Romantic Guimaraes: Things To Do, See, And How To Travel In Guimaraes, Portugal

Guimaraes, Portugal: Slowing Down & Relaxing

If you’re looking for a bit of a breather after visiting the bigger…and busier...city of Porto, then make sure you spend a couple of days and travel to Guimaraes. In Guimaraes, the city’s charming “old town” centerpiece is nearly traffic-free. It’s mostly accessible by alleys and walkways from the busier streets of the city outside. You won’t find a free travel guide tour like in the bigger cities of Porto or Lisbon…but you won’t need it in Guimaraes.

A day trip to Guimaraes from Porto or Braga is easy, but honestly, you have to experience Guimaraes after dark to truly appreciate the ambiance of its quaint old town center.

The alleyways empty and the street lamps come on. Their reflections in the fountains and the shop windows change at night. Wandering through the historic stone walls of the city while reading the inscriptions on the monuments scattered throughout takes on a different tone. 

Guimaraes has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2001. It’s often considered the birthplace of Portugal because the country’s first king is believed to have been born there. From the churches and castles in and around old town Guimaraes to the unexpected footpaths surrounding the mountaintop Penha Sanctuary, you could easily spend 2-3 days…and nights…slowing down and taking it all in. 

The Best Things To Do In Guimaraes, Portugal – My Top 5 Recommendations

Spend A Couple Hours Walking The Streets Of Old Town Guimaraes At Night

I know, I know. This seems obvious…but it’s different here. Guimaraes is so charming and unique with something of a “self-contained” old town area. It feels quite different than others in Portugal and even throughout Europe. The narrow cobblestone alleyways, warm street lamps, echos from the church bells, and simplicity of the setting really do lend to just having a glass of wine and then wandering. 

Sometimes we get too caught up in what we’re planning next to just wander aimlessly. Don’t make that mistake when you travel to Guimaraes.

Visit Guimaraes Castle And Palace Duquesne De Branganca Museum 

Perched on a hill overlooking the old town are the Guimaraes Castle remains and the contrasting, well-maintained Palace Duquesne De Branganca Museum. Exploring the castle remains might have you feeling like you’ve been transported to one of your favorite scenes in Braveheart or Game of Thrones. And the views of the city during golden hours are beautiful. 

Stepping inside the museum you’re greeted with epic wooden ceilings and structural components that are simply amazing. I know, you’re probably all like “umm…really? Wood ceilings and structural components? WTF Jason!?” But trust me, when you imagine sitting at a giant wooden table made for 20-30 under that grand ceiling 30-40ft above you, you’re transported. 

I suggest buying the €8 combined ticket for these two and the Museu de Alberto Sampaio in old town. Or get a full “skip the line” tour with pickup and a guide!

Ride The Penha Cable Car To The Penha Monastery And Walk The Unexpected Labyrinth Of Trails In The Parque Campismo Da Penha 

This was a surprise. I had seen images of the modest monastery on the top of the hill, but it’s what surrounds it that I wasn’t expecting. Surrounding the monastery is a huge, meandering network of trails, picnic tables, and roads called the Parque Campismo Da Penha. 

Green moss covers towering boulders hiding path after path for you to guide yourself through.

This is another place to take your time to enjoy. Work your way up to the top of the trails for the most epic view of Guimareas. The cost for the Penha cable car is €7 round-trip, but make sure you check the hours so you don’t get stuck up top!

Take In The Beautiful Blue Azulejo Tiles Of The Capela De Sao Francisco 

The building next to the church has one of the most beautiful blue azulejo exteriors I’ve seen in Portugal, and that’s a high bar. But stepping through the gothic gateway into the church introduces you to a beautiful mixture of wood and gold balanced by blue and white azulejo tiles. Intricate is too simple of a word to use. It’s overwhelmingly complex in appearance, which seems to elevate the emotion of taking it all in. 

The Capela De Sao Francisco wasn’t even on my radar, and I stumbled upon it one night while simply wandering. You don’t want to miss this one. 

Photograph The Jardim Do Largo Nissan Sephora Do Brazil And Igreja E Oratorios De Nossa Senhora Da Consolacao E Santos Passos 

If you visit in the summer or warmer shoulder seasons, you’ll be treated to the beautiful gardens in front of the church. Take a moment at the top of the gardens near the fountains and then walk down to see the church up close. 

It’s all gorgeous whether day or night, but if you don’t like dodging cars, you must visit in the evening. After 7/8pm, traffic dies and the lights pop on the church. Bonus points…and epic pics… if you travel to Guimaraes during a full moon cycle like I did!

