Last Updated on March 27, 2024
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Braga, a city in Northern Portugal, might not be as popular as Lisbon or Porto, but it’s definitely worth a visit. It’s the country’s 3rd largest city, even though you could never tell, as it has a very small town like feel. Most of the people who do visit, do so on a day trip from Porto, lured by Braga’s main attraction, the stunning Bom Jesus do Monte. While the impressive sanctuary is a great reason to include the city on your Portugal itinerary, there are many more things to do in Braga.
With 2,000 years of history, going back to Roman times, visiting Braga in Portugal is sure like stepping back in time. If you come on a day trip from Porto, expect a whole different experience. While there are a few of azulejo covered buildings typical for Portugal, it’s the Baroque style, that dominates the city’s architecture. Also, the abundance of narrow, cobblestone alleys give Braga a very medieval feel. Walking aimlessly and discovering all those charming alleys was definitely one of my favorite things to do in Braga.
Braga is also known as Portuguese Rome, which is a very fitting comparison, as there are over 30 churches in the city. It seems like no matter where you turn, there’s a church around the corner.
How to get to Braga, Portugal
Braga is located in the Minho region of Portugal, about 34 miles ( 55 km ) north of Porto. The city is usually visited as either one of the stops on a road trip through Portugal, or as a day trip from Porto.
Porto to Braga day trip is very easy to do on your own, and pretty cheap as well ( €3.35 one way ). Direct trains run frequently from São Bento station, getting you to Braga in just over one hour. Once you arrive in Braga, you are just a 5 minute walk away from the city center. Start walking down the main Avenue until you reach Arco da Porta Nova, the big Arch, that serves as a gateway to the city.
How to get around Braga
Even though Braga is Portugal’s 3rd largest city, it’s surprisingly compact. With the exception of Bom Jesus do Monte, which is located outside of the city, all the top Braga attractions are close to each other. You’ll be able to see everything by just walking around.
To get to the earlier mentioned Bom Jesus do Monte, you can take a cheap bus from right outside of the train station. All the other places on this list of best things to do in Braga are within a walking distance.
Things to do in Braga, Portugal
Visit Bom Jesus do Monte
Even though there are several things to do in Braga, there’s no doubt, that the biggest attraction and the reason many visit the city, is Bom Jesus do Monte. The beautiful sanctuary, located on a hilltop a few miles outside of the city, is an important pilgrimage site and a recent UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Without a doubt, what makes the sanctuary so impressive, is not the church itself, but the spectacular staircase that leads to it. The dark granite and white plaster Baroque stairway zigzags all the way to the top, with many statues and fountains along the way. Not surprisingly for such an important religious site, anything you see has a deeper, symbolical meaning. As you make your way up, there are several platforms, where you can stop and take in the beautiful views of Braga and the mountains. It’s definitely one of the rewards for braving the 577 steps you need to take to get to the top.
Once you make it, make sure to step into the church, a great example of Neoclassical style with a beautiful main altar. Walk around the grounds, gardens and the park behind the sanctuary, which has several trails and a couple of lookout points. There is also a little outdoor cafe with snacks/drinks and some great views.
If climbing 577 steps to the top sounds like too much, you also have an option of taking the funicular, that will get you to the top in a couple of minutes (€2 one way or €3 round trip). Keep in mind though, that the funicular goes all the way to the top, bypassing the entire staircase.
PRO TIP: If you choose to take the antique funicular, skip the round trip and opt for walking down. This way you will end up at the bottom of the start of the stunning staircase, and enjoy the beautiful views on the way down.
How to get from Braga to Bom Jesus do Monte
Bom Jesus do Monte is located a bit outside of the city, but it’s easy to get there by a public bus #2. One of the stops is located right outside of the train station, so it makes sense to visit the Sanctuary as the first thing once you arrive in Braga. This way you’ll also avoid the biggest crowds, assuming you arrive on the earlier side. The bus runs every 20 minutes or so and Bom Jesus is the last stop on the route, dropping you off right by the Funicular and around the corner from where the stairs begin. The ticket costs €1.65 each way (cash only) paid directly to the driver, and it takes about 20 minutes to get there.
When you are ready to head back, just go to the same spot and catch the next bus #2 back into the city. You do not need to go all the way back to the train station, there a couple of stops in the Braga city center, steps away from other attractions.
Arco da Porta Nova
After you arrive in Braga by train and make your way towards the center, Arco da Porta Nova will be the very first site you come across. Back in the day, when the city was completely enclosed by a fortified wall, the Arch was one of the very few ways to enter. Today, even though more symbolic, Arco da Porta Nova still serves as a gate to the city, and is one of Braga’s biggest landmarks.
Visit the Braga Cathedral ( Sé De Braga )
Deciding which church to visit, when there is one practically at every turn, might be hard, but the Braga Cathedral is one not to be missed. Sé De Braga is the oldest Cathedral in Portugal, dating back to the 12th century, and it’s one of the country’s most important religious sites. It was built even before Portugal became a country, which was a good enough reason for me to put it on my Braga itinerary. Not to mention, the beautiful architecture, that combines three different architectural styles (Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque).
