For those of you who wondering who is Rick Steves, let me introduce you to the most respected American travel author.
From writing travel best sellers to hosting tours in many European countries, he has done it all.
Except for writing about Braga and Guimarães in Portugal, two stunning cities 1h driving distance from Porto. Someone needs to tell you why Rick Steves should visit Braga and Guimarães—and it might as well be me! 🙂
No time for a long article? Here’s a summary
These are the best ways to explore Braga & Guimarães:
- Book a small Group tour to Braga & Guimarães. It’s not very expensive and it’s a great way to meet like minded travellers.
- If you prefer to have a more personalised experience, you can book a Private tour to Braga & Guimarães.
- If you’re traveling on a budget, you can always take the train from Porto to Braga / Guimarães and between those cities as well. You will be limited by train schedules, and there are areas where you simply cannot access without a car (the Bom Jesus Sanctuary, for example).
Guimarães, in Portugal: the cradle city of the country
Guimarães, in Portugal, is the most beautiful city in the North of our country (besides Porto, of course!), period. This city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, thanks to its remarkably preserved medieval architecture. It also holds a special place in Portuguese history as the birthplace of the nation, since it was there that our first king. Afonso Henriques, was born.
Guimarães has a cute medieval city centre, with several interesting monuments to visit, that I told you about on my Complete guide to exploring Guimarães.
You should definitely not miss the Sacred Hill, which includes three important monuments: the Palace of the Dukes of Bragança, the castle of Guimarães, where the 1st king of Portugal was born, and the Church of S. Miguel. You can read the article above for price and tours information on each monument.
Another cool thing to do in Guimarães is to take the cable car to Monte da Penha. Over there, you have not only a fabulous view over Guimarães, but also a camping park, a beautiful picnic area, a mini golf and many, many green areas. It’s gorgeous and I love going there with my friends.
Where to Eat in Guimarães, in Portugal
Guimarães has plenty of great places to eat, especially if you’re in the mood for authentic Portuguese cuisine. If you’re driving or don’t mind taking a short cab ride, S. Gião (a bright, spacious restaurant) is a top choice just outside the city. Their smoked sausages from Northern Portugal are a must-try, and the fish soup with seaweed is rich, well-balanced, and satisfying. And if you have a sweet tooth, don’t skip the canillha—it’s one of the best Portuguese sweets I’ve had.
If you’d rather stay in the city center, Solar do Arco and Histórico by Papaboa are excellent options. Solar do Arco is a cozy, traditional spot known for hearty regional dishes like bacalhau à Minhota and roasted goat. Histórico by Papaboa combines rustic charm with bold flavors, all set in a beautifully restored stone building right in the heart of Guimarães.
Where to Stay in Guimarães
If you’re wondering where to stay in Guimarães, Casa do Juncal is the answer. I already told you about this unpretentious boutique hotel on my Top 5 Romantic Hotels in the North of Portugal.
Casa do Juncal is located at the centre of Guimarães, on a renovated building with few rooms, so you’ll immediately feel at home. There, you can expect a wonderful breakfast prepared exactly according to your request (I prefer this model much more than a buffet where food is exposed for god-knows-how-long!). There is also an honesty bar, where guest write down their room and what they drunk. And, moreover, a beautiful garden on the back.
Other excellent options to stay in Guimarães are:
- Hotels with a swimming pool: Pousada Mosteiro de Guimarães and Casa de Sezim.
- Apartments: Old Market Apartment and Apartamentos com História.
Braga: a catholic stronghold in Portugal
Braga is one of the most important Catholic cities in the North of the Iberian Peninsula, with roots dating back to Roman times. A great place to start your visit is the Cathedral of Braga, the oldest in Portugal. In fact, there’s a popular saying among our grandparents—“it’s older than the Cathedral of Braga”—used to describe anything truly ancient.
There are different ticket options available, but I recommend getting the complete one, which gives access to the main cathedral, the five chapels, and the high choir. It’s worth the 5€ per adult, as you really get a full sense of the building’s history and spiritual importance.
After the cathedral, take a stroll through the historic center. It’s compact, full of charm, and perfect for walking. Make sure to pass by Rua do Souto, the main pedestrian street, and stop for a coffee at Café A Brasileira, one of the city’s oldest cafés. Just a few steps away, you’ll find the Arco da Porta Nova, an iconic gateway that once marked the entrance to the city.
Before leaving the historic center, take a moment to relax at the Garden of Santa Bárbara, a small but picturesque garden tucked behind the medieval wing of the Archbishop’s Palace. It’s not particularly big, but the mix of colorful flowers, manicured hedges, and ancient ruins makes it a surprisingly charming place to rest your feet and snap a few beautiful photos.
