10 things to do in Guimarães: a guide to the birthplace of Portugal

Pack The Suitcases uses affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks!

Here are my picks of the best things to do in Guimaraes, a small and charming city in the mountains of northern Portugal. With its castle on a hilltop, myriad old churches and winding medieval cobbled streets, Guimaraes is straight out of a fairytale. The city is brimming with history and is said to be Portugal’s birthplace. It even has UNESCO World Heritage status. Yet you’ll find that it’s quieter and calmer than other cities on the tourist trail of Portugal. It almost has a dreamlike quality to it, making it a perfect day trip from bustling Porto. It’s an easy 75-minute train journey from São Bento station.

When you arrive at its train station, Guimaraes doesn’t seem particularly promising. You’re met with normal residential streets. But as you walk further in, you start to glimpse beautiful older buildings, a hint of things to come. Soon, you’re in its historic centre, filled with tiled staircases, medieval archways and winding alleyways where flowers overflow from window boxes.

If that all sounds up your street, read on for more detail on what to see and things to do in Guimaraes…

Side note: I know it should really be ‘Guimarães’ (with a pretty ã) but I’ve had to go with what people will be googling to find this guide. I apologise to the whole of Portugal.

Things to do in Guimaraes, Portugal

1. Visit the fairytale Guimaraes Castle 

The 10th-century Guimaraes Castle is set up on a hill just north of the centre. The castle is the main landmark of the city and one of the most famous landmarks of Portugal, so you’ll naturally want to visit it. Just to warn you though, it’s not one of those National-Trust-style places with all the rooms made up like they would have been back in the day. In fact, there’s not much left on the inside of the castle walls at all. It’s all about looking impressive from the outside. 

The castle was built on its small hill in order to have the best view of invaders and raiders in the 10th century. Later on, Portugal’s first king, Afonso Henriques, was born and lived there. Apparently, the fact he lived there is what makes Guimaraes the ‘birthplace’ of Portugal. Well, he definitely had good taste in location.

There’s a little chapel in the grounds, where you can pause on your walk up the slope to spot some very old tombstones set into the floor. Once you’re inside the castle’s walls, climb up to the top for panoramic views of the city and mountains around it. If you’ve seen Disney’s Robin Hood (the animated fox one, which happens to be my favourite film of all time), then you might be reminded of the scene where Robin is stealing the money from Prince John. The castle’s layout is remarkably similar. You won’t read that little fact in any Lonely Planet guidebook…

It’s 6€ to get in if you get a combined ticket, which also gets you into the Ducal Palace (next on this list). Do check the opening times and price on the official website before you go.

2. Count the chimneys on the Ducal Palace of Guimaraes

The first Duke of Bragança, another guy called Afonso, had this palace built around 1420, probably to show off his power, as one did back then. Unlike the castle though, the Ducal Palace has stuff inside it: tapestries, carved four-poster beds, stained glass. All the usual National Trust boxes are ticked.

I really liked the dining hall with its ship-like ceiling and the displays of ladies’ dresses on mannequins. Very Portuguese Downton Abbey.

But the most notable thing about the palace is its set of chimneys, all 36 of them. They’re the sort of tall red-brick things you might find on a Victorian warehouse and feel a bit out of place on a palace from the 1400s. But in a good way. The Duke obviously had a flair for exterior design.

3. Have a drink in one of the medieval squares

You wouldn’t be in a Portuguese city if you didn’t at some point find yourself sat in a square having a drink.

Guimaraes has two main squares: Largo da Oliveira and Praça de Santiago. They’re separated by arches of an old building, so wander through both and take your pick as to which you have a sit down in. Both have plenty of cafés and bars where you can sit outside and get stuck into a bit of people-watching over a glass of wine/cup of tea.

Largo da Oliveira is so named because of the beautiful old olive tree growing in the middle of it. It’s also got a church called Our Lady of the Olive Tree. The square is also home to a Gothic monument, the Padrão do Salado, which is nothing to do with olives as far as I know. But it was built by yet another person from Guimaraes’s history called Afonso, so that’s clearly another running theme.

4. Visit the Igreja de São Francisco to admire its tiles

I’m often ‘churched out’ in countries like Portugal and Italy, so I have to weigh up whether it’s worth going into yet another one when I’m in a new city. I’d definitely recommend popping into this one, just to see its beautiful blue-and-white tiles lining the walls around its altar. These azulejo are everywhere in Portugal but they aren’t usually a bit feature in the churches. They look amazing set against some gold details.

The Igreja de São Francisco is part of an old convent. The church itself is from the 15th century, but it was seriously pimped up in the 18th century when all the gold and tiles were added to its interiors. You wouldn’t know it was so glitzy if you only looked at the outside, which is quite the plain Jane. Well worth seeing.

5. Wander down the pretty street of Rua de Santa Maria 

Rua de Santa Maria runs down the historic centre from north to south. I thought it was the prettiest of all the old streets in Guimaraes, and the architecture really stands out. It sort of reminded me of Venice in that you appreciate it a lot more when you look up. The buildings all have beautiful balconies and there’s this connecting archway that’s ripe for a photo opportunity.

Apparently, the street was once home to Guimaraes’s nobility and wealthy families. The area is now home to lovely independent shops, so this is a good chance to treat yourself to a little souvenir, which leads me nicely onto my next point…

6. Do some shopping in independent shops

Wherever I go, I like to pick up either something for friends at home or more likely, something for myself. But it has to be from a local independent shop. For a small city, Guimaraes had some really nice artisan shops but you do have to note roughly where they are in advance as you still have the usual chains to wade through to find them.

