{"id":7335,"date":"2025-05-01T10:54:32","date_gmt":"2025-05-01T10:54:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/38.242.230.232\/~portoalities\/?p=7335"},"modified":"2026-03-13T12:07:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T12:07:09","slug":"rick-steves-visit-braga-guimaraes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/portoalities.com\/en\/rick-steves-visit-braga-guimaraes\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Rick Steves should visit Braga and Guimar\u00e3es"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>For those of you who wondering who is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ricksteves.com\/\">Rick Steves<\/a>, let me introduce you to the most respected American travel author.<br>From writing travel best sellers to hosting tours in many European countries, he has done it all.<br>Except for writing about Braga and Guimar\u00e3es in Portugal, two stunning cities 1h driving distance from Porto. Someone needs to tell you why Rick Steves should visit Braga and Guimar\u00e3es\u2014and it might as well be me! \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">No time for a long article? Here&#8217;s a summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>These are the best ways to explore Braga &amp; Guimar\u00e3es:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/affiliates.cooltouroporto.com\/portoalities\/guimaraes-braga-small-group-tour.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Book a small Group tour to Braga &amp; Guimar\u00e3es<\/a>. It&#8217;s not very expensive and it&#8217;s a great way to meet like minded travellers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you prefer to have a more personalised experience, you can <a href=\"https:\/\/affiliates.cooltouroporto.com\/portoalities\/private-braga-guimaraes-tour.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">book a Private tour to Braga &amp; Guimar\u00e3es<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you&#8217;re traveling on a budget, you can always take the train from Porto to Braga \/ Guimar\u00e3es 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).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Guimar\u00e3es, in Portugal: the cradle city of the country<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Guimar\u00e3es, 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.<br><br>Guimar\u00e3es has a cute&nbsp;medieval city centre, with several interesting monuments to visit, that I told you about on my&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/portoalities.com\/guimaraes-the-cradle-city-of-portugal\/\">Complete guide to exploring Guimar\u00e3es<\/a>.<br>You should definitely not miss the Sacred Hill, which includes three important monuments: the Palace of the Dukes of Bragan\u00e7a, the castle of Guimar\u00e3es, where the 1st king of Portugal was born, and the Church of S. Miguel. You can&nbsp;read the article above for price and tours information on each monument.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"668\" height=\"427\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-7361\" src=\"http:\/\/portoalities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/IMG_20160620_102937.jpg\" alt=\"\"><br>Another cool thing to do in Guimar\u00e3es is to take the cable car to Monte da Penha. Over there, you have not only a fabulous view over Guimar\u00e3es, but also a camping park, a beautiful picnic area, a mini golf and many, many green areas. It&#8217;s gorgeous and I love going there with my friends.<br><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"668\" height=\"437\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-7362\" src=\"http:\/\/portoalities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/IMG_20160620_115859.jpg\" alt=\"rick steves braga guimaraes\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"668\" height=\"445\" src=\"http:\/\/portoalities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/monte-penha-guimaraes-viewpoint.jpg\" alt=\"monte penha guimaraes viewpoint\" class=\"wp-image-138208\" srcset=\"https:\/\/portoalities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/monte-penha-guimaraes-viewpoint.jpg 668w, https:\/\/portoalities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/monte-penha-guimaraes-viewpoint-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 668px) 100vw, 668px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Me and my friends looking for a place to chill in Monte da Penha<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where to Eat in Guimar\u00e3es, in Portugal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"668\" height=\"445\" src=\"http:\/\/portoalities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/garrafa-vinho-sao-giao-restaurante-guimaraes.jpeg\" alt=\"garrafa vinho sao giao restaurante guimaraes\" class=\"wp-image-39891\" srcset=\"https:\/\/portoalities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/garrafa-vinho-sao-giao-restaurante-guimaraes.jpeg 668w, https:\/\/portoalities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/garrafa-vinho-sao-giao-restaurante-guimaraes-300x200.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 668px) 100vw, 668px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Guimar\u00e3es has plenty of great places to eat, especially if you&#8217;re in the mood for authentic Portuguese cuisine. If you\u2019re driving or don\u2019t mind taking a short cab ride, S. Gi\u00e3o (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\u2019t skip the <em>canillha<\/em>\u2014it\u2019s one of the best Portuguese sweets I\u2019ve had.<br>If you\u2019d rather stay in the city center, Solar do Arco and Hist\u00f3rico by Papaboa are excellent options. Solar do Arco is a cozy, traditional spot known for hearty regional dishes like <em>bacalhau \u00e0 Minhota<\/em> and roasted goat. Hist\u00f3rico by Papaboa combines rustic charm with bold flavors, all set in a beautifully restored stone building right in the heart of Guimar\u00e3es.