Braga Unveiled: A Local’s Insider Guide to Unlocking the Best of Portugal’s Hidden Gem!

I am sitting outside on our patio this cool spring day, enjoying the sound of Braga: birds chirping, church bells ringing, children playing during recess at a nearby school, and old friends laughing in the café next door.

These are the sounds of Braga. To know her is to love her.

---

So, How Did We End Up Here?

In full transparency, this charming little city wasn’t even on our radar until J and I were deciding on where in Portugal we wanted to live.

As we researched potential landing spots, we kept coming back to Braga – time and time again.

---

There’s Something About Braga

Truth be told – any “Gilmore Girls” fans out there will appreciate this – Braga honestly reminds me of Stars Hollow. I can’t quite put my finger on it – maybe it’s the cast of characters we regularly see around town, the pergola that sits in the center of the town square, the community celebrations, the friends (new and old) we always see, or maybe it’s just its good ol’ fashioned charm. 

Whatever it is, we were delighted when we learned earlier this year that Braga was named Europe’s Next Emerging Tourism Destination by the World Travel Awards!

If this northern Portuguese city isn’t on your travel radar, it should be.

Many folks do a quick day-trip to Braga while they focus most of their vacation time in Porto. But we reckon that Braga is worth 2-3 days so you have plenty of time to explore. 

But what exactly should you see, do, and most importantly eat?

We got you.

Here’s our definitive travel guide to Braga:

• When to visit
• Where to stay
• What to see
• (Most importantly) Where to eat

---

When to Visit

First up: the weather.

The best time to visit Braga is usually April-September; outside of that, you might be met with considerable rain. 

If that’s your jam, then just be sure to pack a good umbrella and rainboots.

AVIOTHIC TIP:

Admittedly, December was a little touch-and-go, weather-wise, this past year but if you’re blessed with sunshine (or at least no rain), then it’s also a beautiful time to visit, especially if you love the holiday season. Braga puts on a series of Christmas events (known as Braga Natal), which includes food and craft markets, as well as shows all month-long (more on that coming soon!).

---

Where to Stay

There are many options to choose from when looking for accommodations in Braga but the two I recommend are:

• Porta Nova Collection House
• Moon & Sun Hotel

Both are relatively newer boutique hotels located in the heart of the city center.  Full of charm, they’ve each perfected the art of blending modern with classical/historic design.

With great service across the board, you truly can’t go wrong with either option.

---

What to See & Do

Praça da República & Arca Da Porto Nova

Praça da República is at the heart of Braga’s city center and is an excellent starting point for your adventures.

This lovely plaza is home to an enormous water fountain in the center where you just might see dogs, children, and even an adult splashing around. 

The square is where locals congregate to enjoy a stroll or just sit to take in the sights and sounds of the city.

Many cafes and shops are located in and around the plaza too (be sure to walk down the promenade of Avenida da Liberdade where you’ll delight in the seasonal flowers on display). 

If you take Rua Dom Diogo de Sousa down (arguably the main artery of town center), you’ll be greeted by the famous Arco da Porta Nova, which serves as the point of entry to the historic town center.

It roughly translates to Arch of the New Gate. A Portuguese friend told me there’s a saying in Portugal that if you leave the door open in a house, for example, family and friends will quip, “are you from Braga?,” since there’s no actual gate or door on Arco da Porta Nova. 🙂

Palácio do Raio

This palace with gorgeous blue tiles on the exterior can’t be missed. The azulejos tiles are stunning and serve as an excellent backdrop to group pictures or selfies, if you’re looking for an iconic spot.

It used to be home to a famous knight in the 1700s but now the Baroque building is open to tours where you can get a feel for the design from centuries ago.

Jardim de Santa Bárbara

I love these gardens. The landscaping throughout the town center is *chef’s kiss* and the Santa Barbara Gardens are no exception.

The small public garden is a feast for the senses with tons of different flower and plant varieties that perfume every square inch of the space. A tranquil fountain sits in the center and it’s just the spot for some beautiful picture taking.

Santuário do Bom Jesus do Monte

Bom Jesus is a UNESCO World Heritage site located 15 minutes outside of the main city center. The famous site, which took 600 years to complete, offers sweeping views of Braga. 