Guimaraes Travel Guide – Other Things To Do In Guimaraes, Portugal

Walk Underneath Padrao Do Salado And Glance Inside Of Igreja De Nossa Senhora Da Oliveira 

Don’t worry, it’s impossible to miss this if you’re in old town Guimaraes. It’s literally in the center of old town where loads of (touristy) restaurants flood the square with outdoor seating. But it’s pretty rad to be able to be so close to a piece of history—built to commemorate battle victories—that seems just randomly dropped in the middle of daily life. 

Glance inside the church, and if you bought the combined ticket for Guimaraes Castle and the Palace Museum, you can visit the Museu de Alberto Sampaio just around the corner. That’s where you can see this small courtyard behind a beautiful Art Nouveau inspired iron gate:

Explore Behind The Palace Duquesne De Branganca Museum 

This is another one of those stumble-upon moments you aren’t going to find in any old Guimaraes travel guide. As usual, I was searching for the magic spots. Banking on forgiveness instead of permission if I took an errant turn. But where I ended up was completely open to the public, but just off the beaten path enough to not have a soul in sight. If you’re facing the entry to the Palace, simply walk around the back and start exploring.

Grape vines covering entire stretches of covered walkways and mossy stairwells enveloped by trees. And at the bottom of it all, some benches completely shaded by sculpted trees inches from your head. Bring a bottle of wine. 

Getting Around Guimaraes And Traveling Around Portugal

Guimaraes is extremely walkable, and the old town is small and flat. Outside of old town it gets a little hillier. And there are cobblestones galore, so I suggest leaving your stilettos at home. Ubers are available, as are taxis and even scooter sharing from companies like Bird and Circ. The buses are also very clean, safe, and cheap. Countrywide, the Comboios De Portugal trains are simple between big cities, and everything else is connected by multiple bus routes. All are usually very inexpensive for standard fairs.

Typical Spending Costs, Travel Styles and Budgets for Guimaraes

I’m a budget travel nerd and tend to target traveling internationally for an average of about $30-60 a day, all in. Of course, you can travel cheaper than that, or the sky’s the limit. I was able to average about $50-60 a day in Portugal, and Guimaraes was no different. Actually, things were definitely slightly cheaper in Guimaraes than Porto, in my opinion.

A bed in a 4-6 bed hostel dorm runs about €15-25. (Never stayed in a hostel? Read this!) Fantastic sit-down meals at most non-bougie restaurants run €7-15+. And a glass of good port, table wine, or draft beer at those restaurants usually starts at about €2. Credit cards are widely accepted, but carry some cash for the smaller joints, especially in Guimaraes. ATMs are readily available, but make sure they’re attached to a reputable bank and not a Euronet ATM. 

Glass of cheap wine or beer while out in Guimaraes	€2-3
Hostel bed in 4-6 person dorm	€15-20/night
Local bus or around Guimaraes	€1-3
Simple sit-down dinner w/ wine/beer	€7-16
Church or Museum entries fees	€3-10 (or free)

The Hostels In Guimaraes

The hostel offerings in Guimaraes are slim compared to many of the bigger cities in Portugal. I stayed at the Santiago 31 Hostel, a small, quaint spot right in the center of old town Guimaraes. While it’s a fairly basic hostel, they have a well-equipped kitchen, clean and spacious bathrooms, a relaxing common area, and they supply a simple continental breakfast. Santiago 31 Hostel also has many private rooms available beyond the dorm options. And the folks that run the hostel are truly kind and helpful. 

There are hundreds of hostels throughout Portugal. You can filter by rating, location, amenities, cost, etc., here.

RELATED: The Best Hostels I’ve Stayed At…& Why They Make The List

Staying Safe While Traveling In Guimaraes…Or Portugal In General

Honestly, there wasn’t a moment when I was wandering around Guimaraes when I felt unsafe, whether day or night. That said, you should always take some necessary precautions when you’re traveling. Explore with a friend or two if possible, and consider staying out of the dark corridors at night if you’re solo. Yes, they’re kind of magical at night, but just be cautious.

Essentially, use common sense and go with your gut if you feel unsafe or concerned. I also suggest wearing clothing that allows you to zip or button up your wallet, phone, etc., as most of the time the biggest concern in bigger, tourist-heavy cities is pickpockets in dense areas. If someone else is an easier target than you, then your odds of trouble are reduced! (You don’t have to run faster than the bear…)

Share This Guimaraes Travel Guide With A Friend!

If you’re wanderlusting about travel to Guimaraes, Porto, or anywhere in Portugal, please share this article on social and with your travel ride-or-dies. Then connect with me over on Instagram or subscribe on YouTube, since I talk about a lot of these logistics and how things are going along the way!

Happy Travels. Cheers!
—Jason