Living In Braga Portugal (vs Porto & Lisbon)

When considering a move to Portugal, having a good idea of what each location may offer is vital. Things that may be positive for one person could be negative for someone else who is looking at expat life in Portugal. When it comes to looking into moving to Braga, Portugal, you may also be comparing living in Braga vs Lisbon, or living in Braga vs Porto... or even living in Porto vs Lisbon. Each of these cities has something to offer those who are looking at living abroad in Portugal. For some people living in Lisbon may be the right choice while for others who are moving to Portugal may find that another city is best for them and their desired expat life abroad. In this expat podcast episode of Not Your Average Globetrotter, we'll talk about what expat life in Braga, Portugal has to offer in comparison to the two largest cities in Portugal.
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[@RedWhiskMedia]

Is bike riding a thing there? I never see people in bikes in videos. Are they frowned upon in Braga?

[@RafaelDiFuria]

Hey there @RedWhiskMedia your question made it into episode 291 which was just uploaded, you'll be able to find a response to your comment in the episode: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r2fKdH-EjJulZs0&ab_channel=RafaelDiFuria-NotYourAverageGlobetrotter

[@RedWhiskMedia]

@@RafaelDiFuria Thanks so much!

[@alessandrosilva4441]

In Braga, real estate is cheaper (rent and purchase), but there are still great leisure options and there is also good infrastructure and service options (shopping centers, banks, schools, hospitals, etc). The city also has several cultural events and public festivals throughout the year. However, I do not recommend living in the Historic Center. There are a lot of tourists and the properties are very old (no elevator, no parking spaces or heating system). I recommend neighborhoods like Lamaçães, Fraião or Nogueiró. It is a region with newer properties, there are several service options and it would be a 30 or 40 minute walk to the center. Although the city does not have a subway, buses serve the city well. By car, it would take you no more than 15 minutes to get from one side of the city to the other. I recommend buying a car, as public transport does not run 24 hours. Braga is considered the youngest city in Portugal due to the large number of students at the University of Minho. There are many leisure options (parks, bike paths etc) even though it is not considered a metropolis.

[@wallywal6139]

Thank you for another incredibly helpful video. We've booked flights to Porto and rented an apartment in Braga just steps from the old entry arch for nearly the entire month of January. Hopefully Braga will be our new home and looking forward to taking our time and exploring this beautiful city. Your videos are very well done and prepare us better than anyting I've found. Cheers!

[@hassangilani7241]

Hi, Rafael. Thanks so much for this insightful video. Wife and I plan to emigrate next year and have chosen Braga as our future home, thanks in part to your efforts (also subscribed!) We were hoping that you would be able to show T1 apartments in Braga and thereabouts along with the associated costs and features and amenities close to the city center. That would really help people like us to get a sense of what sort of T1 furnished apartments our money could buy us. I wish you well!

[@wallywal6139]

Thanks for everything that you do!

[@lucchese20]

Thanks Rafael! This and your previous video on living in Braga are extremely helpful as we’re considering retiring in PT (w/IT being our Plan B). We’ll be revisiting in late September-armed w/the info you’ve provided. Grazie. 👍🏻

[@RafaelDiFuria]

So glad you've been finding these helpful! If you make your way to Braga feel free to let me know!

[@SirJackOcean]

Yes Im a little biased. Your recent vids are a must see for us - moving from US to PT in Fall of 2023. We love love love PT. We’re a family of 4 with 2 young kids we’d like to enroll in an Int’l school. We’re trying to nail down the city. Lisbon? Porto? Braga is on our radar because of you Rafael. We will be in Braga next week and cant wait to scope it out. Thank you Rafael.

[@lourdes4341]

Rafael Thank you so much for dharing your informative videos. We appreciate it. My husband and I are really considering moving to Braga first choice. 😊 we want to stsy in the City Center or at least close proximity. We preferably like to buy a apartment or house and our plans are to move there a few years before retirement. Thank you again sharing!😊

[@stephendelacruzone]

Grazie Rafael!👑✨👍

[@rebeccagutierrez1960]

Dude! You have no idea how different listening to you will be from now on cause I'M IN PORTUGAL RIGHT NOW!!! (And I know you know I'm here but I wanted your audience to know.) I will be trying to make a decision if this is where I want to move to.