Some independent shops in Guimaraes that I really liked included:

• Alma Portuguesa (on Rua Dr. António Mota Prego) – I adored this little beauty. It sells artisan food (olive oil, condiments, chocolates etc) as well as jewellery, soap, homewares and accessories, some of which are made from recycled materials.
• Oliva da Praça (on Rua Rainha Dona Maria) – This is a local artisan olive oil shop but it also sells other foodie bits. A good place to buy something to use in the kitchen at home to beat the post-holiday blues.
• Surprise Me Now (on Rua Rainha Dona Maria) – This little gift shop sells lots of nice bits that wouldn’t take up too much room in your suitcase. Some nice mugs with azulejo printed on them. 

There’s also a branch of my favourite Portuguese chain, the fashion/accessories shop Parfois. Obviously, I love going into independent shops wherever I go but I’m not going to lie, I can never walk past a Parfois without going in and buying earrings. It’s a bit like the Portuguese version of Accessorize in the UK, but a million times nicer.

7. Explore hidden corners in the historical centre

As you walk around the historical centre of Guimaraes, have a good nose around corners and into courtyards. I was thoroughly impressed with some of the hidden tiled gardens and amazing architectural details. It’s such an old place, you can spot influences from all of the different eras in Portugal’s history.

8. See the nearby archaeological site of Citania de Briteiros

Okay, so this isn’t technically in Guimaraes. But unless you’re doing some kind of driving tour of northern Portugal, Guimaraes is probably the nearest base to visit it from. I’m not usually interested in archaeological sites and ancient settlement ruins at all. But Citania de Briteiros is massive and properly well preserved too. It’s one of the most impressive archaeological sites in the whole of Europe, and by far the largest in Portugal.

Citania de Briteiros is the site of a Castro settlement dating back to the first and second century BC. Archaeologists have found all kinds of Bronze Age and Iron Age stuff there. There are around 100 buildings, surprisingly un-ruined: you can easily spot what’s a church, bathhouse or dwelling. It still looks like a proper village and it’s set on a little hilltop in beautiful verdant countryside, so that’s a joy in itself. You can get a leaflet (in English) from the on-site visitor centre to understand what each area was. It’s 3€ to get in at the time of writing, but double-check on the Guimaraes tourism site (it doesn’t seem to have its own official site).

If you’re keen to see what it’s all about, it’s worth making the trip from Guimaraes. The best way to do this is by taxi (20 minutes) from the city centre. You can also do it by bus, but that takes a lot longer. I’d only attempt the bus if you’re staying longer in Guimaraes and want to take on a little mission. 

9. Get the cable car up Penha mountain for brilliant views 

The highest point in Guimaraes is Penha mountain. You can get a cable car from Guimaraes to the top, where there’s a park with some terraces to sit and take in the panoramic views across the city and the beautiful scenery surrounding it.

You’ll spot a lot of mossy granite boulders (which reminded me of what you’d find around a shrine in Japan) dotted about the forests on the hillside, as well as a modern little church you can visit. To get down to the centre of Guimaraes again, you can stick with the cable car or choose to walk, which would take about an hour.

The cable car is around 7.50€ for a return journey, at the time of writing. Bargain.

10. Take the perfect photo down Largo Republica do Brasil

Before you leave the city, make sure you get a shot of this beautiful scene.

When reading up on day trips from Porto, I ended up being drawn to Guimaraes based on a shot of this road in my guidebook. Largo Republica do Brasil is pleasingly symmetrical and dramatic. Its colourful, manicured gardens lead up to the Baroque church, with the hillside looming in the background and fountains going off in the foreground. All very pretty.

Bizarrely, there were Christmas decorations up when I visited. In August. They really added to the summery vibe I was going for in my photographs, of course.

Things to do in Guimaraes, Portugal – useful information for your trip

Where to stay in Guimaraes

I visited Guimaraes just as a day trip. But if you want to stay over, there are a few well-located central options in Guimarães. Here are some I’d recommend checking out. All prices are correct at the time of writing:

• Treat yo’self: If you want a proper historical experience, you can splash out on a stay in a converted 12th-century Augustin Convent: Pousada Mosteiro de Guimaraes. At 130€ a night, it’s not cheap, but it’s beautiful. 
• Mid-range: At 110€ a night, Casa do Juncal is a nice middle option. It’s an 18th-century manor house with pretty garden views.
• Budget: If you don’t want to splurge on accommodation, Hotel Toural is only 90€ a night but is clean and modern.

How to get around Guimaraes

Guimaraes is very compact as a city, and all completely walkable.

When to go to Guimaraes

I recommend spring or autumn for visiting anywhere in Portugal. But having said that, I visited Guimaraes in August and it was surprisingly quiet and the weather was lovely.

Save and share: 10 things to do in Guimaraes, Portugal

If you enjoyed this blog post on what to see and things to do in Guimaraes, Portugal, why not hover over the image below and pin to your Pinterest board? (Desktop only).

You might also like my other Portugal posts:

• Porto itinerary: 3 days in Portugal’s stunning second city
• 10 beautiful day trips from Porto
• A guide to Mértola, Portugal: a hidden hilltop gem
• 45 things to do in Funchal, Madeira 
• The best restaurants in Madeira and Funchal
• The best bars in Madeira and Funchal
• Funchal, Madeira: a travel guide
• How to do a day trip to Curral das Freiras from Funchal
• How to do a day trip to Porto da Cruz from Funchal
• A guide to spending a week in Madeira: a 7-day itinerary without a car
• How to do a day trip to Camara de Lobos from Funchal.

If you’d like an email alert when I publish a new post, subscribe using the box at the side (if you’re on a laptop) or at the bottom (if you’re on a mobile or tablet).

And if you enjoy my blog, you can also buy me a drink. Cheers. 

Share this post