Braga Travel Guide – Northern Portugal

Braga, located in the north of Portugal, is the country’s third-largest city. With its history, religious structures, and culture, it stands out as one of Portugal’s tourist cities. I spent six months in Braga thanks to the Erasmus Exchange Program.

Braga Travel Guide: When to Go?

Winters in Braga are cold, and summers (July-August) are very hot and dry as the city is not close to the sea. The best time to visit Braga is during the spring and autumn months.

Braga Travel Guide: Transportation

Since Braga doesn’t have an airport, direct transportation to the city is not possible. You can get here from Porto or Lisbon.

To go from Porto to Braga, you can use the train station located in the city center of Porto. You need to take the train departing from São Bento and get off at Braga station. The journey takes about 1 hour, and ticket prices are around 3 EUR. If you want to go directly from Porto Airport to Braga, there are airport services with a ticket price of 5 EUR. By using them, you can quickly reach Braga without entering the city center.

If you want to go from Lisbon to Braga, you have options like train or bus. The bus takes 4-4.5 hours, and ticket prices are around 10-12 EUR on average. There are many bus companies for bus tickets, and I used Rede Express, Portugal’s largest bus company, and I recommend it to you. For the train, there are different options like standard trains, high-speed trains, and ticket prices range from 25 to 40 EUR. You can check the train schedule and ticket details here.

I recommend exploring Braga city center on foot as much as possible and discovering the city.

Braga Travel Guide: General Information

In Portugal, people can form groups like North vs. South. There are differences in terms of customs, culture, food, and accent between Northerners and Southerners in Portugal. Braga is a place where you can observe typical Northern Portuguese culture. At the same time, it is the city with the highest density of churches in the country.

Braga Travel Guide: Places to Visit

Bom Jesus

Braga, famous for its importance to religion in Portugal, is also located on a famous pilgrimage route. In Braga, which has significant historical importance for Catholic Christians, there is a sacred church on a high hill; Bom Jesus. Visiting here is like a pilgrimage.

To go to Bom Jesus, you need to take bus number 2 and get off at Bom Jesus stop. After that, hundreds of stairs await you, but don’t be afraid; it’s a very enjoyable path. While climbing the zigzag stairs, you will see five fountains representing the five senses.

Then, at the end of the stairs, the church and the panoramic view of Braga city welcome you.

Braga Cathedral

Se De Braga or Braga Cathedral, standing since the 11th century, is one of the most important structures in the country due to its historical and architectural structure.

Chafariz da Praça da República & Avenida de Liberdade

Avenida de Liberdade, or Liberty Square, is the largest square in the center of Braga. This square had different names in previous centuries. After the proclamation of the Republic in 1910, it was named Liberty Square. Important events and celebrations are usually held in this square.

In the middle of the square is Chafariz da Praça da República or Republic Square Fountain.

Arco da Porta Nova

Arco da Porta Nova is located at the end of Bom Diego de Souza Street, which is closed to vehicle traffic. Built in 1512, this structure is inspired by medieval and Gothic architecture. It features the city’s important symbols and celebrities.

Churches

As I mentioned earlier, Braga is a city with high religious sentiments and many religious structures. Generally, when you walk through the city, you may come across a church on every street. My recommendation is to explore the Old Town streets, especially in the city center, and take a look at the churches you come across. The interiors of these churches are incredibly magnificent. Don’t be deceived by their exteriors; give them a chance, and be sure to see the inside of several.

Antigo Paço Arquiepiscopal

Braga Archbishop’s Palace is of great importance to the city. With its history dating back to the first priest of Braga, its garden in front, its courtyard, and fountain, it is undoubtedly a structure worth seeing.

In addition to all these, the streets of Braga are filled with old but beautiful houses. While wandering randomly through the streets, you may see buildings that will surprise you with their architecture.

Braga Travel Guide: Activities

In Braga and its surroundings, there are numerous activities waiting for you to explore. Why not embark on a day trip to Guimaraes, acknowledged as the birthplace of Portugal? You can also venture to the natural wonderland of Geres National Park or indulge in a delightful wine tour in Braga. Dive into the details of these activities on the platform below, where you can effortlessly arrange and secure your tickets online. Get ready for an enriching experience in and around Braga!

Braga Travel Guide: Food & Drink

Although Braga has a high elderly population, it also has a dense young population due to the university. The city, being a student city, has not only traditional restaurants but also many fast-food and burger options. Therefore, if you don’t want to spend a lot of money on food, you can find many affordable options here.

SuperBock

I mentioned the North vs. South rivalry in Portugal. This rivalry extends to politics, football, food, and, of course, the country’s beers. The North and South of Portugal have two different beers: Sagres for the South and Super Bock for the North. Being half-Northern Portuguese, I am a fan of Super Bock. I recommend trying this beer while you’re here.

Caldo Verde

This drink, meaning green soup, is specific to the Minho region. When you come to Braga, I strongly recommend trying this soup. Made with cabbage, potatoes, and olive oil, this soup is among the tastes to be tried in Braga.

A Brasileira

A cafe with beautiful coffees and desserts, with a history dating back to the 1900s. I highly recommend it.

Colombus Cafe & Co

Another beautiful address for coffee and desserts. If you want to take a dessert break with a view of Chafariz dos Castelos, you can try this place.

Restaurante Porta Nova

A restaurant where you can find many traditional flavors such as Francesinha, Braga-style red fish, and Braga-style Morina fish.

Braga Travel Guide: Nightlife

With the influence of the young population in Braga, it is possible to find good options for nightlife; thanks to the university students!

Sardinha Biba

A large and fun nightclub. When I first went here, I really couldn’t believe that there was such a place in this city. With a DJ, music, and occasional stage shows, it’s truly a great place. As you might guess, they usually play Latin – Brazilian music. Fridays, Saturdays, and Wednesdays are the best days to go here; I recommend not going before 11-12 at night. Because everyone usually comes here to dance after chatting and drinking at a bar. Most importantly, the entrance is free for women, and for men, it’s 25 euros. It’s a place with a dress code, so don’t go with shorts or sneakers, or you’ll be turned away at the door.

Braga Travel Guide: Universidade Do Minho

I would like to give a brief information about the University of Minho, where I was a student for a period. While the engineering campus is located in Guimarães, all other departments are connected to the main campus in Braga. The city is a complete student city due to the university. The school has two student dormitories. I mostly stayed in a girls’ dormitory where Portuguese students stayed, and the conditions were excellent. The University of Minho is one of the largest universities in Portugal with nearly 20,000 students.

Braga Travel Guide: Notes & Recommendations & Conclusion

• I pinned the places to visit and the restaurants on Google Maps in order. If you save the map below, you can easily reach the locations even if you don’t have internet.
• You can find a bakery or a cafe on every corner. In general, pastries and sweets are very affordable and tasty.
• There are many local shops where you can buy souvenirs. You can find a wide range of options from handmade towels to handmade figurines.
• If you have come to Braga, I think you should not leave without seeing Guimaraes from this region. You can find the travel guide I wrote about Guimaraes here. All other articles about Portugal is available here.