Tiled buildings, sun kissed streets, and Portuguese sweet treats. Sound familiar?
Nope, we’re not talking about the Algarve. Head around 30 miles north from Porto, and you’ll find the city of Guimarães, a UNESCO Heritage site and the original capital of Portugal.
While it might get overshadowed by its more popular neighbour, Guimarães is well worth adding to your ‘must-visit’ list.
Dubbed one of the ‘most beautiful small towns in Europe’ by CN Traveller, historic Guimarães has a little bit of everything: from a 1,000-year-old castle to a thriving arts scene, after being named the Capital of Culture back in 2012.
Lonely Planet describes its centre as ‘a warren of labyrinthine lanes and picturesque plazas’ but adds that it has a ‘creative edge’, making the city unique.
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Meanwhile, TripAdvisor says the place is ‘straight out of a fairy tale’, and reviewers agree.
‘Everywhere was so full of fun and happiness under a perfect sunny sky and a pleasant evening,’ wrote one visitor.
While another said she ‘fell in love’ with the city, adding: ‘So charming and so easy to walk around. Nice restaurants and cute little boutiques.’
Still need convincing? Here’s everything you need to know about your next city break destination.
How to get to Guimarães, Portugal
While there is no airport in Guimarães, the journey from the UK is pretty straight forward.
You’ll need to catch a direct flight to Porto from the UK, with prices starting from just £39 return via London in October 2025, according to SkyScanner. Both Ryanair and easyJet fly to Porto, so you’ll have plenty of options to chose from.
The flight takes around 2hr 30minutes. Once there, you’ll need to get a train up to Guimarães from Porto’s main station, Porto São Bento. This will take you about 45 minutes, and is an absolute steal with tickets costing around £14.
Tickets can be purchased on the day, or online from the Comboios de Portugal website, the state-owned rail company.
Where to stay in Guimarães – 5 fab hotels
Bellu Suites – from £69
Eurostars Santa Luzia – from £62
Pousada Mosteiro de Guimaraes – from £126
Stay Hotel Guimarães Centro – from £43
Hotel da Oliveira – from £140
Prices checked on Booking.com in September 2025, covering a one night, four-star stay in Guimarães City Centre for two adults, in October 2025
What to do in Guimarães, Portugal
Guimarães is an important place for the history of Portugal, in fact, there’s a sign here that reads ‘aqui nasceu Portugal, which means ‘Portugal was born here.’
History lesson time. Back in 1128 Afonso Henriques defeated the Moors, and essentially set the nation free, claiming the throne. Alfonso was born in here, and so made the city his capital. It’s often referred to as the ‘cradle city’ thanks to the King.
The city has a well preserved historical centre, with narrow streets, beautiful squares and medieval houses. There’s a Romanesque church, The Church of S. Miguel, which was consecrated in 1239, and the 1,000-year-old Guimarães Castle. Climb to the highest points of the castle, and you’ll get stunning panoramic views.
If it’s more scenery you’re after, jump in a cable car, 600m up to Mount Penha. Here, you can stroll around the Minho hills (a popular spot for locals in the summer), and visit the stark, yet striking, 1930s modernist church.
But despite being old, Guimarães has a youthful energy. With around half of its inhabitants under age 30, Guimarães is one of Europe’s youngest cities, there’s a healthy student population too.
The Platform for Arts and Creativity was built for the town’s recognition as the European Capital of Culture, and looks like a collection of stacked boxes.
The museum has visiting exhibition spaces, as well as a permanent collection by José Guimarães, known for his Portuguese pop art.
There’s nightlife too. Sip a sundowner at one of the many bars in São Tiago Square or head to the Concert Café at the Villa Flor Cultural Centre and Palace, not far from the old town centre. With a chic, minimalist interior, there’s cocktails and live music at the weekends.
A delicious Guimarães treat
You can’t visit Guimarães without trying Tortas de Guimarães, a pastry that hails from the town itself.
It’s said that the nuns that once lived in the convent here created the recipe. The traditional treat is a is a crescent-shaped pastry (which looks sort of like a croissant) made with eggs, sugar, almonds… and filled with squash.
After baking, they’re dipped in syrup, to give them a crisp, glossy coating, and an extra sweet taste.
The best place to try authentic Tortas de Guimarães is Casa Costinhas, a family run spot, now into its fifth generation.
A jazz festival, Guimarães Jazz, is also held here every autumn – in 2025, the event takes place from November 6 to 15, and is in its 34th year.
Finally, don’t think you’ll miss out on delicious food by coming to a lesser-known city. The Michelin starred A Cozinha has a mouth-watering (and constantly changing) nine course tasting menu showcasing traditional Portuguese flavours, with dishes such as oyster and elderberry, and corn and piri piri quail. You can also see the chef at work, as the kitchen is behind a glass wall.
And if you’re still hungry, inside the Hotel da Oliveira is Hool, also a popular spot, again serving up various tasting menu options. Plates such as Azorean mackerel and gazpacho, or egg and black truffle are sure to be unforgettable.
What’s the weather like in Guimarães, Portugal?
As you’d expect from a Portuguese city, Guimarães has a Mediterranean climate, with warm summers and colder winters.
The best time to visit is during the summer months – June to September – with August temperatures reaching highs of 28°C. If you prefer to visit in the shoulder season, you can expect an average of around 21°C in October.
The coldest month is usually January, with average highs of almost 13°C.
Explore Portugal’s lesser-known destinations
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