And since no visit is complete without something sweet, head to Frigideiras do Cantinho, right in the heart of the city. It’s famous for its frigideiras, a traditional pastry from Braga made with thin, flaky dough and filled with spiced minced meat. It might sound unusual as a pastry, but trust me—it’s delicious. You can also grab a coffee and enjoy a quiet moment before heading off to your next stop.
Around Braga, in Portugal, there are cool places to visit too!
The region around Braga, in Portugal, is really pretty. Some places you should visit:
Santuário do Bom Jesus do Monte, a sanctuary with a baroque stairway with 116 meters (I kid you not!). It’s stunning to look at it and from there. Equally importantly is the symbolism behind each ladder. Unfortunately there’s not much information about it online, but I would be glad to share it with you on a private tour 🙂
In case you’re staying in Braga, in Portugal, and don’t have a car, take the bus #2 at Avenida da Liberdade – it’ll leave you straight at the sanctuary. The ticket is fairly inexpensive and you can pay buy it from the bus driver.
I saved the best for last: Mosteiro de Tibães, a stunning sixteenth century monastery. The highlight of Mosteiro de Tibães is its beautiful church covered in 5 different types of Portuguese gilded woodcarving. Moreover, its luxurious gardens with water fountains are the perfect excuse to relax a bit after a tour in the monastery.
There are three types of tickets, all priced at 4€ per person: independent visit (you’re given a leaflet to explore the monastery on your own); an audio-guide tour (available in EN / PT / ES) and a guided tour (unfortunately, only available in PT). It’s really worth it!
Where to Eat in Braga
There are plenty of restaurants in Braga but none comes close to O Arcoense. It’s definitely one of the best restaurants in North of Portugal!
At Arcoense I recommend you to try “Cabrito pingado”, something I’ve never seen anywhere. Basically they put rice on a platter of clay to go to the oven. Then they put a baby goat on a grill over the clay. Thus, the fat of the meat drips into the rice while it bakes. Don’t give me that look – it’s insanely good!
The starters are also delicious, from soft sheep cheese to home made black pork sausages. Last (but never the least!), at Arcoense you can find a good selection of traditional Portuguese sweets such as Pudim Abade de Priscos (a rich pudding from the North of Portugal), Pão de rala and Encharcada (from Alentejo), just to give you a few examples.
Other good suggestions are Taberna do Felix and O Abocanhado.
Whatever you pick, just don’t go to Taberna Belga: it serves the worst francesinha, the traditional sandwich of Porto, that I’ve ever tasted. If you want to try a proper francesinha, here’s my personal recommendations of places in Porto, which is the ONLY place on earth where you should try it. Probably I’ll cause a mutiny for writing this but I don’t care, it’s public service!
Where to stay in Braga
Many people like to stay for a night or two in Braga since it is a big city with plent of monuments to visit and nice restaurants and bars. Therefore, these are my recommendations for you to stay in Braga:
- Boutique Hotels: Berço de Mordomias, Burgus Tribute and Porta Nova Collection House.
- Cheap Hotels: Ibis Budget Braga and Braga Bells Guesthouse.
- Apartments: Praça 44.
- Hostels: Collector’s Home.
How many days should I spend in Guimarães and in Braga?
If you are running short of time you can perfectly organise a day trip from Porto to Guimarães and Braga, in Portugal. Nonetheless, if you have more time to spare then you should consider staying for at least 2 or 3 days as there is plenty to do around these cities, including visiting some of the best wineries in the Green wine region.
How to Get to Guimarães and Braga (Train, Tour, or Car?)
These are the best ways to explore Braga & Guimarães:
- Book a small Group tour to Braga & Guimarães. It’s not very expensive and it’s a great way to meet like minded travellers.
- If you prefer to have a more personalised experience, you can book a Private tour to Braga & Guimarães.
- If you’re traveling on a budget, you can always take the train from Porto to Braga / Guimarães and between those cities as well. You will be limited by train schedules, and there are areas where you simply cannot access without a car (the Bom Jesus Sanctuary, for example).
Should I rent a car to go to Guimarães and Braga?
It depends. There are train connection from Porto to both Braga and Guimarães, in Portugal, and in between the two cities as well.
However, if you’re planning to visit the two cities in a day, it gets complicated to combine three train schedules (Porto – Guimarães, Guimarães – Braga and Braga – Porto, or the other way around).
Therefore, I think it’s worth to rent a car to get to Braga and Guimarães, in Portugal if:
- You’re planning to see the two cities on the same day;
- You’re traveling with a group of 3 or 4 people – this way you can easily split up the cost of renting a car.
You can find cheap rental cars for one day on AutoEurope.
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