Portugal’s third biggest city, Braga offers cobblestone streets crammed with more churches (nearly four dozen!) and bells chiming than many other cities in Europe combined.
Pair the city’s rich cultural heritage with a lively student population, thanks to the Universidade do Minho (hello, low-cost bars and restaurants), and you’ve got an exceptional destination for Cheapos.
Although it’s an easy day trip from Porto, Braga deserves more than a rushed afternoon spent exploring its charms. Famous worldwide for its dramatic, candlelit holy week processions featuring the faithful outfitted in hooded flowing robes, Braga makes a worthwhile trip any time of the year.
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How to get there
From the U.S., fly into Porto, and then hop a bus (Citi Express) or train to the city for €5-10. The journey should take around an hour. From Lisbon, hop a 3.5-hour train ride with prices starting at €24. Or fly budget to Porto and then hop a bus the rest of the way to Braga for a grand total of around €30 for a two-hour trip.
Free & cheap things to do
From its lush green spaces and historic architecture to free days at local museums, there are plenty of cheap things to do in this ancient city. Even if an attraction charges a fee, most ring in at the bargain price of €5 or less, and there are lots of free options on the first Sunday of every month.
Visit Termas Romanas do Alto da Cividade, an ancient Roman bath ruin in Braga.
Photo: Turismo in Portugal
Free Sundays
If you’re in Braga on the first Sunday of the month, you can take advantage of free first Sundays at many of the city’s museums and historic ruins. Interested in Portugal’s Roman heritage? Check out the Termas Romanas do Alto da Cividade, the remains of the city’s once extensive bathing complex and theatre, dating back to the 2nd century. It’s free the first Sunday of the month from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., but its entry fee the rest of the month comes in at just under €2.
Hidden away in São José de São Lázaro, a local government building, Braga’s Roman era fountain, Fonte da Ídolo, or the fountain of the idol, built during the reign of the Roman Emperor Augustus, is also free on first Sunday afternoons from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Just returned from Italy and kind of over everything Roman? Get your fill of great works of art and furniture and decorative crafts from around Portugal, Europe, and Asia at the Museu dos Biscainhos for €2 or free all day the first Sunday of the month. Or check out ancient artifacts dating from the Paleolithic to Middle Ages at Museu D. Diogo de Sousa for €3, also free first Sundays.
Get some fresh air
Hop a bus to the edge of town and spend an afternoon climbing up the hill to Bom Jesus Do Monte church. The way up includes an insane number of zigzagging stairs, a progression of life-size dioramas of scenes from the life of Christ, manicured shrubs, terraces mosaiced in stone, and allegorical fountains. At the top, don’t miss the artificial grotto and lush gardens behind and to one side of the church.
Another option is taking a hike at the Peneda-Geres National Park, but only if you’ve opted to rent a car — it’s a 40-minute drive and public transit will only get you halfway there.
Or just choose a sunny day and stroll Braga’s historic streets, taking in the wealth of historic architecture. Hiding in plain sight, the picturesque Santa Bárbara garden combines medieval and gothic ruins with perfectly trimmed shrubs. It’s an ideal spot for a picnic or impromptu photo shoot.
The city’s main cathedral, Sé de Braga, is the oldest in Portugal, and well worth peeking inside. Don’t miss the Palácio do Raio, a Baroque-era residence designed by André Soares da Silva. The rococo façade is covered with traditional Portuguese azulejos tiles, just don’t expect a tour — it’s closed to the public. Before you retire for the evening, be sure to stop off and people-watch and enjoy the weather in Praça da República.
Café Brasileira is a classic hang out in Braga. Photo: Frans D
Inexpensive eats and nightlife
Save your euros by eating pastries and sandwiches from local bakeries on the go, and have your meal out in the middle of the day (between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.), when pratos de día (menu of the day) reign supreme in locals’ hearts, minds, and pocketbooks. These fixed price menus can be had around town starting at around €7.
Or, if you’re not up for a traditional Portuguese fare, for €5-10, you can feast on a massive burger (veggie and fish options also available) at DeGema (Rua Doutor Justino Da Cruz, 90) or Bira do Namorados (Rua D. Goncalo Pereira). For what some say is the best Francesinha sandwich in Braga, head to Taberna Belga (Rua Conego Luciano Afonso dos Santos, Loja 1A). For another budget option, spring for an inexpensive but generously sized pizza at Maximinense (Rua Caires 299-r/c).
After dark, bar hop in the Old Town where an eclectic mixture of students, families, locals, and tourists converge to make the most of their evenings, especially on the weekends. Splurge on a cocktail or a glass of wine at the oldest bar in Praça da República at Café Vianna. Or if you can’t grab one of the polished marble tables at Vianna, try Café Brasileira, also on the square.
Cheap sleeps
Comfortable, basic hotels with private bathrooms near the center can be had from around €35 a night for most of the year. That said, during the Easter Holy Week festivities, and in July and August, rooms can cost substantially more, especially if you don’t book far in advance.
We like the clean and centrally located rooms at Hotel Ibis Braga (Rua do Carmo 38) and the Basic Braga by Axis for its modern design and proximity to the train station. Shared dorms are available from around €10 per night.