Unlike much of Portugal, it's not the coast and beaches that attract tourists to the region. Here, the biggest attractions are cities and their monuments, small villages with old buildings as well as nature and landscapes.
The capital of the region, Braga was founded over 2000 years ago, making it one of the oldest cities in Portugal. It is also a place where the history of Portuguese Christianity began. The city is full of monuments from different eras, including the magnificent Se Cathedral, baroque churches and palaces and beautiful Gardens of St. Barbara.
One of the country's most important sanctuaries, Bom Jesus do Monte, is located in the suburbs of Braga. The object, entered in 2019 on the UNESCO list, is known not only thanks to the Baby Jesus figurine stored here, but also the powerful Holy Stairs leading to the entrance. You can also go up by train.
In the south of the region lies the historic city of Guimarães, where you can see the castle being the first seat of the Portuguese kings and a UNESCO-listed center with picturesque squares and medieval monasteries.
The district also has Portugal's only national park, Peneda-Gerês. It includes mountainous border areas with the Vila Real district, and its landscape is made up of forested mountains, deep river valleys, waterfalls and mountain lakes.
