Where to Stay in Braga and Guimaraes

Braga and Guimarães are two of northern Portugal’s most rewarding cities: one full of churches and baroque stairways, the other the medieval “birthplace of Portugal”. Both are easy day trips from Porto, but they’re also great bases for exploring the Minho and Peneda-Gerês. Here’s where to stay.

Quick answer: in Braga, stay in the historic centre around the cathedral and Avenida da Liberdade. In Guimarães, stay inside or beside the walled old town near Largo da Oliveira. For Bom Jesus, there are hotels on the hill itself. Braga is the better base for Peneda-Gerês. See places to stay in Braga and in Guimarães.

Why stay overnight

Most visitors rush through Braga and Guimarães on a day tour from Porto. Staying the night lets you see them after the coaches leave, when the squares fill with locals and the old streets are lit up. Hotels are also usually cheaper than in Porto, and you’re an hour or less from the Minho’s wine country and the mountains of Peneda-Gerês.

Where to stay in Braga

The historic centre

The best choice: walk to the cathedral, Rua do Souto, the gardens and the lively cafés and restaurants. Pedestrian streets make it pleasant in the evenings. Braga’s cathedral is the oldest in Portugal, and the centre is packed with churches, which is why the city is called the “Rome of Portugal”.

Look for a room near Avenida Central or Praça da República if you want the most going on outside your door. The streets around the cathedral are a little quieter at night, but still only a few minutes’ walk from everything.

Best for: first visits, food and evenings out.

Bom Jesus do Monte

Stay on the hill above the city, next to the famous baroque stairway and sanctuary, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2019. It’s peaceful, with views over Braga, but you’ll need a car, a bus or the funicular to get down to town. The funicular dates from 1882 and is the oldest water-counterbalanced funicular in the world still running. In 2026 it costs €2.50 one way and €4 return, and it doesn’t run late in the evening, so plan dinner around the bus, a taxi or your own car. See Bom Jesus do Monte.

Best for: couples, quiet nights and drivers.

Near the train station

Handy for day trips to Porto, and a short walk to the centre (about 10–15 minutes).

Best for: travellers without a car who plan several train trips.

Where to stay in Guimarães

The old town

Guimarães’ UNESCO-listed old town is beautiful at night, with squares like Largo da Oliveira and Praça de Santiago full of tables. Stay here for the atmosphere. Many streets are pedestrian, so check where you can park or unload before you arrive.

Best for: romance and history.

Near the castle and palace

Close to the Ducal Palace and the 10th-century castle, and a short walk from the old town. It’s a little quieter in the evenings.

Best for: sightseeing on foot.

Penha

The wooded hill above the town, reached by cable car or by road, with a sanctuary, walking trails and views. The cable car closed for major maintenance in early 2026 but was running again by October, so just check it’s open on the day.

Best for: nature and peace and quiet, if you have a car.

Which to choose?

• Braga: bigger, livelier and better for exploring the national park and the Minho.
• Guimarães: smaller and more medieval, with a magical old town.
• Both: they are only about 25 km apart, so you can stay in one and visit the other. Regular buses link them, and the drive takes around half an hour.

See the Braga and Guimarães guide, or see Braga and Guimarães tours from Porto.

How long to stay

Two nights is ideal: one full day for Braga and Bom Jesus, and one for Guimarães. Add a third night if you want a day in Peneda-Gerês or the vinho verde country. See the vinho verde guide.

Food

Try bacalhau à Braga (fried salt cod with onions and potatoes), rojões (pork pieces) and caldo verde. Braga is known for pudim Abade de Priscos, a rich egg pudding, and Guimarães for convent sweets such as toucinho do céu. Drink local vinho verde with everything.

When to go

• Holy Week (March or April): Braga’s Easter processions are the most famous in Portugal. In 2027, Easter Sunday falls on 28 March. Book well ahead. See Easter in Portugal.
• Braga Romana (late May): a Roman-themed festival with markets and street shows (20–24 May in 2026).
• São João (23–24 June): Braga holds one of the biggest São João festivals in the country.
• Early August: Guimarães celebrates the Festas Gualterianas, its main town festival, over the first weekend of August.
• Noite Branca (early September): free concerts and late-opening museums across Braga (4–6 September in 2026).
• Spring and autumn: mild weather, ideal for walking. Winters are cool and wet.

Getting there

Both cities have direct trains from Porto (about an hour). Urban trains leave from São Bento and Campanhã: Braga takes about 55–70 minutes, and Guimarães about 1 hour 10 to 1 hour 20 minutes. A single costs about €3.60 to either city in 2026. Getbus runs direct shuttles from Porto airport to Braga and Guimarães in about 50 minutes. By car, Braga is about 50 minutes from Porto on the A3 motorway, which has tolls. See day trips from Porto by train.

Practical tips

• Parking: both old towns have limited parking. Choose a hotel with parking, or use a public car park on the edge of the centre.
• Peneda-Gerês: you really need a car. The village of Gerês is roughly an hour’s drive from Braga.
• Tourist tax: both cities add a small municipal tax, usually about €1.50 per person per night, for a limited number of nights. It’s paid at the hotel.
• Book early for Holy Week, June and the festival weekends.

FAQ

Is it better to stay in Braga or Guimarães?

Braga is better for a longer stay, trains and trips to Peneda-Gerês. Guimarães is smaller and prettier at night. They’re only about half an hour apart, so either works as a base for both.

How many nights do you need in Braga?

Two nights covers Braga, Bom Jesus and a day in Guimarães. Add a third for Peneda-Gerês or the vinho verde country.

Can you stay at Bom Jesus without a car?

Yes, but it’s less convenient. City bus line 2 and the funicular link the hill with Braga by day, and you’ll need a taxi in the evening.

More: Peneda-Gerês, Viana do Castelo and the Minho and where to stay in Porto.

See also: Guimarães and the Gerês waterfalls.

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