Braga, known as the religious centre of Portugal, is a fascinating city rich in history and wondrous sights.

The city makes for an enjoyable day trip from Porto and is also a popular base from which to explore the northern regions of Portugal. Just outside of Braga lies the Bom Jesus do Monte church, with its magnificent Baroque stairway, considered one of the finest tourist attractions in northern Portugal.

Braga is easily accessible from Porto, as it is connected by a regular and inexpensive railway. This article will detail how to travel from Porto to Braga, including timetables, station information, and fare details.
The final section of the article explains how to travel from Porto Airport to Braga.
Related articles: Braga guide

Braga is located 42km to the north of Porto, and the fastest method of travel between the two cities is by car. Having a car is particularly useful for a day trip to Braga, as it eliminates the need to catch the bus to the Bom Jesus church, which is situated 5km outside of Braga city centre.

If you are reliant on public transport, the train is the recommended means of travel, providing a frequent and inexpensive service. In Porto, the train to Braga departs from São Bento train station, which is conveniently located in the heart of the city and close to the main tourist areas.

The Porto to Braga railway is part of the urban Porto train network. Unfortunately, this means that there are many stops along the way, resulting in a comparatively slow train journey. The route passes through nondescript villages and countryside, offering little in terms of scenic views, unlike the stunning Linha do Douro.

The train to Braga waiting at the São Bento train station

The Braga train service is operated by Comboios de Portugal (CP), the national train company of Portugal.

A single ticket from Porto to Braga costs €3.45 for adults and €1.75 for children. There are no return tickets, so a return fare is the price of two singles: €6.90 for adults and €3.50 for children. The journey distance falls within the "Zone 8" pricing bracket of the Porto urban train lines. For a detailed fare guide, please see the CP website:
www.cp.pt/oporto-urban-trains-prices.pdf

(The link opens a PDF, which may download on certain mobile phones.)

Braga is the final station on the railway line, and depending on the service, the journey takes either 54 or 71 minutes.

There are twenty daily departures, with seven extra services Monday to Friday. The first daily departure from Porto is at 6:45 (or 6:15 Mon-Fri), and the last return services from Braga are at 20:39, 22:39, and 23:32 (correct as of April 2024). For the latest timetable, please see the CP website:
www.cp.pt/StaticFiles/timetables/oporto-braga-urban-trains.pdf
(The link opens a PDF, which may download on certain mobile phones)

Insight: There are intercity express trains from Porto to Braga, but they are considerably more expensive and only depart from Campanhã train station. When considering the connection time at Campanhã, they are only marginally faster than the urban trains. Seats on the intercity trains also have to be reserved.

The trains that operate between Porto and Braga are modern, clean, and well-maintained. The route is also safe to travel late at night. The Braga train is suitable for passengers with reduced mobility, as the platforms are at the same height as the carriage doors.

The interactive map below shows the route of the train from Porto to Braga and marks all of the stations on the faster 54-minute route. (Note: zoom in or out to see all of the points)

Key: 1) São Bento station 2) Campanhã station 3) Braga station 4) Braga bus station

Small group tours are an enjoyable and informative way to discover Braga while providing a chance to meet fellow travellers. We have worked with GetYourGuide.com for the past seven years, and some of the best tours they offer for Braga include:

The train from Porto to Braga is an urban service, and tickets cannot be purchased online from the Comboios de Portugal website, nor can seats be reserved. Passengers must buy their tickets from the ticket office or ticket machines at São Bento train station.

Insight: While some third-party apps may offer to sell these tickets, they will charge additional booking fees, and only offer services on the much more expensive intercity train services.

The ticket machines at the station provide instructions in all common European languages and accept both cash and card payments. Be aware that the main ticket office in São Bento train station can become very busy, particularly during rush hour.

It is essential to purchase and validate tickets before boarding the train. Passengers should expect ticket inspections during the journey, and those with invalid or non-validated tickets may face fines.

All urban trains to Braga depart from São Bento train station (GPS 41.145, -8.610) (link to Google Maps). Conveniently located near Porto's main tourist areas, the station is a short walk from the Ribeira district and is served by the D (yellow) metro line, the main north-south route.

São Bento station offers standard facilities, including an ATM, coffee shop, luggage lockers, ticket offices, and a small waiting room.

Trains to Braga also stop at Campanhã train station (GPS: 41.150, -8.584), Porto's main intercity station with direct services to Coimbra and Lisbon. However, São Bento is closer to central Porto, making it the recommended starting point for your journey to Braga.

Braga train station is situated on the city's western side, GPS 41.548, -8.4344. From the station, it's a 500m walk to the historic centre. The best route is along Rua Andrade Corvo, which leads to the Arco da Porta Nova.

While at São Bento train station, don't miss the stunning azulejo tile paintings adorning the waiting room walls. Dating from 1907-1913, the tiles reflect the eras before and after the 1910 Portuguese revolution. The classic blue and white tiles predate the revolution, while the coloured tiles, introduced after the revolution, were considered modern and progressive, symbolising the newly formed republic in 1911.

The ride-hailing apps of Uber and Bolt offer a convenient alternative to public transportation and are surprisingly affordable for the journey between Porto and Braga.

These services are particularly useful when travelling with children or in a group of four, as they provide a comfortable and direct mode of transportation.

The base fare for a ride from central Porto to Braga is approximately €32. However, the exact fare may vary depending on factors such as demand, traffic conditions, and time of day. It is often easier to hail an Uber or Bolt during mid-morning when demand is low. In contrast, booking a ride can be more challenging later in the day, especially during rush hour. At these peak times, fares can increase by up to 50%, and there may be longer wait times to connect with available drivers.

Insight: While Uber tends to be slightly more expensive than Bolt, the company generally offers a higher standard of vehicles and drivers. Based on our experience, we recommend opting for Uber when travelling between Porto and Braga.

For the journey from Porto to Braga, we recommend booking a 'comfort' level car through Uber or Bolt. This option will cost approximately 15% more than a standard fare but ensures a more spacious and comfortable vehicle. The higher fare also attracts more drivers, which can be beneficial during peak hours. Drivers classified as 'comfort' have the option to accept both comfort and regular fares but will typically prioritise comfort rides due to the higher earnings potential.

Insight: If you plan to use Uber or Bolt during your stay in Portugal, it is highly recommended that you download the app, complete the registration process, and familiarise yourself with its features before your trip. As the fares will be charged in Euros, it is advisable to link the app to a bank account that does not impose fees for transactions in foreign currencies, especially if your home currency is not the Euro.

If you are travelling to Braga from Porto airport, there is no need to travel into central Porto to catch the train, as there is a direct bus service operated by “Get Bus”.

A single ticket from the airport to Braga costs €9, and the journey takes approximately 50 minutes. The bus departs from "Stop D" outside the terminal building, and tickets can be purchased directly from the driver using cash.

There are eight daily departures, with eleven on weekdays (Monday to Friday). Although bus departures are limited, this option is significantly more affordable than taking a taxi (which costs between €80-100) and more convenient than taking the metro to Porto followed by a train to Braga.
For the latest timetables and to purchase tickets online, please visit the Get Bus website:
www.getbus.eu
In Braga, the Get Bus service terminates outside of the bus station (GPS 41.555, -8.425), which is to the north of the city centre.