Braga is one of the cute Portuguese cities that doesn’t get as much of credit as it truly deserves. The city is located in the north of Portugal and has great historical importance because it is one of the oldest cities in the country.
You will find that there are loads of things to do in Braga to keep you busy during your time here. There are also loads of options when it comes to day trips from the city too. That’s another reason why I found the city so interesting.
You will also find that it is also much quieter than the busier cities like Porto and Lisbon because it doesn’t have quite the same footfall when it comes to tourists. For me this is one of the reasons why I really loved our time in the city.
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Read my disclaimer for further information.
Table of Contents
Where To Stay In Braga
One of the first things that you need to consider when planning a trip is where to stay. When it comes to Braga, I recommend staying as central as possible. This is because the city is very walkable and you can get to almost all the things to do in Braga on foot. Here are some good options.
Vila Gale Collection Braga – Best Family Accommodation
⭐️ Rating: 8.8/10 (3,620 Reviews) Price: $114 per night 📍Location: Largo Carlos Amarante, Braga Details: Read more on booking.com now!
Located right in the heart of the city is a gorgeous hotel called Vila Gale. Now you would be forgiven if you thought that this was one of the museums here because the building is just gorgeous.
It is located right next to the Braga sign so you know that it is as central as it gets. Its jut 7 minutes away from the Se Cathedral which is one of the central landmarks.
Now for those of you visiting with children know that this one of the best places to stay in Braga with children. It literally has its own children’s playground in house.
It also has family rooms which are larger and have beds for the kids. The morning breakfast spread means that you can get out of bed without worrying about the morning
“Most beautiful facility I’ve ever stayed at – amazing history. Room was upgraded at check in which was very nice. We were in the old palace/hospital, which was wonderful. We ate dinner in the hotel (unusual for us) and had a wonderful meal.
Breakfast was extensive with something for every taste. It was surprisingly quiet at night considering it is right in the middle of all the action in Braga. Easy walking distance to all sites of interest. Parking in a secure lot was an excellent bonus in a city where finding parking is at a premium.”
Craig (read more reviews now!)
Another thing that I loved about the place was the fact that they had free parking which is a total lifesaver if you are in the city center. The garden is also another big bonus if you just want to chill and relax at the hotel. Did I mention that the hotel also has 2 swimming pools.
Hotel Moon & Sun Braga
⭐️ Rating: 8.7/10 (1,779 Reviews) Price: $81 per night 📍Location: Rua dos Capelistas, 85, Braga Details: Read more on booking.com now!
This is another hotel that is located in the center of the city and is super close to all the things to do in Braga. That however isn’t its only draw.
The rooms here are lovely and big and bright with huge windows. It gives the rooms a nice sunny feel.
The breakfast is also one of the big draws with plenty of different options available. If that doesn’t please you, you will also find some of the finest restaurants in Braga in the vicinity.
“The room was small but comfortable. Modern bathroom and room. Had on arrival a complimentary brownie, water and fruits and a personalized greeting. Bed was comfortable and shower had perfect water pressure. The breakfast had many wonderful options that you usually don’t have. Many choices of savory and cakes. Perfect location, really central. Very nice staff and helpful.”
Ricardo (read more reviews now!)
Things To Do In Braga: Religious Structures
Before I start out talking about all the religious structures in and around the city, I would like to make a small note here that if you are short on time and can visit only a few, pick the Bom Jesus do Monte and the Braga cathedral first. These are by far the most impressive things to do in Braga as far as the churches are concerned.
1. Braga Cathedral
The Braga cathedral is super easy to get to. It is located right in the center of the city and you can just walk to it. It is important to note that while this building was built way back in the 11th century, it is still an active religious site.
This means that when mass is being conducted, you may have to wait to enter. It also means that you should be quiet when you enter because people will still be praying inside.
Now the Braga cathedral is very big. It is divided largely into two parts. One houses the museums and the other is dedicated to the actual church part.
Both require separate tickets so make sure that you mention what you want to visit when you are at the ticket counter.
When you stand outside the cathedral, you will notice that both sides of the cathedral have two towers which house bells. These chime at periodic intervals and can be heard a good distance away from the cathedral.
Inside the cathedral, you will find a number of things that will interest you both because of their beauty and their architectural history. I particularly found the tomb of Infante D. Afonso de Portugal, eldest son of D. João I and D. Filipa de Lencastre is very interesting. It is intricately decorated and you can see that wood, gold and silver have been used for the purpose.
Aside from this, other iconic things to see include the choir, the pipe organs, the paintings, the altar and more.
2. Bom Jesus Do Monte
The Basilica of Bom Jesus do Monte is one of the most popular monuments in the city and heading to it is one of the top things to do in Braga. Something that you should keep in mind is that the church is not located in the historic quarter of the city. Instead, it is located on the outskirts and at the top of a hill. The iconic white and gray staircase is one of the most famous spots for photographs because it looks beautiful.
The staircase isn’t the only thing that you will find interesting. There is a funicular that takes you right to the top. You can book a return trip but my recommendation would be to buy a ticket to head up and come down via the steps. This way you aren’t exhausted by the time you reach to the top and you do not miss out on the views.
Once you reach the top, you can check out the church, the gorgeous fountain, head to the gardens or just chill and enjoy the view. In fact, if you are visiting with kids, I recommend heading to the huge children’s playground in the park.
3. Sanctuary of Our Lady Of Sameiro
While the Basilica of Bom Jesus do Monte is very popular, very few tourists head to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Sameiro. This church is also located at the top of a hill and is located relatively near to the iconic church.