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where to Stay in Guimar\u00e3es<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"670\" height=\"422\" src=\"http:\/\/portoalities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/double-bedroom-casa-juncal-hotel-guimaraes.jpeg\" alt=\"double bedroom casa juncal hotel guimaraes\" class=\"wp-image-39916\" srcset=\"https:\/\/portoalities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/double-bedroom-casa-juncal-hotel-guimaraes.jpeg 670w, https:\/\/portoalities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/double-bedroom-casa-juncal-hotel-guimaraes-300x189.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 670px) 100vw, 670px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re wondering where to stay in Guimar\u00e3es, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/pt\/casa-do-juncal-guimaraes.html?aid=1186505&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=1&amp;label=rick-steves-braga\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">Casa do Juncal<\/a> is the answer. I already told you about this unpretentious boutique hotel on my&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/portoalities.com\/5-romantic-hotels-in-the-north-of-portugal\/\">Top 5 Romantic Hotels in the North of Portugal<\/a>.<br><a href=\"http:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/pt\/casa-do-juncal-guimaraes.html?aid=1186505&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=1&amp;label=rick-steves-braga\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">Casa do Juncal<\/a>&nbsp;is located at the centre of Guimar\u00e3es, on a renovated building with few rooms, so you&#8217;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.<br>Other excellent options to stay in Guimar\u00e3es are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hotels with a swimming pool: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/pt\/pousada-santa-marinha.en.html?aid=1186505&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=1&amp;label=rick-steves-braga\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">Pousada Mosteiro de Guimar\u00e3es<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/pt\/casa-de-sezim.en.html?aid=1186505&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=1&amp;label=rick-steves-braga\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">Casa de Sezim<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Apartments: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/pt\/old-market-apartment.en.html?aid=1186505&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=1&amp;label=rick-steves-braga\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">Old Market Apartment<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/pt\/apartamentos-com-historia.en.html?aid=1186505&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=1&amp;label=rick-steves-braga\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">Apartamentos com Hist\u00f3ria<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Braga: a catholic stronghold in Portugal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>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 <strong>Cathedral of Braga<\/strong>, the oldest in Portugal. In fact, there\u2019s a popular saying among our grandparents\u2014<em>\u201cit\u2019s older than the Cathedral of Braga\u201d<\/em>\u2014used to describe anything truly ancient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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\u2019s worth the 5\u20ac per adult, as you really get a full sense of the building\u2019s history and spiritual importance.<br><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"668\" height=\"457\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7366\" src=\"http:\/\/portoalities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/ctedral-braha.jpg\" alt=\"rick steves braga guimaraes\"><br>After the cathedral, take a stroll through the historic center. It\u2019s 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 Caf\u00e9 A Brasileira, one of the city\u2019s oldest caf\u00e9s. Just a few steps away, you\u2019ll find the Arco da Porta Nova, an iconic gateway that once marked the entrance to the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full wp-image-7369\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/portoalities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/santa-barbara.jpg\" alt=\"rick steves braga guimaraes\" class=\"wp-image-7369\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u00a9 Portugal Uma Viagem Fotogr\u00e1fica<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Before leaving the historic center, take a moment to relax at the Garden of Santa B\u00e1rbara, a small but picturesque garden tucked behind the medieval wing of the Archbishop\u2019s Palace. It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"668\" height=\"717\" src=\"http:\/\/portoalities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/frigideiras-traditional-pastry-braga-1.jpg\" alt=\"frigideiras traditional pastry braga \" class=\"wp-image-138237\" srcset=\"https:\/\/portoalities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/frigideiras-traditional-pastry-braga-1.jpg 668w, https:\/\/portoalities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/frigideiras-traditional-pastry-braga-1-279x300.jpg 279w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 668px) 100vw, 668px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Frigideiras, the traditional pastry from Braga <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>And since no visit is complete without something sweet, head to Frigideiras do Cantinho, right in the heart of the city. It\u2019s famous for its <em>frigideiras<\/em>, 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\u2014it\u2019s delicious. You can also grab a coffee and enjoy a quiet moment before heading off to your next stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Around Braga, in Portugal, there are cool places to visit too!