Braga and Guimarães are days five and six in EuroCheapo’s 10-day itinerary for Portugal.

These two college towns are among the oldest and most historically important cities in the entire country. Whereas Guimarães is considered the birthplace of the Portuguese kingdom, Braga, is hailed as the place where the Catholic Church first took root in Portugal, and perhaps even the entire Iberian Peninsula.

Braga (Day 7)

Long considered to be Portugal’s most important ecclesiastical center, in Braga, human occupation dates back thousands of years. Famous for its Easter holy week processions when candle-bearing faithful, outfitted in long robes with pointy hoods parade the streets with saints and holy relics. If you can bear to miss out on the processions, the rest of the year, you can explore in relative peace.

Related: Guide to visiting Braga, Portugal on a budget

Snap pictures of the keep—all that remains of the historic Braga castle—and the Arch of the Porto Nova, a baroque and neoclassical arch and the blue-tiled façade of the Palace of Raio, Braga’s Sé Cathedral (the oldest archdiocese in Portugal), and the sprawling Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte, worth the hike up Monte Santo for the bird’s eye view of Braga (particularly striking at sunset) and the life-size dioramas recreating scenes from the life of Christ.

Hop in the car to the Guimarães Studio Lounge. Stow your things in the clean, centrally located accommodations and have a walk around the city’s charming old town before bed.

Paco dos Duques de Bragança is a 15th century castle in Guimarães. Photo: hfmsantos

Day 8: Guimarães

Grab a coffee and a savory chicken and cheese empanada or something sweet for breakfast at Pastelaria Clarinha (Lg. Toural) 86/8) before you start exploring. Just be forewarned, that much like in neighboring Spain, sweets are often made with pork fat — not exactly vegetarian, kosher or halal friendly. In fact, a hefty local dessert specialty, Toucinho do céu, literally translates as bacon from heaven.

After breakfast, explore the ruins at a 1,000-year old castle, thought to be the birthplace of the first Portuguese King, Afonso Henriques. Next door, snapshots of the massive 15th-century palace, Paco dos Duques de Bragança. Before you head out of town and on to Porto, hop a creaky cable car (or drive the windy, narrow lane) to the top of the forested summit at Penha for sweeping views of the surrounding countryside.

Make the short trip to Porto (30-minutes to a little over an hour depending on traffic and type of transport selected) via bus, train or car and freshen up in your room at Moov Hotel Porto Centro before you head out for a night on the town. For the cheapest beer and bar snacks in town, head to Espaço 77, a favorite with locals (and a bit of a dive).

Our 10-day Portugal itinerary

Braga and Guimaraes are days seven and eight of our recommended itinerary for a 10-day trip in Portugal. Click below to keep going!

Days 1 and 2: Lisbon

Days 3 and 4: Sintra, Cascais & Coimbra

Days 5 and 6: Valença and Ponte de Lima

Days 9 and 10: Porto

The post Braga and Guimaraes: 10-day Portugal itinerary appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

But here the striking scenery is complete with Roman ruins, cobblestone streets, and medieval old towns, blissfully untouched by the San Andreas fault.

Finally, and fortunately for budget travelers everywhere, it’s inexpensive to eat, drink, and sleep in Portugal, not to mention to get around, especially as compared to the most of Western Europe.

Here’s a rundown of how to navigate the country and take off on a 10-day trip through Lisbon, Porto, Braga and beyond!

Budget Basics: Eating, drinking & sleeping in Portugal

Expect to spend on average €50 per night for a centrally located, simple hotel room with a private bath and around €10 for a shared dorm at a hostel. If you like to cook and entertain while you travel, vacation apartments can be had for as little as €40 per night in bigger cities like Lisbon and Porto, depending on the time of year and location.

Search and book over 14,000 hotels in Portugal

It seems counter-intuitive, but sometimes in smaller cities, centrally located basic hotels are more expensive and harder to come by than in metropolises like Porto and Lisbon. Be sure to book hotels in smaller, popular cities like Sintra and Ponte de Lima further in advance, especially if you plan to travel during the busy spring and summer seasons.

Keep an eye out for lunch deals, especially for fresh seafood like these sardines in Lisbon. Photo: islandralm

Food and drink are very cheap in restaurants, especially if you make a point of eating away from the main tourist attractions. For extra savings, feast on a meal out in the middle of the day (12 pm – 4 pm) when hearty one-plate meals called pratos de día can be had for as little as €5.

Keep your booze bill under control by sticking to reasonably priced house wine, served in little clay pitchers. Get the freshest produce at open markets and the cheapest groceries at local and European chains like Pingo Doce, Aldi, and Lidl.

Portugal: Arriving and getting around

Even with a full 10 days to play with, to make the most of your time in Portugal, you’re best off flying into the south (Lisbon) and out of the north (Porto). If you book your ticket carefully, this should cost the same or only marginally more than a round-trip fare out of either of the country’s major international airports.

Once on the ground, you can traverse the highlights in an inexpensive combination of trains and buses for a grand total of €80-120 and 10 hours of travel time in the country.

Of course, if you’re traveling in a group, or just prefer your independence, it might be worth investing in an open-ended rental car (where you pick up a vehicle in one location and drop it off in another). Sure, it means you’ll have to spend time and money filling up and finding parking, but it also means you decide when and where to explore, not the bus or train schedule. In a group, a rental car, from around €20 a day, can even save you money.

Search and book rentals cars throughout Europe

Just make sure to grab an international driving permit ($15 from AAA) before the trip. Another pro tip is to enable the automatic toll readers (Via Verde) on your rental, saving you time, fuss, and spare change.

Also, cut down on the number of days and consequently, the cost of renting as well as parking by picking up your car at the end of your time in Lisbon, and dropping it off first thing upon arrival in Porto.

