Braga is one of those places that wins you over instantly- it’s beautiful, welcoming and full of history. Although one of the lesser known cities in Portugal, we learnt it’s the third largest Portugese city and if you’re exploring on a budget, you’re in the right place. Let’s jump into the top 10 FREE things to do in Braga, Portugal.
Santa Barbara Gardens
Tucked right beside the Old Archbishop’s Palace, these gardens completely caught us off guard. The mix of bright flowers, old stone arches, and palace walls makes it feel like a fairytale corner tucked right in the city. It’s a beautiful spot to sit and soak up the atmosphere or snap a few pics. We visited in September and the flowers beds were bright and full however the city keeps the beds freshly planted throughout the year, swapping out seasonal blooms so the patterns stay vibrant.
BRAGA Letters and Church of Santa Cruz
You can’t really explore Braga without stumbling across the big BRAGA letters. It’s one of those fun little landmarks where you cant help but think ‘yep, we are really here’ moments. It’s only a quick stop, but it’s FREE and a must.
Located right near the BRAGA letters is the impressive Church of Santa Cruz, as you walk up to the facade, take a moment to try and spot the two carved roosters. Lindsay found these so easily but it took me a good 15 minutes!
Arco Da Porta Nova: Entrance to Braga historic city
Located at the end of R. Dom Diogo de Sousa and the entrance to the pedestrianised historic centre is the 18th century Arco Da Porta Nova gates with its stonework and curved arch. It’s a little gem that costs absolutely nothing yet feels like a postcard moment. From here you can wander straight into the historic centre and grab one of our favourites, a pastel de nata – the famous Portuguese egg tart!
Walk the Roman Ruins: Termus Romanas
Only a 10 minute walk on foot south of the centre (near the Braga Youth Hostel) is the site containing the ruins of Roman baths dating back to the 1st century AD. We thoroughly enjoyed learning about the history of the site including the extensive and intricate layout, the heating systems and water channels and how the site was uncovered. Part of the site is covered from the weather so you can still enjoy on a rainy day and there are also scattered bench seating to chill and relax or enjoy a pre-packed lunch.
Theatro Circo
This beautiful theatre is one of the city’s cultural treasures and you dont need to buy a ticket to appreciate the theatre. The grand facade makes for a perfect pic and if your lucky like us, when the doors are open you can peek into the lobby to see the ornate details, soft lighting and the sense of history. Theatro Circo is located just a short walk from the train station on Avenida da Liberdade.
Stroll Avenida da Liberdade
This wide, elegent stretch is defintiely one of the city’s prettiest avenues filled with a mix of colourful flower beds, fountains and local life. We grabbed a cheap lunch from the local supermarket (called a supermercado) found a seat and enjoyed watching the world go by before some window shopping at the unique shops along the avenue.
Admire Palacio do Raio
This was one of our favourite buildings in Braga, it’s iconic blue facade, intricate carvings and stunning Baroque and Neoclassical design make it easy to see why it’s one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. The palace is located just a short stroll from the Braga Cathedral.
Bom Jesus do Monte
Visiting Bom Jesus do Monte feels like stepping into a postcard. Even if you’ve seen photos of the famous Baroque staircase, nothing will prepare you for how striking it is in person.
We chose to start at the base, looking at what felt like and endless zigzag of white and grey steps. It’s definately a workout, but the climb rewards you at each landing as each terrace has fountains and statues to admire while you catch your breath. Once we reached the top, we were rewarded with the striking church and views across all of Braga. If your not up to climbing the stairs, you can take the funincular which is actually the oldest water-powered one in the world (there is a small cost of EU2.50 one way or EU4.00 return). There is also a small lake at the top, several caves, fountains and chapels.
Bom Jesus do Monte is located just outside of Braga. We took the #2 bus from the old town to the main entrance which takes 20 mins and comes every half hour throughout the day with Bom Jesus do Monte being the last stop.
Parque da Ponte
A picturesque urban park located only a 10-15 min walk from Avenida da Liberdade, this spot is one of the best free things to do in the area. The park is a perfect escape from the heat as it is tree-lined and features a chapel in the park’s oldest section, an artificial lake, traditional stone monuments and a playground. We enjoyed an hour here just strolling the gardens.
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Sameiro
The sanctuary is a Catholic Marian sanctuary set high on Mount Sameiro, overlooking Braga and is considered one of the most visited Marian worship sites in Portugal. The complex itself has a basilica, wide esplanades and staircases, additonal chapels and green spaces. We went at sunset and were treated to panoramic views among the hilltop setting, more than 350 metres above the city.
We took the 17 min #88 bus from Avenida da Liberdade up to Sameiro but if you were adventurous you could walk the route in just over an hour.
There you go – our top 10 FREE things to do in Braga. It’s certainly a city that proves you don’t need to spend anything to enjoy all history and top sights. If you end up exploring any of these spots, we’d love to hear what suprised you most about this Portugese gem!
If your all about budget travel, check out our blog post on ways to stretch your travel budget further here.