The site sits atop Mount Espinho so it does require a bit of a climb (of course you can also take a Bolt vs. walk). Once at the base of the entrance, you have two options to get to the top:

1. Funicular (takes about 5 minutes and costs ~4 euro round trip per person)
2. Stairs (573, to be exact)

The latter, in our opinion, is the best way to enjoy the grandiose staircase leading up to the church (plus you get to see the religious iconography in the series of small chapels along the way). 

Once at the top, you’ll see the beautiful church in rich Baroque and Rococo style alongside ornate hotels and buildings nearby (as well as little cafes and eateries; they’re perfect spots for some gelato on a hot summer’s day).

Just beyond the church is another climb (albeit shorter) to a beautiful lake, gardens, and picnic area where you can enjoy a boat ride or stroll.

AVIOTHIC TIP: Bolt is Portugal’s version of Lyft or Uber and super inexpensive. Be sure to download the app and use it whenever you need a ride in whatever city you visit in Portugal.

Sé De Braga

The Sé is the oldest church in all of Portugal and a must visit when in Braga.

You can enter for free or, for 5 euro, get a tour of the cathedral, chapels, museum and high choir (there’s also an a la carte option where you can choose which of the four you’d like to see for 2-3 euro each).

The Gothic and Baroque interior of the church is a sight to behold and the tour is well worth it, if only for a special viewing of the stunning high choir pipes on the second level; it’s a marvel in craftsmanship. 

You can still get a good view from the ground-level church interior but if you’re a history buff, you’re bound to enjoy the tour.

Mercado Municipal

About an 8 minute walk from the Se is Braga’s huge indoor food and flower market.

Mornings, and especially weekends are buzzing with locals buying food for their restaurants or homes be it salsicha (sausage), batatas (potatoes), queijo (cheese), or vinho (wine). 

The fruits and vegetables are always fresh and in season (I got the best avocados ever from there just today) and it even has a small indoor food hall where you can get a made-to-order meal (options run the gamut from sushi to traditional Portuguese fare).

It’s a great spot to soak in the spirited energy of Braga.

Festivals & Events

One of the things we love most about Braga are the festivals and events that happen throughout the year. 

If you can, try to time your visit around one of them – this post on Braga’s 7 essential festivals is an excellent starting point.

Here’s a quick overview:

• May | Braga Romana (festival commemorating Braga’s rule under the Roman Empire)
• May/June | Hopen Beer Fest (semi-annual craft beer festival – summer beer edition)
• June | São João (two-week cultural event honoring John the Baptiste)
• July | Vinho Verde Fest (Portuguese green wine festival)
• September | Noite Branca (end of summer white party) 
• December | Hopen Beer Fest (winter beer edition) & Braga Natal (Christmas)

Read even more about each festival here.

---

Where to Eat

We have SOOO many restaurants and cafes in Braga that we love.

We did our best to pair it down to the essential must-stops – but it was a tough one!

So…without further ado…

Our food guide to Braga:

