About Braga
With more than 2000 years of history and located in the North Region, Braga (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈbɾaɣɐ]), a city in the Braga Municipality in northwestern Portugal, is the district capital, the oldest archdiocese and the third major city of the country, with an urban population of 175,063. Braga is the oldest Portuguese city and one of the oldest Christian cities in the World. Under the Roman Empire, as Bracara Augusta, it was capital of the province Gallaecia.
How to get there
Driving in Braga:
Braga has a set of wide avenues which allow traffic to take various directions. It is worth mentioning the Rodovia (Praça do Condestável, Av. da Imaculada Conceição, Av. João XXI, Av. João Paulo II) which crosses the city from East to West.
Braga has a major motorway that disperses city traffic and connects to the major routes:
The fast lane of Prado (alternative to the 101) connects to the North, Prado and Vila Verde.
Fojo’s speedway connects the Eastern area and through the EN 103 (National Road) to Póvoa de Lanhoso and Vieira do Minho.
To the South it connects the speedway to the EN 14 that connects to Guimarães and to the A3 to Vila Nova de Famalicão and Porto.
To the West it connects the A11 to Barcelos and Apúlia (Esposende), and to the A3 to Valença and Spain.
Getting to Braga
from Oporto/Porto
By airplane
The closest airport to Braga is Sá Carneiro Airport (code: OPO) in the suburbs of Oporto, 50 Km from Braga (31 miles).
- There is a direct bus service ('Getbus') from the airport to Braga and back, running every 2-3 hours. You may check it here.
- You may also take the subway from the airport to Porto (Campanha station) and a train from there to Braga. Here is the link to the Portuguese trains website.
- Alternatively, bus number 56 takes you from the airport to Oporto (every 20 minutes).
- There is also the non stop Aerobus, an express bus that takes you directly from the airport to Oporto (every 30 minutes). This service operates every day from 7am to 7pm.
ANA - Portuguese Airports
From Oporto city centre to Braga there are several options:
By bus
From Oporto you may take the bus to Braga in the bus station in Rua Alfredo Magalhães.
Rede expressos
Renex
By train
Campanhã Train Station
Largo da Estação
4300-173 Porto
S. Bento Train Station
Praça Almeida Garret
4000-069 Porto
Caminhos de Ferro de Portugal
By taxi
If you wish to travel by taxi, the trip from the airport to Braga takes about 40 minutes and the cost is approximately 50€/55€.
From Lisbon
By airplane
Portela Airport is approximately 370 km (230 miles) from Braga.
ANA - Portuguese Airports
To get from Lisbon to Braga there are multiple options:
By bus
Estação do Oriente (Orient Station) is the centre of the public transportation network in the eastern area of Lisbon, linking the subway, bus and taxi. Airplane passengers can check-in previously.
Av. D. João II, Lote 1.15
1990-233 Lisboa
Phone: 21 891 82 22
Fax: 21 891 82 23
Rede expressos
Renex
By train
Santa Apolónia Train Station
Address: Av. Infante D. Henrique
Lisboa
Estação do Oriente (Orient Station)
Ed. Gare do Oriente, piso 1 – Av. D. João II
1990-233 Lisboa
Caminhos de Ferro de Portugal
From Spain
By car
Madrid
Follow the AP-6 and the A-52 until the exit 160. From there to Braga it is 145 km (90,10 miles).
Galicia
Follow the AP-9 and then follow the A3 in Portugal.
When in Braga take advantage of Braga Urban Transportation system which transports passengers in the council area. This is the main operator after the Braga train station. It ensures the connection to the city center, the Hospital, the University, among other places.
Transportes Urbanos de Braga
Ver Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar en un mapa más grande
You can learn more about Braga (hotels, restaurants, events) here.