The historical importance and beautiful architecture make visiting the Cathedral one of the top things to do in Braga. There are a few options when it comes to tickets, and which one you get will depend on which parts of the Cathedral you want to see and and how much time you want to spend. Different parts are priced individually
- Cathedral itself costs €2
- a guided tour of the High Choir (Coro Alto) and King’s Chapel (Capela dos Reis) is €3
- the access to the Museum (Tesouro – Museu de Sé) costs €4
- if you want to see it all, you can get a €5 combo ticket, which grants you access to all of the above parts.
Braga Cathedral is open daily 9 am – 12.30 pm / 2.30 pm – 5.30 pm ( Winter ) 6.30 pm ( Summer )
Visit some of Braga’s Churches
Even if you had no idea that Braga is considered the religious hub of Portugal, you’ll quickly figure it out, once you start walking around the city. It seems like there is a church on every corner. One day in Braga is sure not long enough to visit them all, but you definitely have time to pick a couple.
- Igreja de Santa Cruz – 17th century church with a stunning façade and just as impressive interior, full of incredible details.
- Igreja de São Marcos – this church is located on the opposite end of the same square where Igreja de Santa Cruz is. It’s the one you see behind the big Braga letters.
- Igreja de São Vicente – beautiful Baroque style Catholic Church, dating back to 16th century.
Stroll through Jardim de Santa Bárbara
The Garden of Santa Barbara is right in the center and it’s a perfect place to stop and rest from all the walking around. Even though it’s rather small, it’s absolutely beautiful, especially if you visit in Spring or Summer, when the flowers are in bloom and the whole garden simply explodes with color.
Jardim de Santa Bárbara is located right behind the Archbishop’s Palace, which along with the stone archways add to the beautiful appearance of the gardens and make for a great photo op.
Stop at Café A Brasileira
This iconic café is a popular local spot and a must stop while in Braga. Back when it first opened in 1907, it was more of a whole sale coffee store. There is a story, that its first owner Adolpho de Azevedo, in order to attract clients, would offer a free cup of coffee to anyone who purchased a kilo of coffee beans. Over the years, Café A Brasileira changed owners several times and expanded while maintaining its charm.
As you’d expect with a very popular place, the prices are a bit on a higher side, but still, Café A Brasileira is worth stopping by. Have coffee and a snack and enjoy the ambiance of this historic Café.
Hang out at Praça da República
The Praça da Republica is the main square in Braga and is a perfect hang out spot, for both locals and tourists. It’s a lively place, with plenty of cafés, a big fountain and some of the best people watching.
From there, take a walk down the Avenida da Liberdade, which has to be the prettiest street in Braga. The first few blocks are pedestrian only, with plenty of flower beds, making you feel like you’re walking through the garden. The Avenue is mostly lined with shops and restaurants, but you will also pass Theatro Circo, the oldest theatre in Braga. It’s a beautiful building, and the best way to experience it, would of course be to attend one of the shows, which is hard if you only are in Braga for just one day. They do offer guided tours, but that is only a couple of days a week.
Visit Palácio do Raio
When you get to the end of the pedestrian part of Avenida da Liberdade, take a right turn and you will end up at Palácio do Raio. This Baroque building is easily the most beautiful building in Braga. Its façade is covered in blue azulejos, which is very characteristic for Portugal, although not as common in Braga.
Even though the beautiful exterior the more impressive part of Palácio do Raio, you can step inside as well. Over the years, Raio Palace had many uses, and now is a museum with a collection of paintings and sculptures, as well memorabilia from the time when it served as a hospital. I personally skipped it, but if that sounds like something that interests you, you can tour the Palace for just €2.
Palácio do Raio is closed on Sundays and Mondays, but open to public the rest of the week (Tuesday – Saturday 10 am – 12.30 pm and 2.30 – 5.30 pm)
Enjoy a glass of Vinho Verde
Portugal’s Port wine, produced exclusively in Douro Valley, is the country’s most famous wine, but when you visit Braga, opt for a glass of Vinho Verde instead. This light and refreshing wine comes from Minho region, and is the second most popular wine in Portugal. It’s made using young grapes, which means they are not completely mature. This attributes to a lower alcohol content, which makes Vinho Verde a perfect, refreshing drink any time of the day.
Braga and Guimarães Tour from Porto
Visiting Braga in Portugal on your own is very easy, especially if you do so on day trip from Porto. However, if you prefer to take an organized tour, you can do that as well. Those are usually all day tours and are often combined with a visit to Guimarães, which is another popular day trip from Porto.
Taking the Braga and Guimarães tour from Porto is actually a great way to see both cities in one day, which is hard to do on your own. Even though they are only 20 miles apart, there’s no direct train from Braga to Guimarães, so you’d have to first return back to Porto and take another train to Guimarães. Traveling back and forth would take up a good chunk of your day, leaving little time for exploring the cities. So the tour is a great option to see the main sites of both cities in one day. You can book your Braga and Guimarães Full Day Tour from Porto here.
READ NEXT:
- How to visit Bom Jesus do Monte in Braga, Portugal
- Best day trips from Porto, Portugal
- 10 days in Portugal – the perfect itinerary by train
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