Our 10-day Portugal itinerary

On the following pages, we outline a recommended 10-day journey through Portugal. Click below to get started!

Days 1 and 2: Lisbon

Days 3 and 4: Sintra, Cascais & Coimbra

Days 5 and 6: Valença and Ponte de Lima

Days 7 and 8: Braga and Guimarães

Days 9 and 10: Porto

The post Portugal Itinerary: 10 Days on the cheap through Lisbon, Porto & Braga appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Pair the city’s rich cultural heritage with a lively student population, thanks to the Universidade do Minho (hello, low-cost bars and restaurants), and you’ve got an exceptional destination for Cheapos.

Although it’s an easy day trip from Porto, Braga deserves more than a rushed afternoon spent exploring its charms. Famous worldwide for its dramatic, candlelit holy week processions featuring the faithful outfitted in hooded flowing robes, Braga makes a worthwhile trip any time of the year.

Related:

• Budget guide to Porto, Portugal
• Lisbon: 5 budget hotel picks
• All Portugal articles

How to get there

From the U.S., fly into Porto, and then hop a bus (Citi Express) or train to the city for €5-10. The journey should take around an hour. From Lisbon, hop a 3.5-hour train ride with prices starting at €24. Or fly budget to Porto and then hop a bus the rest of the way to Braga for a grand total of around €30 for a two-hour trip.

Free & cheap things to do

From its lush green spaces and historic architecture to free days at local museums, there are plenty of cheap things to do in this ancient city. Even if an attraction charges a fee, most ring in at the bargain price of €5 or less, and there are lots of free options on the first Sunday of every month.

Visit Termas Romanas do Alto da Cividade, an ancient Roman bath ruin in Braga.
Photo: Turismo in Portugal

Free Sundays

If you’re in Braga on the first Sunday of the month, you can take advantage of free first Sundays at many of the city’s museums and historic ruins. Interested in Portugal’s Roman heritage? Check out the Termas Romanas do Alto da Cividade, the remains of the city’s once extensive bathing complex and theatre, dating back to the 2nd century. It’s free the first Sunday of the month from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., but its entry fee the rest of the month comes in at just under €2.

Hidden away in São José de São Lázaro, a local government building, Braga’s Roman era fountain, Fonte da Ídolo, or the fountain of the idol, built during the reign of the Roman Emperor Augustus, is also free on first Sunday afternoons from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Just returned from Italy and kind of over everything Roman? Get your fill of great works of art and furniture and decorative crafts from around Portugal, Europe, and Asia at the Museu dos Biscainhos for €2 or free all day the first Sunday of the month. Or check out ancient artifacts dating from the Paleolithic to Middle Ages at Museu D. Diogo de Sousa for €3, also free first Sundays.

Get some fresh air

Hop a bus to the edge of town and spend an afternoon climbing up the hill to Bom Jesus Do Monte church. The way up includes an insane number of zigzagging stairs, a progression of life-size dioramas of scenes from the life of Christ, manicured shrubs, terraces mosaiced in stone, and allegorical fountains. At the top, don’t miss the artificial grotto and lush gardens behind and to one side of the church.

Another option is taking a hike at the Peneda-Geres National Park, but only if you’ve opted to rent a car — it’s a 40-minute drive and public transit will only get you halfway there.

Related: Search for rental car rates across Europe

Or just choose a sunny day and stroll Braga’s historic streets, taking in the wealth of historic architecture. Hiding in plain sight, the picturesque Santa Bárbara garden combines medieval and gothic ruins with perfectly trimmed shrubs. It’s an ideal spot for a picnic or impromptu photo shoot.

The city’s main cathedral, Sé de Braga, is the oldest in Portugal, and well worth peeking inside. Don’t miss the Palácio do Raio, a Baroque-era residence designed by André Soares da Silva. The rococo façade is covered with traditional Portuguese azulejos tiles, just don’t expect a tour — it’s closed to the public.  Before you retire for the evening, be sure to stop off and people-watch and enjoy the weather in Praça da República.

Café Brasileira is a classic hang out in Braga. Photo: Frans D

Inexpensive eats and nightlife

Save your euros by eating pastries and sandwiches from local bakeries on the go, and have your meal out in the middle of the day (between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.), when pratos de día (menu of the day) reign supreme in locals’ hearts, minds, and pocketbooks. These fixed price menus can be had around town starting at around €7.

Or, if you’re not up for a traditional Portuguese fare, for €5-10, you can feast on a massive burger (veggie and fish options also available) at  DeGema (Rua Doutor Justino Da Cruz, 90) or Bira do Namorados (Rua D. Goncalo Pereira). For what some say is the best Francesinha sandwich in Braga, head to Taberna Belga (Rua Conego Luciano Afonso dos Santos, Loja 1A). For another budget option, spring for an inexpensive but generously sized pizza at Maximinense (Rua Caires 299-r/c).

After dark, bar hop in the Old Town where an eclectic mixture of students, families, locals, and tourists converge to make the most of their evenings, especially on the weekends. Splurge on a cocktail or a glass of wine at the oldest bar in Praça da República at Café Vianna. Or if you can’t grab one of the polished marble tables at Vianna, try Café Brasileira, also on the square.

Cheap sleeps

Comfortable, basic hotels with private bathrooms near the center can be had from around €35 a night for most of the year. That said, during the Easter Holy Week festivities, and in July and August, rooms can cost substantially more, especially if you don’t book far in advance.

We like the clean and centrally located rooms at Hotel Ibis Braga (Rua do Carmo 38) and the Basic Braga by Axis for its modern design and proximity to the train station.  Shared dorms are available from around €10 per night.

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