This year when we were planning our summer holidays, the four of us voted on our location and the vote was unanimous. We all wanted to go to Portugal. I have always been enthralled by the numerous things to do in Bragança. The city has a much lower footfall and is relatively cooler compared to the southern cities in the country. Since we were driving down, Bragança made the perfect stop.
A lot of people over think when they plan their trip and to be honest, we used to too. This time we chose to just book the best and cheapest accommodation that we could find. We left the rest for when we reached the city and it turned out pretty fine.
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Read my disclaimer for further information.
Table of Contents
Where To Stay In Bragança
There are many places where you can stay in Bragança but generally speaking, you can choose to stay in the city or in the outskirts. Both of the locations have their own allure. The center of the city is quiet and isn’t bustling so it offers a quieter existence while being in close proximity to great restaurants.
The outskirts are full of nature which is why Bragança is so popular. Here you could choose to camp or to rent an apartment. Most places aren’t very costly which is an added bonus.
- Exe São Lázaro (has a nice swimming pool!)
- Hotel ibis Bragança (budget option)
- O Abel Hotel rural (quiet, away from the city and great for families)
Parking In Bragança
If you are driving in, note that some sections of the city have paid parking while others don’t. The traffic police patrol frequently so make sure you pay for your parking in advance or you risk a parking ticket. There are even underground parking garages under the city if you need it.
Things To Do In Bragança
Bragança may seem like a very quite city but there are plenty of things to do in Bragança and around. The number of things available to a visitor is all based on your mobility. If you have driven in, you can explore a lot but if you haven’t you can still see a lot on foot.
1. Castelo De Bragança
The Castle of Bragança is the most iconic sight in the city and is at the top of the list of things to do in Bragança. The castle is perched on top of a hill and is visible from the city. You can access it by foot or by car. There is even a small parking lot inside the castle walls. You have to drive through the arched gate and then access it. It may look like the entrance is narrow but that’s pretty deceptive.
There is plenty to see and do here but make sure that you don’t come here in the peak day heat on a hot day because there isn’t a lot of shade except in the castle. The castle has a museum within its walls and you can catch some of the gorgeous views from atop the castle walls.
2. Museums
If you are a fan of history and culture then there are some noteworthy museums in the city. Two of which are in the castle walls.
- Military museum of Bragança
- Museu Ibérico da Máscara e do Traje
- Centro Ciência Viva de Bragança (A science museum)
- Centro de Arte Contemporânea Graça Morais (Art museum)
- Museu Ferroviário de Bragança (Train museum. My kids really loved this one!)
3. Enjoy The Local Cuisine
Bragança like all Portuguese cities has plenty of good food. Unlike the bigger cities like Porto and Lisbon, it isn’t a struggle to secure a place eat. It is worth noting that the restaurants open later in the evening so even though they may look close, the open up for dinner.
Meat is generally the preference given the landscape. We’ve seen a lot of fish dishes on the menu too. Bacalhau or cod fish is very popular. This fish is salted and then used when cooking.
Here are a couple of places that we really enjoyed eating at.
- Rosina
- Café Floresta Snack Bar (great place to chill on a hot day)
- O Batoque (Good food and it’s specialty is mushrooms)
4. Visit The Local Swimming Pool
One of the cool (quite literally) things to do in Bragança is to visit a swimming pool. The local sports complex has an indoor and an outdoor swimming pools. You need to bring your swimwear and a swim cap. We found that the pool was well maintained and the entrance fee was not much. They even provided swimming caps when they realized we had just two so we did not have to turn back.
The outdoor swimming pools even have a slide for people to enjoy. The depths are variable so you can choose which one suits you best. If you want, you can take a picnic blanket too. Did I mention that they even have lifeguards on duty?
5. Walk The Old Town
The old town of Bragança is line with many old houses. Some in better shape that the others. It makes for a nice cool stroll in the evening. Don’t try this in the peak mid day summer heat though because it will drain you. A great way to explore is to walk right up to the Bragança castle and spend the evening watching the sun set.
Just note that the museums close a little earlier so plan accordingly if you want to visit the museums too.
6. Hike In Parque Natural De Montesinho
Parque Natural de Montesinho was definitely one of our favorite day trips from Bragança. There are numerous trails in the area with varying difficulties. I have to warn you that if you travel with kids, you will find that most of the trails are long even if they are easy.
Instead of following a whole route in the heat, we chose to just do a part of one. Obviously midway during it, one of our kids needed a toilet break so we had to hurry back.
Titter your experience according to your needs and expectations. If you head there in summer, please keep an eye out on Fogos.pt which is the local site to track the wildfires in the region. Also check in at the forest bases if you are unsure if it is safe.
7. Just Chill
One of the cool things to do in Bragança is to just kickback and relax. The town has a much slower pace compared to the big cities like Lisbon and Porto. It took us awhile to settle into the slower pace of things which was something that we as a family needed.
Trust me when I say that the year had been super hectic and we needed to unwind. So if you are like us and need a break then you will find that Bragança is just perfect for that.
8. Head To The Central Playground For Kids
If you are traveling with family, you will find that there is a central playground for the kids in the city. It has some interesting water pumps for them to cool off in summer. The downside is that it is best visited in the mornings or late evenings because there is no shade and the weather can get hot in summer. In the cooler months it should be just fine.
There you have it. All the fun things to do in Bragança that I could think off. Quite frankly the town is small so there isn’t a load of information to share. It is definitely one of the places that I enjoyed in Portugal.