Braga and Guimarães from Porto: what to see in each
Bom Jesus, Portugal's oldest cathedral, the castle where "Portugal was born" and the Ducal Palace. How to combine Braga and Guimarães on a trip from Porto.
Braga and Guimarães are less than an hour from Porto and about half an hour from each other. They are the two oldest cities in the Minho region and easy to fit into a stay in Porto.
Braga, the city of archbishops
Braga is over 2,000 years old: it was born as Bracara Augusta, in Roman times, and for centuries it was the religious centre of the country.
- Braga Cathedral. The oldest cathedral in Portugal, older than the kingdom itself. Inside, centuries of styles sit side by side.
- Santa Bárbara Garden. A flower garden against the walls of the old Archbishop's Palace.
- A Brasileira. A café from 1907 in the centre, a meeting point for generations of locals.
- Bom Jesus do Monte. The sanctuary with its famous baroque stairway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2019. To go up there's the 1882 funicular, the world's oldest water-counterweight funicular still running on its original system.
Guimarães, the cradle of Portugal
One of the towers of the old wall reads "Aqui nasceu Portugal", Portugal was born here. The birth of the kingdom, with King Afonso Henriques, is tied to this city.
- Guimarães Castle. Begun in the 10th century by Countess Mumadona Dias to protect the monastery and the town.
- Palace of the Dukes of Braganza. A 15th-century palace with brick chimneys you can see from afar, right next to the castle.
- Largo da Oliveira. The heart of the old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001, with medieval houses and terraces.
- Penha. The mountain above the city, with its sanctuary and one of the best views in the Minho.
How to combine them
In one day you can see both: Braga in the morning, lunch, and Guimarães in the afternoon (or the other way round). If you want to see everything calmly, including Bom Jesus and Penha, it's best to give each one its own day.
By public transport, both cities have trains from Porto, but there is no direct train between them, and Bom Jesus and Penha are outside the centre. By car, with a guide, the day goes much further.
With a local guide
Braga, Portugal’s Rome covers the Cathedral, Santa Bárbara Garden, A Brasileira and Bom Jesus in about four hours. Guimarães, Cradle of Portugal combines the castle, the Ducal Palace, Largo da Oliveira and Penha. You can do one in the morning and the other in the afternoon.
