(This day trip was part of a 9-day trip through the Center and North of Portugal. To learn more about this trip, read the article 9 days through the Center and North of Portugal)

Day 5 – Wednesday (08/24/2022)

We had the same breakfast as the day before, played in the garden and went out to explore Braga, the third largest city in Portugal and the oldest city in the country. She is also the seat of the Portuguese archbishopric and therefore it is considered the religious capital of the country. We followed the advice of a friend who lives there and parked the car in the parking lot on Av. Central, which is right below the Central Square. It was great, because we got out of the elevator and came face to face with a really “cool” playground that made the little one happy. After getting tired in it, we went to see the Basilica of the Congregations, which was right next to the playground. It began to be built in the 18th century but was only finished in the 20th century and just look at its interior:

Taking a ride on the tourist train

We kept walking until the Fountain in Republic Square and when we were there, we saw a tourist train finishing the tour and letting the passengers off. I was immediately excited for the kids and went straight to ask the price, and when the driver told me it was cheap (I think it was about 3 euros per adult) and that the route was short through the historic center, we quickly got on the tour. It was a good way to experience something new, rest, take in the city's atmosphere, escape the heat and stroll around at a leisurely pace. A great tourist program for families with small children or people with mobility difficulties. I recommend it! 🙂

The train passed by the main tourist attractions in the city center and the driver explained the details along the way. After about 20 minutes of riding, we were dropped off at the same place we had left, and we walked to the restaurant my friend had recommended, Atypical. Before we got there, I made sure to pass in front of the House of Sieves, which is a unique example of a housing typology very common in Braga in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Lunch in Braga

When we arrived at the restaurant, we thought the glass floor and some Roman ruins underneath were really cool. We ordered codfish balls and other dishes recommended by the waiter and we liked everything. The service was a little confusing at first, but then a gentleman took over and it was great.

Walking around Braga

We left there and went to see the Arch of the New Gate, one of the most iconic buildings in the city. It began to be built in 1512 by Archbishop D. Diogo de Sousa – also responsible for works such as the Arcade or the head of the Cathedral – and it never had a gate. At this time, wars were no longer as frequent as they had been in previous centuries, so the gate was considered redundant. The Arco da Porta Nova was also the first gate, of a total of 8 in the city, that did not lead to any path. At that time, all the other gates led to paths that had already been created in Roman times. The Arco da Porta Nova led to a square with a fountain, where we could find a fish market. Today, it stands in the middle of one of the pedestrian streets in the city centre, adding charm and history to the place.

We passed by Santa Barbara Garden, which is beautiful with all its flowers, paths and the Episcopal Palace in the background. We entered the Braga Cathedral, which began to be built in the 11th century and has an impressive interior. We walked around the streets for a while and at the end, we stopped at the café The Brazilian to taste the typical Braga food Abbot of Priscos Pudding, which I particularly didn't like because it had a very strong flavor. I really liked the city and the service we received. I felt a huge difference compared to the Algarve or the Lisbon region, so I wouldn't be sad if I had to go back there... lol.

Bom Jesus do Monte Sanctuary

We took the car and went to see the famous and Instagrammable Bom Jesus do Monte Sanctuary, which is 10 minutes from Braga. We parked the car in a parking lot near the funicular to go up with it, since it was the first of its kind to be built in the Iberian Peninsula and is also the oldest in the world to operate with a water counterweight system. As we arrived at the end of the day and were tired, we couldn't even take the classic photo of the staircase with the basilica at the top, but we were able to see the staircase from above. We quickly entered the Basilica as there was a mass taking place and then we went to the Lake in Bom Jesus Park, which is right behind, as my friend was waiting for us with a delicious picnic with her family. What a great way to end the day!

All posts from this trip

If you want to know more about this 9-day trip through the Center and North of Portugal, see the posts below:

• An afternoon in Leiria
• 1 day in Costa Nova and Aveiro
• 1 day between Aveiro and Barcelos
• Getting to know Ponte de Lima and Viana do Castelo in 1 day
• Our 1-day itinerary in Braga
• 1 day in Guimarães, the birthplace of Portugal
• 1 day in the Entre-os-Rios region, in the Douro
• Getting to know Águeda and the famous Bairrada roast suckling pig
• Stopping in Nazaré on the way to Cascais