Braga wasn’t new to me, but on this trip I returned with my friend Arlie while we were staying in Porto. We set aside one of our three days for a day trip to Bom Jesus do Monte and Braga.
We visited Bom Jesus first, then continued into Braga for lunch and an afternoon exploring the city. Having previously used Braga as a base for other day trips around northern Portugal, this time I wanted to see how well the two could be combined from Porto.
Is Braga Worth a Day Trip From Porto?
Yes. Braga is around 55 km north of Porto and the train journey takes roughly an hour, making it an easy independent day trip.
For us, Bom Jesus and Braga were enough for one day. I wouldn’t have wanted to add Guimarães or another town and feel rushed.
Is Bom Jesus do Monte Worth Visiting?
Definitely. The UNESCO World Heritage-listed sanctuary is famous for its monumental staircase, but we found much more to enjoy at the top, including the basilica, gardens and views over Braga.
Don’t let the staircase put you off. You don’t have to climb it to visit Bom Jesus — there’s also a historic funicular.
Getting From Porto to Braga by Train
Our morning started with a small mistake. Arlie and I initially headed to Trindade Metro Station before realising we needed São Bento railway station for the train to Braga.
We’d skipped breakfast, so we stopped at Sabores da Invicta, opposite São Bento, for coffee and a pastry before setting off.
We bought our tickets from the station machine rather than booking ahead. Trains are operated by CP – Comboios de Portugal, with the journey to Braga taking around an hour.
We walked to the station and happily took advantage of Porto’s public lifts along the way to save our legs on some of those hills.
Tip: If you’re using Google Maps, check whether it’s directing you to a Metro or railway station — we learnt that the hard way.
From Braga to Bom Jesus do Monte
From Braga railway station, we took a taxi directly to Bom Jesus, around 5 km from central Braga.
Having visited before, I knew there were different drop-off points. I specifically asked our driver to take us to the bottom of the staircase.
I wanted Arlie to experience that first view looking up the extraordinary staircase and then see the completely different perspective looking back down once we’d reached the top.
Climbing the Bom Jesus Staircase
I may have neglected to tell Arlie exactly what starting at the bottom involved.
There are 573 steps to reach the churchyard, and Portugal can already be hot by early June. Arlie isn’t a great fan of the heat, so there was a little whinging once she realised what I’d planned.
We took our time, stopping at the different levels for photos and to enjoy the changing views. By the time we reached the top, of course, Arlie loved it.
Having visited Bom Jesus more than once, I still think starting at the bottom gives you the full experience.
What to Look for on the Bom Jesus Staircase
The staircase is even more impressive when you understand some of the details you’re passing along the way. Against the green hillside, the whitewashed walls and dark grey granite create the distinctive zigzag pattern you see in so many photographs of Bom Jesus.
From the bottom to the churchyard there are 573 granite steps, divided into three main sections. Along the way are chapels, statues, terraces and fountains, so there is plenty to look at while catching your breath.
One of the most interesting sections is the Stairway of the Five Senses. Look closely at the fountains representing sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch. Water emerges from the part of the figure associated with each sense — the Fountain of Sight, for example, has water flowing from the figure’s eyes.
Before these is the Fountain of the Five Wounds, where five streams of water represent the wounds of Christ. Around it you’ll also see symbols associated with the Passion, including the crown of thorns and other instruments.
Higher again is the Stairway of the Virtues. Its fountains represent Faith, Hope and Charity, marking the final stages of the climb towards the basilica.
You don’t need to understand all the religious symbolism to appreciate the staircase. We enjoyed looking for the different fountains and statues as we climbed, and stopping at each level gave us a good excuse for another photo, a selfie — and a breather.
Look back as well as up. The perspective changes as you climb, and the symmetry of the staircase looking down towards Braga is one of the views I particularly wanted Arlie to experience.
Basilica and Gardens at Bom Jesus
Bom Jesus has been a place of pilgrimage for centuries, with religious activity on Mount Espinho dating back to at least the 14th century. The entire sanctuary was designed as a spiritual journey, with the staircase, chapels and fountains representing the Passion of Christ and leading pilgrims towards the church at the top.
The basilica we see today is much newer. Designed by Braga architect Carlos Amarante, its first stone was laid in 1784 and construction was completed in 1811. Its elegant neoclassical façade provides a striking backdrop when you finally reach the top of the staircase.
We spent some time admiring the basilica and wandering through the gardens. After the climb, the greenery and shade were very welcome.
Beyond the formal gardens, there are wooded walking paths, picnic areas and a small lake where visitors can still hire one of the traditional rowing boats — a lovely little detail that has been part of the Bom Jesus park experience for generations.
I remember taking photos of Arlie perched at the top of the stairs in various poses, with the basilica behind her. By then, the 570-step surprise had clearly been forgiven.
Getting Back to Braga From Bom Jesus
We didn’t take the funicular back down. Instead, I’d already arranged our return journey before we started climbing.
When our taxi driver dropped us at the bottom of Bom Jesus, I asked for his phone number and arranged a time for him to collect us. On a previous visit, I’d waited a long time for a taxi at the top and wasn’t keen to repeat that experience.
There’s something else worth knowing. Taxis and Uber drivers can’t drive right up to the basilica and hotel area. A boom gate restricts vehicle access, so you’ll need to walk down to the designated pick-up area.
The first time I visited, I wasn’t sure where I was supposed to meet my taxi. I went into one of the hotels and asked the receptionist, who kindly showed me where the pick-up point was. That experience was exactly why I was better prepared this time.
