My upcoming three days in Braga this September.

I've been to Braga three days last month and really liked it. It's an old well-preserved town and eating was great and cheap!

However, IMO one day is enough to visit Braga's most popular sights. The city centre is not big and one morning and maybe the afternoon should make it. The Sé (Cathedral) is a must, specially its spectacular golden inside. The Paço Episcopal (and the Garden of Santa Barbara, which is just opposite) is another one, but the inside is a little bit disappointing. If you're interested in sports I would also suggest having a look at the impressive Sporting de Braga stadium. It's not a long walk from the centre, maybe a couple kilometres.

Afterwards you can visit the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus, which is at the top of a hill and is the most popular attraction in Northern Portugal. As I had a private car, I can't suggest any transportation but getting there by bus should be easy (it's just 5 km away and it's very very popular). Watching the sunrise from the baroque stairs is a nice view.

The next day you can visit Guimaraes, a medieval town where Portugal was born. Its city centre is a World Heritage site and includes beautiful churches, narrow streets and a well-preserved castle. The Paço dos Duques de Bragança is also worth a visit and it's just beside the castle.

In your last day I would go to Barcelos, a beautiful small town which is also near. Actually you should go on Thursday morning, since the local market takes place that day. You will have the opportunity of buying one of the famous galhos (cocks) from Barcelos and interacting with the locals. Nevertheless, if you go another day you will also enjoy the town: its medieval bridge, decorated churches and the Paço ruins, now turned into a museum with great views. You could go back to Braga in the afternoon and visit again your favourite places or just walk the streets and enjoy the town.

I hope you'll enjoy your trip and don't hesitate to ask anything!

eldorado,

Thanks to your informative reply I now have a sight-seeing plan. I will take your advice and duplicate your visits to the three towns you referenced. I fly into Porto on a Thursday morning so I should be able to take in the Market Day before checking in to my Braga hotel.

At the airport terminal I'll take the express bus to Porto city center thence a bus to Barcelos. I prefer bus to trains so I can look out the window and watch the country slip by. Also it's easier to hand-off my duffel to the bus driver to stow instead of lugging it along a platform then finding a rack to store it inside the train.

After my days in Braga I will join a group for a 7-day walk in Geres National Park. Following that adventure I will spend 4 days in Porto before heading back home in Florida.

Perhaps you have some tips on how to spend my days in Porto.

(I may have sent this twice. I got confused when it said "save draft?"

I'm afraid I haven't been to Porto yet. However I'm working on a trip plan for this summer including Lisbon, Alentejo, Coimbra and Porto. Maybe you should give the advice this time then! Have a good time in Portugal ;)

I will take your suggestion and record my visit to Porto for future posting in Thorne Tree... should someone ask.