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The region around Braga, in Portugal, is really pretty. Some places you should visit:<br><strong>Santu\u00e1rio do Bom Jesus do Monte<\/strong>, a sanctuary&nbsp;with a baroque&nbsp;stairway&nbsp;with 116 meters (I kid you not!). It&#8217;s stunning to look <em>at it <\/em>and&nbsp;<em>from there. <\/em>Equally&nbsp;importantly is the symbolism&nbsp;behind each ladder. Unfortunately there&#8217;s not much information about it online, but I would be glad to share it with you on a private tour \ud83d\ude42<br><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"668\" height=\"445\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-7364\" src=\"http:\/\/portoalities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/bom-jesus.jpg\" alt=\"rick steves braga guimaraes\"><br>In case you&#8217;re staying in Braga, in Portugal, and don&#8217;t have a car, take the bus #2 at Avenida da Liberdade &#8211; it&#8217;ll leave you straight at the sanctuary. The ticket is fairly inexpensive and you can pay buy it from the bus driver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"668\" height=\"444\" src=\"http:\/\/portoalities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/gold-leaf-church-tibaes-monastery-braga.jpeg\" alt=\"gold leaf church tibaes monastery braga\" class=\"wp-image-39917\" srcset=\"https:\/\/portoalities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/gold-leaf-church-tibaes-monastery-braga.jpeg 668w, https:\/\/portoalities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/gold-leaf-church-tibaes-monastery-braga-300x199.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 668px) 100vw, 668px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>I saved the best for last: Mosteiro de Tib\u00e3es<\/strong>, a stunning sixteenth century monastery. The highlight of Mosteiro de Tib\u00e3es is&nbsp;its&nbsp;beautiful church covered in 5 different types of Portuguese&nbsp;gilded woodcarving. Moreover, its luxurious gardens with water fountains are the perfect excuse to relax a bit after a tour in the monastery.<br>There are three types of tickets, all priced at 4\u20ac per person: independent visit (you&#8217;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&#8217;s really worth it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where to Eat in&nbsp;Braga<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"668\" height=\"445\" src=\"http:\/\/portoalities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/baby-goat-rice-portuense-restaurant-braga.jpeg\" alt=\"baby goat rice portuense restaurant braga\" class=\"wp-image-39920\" srcset=\"https:\/\/portoalities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/baby-goat-rice-portuense-restaurant-braga.jpeg 668w, https:\/\/portoalities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/baby-goat-rice-portuense-restaurant-braga-300x200.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 668px) 100vw, 668px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>There are plenty of restaurants in Braga but none comes close to O Arcoense. It&#8217;s definitely one of the best restaurants in North of Portugal!<br>At Arcoense I recommend you to try &#8220;Cabrito pingado&#8221;, something I&#8217;ve never seen anywhere. Basically they put&nbsp;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&#8217;t give me that look&nbsp;&#8211; <em>it&#8217;s insanely&nbsp;good<\/em>!<br>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 <em>Pudim Abade de Priscos<\/em> (a rich pudding from the North of Portugal), <em>P\u00e3o de rala<\/em> and <em>Encharcada<\/em> (from Alentejo), just to give you a few examples.<br>Other good suggestions are Taberna do Felix and O Abocanhado.<br>Whatever you pick, just <em>don&#8217;t go to Taberna Belga<\/em>: it serves the worst francesinha, the traditional sandwich of Porto, that I&#8217;ve ever tasted. If you want to try a proper francesinha, <a href=\"http:\/\/portoalities.com\/where-can-i-get-the-best-francesinha-in-porto\/\">here&#8217;s my personal recommendations of places in Porto<\/a>, which is the ONLY place on earth where you should try it. Probably I&#8217;ll cause a mutiny for writing this but I don&#8217;t care, it&#8217;s public service!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where to stay in Braga<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-20642\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/where-stay-braga.jpg\" alt=\"where stay braga\" width=\"668\" height=\"376\"><br>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:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Boutique Hotels: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/pt\/berco-de-mordomias-minho-39-s-guest.en.html?aid=1186505&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=1&amp;label=rick-steves-braga\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">Ber\u00e7o de Mordomias<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/pt\/burgus-tribute-design.en.html?aid=1186505&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=1&amp;label=rick-steves-braga\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">Burgus Tribute<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/pt\/porta-nova-collection-house.en.html?aid=1186505&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=1&amp;label=rick-steves-braga\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">Porta Nova Collection House<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cheap