Area Guide Spotlight: Braga
Braga was voted second in the European Best Destinations 2019 survey with nearly 60,000 votes, finishing behind Budapest and ahead of capitals such as London and Paris. Renowned for its Roman heritage, this 14-municipality district attracts visitors and second-home buyers alike with its rich history, high quality of life, and property asking prices at the lower end of the scale compared with the rest of Portugal.
Why did Braga rank second in the European Best Destinations 2019 survey?
Almost 60,000 people voted for Braga in the category of Best European Destinations 2019 and it’s not hard to see why. The city is thought to be one of the oldest in Portugal (see our guide to buying property in Portugal) and has plenty of charm in that respect. The cobbled streets of the city centre, paired with the distinctive Roman architecture, give the impression of walking through a piece of perfectly-preserved history.
Braga was the only Portuguese candidate within the top twenty, and it missed the number one spot by a mere three thousand votes.
European Best Destinations highlighted Bom Jesus do Monte, a stunning monument with a sensational viewpoint, as being one of the main draw cards of Braga city.
What attracts expats and buyers to the 14 municipalities of Braga district?
As for the district of the same name, which is made up of fourteen municipalities, it is the quaint countryside that attracts most people to visit and even to stay for a while. Here, many expats choose to settle down, enjoy the great quality of the life and build the familiar relationships with locals that you just can’t get in bigger cities.
Braga district is where you can find other notable cities such as Barcelos and Guimarães, the latter of which is known for the being the birthplace of the nation of Portugal. Those who move here tend to appreciate the calm, relaxed pace of life here, as well as the culture, the food and the mesmerising history.
How does the Braga property market compare with the rest of Portugal?
In terms of real estate, asking prices in Braga district across indexed listings remain at the lower end of the scale compared to the rest of Portugal, while official closing prices from INE confirm attractive transaction values. Second-home buyers using Property Sourcing will find that their money goes further here towards affording an excellent quality of life.
Read more about Braga district and see real-time property market analytics in CASAFARI Area Insights.
Feature image by François Philipp via Flickr
More on the blog: An Interview with Patrícia Pereira Coutinho
Frequently asked questions
Where did Braga rank in the European Best Destinations 2019 survey?
Braga achieved second place in the European Best Destinations 2019 survey, finishing behind Budapest and ahead of major capitals including London and Paris. The city gathered nearly 60,000 votes, missing the top spot by just 3,000 votes. It was also the only Portuguese destination included in the top 20 rankings.
What are the main historical landmarks and cities in Braga district?
Braga city is famous for its cobbled streets, historic Roman architecture, and the Bom Jesus do Monte monument with its viewpoint. Within the wider district of 14 municipalities lie historic cities such as Barcelos and Guimarães. Guimarães holds special significance as the birthplace of Portugal.
Why do expats and second-home buyers choose Braga district?
Expats and second-home buyers are drawn to Braga district for its scenic countryside, rich history, renowned cuisine, and relaxed pace of life. The region allows newcomers to build close community connections that are often harder to find in larger metropolitan cities. Additionally, real estate options offer high quality of life at attractive price levels.
How can property professionals track asking and closing prices in Braga?
Real estate professionals use CASAFARI Area Insights to monitor property trends across Portugal. The platform analyses asking prices aggregated from indexed market listings alongside official closing prices from sources such as INE in Portugal and client-reported transaction data.
How can I access CASAFARI’s property data for Portugal?
Property professionals, investors, and developers can access real-time property data by signing in to the CASAFARI platform. For custom technical integrations, teams can reference the Area Insights API documentation on developers.casafari.com.