• Cafe Brasileira
  • This is, easily, the most Iconic café in Braga, located just off of Praça da República.
  • Open since 1907, Cafe Brasileira is loved by locals and tourists alike as a place to meet friends, catch up over a coffee or drink, or enjoy people-watching.
• Dona Petisca
  • This woman-owned restaurant is located directly in front of The Se (along with several other outdoor cafes and restaurants).
  • It offers a great selection of sandwiches like ‘bifanas’ (made from pork) and beers such as Super Bock’s* 1927 Collection (wine and spirits are also available); it’s the perfect spot for lunch or a light dinner.
• Lakkana
  • Down a small alleyway that runs perpendicular to the The Se is Thai restaurant, Lakkana. J and are suckers for good Thai food and Lakkana is no exception (the pad thai, chicken satay, and spring rolls are fabulous). 
  • Any time friends and family are in town, this is one of the spots we always bring them to, so if you love Thai as much as we do, this is just the spot! 
• Corriqueijo
  • Also woman-owned, this wine and cheese artisanal shop is a fantastic little spot around the corner from Arca Da Porto Nova.
  • Cheese and wines hail not only from Portugal but across the Iberian peninsula as well as other European countries like Germany, France, and the Netherlands.
  • And it’s also a great little spot to gather up some yummy souvenirs.
• Noki
  • Noki, how I love thee; let me count the ways… J and I have visited this spot no less than 4-5 times and it gets better and better with each visit.
  • Interestingly, the chef trained in the Canary Islands where he honed his love of Asian cuisine (we also recently found out he’s our next door neighbor 🙂).
  • The restaurant focuses on Asian-fusion street food, offering a tour of everything from Thai to Taiwanese to Korean flavors across the menu.
  • You truly can’t go wrong with anything on the menu but these are our favorite stand-out dishes:
    • Gyoza de cogumelos (mushroom)
    • Bao pancetta (pork belly)
    • Frango gochujang (chicken)
• Omakase Experience
  • If you love Japanese food then you MUST go to Omakase Experience.
    • Omakase means “chef’s choice” in Japanese; the idea is that you sit back and enjoy items the chef chooses to serve you (it’s a fun way to add a surprise and delight while dining).
  • J and I went recently and had a mind-blowing omakase dinner led by chef Michael Choi and his incredible team; we opted for the premium menu (110 euro), which included hamachi, wagyu beef, and a myriad of other amazingly delicious items – it was, hands down, one of the best dining experiences we’ve ever had… in our lives.
• Inato Bistrô
  • Last month, J and I celebrated our one year anniversary of living in Portugal (because, why not?). We wanted to go somewhere special to commemorate the incredible year we’ve had; Inato had long been on our radar and we finally checked it off our list.
  • It was truly a gastronomic experience – everything from the shrimp tacos to the oxtail focaccia, seabass, beef entrecôte, and chocolate hazelnut ice cream were impeccable (as was the friendly and attentive service); if you prefer more elevated experiences, this is it.
• Nata Sweet Nata
  • Of course, you can’t visit Portugal without tasting the custardy sweet and delicious Pastel de Nata; it’s like going to Brussels and not trying a waffle!
  • Sure, you can find the yummy pastry at almost every café in the city but we think they’re particularly sweet here.
• A-Braga-Dabra
  • Is it really on vacation if you don’t enjoy a scoop of gelato (even if that’s in Portugal)? We think not!
  • There are a few notable gelato spots in Braga – like Sabores and Pappa’Lab – but our favorite is the newly minted A-Braga-Dabra, which stands head and shoulders above the rest; they nail texture, flavor, and just sweet deliciousness.
  • Do not miss this spot if you get a hankering for something sweet while in town.

Francesinha

You might have read a lot about Francesinha while researching your trip to Northern Portugal; it’s a specialty here. 

Think of it as kinda like a cheeseburger on sliced bread with a tomato-y sauce on top and fried egg. Locals go wild for it.

But full disclosure, it’s just not my cup of tea… there’s just too much happening on the plate. Baaahhhh, that feels good to admit out loud!

Kidding; it’s not that serious. Or is it…?

I’d guess that admitting that here in Braga is like admitting you don’t like pizza in New York City. 

In any event, if you’re curious to try Francesinha, we’ve got you covered.

Here are some spots that get rave reviews:

• Taberna Belga
• Cervejaria o Begueiro
• Cervejaria F

AVIOTHIC TIPS:

• *Super Bock and Sagres are like the national beers of Portugal; their most famous styles are traditional lagers but they do offer craft varieties too (which we’ll cover in a separate post about Portuguese beer 🙂).
• If you love Port wine, definitely ask for a Port Tonic wherever you dine out; it’s typically made of white port and sparkling water along with fruit or spices (like cinnamon) – think of it as a Portuguese sangria; it’s soooo good!
• We’ve found that business information is far more accurate on Google Maps than on Apple Maps (in terms of hours, location, etc.) so be sure to opt for the former for the most up-to-date information.

---

There You Have It!

That’s our travel guide to Braga. Hopefully, you found this helpful as you plan your travels to this incredible little city; it will surely delight you, just as it did us!

If you’re planning a visit to Braga and are interested in a curated itinerary, send us an email at info@theaviothic.com. We’d love to chat with you!

xoxox