[@alexfleck8146]

Great information! I'm looking at a month of WFA this summer, and the history/vibe of Braga really appeals to me. Do you think it'd keep its charm after a month in town, also considering I'd like to take some weekend excursions to Porto, Guimaraes, and the mountains? I like good food, good coffee, etc, but I don't need a MILLION places. Porto is the obvious alternative, but I'll have spent a couple of weeks in Lisbon by then, so I was thinking a historic town in the hills would be cool. I'd be grateful for your thoughts!

[@MiguelPortela]

Well i live in Braga and i am 30 minutes way from porto when i want a Porto option...

[@vpillajr]

Let's consider the weather. Braga is located in a valley surrounded by hills. Porto is at sea. So I suppose Braga has a warmer climate than Porto, and Porto is windier. I'm not sure, but I suppose Lisboa is hotter than Porto also (but I'm not sure about that).

[@RafaelDiFuria]

Your assumptions are spot on. Porto can be milder because it doesn’t always get as hot or as cool as Braga, but there are places on the water only 10-20 km away from Porto which can be significantly on the water in winter from what I’ve been told.

[@elizabetejesus6575]

Yes BRAGA BETTER THAN LISBON AND A LITTLE TITED WITH PORTO BUT FOR ME BRAGA IT WILL BE A HEAD BECAUSE IT HAS ALL HISTORY AND ITS A CITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE FUN ALSO FAMILIES AND ELDER PEOPLE . ITS A GARDEN CITY

[@ruialves4965]

For sure 🍻

[@rickchandler2570]

Good video Rafael. What's your thoughts on getting around by bicycle? I've heard that it's pretty risky in Lisbon riding a bike and that's my biggest concern. I quit riding in the US because of that but it'd be a great way to be car free in a place like Braga I'd think.

[@RafaelDiFuria]

Thank you ^_^ Having to compare it to the places I have lived in Italy I wouldn't say this is the most bikeable city, there are plenty of people who do, but it's quite hilly, and the streets aren't what I would personally call bike friendly, there's no bike lane. However getting around with a foldable ebike could be a bit easier because of the size, I see more people on scooters here than bikes, both personally owned scooters and rented through bolt and bird.

[@Haupialani]

Did you stop doing videos on Italy? I miss that.

[@simontex33]

Glad to see immigrants like you making nice videos about my country. Could you make a video of American immigrants leaving my country of Portugal. Put a smile to my face 😊

[@lillipad3503]

Question, how can i look for a long lost friend in Braga? The names sounds the same, so its not so easy. Would appreciate any info points., tks.

[@tpedrick4184]

Can you get by with just English in Braga, especially when dealing with the government?

[@CiaoCompa]

I’m envious Rafa, don’t come back to America it’s going downhill at a rate close to terminal velocity.

[@tinglestingles]

Rain and more rain.

[@pauloportugal1396]

I like Braga as a place to spend a few days, but I'd never want to live there. For me nothing beats Lisbon but, to each their own.

[@whiskycentral]

I love Lisbon and the Setubal area. I'm concerned with a lack of water in the future, so I'm looking toward Porto.

[@RafaelDiFuria]

With sea levels on the rise eventually lack of water won’t be a problem 😜😅

[@jeanlundi2141]

Lisbon is a nightmare to move about. Also not as architecturally interesting as Porto for example. Lisbon only plus for me is cultural offering. But it's not ridiculously different to that of Porto.

[@whiskycentral]

@@jeanlundi2141 Yeah we are actually thinking about the Porto Area, we can only afford about 30mins out of the city, but not too bad : )

[@playleave7454]

For me nothing beats Braga. Way from metropolitan problems, but also close to porto, way from sea problems like humidity and winds, but also close to sea, way from airport plains noise but close to a airport, close to mountains and natural landscape, close to snow in winter, near Spain so we can go on sunday drink a coffe in Vigo and watch LaLiga, and basicly with everything modern human need to live.