If you’re traveling by air, you won’t have to ponder too long which airport to choose. Braga has just one – Dr. Francisco de Sa Carneiro Airport (OPO).

The trip between Porto Airport and downtown Braga is fairly long. You’ll have to travel 40 kilometers before you can drop your bags at your hotel in the city.

Make your way through the doors of Dr. Francisco de Sa Carneiro Airport (OPO) and your Braga adventure will have begun! The city’s main airport, it’s located 40 kilometers from the center of town.

There are 22 airlines that jet into Braga from 82 airports across the globe.

In general, travelers choose to fly with Transavia France, TAP Portugal and Vueling when heading off to Braga. The majority of these flights come from Hauts-de-Seine, with Transavia France servicing this route the most.

Planning an awesome Braga getaway is a cinch when there are 787 nonstop flights every week to select from.

Flights to Braga departing from Madrid, Lisbon District and London airports are highly sought after.

If it’s Lisbon District you’re leaving behind, you’ll be airborne for around 1 hour before you arrive in Braga. Tarmac to tarmac from Madrid takes approximately 1 hour and 17 minutes and from Orly, the average flight time is 2 hours and 12 minutes.

We all know those jet-setters who manage to get wonderfully cheap airfares every time they fly. Eager to know how to do it for your Braga vacation? Don’t leave it until the last minute to lock in your flight. Also, do some online research and compare your options. If your destination has a few airports, you may be able to nab an excellent price by flying into a less busy terminal. Finally, be ready to lock in your seat quickly if you find a real bargain. It might not be available for long. With a bit of knowledge and a little luck, the perfect fare can be yours.

If you’re not prepared, airports and flying can be daunting. But don’t hit the panic button just yet. Follow these useful tips for a stress-free start to your getaway in Braga.What to pack in your hand luggage:

• The trick to having a pain-free travel experience is to pack in advance. So, let’s start with the basics: passport, boarding pass, cash and important medications. Next, bring items that’ll help while away those hours, like your laptop or a good book. It’s also a wise idea to bring your chargers, a neck pillow and a pair of earplugs. And of course, don’t forget to pop in toiletry items like a toothbrush, lip balm and a fresh set of clothes.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Check carefully that you don’t have a sharp object hiding in one of the zippers of your hand luggage. Other banned items include flammable or explosive goods, such as aerosol cans and fuel, and liquids and gels in containers with a capacity of more than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters).

What to wear on a flight:

• Your number one priority is to make yourself as comfortable as you can. Layer up with loose, natural-fiber clothing and take a cardigan just in case you get cold. Opt for flat, well-fitting shoes as your feet may swell a little during the journey. Leave the high heels and heavy hiking boots in your checked luggage.
• Unfortunately, a risk of long-distance flying is developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clotting condition caused by prolonged inactivity. To prevent this, take every opportunity to walk around and give your legs a stretch. Compression tights and socks are another simple way to help minimize this risk.

As savvy travelers know, the secret is to be well organized before you get to airport security. That way, you’ll be stepping onto that plane to Braga in no time at all. Follow these helpful tips and get your trip off to a great start:

• Security personnel first need to know that you have a valid ID and travel documents before you’re allowed to proceed any further. Keep them within easy reach.
• Time to strip down. Well kind of. Your belt, coat, keys and other small items, like your headphones, will need to go on a tray through the X-ray machine. Make the whole process easier by removing them before your turn arrives.
• All your electronics, including your phone and tablet, will also need to be scanned separately.
• Any gels or liquids, such as perfume or hairspray, that you want to take on board need to be in containers no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters). Also, everything must fit inside a quart-size (one liter), clear zip-close bag.
• Lightweight sneakers are a great footwear choice as you’re less likely to have to remove them when going through security. Boots and other heavy-style shoes are usually subjected to additional screening.
• Pocket knives and other sharp items are not allowed in the cabin. They’ll be confiscated at security, so pack them in your checked baggage.