25 min by train or 20 min by carTrain from Braga station direct to Guimarães, every 30 minutes
Famous for: Leitão assado (suckling pig), vitela de lafões, Michelin lunch at Largo do Toural
Portugal's birthplace is 25 minutes by train and home to roast suckling pig, traditional tascas in the UNESCO historic quarter and a Michelin-worthy lunch.
30-50 min by carDrive west on the N101 or N201 toward Ponte de Lima (45 min) or take the regional bus from Braga terminal
Famous for: Estate-bottled alvarinho, loureiro and arinto from small Lima Valley quintas
The Lima Valley quintas 30 to 50 km west of Braga produce the most elegant Vinho Verde; day trips combine cellar visits, tastings and vineyard lunches.
55 min by train or 45 min by carAlfa Pendular train from Braga station to Porto São Bento or Campanhã, frequent service all day
Famous for: Francesinha, tripas à moda do Porto, bacalhau espiritual, tasting menus at The Yeatman or DOP
Porto is 55 minutes from Braga by fast train: a full food day covering the francesinha at Café Santiago, fish at Mercado do Bolhão and a wine bar in Miragaia.
45 min by carDrive north from Braga on the EN103, entering the park at Terras de Bouro (45 min)
Famous for: Cachena beef stew, alheira sausage, smoked trout, broa de Bico (stone-ground cornbread)
Portugal's only national park is 45 minutes from Braga: mountain villages serve cachena beef stew, smoked trout and alheira sausage at near-zero prices.
35 min by carDrive west on the N201; regional bus from Braga terminal takes 50 minutes
Famous for: Lampreia à bordalesa (lamprey in bordeaux sauce, winter-spring), vinho verde from Lima estates
Portugal's oldest municipality and the Lima Valley's most scenic food town: lamprey in season (January to April) and estate vinho verde at Lima restaurants.
25 min by trainTrain from Braga station to Barcelos, frequent service on the Linha do Minho
Famous for: Frango de Barcelos (Barcelos chicken with piri-piri), Barcelos market Thursday
Barcelos is 25 minutes by train and home to the Frango de Barcelos: piri-piri chicken grilled over charcoal, one of northern Portugal's defining street foods.
50 min by trainTrain from Braga station to Viana do Castelo on the Linha do Minho, frequent service
Famous for: Dried lamprey, bacalhau com broa, local Vinho Verde and the Atlantic fish market
Viana do Castelo is 50 minutes by train: an Atlantic port with a fish market, bacalhau com broa specialties and Lima-to-sea Vinho Verde estates nearby.