Hotels: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/pt\/ibis-budget-braga-centro.en.html?aid=1186505&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=1&amp;label=rick-steves-braga\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">Ibis Budget Braga<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/pt\/cathedral-guesthouse.en.html?aid=1186505&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=1&amp;label=rick-steves-braga\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">Braga Bells Guesthouse<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Apartments: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/pt\/praca-44-boutique-apartments.en.html?aid=1186505&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=1&amp;label=rick-steves-braga\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">Pra\u00e7a 44<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hostels: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/pt\/collector-39-s-hostel.en.html?aid=1186505&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=1&amp;label=rick-steves-braga\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">Collector&#8217;s Home<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How many days should I spend in Guimar\u00e3es and in Braga?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are running short of time you can perfectly organise a day trip from Porto to Guimar\u00e3es 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 <a href=\"http:\/\/portoalities.com\/ultimate-guide-to-green-wines\/\">best wineries in the Green wine region<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Get to Guimar\u00e3es and Braga (Train, Tour, or Car?)<\/h2>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>These are the best ways to explore Braga &amp; Guimar\u00e3es:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/affiliates.cooltouroporto.com\/portoalities\/guimaraes-braga-small-group-tour.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Book a small Group tour to Braga &amp; Guimar\u00e3es<\/a>. It&#8217;s not very expensive and it&#8217;s a great way to meet like minded travellers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you prefer to have a more personalised experience, you can <a href=\"https:\/\/affiliates.cooltouroporto.com\/portoalities\/private-braga-guimaraes-tour.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">book a Private tour to Braga &amp; Guimar\u00e3es<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you&#8217;re traveling on a budget, you can always take the train from Porto to Braga \/ Guimar\u00e3es 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).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Should I rent a car to go to Guimar\u00e3es and Braga?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It depends. There are train connection from Porto to both Braga and Guimar\u00e3es, in Portugal, and in between the two cities as well.<br>However, if you&#8217;re planning to visit the two cities in a day, it gets complicated to combine three train schedules (Porto &#8211; Guimar\u00e3es, Guimar\u00e3es &#8211; Braga and Braga &#8211; Porto, or the other way around).<br>Therefore, I think it&#8217;s worth to rent a car to get to Braga and Guimar\u00e3es, in Portugal if:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You&#8217;re planning to see the two cities on the same day;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You&#8217;re traveling with a group of 3 or 4 people &#8211; this way you can easily split up the cost of renting a car.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You can find cheap rental cars for one day on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.autoeurope.eu\/index.cfm?sflag=EUR&amp;aff=PORTOALITIESEU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">DiscoverCars.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Save this article for later:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"325\" height=\"486\" src=\"http:\/\/portoalities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/day-trip-braga-guimaraes.jpg\" alt=\"day trip braga guimaraes\" class=\"wp-image-36915\" srcset=\"https:\/\/portoalities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/day-trip-braga-guimaraes.jpg 325w, https:\/\/portoalities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/day-trip-braga-guimaraes-201x300.jpg 201w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 325px) 100vw, 325px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"325\" height=\"488\" src=\"http:\/\/portoalities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/day-trip-from-porto-braga-guimaraes.jpg\" alt=\"day trip from porto braga guimaraes\" class=\"wp-image-36916\" srcset=\"https:\/\/portoalities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/day-trip-from-porto-braga-guimaraes.jpg 325w, https:\/\/portoalities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/day-trip-from-porto-braga-guimaraes-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 325px) 100vw, 325px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For those of you who wondering who is Rick Steves, let me introduce you to the most respected American travel\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":39905,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[490],"tags":[2159,710,712,1013],"class_list":["post-7335","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-around_porto","tag-bom-jesus","tag-braga","tag-day-trip","tag-guimaraes-en"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Why Rick Steves should visit Braga and Guimar\u00e3es | Portoalities<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Explore the rich history and culture of Braga and Guimar\u00e3es, two must-visit cities in Northern Portugal, perfect for a day trip from Porto.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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