with flight & hotel.
Compare package holidays now4 travel tips for Minho
Insider knowledge that makes your holiday better.
Minho is ideal for a road trip with overnight stays in rural quintas and solares.
Visit the weekly market in Ponte de Lima (every two weeks on Mondays) – one of the most traditional in Portugal.
In Peneda-Gerês, there are wild swimming spots at rivers and waterfalls – the Cascata do Tahiti is a hidden gem.
The Festas de São João in Braga and Porto (June 23/24) are spectacular folk festivals.
Food & drink in Minho
These specialties you must try!