Arrange Your Return Before You Start Exploring
If you’re arriving by taxi, ask your driver whether they can collect you again and agree on a time and meeting point before they leave. Don’t assume your driver will speak English, so having everything organised face-to-face can make the return journey much easier.
This is also one of those situations where having internet access while travelling really matters. Have your SIM or eSIM working, and download WhatsApp, Uber and any local taxi app you plan to use before setting out. I also add my payment method beforehand so I’m not trying to set everything up when I need a ride.
Tip: Save or screenshot your driver’s contact details and pick-up location. If you’re unsure where to meet them at Bom Jesus, ask at one of the hotels rather than wandering around trying to find the vehicle access point.
An Easy Afternoon Exploring Braga
After Bom Jesus, our priorities in Braga were fairly simple: lunch, a little retail therapy and finding the Braga sign for a photo.
We weren’t following a sightseeing list. We simply wandered through the historic centre and, because I’d visited Braga before, every so often I’d recognise a building or square, look up its name and explain to Arlie what we were looking at.
One of the advantages of Braga is that many of its main sights are very close together, making it easy to see plenty without covering huge distances.
We came across Arco da Porta Nova, the historic gateway into Braga, before continuing towards Sé de Braga, Portugal’s oldest cathedral.
Lunch Opposite Braga Cathedral
By the time we reached the cathedral, we were ready for lunch and stopped at pPlace Restaurant on Rua Dom Paio Mendes, directly opposite Sé de Braga.
I ordered fresh grilled mackerel with couscous, while Arlie chose sardines with salad. After our morning climbing the Bom Jesus staircase, sitting down for a proper lunch was very welcome.
The location was perfect for us. We were right in the historic centre and could simply continue exploring from there without retracing our steps.
Back to Exploring and a Little Shopping
From the cathedral, we continued towards Largo do Paço and the colourful Jardim de Santa Bárbara before eventually finding ourselves on Rua do Souto, one of Braga’s main pedestrian shopping streets.
This suited us perfectly. We could browse the shops while continuing towards Praça da República and the Arcada, stopping whenever something caught our attention.
Along the way, we also saw Theatro Circo and the unmistakable blue-and-white tiled Palácio do Raio.
Somewhere amongst all that wandering and shopping, we found the Braga sign and, of course, stopped for the photo we’d been looking for.
What I enjoyed about the afternoon was that it never felt like a sightseeing marathon. We saw many of Braga’s best-known landmarks, enjoyed a leisurely lunch and had time to shop simply by strolling through the compact historic centre.
How Long Do You Need for Braga and Bom Jesus?
A full day from Porto worked well for us. We allowed around two hours for Bom Jesus, then spent the afternoon in Braga enjoying lunch, shopping and the main sights at a relaxed pace.
Bom Jesus is only around 5 km from central Braga, roughly 10–15 minutes by taxi depending on traffic.
Can You Visit Braga and Guimarães in One Day?
Yes, particularly if you’re staying in Braga. Guimarães is around 25 km from Braga, roughly 25–30 minutes by car.
I’ve done Guimarães as a day trip on a previous visit when I stayed in Braga for two nights, and it worked well. From Bom Jesus, Guimarães is also only around 25–30 minutes by car.
If you’re travelling from Porto and want to include Bom Jesus, Braga and Guimarães in the same day, it’s possible, but you’ll naturally have less time in each place.
For us on this trip, Bom Jesus and Braga were enough. We preferred having time for lunch, shopping and wandering rather than squeezing another city into the day.
Prefer an Organised Tour?
If you want to see Braga, Bom Jesus and Guimarães in one day from Porto, an organised tour is worth considering. Transport is taken care of and you don’t need to coordinate trains, taxis and connections yourself.
[Insert GetYourGuide: Braga + Guimarães Day Trip from Porto]
If your main interest is Braga and Bom Jesus, there are also tours focusing on these destinations without adding Guimarães.
[Insert GetYourGuide: Braga + Bom Jesus Tour]
We chose to travel independently because we wanted the flexibility to explore at our own pace, but a tour could be a good option if you have limited time in Porto.
Continue Exploring Portugal
Our journey through Portugal took us from Lisbon to Coimbra and then Porto, with our day trip to Braga and Bom Jesus do Monte completing our time in northern Portugal.
If you’re planning a similar trip, continue with these Progressive Traveller guides:
- Lisbon Travel Guide – where we stayed, what we saw, where we ate and practical tips from our three nights in the city.
- Coimbra Travel Guide – why we chose to stay overnight and what we learnt about visiting the university, Joanina Library and historic centre.
- Porto Travel Guide – our three-night stay, including where we stayed, eating and drinking, getting around and our favourite experiences.
Continue Your Journey Through Spain
After Portugal, Arlie and I continued into Spain, travelling through Seville, Córdoba, Granada and Madrid. If you’re combining Portugal and Spain, these guides follow the next part of our journey:
- Seville Travel Guide – our experience exploring Seville, including the historic centre, food, flamenco and practical tips.
- Córdoba Travel Guide – why we stayed two nights rather than visiting on a rushed day trip, including our visit to the Mezquita.
- Granada Travel Guide – our short stay in Granada, including the Alhambra and an evening experiencing flamenco in Sacromonte.
- Madrid Travel Guide – our final Spanish stop, with the Prado, Retiro Park, Royal Palace, food and getting around the city.
- Barcelona Stopover Guide – how we made the most of a short stop in Barcelona, from the Gothic Quarter and Sagrada Família to Barceloneta and Montjuïc.
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