It is very easy to get to if you have your own mode of transport. Not only is the church huge and gorgeous both inside and out, it is also a great view point where you can see Braga sprawling out in front of you. Oddly enough, till the moment I reached here, I had never quite realized just how big Braga was!
Things To Do In Braga: Historical Buildings
4. Centro Histórico De Braga
The Centro histórico de Braga or historic center is where we spent most of our time during our vacation.
Even the accommodation that we picked was located close to the center. This way we could get about the city with ease, did not have to constantly worry about parking and everything we wanted to visit was just minutes away.
The historic center is always bustling. It is filled with narrow streets and some iconic buildings are located here. Some good examples include the Se de Braga, Palácio do Raio, Archbishop ‘s palace etc.
5. Palácio do Raio
Palácio do Raio is one of the buildings that you will recognize on sight. The facade of the structure is decorated with the famous Portuguese azulejos. These are the blue and white tiles that you see in many parts of the country. The color makes the building stand out when compared to the other structures nearby and pretty hard to miss.
The inside of the Palácio do Raio is a museum. This museum has a number of different exhibits including those from churches in the area and old paintings.
One of the things that draw people to exhibits is the intricate blue and white picture that is formed by the azulejos. You will see this as you walk up the stairs as it flanks the staircase on both sides.
6. Ruína do Aqueduto Romano
The ruins of a Roman aqueduct also lie in the city. I did not find them particularly impressive so I would not recommend going out of your way to see it but if you are visiting the Museum of Archeology D. Diogo de Sousa, you will find that it’s just a few meters away.
7. Roman Thermae of Maximinus
Unlike the ruins of the aqueduct, the Roman Thermae of Maximinus was far more interesting. These ruins are being slowly excavated and are open for the public to see for a small fee. We were lucky that we visited on Museum day and got a free tour of the area. It is pretty interesting to see how the water was heated in the area. It is a small area though so it’s a very short visit.
I couldn’t visualize everything that was being described here so a follow up visit to the Museum of Archeology D. Diogo de Sousa really helped because they have many small models of the Roman Thermae of Maximinus here.
I found that one of the fun things to do in Braga was to compare the photographs of the ruins and the miniatures. The kids had fun trying to spot the different parts and connect them with the current spots in the ruin.
8. Archbishop’s Palace
The Archbishop’s Palace was one of the buildings that we did not visit because I made a mistake when checking the timings. I plan on visiting it on our next trip because it is definitely one of the big attractions in Braga.
The palace is a combination of three buildings and is huge. A part of the palace is currently used as part of the University of Minho, the district archive and the library. If you do miss out on visiting it because of the timings like I did, head to Santa Barbara Garden. You can see a bit of the palace from the outside without actually entering the building.
9. Torre Medieval de Nossa Senhora da Torre
Many people skip the Torre Medieval de Nossa Senhora da Torre but we didn’t. This tower is fascinating.
The tower is located very close to Museum Pio XII and I would recommend visiting both the attractions in Braga one after the other due to their proximity.
The tower has five floors and is currently used as an exhibition space by Museum Pio XII. As you walk up, you will get a chance to examine different works of art.
I loved the photography display that we saw. There were loads of candid photos of people who lived in the city in combination with photographs of festivities and cultural traditions. As you go higher, you can also admire the view from the windows.
This tower once served as a guard post for the city. You can see why especially since it gives an individual a pretty panoramic view of the surroundings. Climbing was definitely one of my favorite things to do in Braga.
Things To Do In Braga: Squares And Gardens
Braga is a very social city. People love to be outdoors and enjoy a bit of food while enjoying each other’s company. With the sun shining it does make you feel nice especially if you are like me and are escaping the freezing cold up north.
10. Chafariz da Praça da República
The Chafariz da Praça da República is a great place to visit if you are looking for outdoor things to do in Braga with people of all ages. There are loads of cafes that surround this place where you can catch a bite to eat and take in the vibe. The fountain is also extremely pretty.
There is quite a bit of shopping to be done on the streets here and even a kids park. We spent a lot of time here just letting the kids enjoy themselves.
11. Santa Barbara Garden
One of the most colorful things to do in Braga is to visit the Santa Barbara Garden. The garden is full of different types of plants and the myriad of colors is a true treat to the eyes. It isn’t small either and there are plenty of places to wander, sit or click photographs. In fact, I think this is one of the most instagrammable spots in the city.
12. Museum of archeology D. Diogo de Sousa
We visited a couple of different museums in Braga but our favorite one among them all was the Museum of Archaeology D. Diogo de Souza. You’ve probably guessed that though since I’ve mentioned it a lot in this article.
It is one of the biggest museums in the city and houses different artifacts that have been unearthed from archeological sites in Portugal. The articles date back to the paleolithic and neolithic ages which is pretty cool. There are plenty of things for children to do and they often have exhibits that are interactive so it makes the experience even more fun.
13. Museu Pio XII
Museu Pio XII is a small museum. You probably need just around an hour to visit this one but it is interesting and worth heading into if you have finished most of the other things to do in Braga. The museum has a lot of old religious artwork. It also has a small archeology section.
There you have it. These are some of the top things to do in Braga that we have visited during our time in the city. Have you been to Braga? Do you have anything to add to the list? Let us know in the comments below.
Other Posts That You Will Find Interesting
- Is Lisbon a good spot for a holiday?
- Is Porto a great vacation spot?
- Best spots to stay in Lisbon for every budget
- Top hotels in Cascais that are great for your holiday
- Things to do in Cascais for an amazing vacation
Don’t Forget To Pin This Post
