Porto-North-Portugal.com
The best independent guide to north Portugal
Porto-North-Portugal.com
The best independent guide to north Portugal
Guimarães or Braga? Which city for a day trip or holiday?
Braga and Guimarães are two of northern Portugal’s most fascinating historical cities and are popular day trips from Porto. While both offer a captivating insight into the region's history, they have distinctly different characters. The choice of which to visit first often depends on what a visitor is looking for.
Guimarães is fondly regarded by the Portuguese as the birthplace of their nation. It is a city that feels deeply rooted in its history, with a wonderfully preserved medieval centre of charming plazas, traditional houses, and the formidable 10th-century castle that sits at the nation's origin story.
Braga, by contrast, is a much larger and more vibrant city, often referred to as Portugal's religious capital. While this title is deserved – the city is home to the country's oldest cathedral – it can create a misleading impression. Braga is a lively university city with a bustling centre and a grand, elegant atmosphere that extends far beyond its many baroque churches. It is also home to the magnificent Bom Jesus do Monte, one of the most stunning monuments in all of Portugal.
For a single day trip, Guimarães is often the recommended first choice, as its compact historic core provides a complete and rewarding experience. Braga, with its larger scale and wider variety of attractions, can be a better option for a longer stay or for those who have already visited Guimarães.
Ideally, a tour of northern Portugal should include both cities. Each deserves at least one full day of exploration to be properly appreciated, and it is not recommended to try and combine them into a single day trip. This guide will compare Guimarães and Braga in detail, helping you decide which destination is the best fit for your travel plans.
Related articles: Guimarães guide - Braga guide
So why Guimarães?
Guimarães is the most quaint and traditional Portuguese city in northern Portugal. The streets are lined with medieval buildings, the plazas are bursting with character, and there is an ancient castle older than the country.
There is the delightful Largo da Oliveira plaza with its famous olive tree and Gothic monastery (the Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira), which leads to the Praça de São Tiago via the arches of the Antiga Câmara Municipal.
The oldest section of the city lies at the top of the hill, and is centred around the castle (Castelo de Guimarães), which was where the first king of Portugal (Afonso Henriques 1109 – 1185) was born and later ruled from. Just below the castle is the Gothic Palace Duques de Bragança, with its sombre exterior and staterooms filled with 17th-century furniture and tapestries.
Guimarães is a maze of meandering streets, and feels much larger than it actually is. All of the main sights can be seen within four hours of sightseeing, and a day trip is often extended by including Penha Hill and the cable car ride up to its summit.
Guimarães is a destination that appeals to a wide range of tourist types; there is a rich history, there are fascinating sights and numerous photo opportunities.
Guimarães is an amazing destination for a day trip, and you will love your time spent there.
Highlights of Guimarães
The Castelo de Guimarães – Constructed in the 10th century to defend against the Moors, it was the birthplace of King Afonso Henrique and later served as his royal court.
The Praça de São Tiago and Largo da Oliveira - The two medieval plazas at the heart of Guimarães
The Paço dos Duques de Bragança – An imposing 15th-century palace that exhibits a fascinating collection of furniture and tapestries.
Monte da Penha – A forest-covered hill (613m) to the east of Guimarães, with giant boulders, tranquil footpaths and stunning views over the region. A cable car connects Guimarães with the Santuário da Penha, the modern church complex at the top of the hill.
What about Braga?
We may recommend Guimarães over Braga, but Braga is still an outstanding tourist destination.
Braga is very different to Guimarães, with the key aspect that it is a large city, being the third-largest city in Portugal. Guimarães is very focused on its history and tourism, and has a relaxed pace of life. Braga is more vibrant with more shops, restaurants and bars.
The city centre of Braga is fully pedestrianised, and it is a joy to wander the many plazas and shopping streets. The main attraction of the city is the Se Cathedral, the oldest cathedral in Portugal. Along with the cathedral, there is the pretty Jardim de Santa Barbara, the Biscainhos Palace and the grand Praça da República.
For your day trip to Braga, you will want to include the Bom Jesus do Monte, which is 5km to the east of the city. The church stands atop of a hill and is reached via a decorative Baroque stairway that represents the ascent into heaven.
Highlights of Braga
The Bom Jesus do Monte – A sacred pilgrimage church, situated at the top of a hill and is reached via a magnificent stairway or the world’s oldest water-powered funicular.
The Sé de Braga cathedral – The ancient gothic cathedral, influential in Portugal’s early history and steeped in legends.
The Praça da República – A grand plaza and bustling heart of the city; where historic Braga combines with the modern-day.
Palácio dos Biscainhos – A splendid 17th-century aristocratical palace that contains one of Portugal’s finest baroque gardens.
Our most popular guides to northern Portugal
A complete list of all of our Porto and North Portugal guides
-
If you've found our content valuable, we'd welcome your support.
The digital publishing landscape has evolved significantly. As a small independent publisher, we face growing challenges. Search engines increasingly favour paid content over organic results, while AI-generated content often reproduces original work without attribution.
To support our work, please consider bookmarking this page (press Ctrl + D) for quick access. If you find an article helpful, we'd be grateful if you'd share it with friends on social media.
For specific questions, please see our Reddit community at r/LisbonPortugalTravel.
Should you notice any outdated or incorrect information, please contact us at [email protected]
Thank you for helping us continue to provide valuable content in an increasingly challenging digital environment.