Cool Things To Do In Guimarães

I’m always looking for an excuse to visit Guimarães. This ancient northern city is known as the cradle or birthplace of Portugal so its wealth of cultural heritage is hardly surprising, nor is its UNESCO World Heritage classification.

There are plenty of things to do in Guimaraes and it’s road and rail connections make it a good base for exploring the Minho region (northwest Portugal). See this article for my recommendations on where to stay in and around Guimarães if you plan to stay for a few days.

Most full day guided tours from Porto involve half a day in Guimarães and half in nearby Braga. However, if you want to visit the museums and monuments and soak up the atmosphere of a medieval square or two, you should factor in a whole day for Guimarães.

Here are some of the best sights and activities in Guimarães.

Conquer Guimaraes Castle

There may not be much left inside the walls but Guimarães Castle looks impressive from the outside. A magnificent bronze statue of Portugal’s first king, Afonso Henriques, welcomes you into the castle grounds, although the 10th century building predates his rule.

Pause on your way uphill to see the interesting tombstones in the floor of the tiny St Michael’s chapel.

Once inside the castle, get yourself up to the battlements and towers for splendid views of the city and up towards Penha sanctuary (more on that later). Note that there’s nothing left of the rooms or furnishings so that’s what you’re looking for, visit the Ducal Palace (below).

Visit the Ducal Palace of Guimarães

The closest thing Portugal now has to royalty is the Duke of Bragança, a title of the highest standing among Portuguese nobility since its creation in 1442.

The first Duke of Bragança, Afonso, was also the 8th Count of Barcelos and bastard son of King João I.

He had this unusual ducal palace built in Guimarães between 1420 and 1422. The imposing building is most noticeable for its excess of tall red brick chimneys, which you get a good view of from the castle battlements.

Furnished with exquisitely carved antique pieces, it’s easy to imagine how the rooms were used when the palace was lived in and there are some magnificent tapestries.

One of my favourite rooms, mainly for its painted ceiling, is the Duchess’ bedroom. I also liked way the Flemish stained glass in the chapel casts a multicoloured pattern across the wooden floors and pulpit.

Other side rooms within the palace are now used for temporary and permanent exhibitions. When I visited, bright, bold contemporary paintings by renowned local artist José de Guimarães’ contrasted with the thick, austere granite walls.

See a wealth of UNESCO World Heritage architecture in Guimarães

As you walk around the historical centre of Guimarães, you’ll see a wide range of architectural details that point to different trends and periods in Portugal’s 900-year history.

Look closely at the sculpted stone that decorate the Câmara Municipal (Town Hall) building, the former Convent of St. Clare, for some impressive and amusing stone sculptures.

Just after this square, you’ll pass under one of the medieval archways that join buildings above the streets. The wooden upper parts of tightly packed stone town houses will have you reaching for your camera, too.

Sit in medieval squares

One of the best things to do in Guimarães is to sit in one of the medieval squares and admire the architecture while sipping a cup of Portuguese coffee or, better still, a glass of vinho verde wine.

Two of the city’s most atmospheric squares, Largo da Oliveira and Praça de Santiago, are separated by the arches of the old council chambers building.

It’s hard to pick a favourite between these two squares but if you pushed me, I’d say Largo da Oliveira.

As well as an abundance of outdoor café seating, there’s the Our Lady of the Olive Tree church, the Gothic arches of the Salado monument and the Alberto Sampaio Museum, possibly the best museum in Guimarães.

Nobel Prize-winning Portuguese writer, José Saramago certainly thought so. I particularly liked the swirly gate in the museum’s cloistered courtyard and the juxtaposition of the artwork on display.

Explore the shops lining Largo do Toural, Guimarães

The first time I saw this enormous square, it was crowded with people who, like me, were there for the opening night of Guimarães’ year as the European Capital of Culture.

Without the crowds, it’s easier to appreciate the mix of architectural styles and the contrast between a Minnie Mouse balloon seller and a hardware store that’s been there for donkey’s years. Until the 18th century, Largo do Toural was outside the city walls and the site of a popular livestock market.

Just around the corner from Largo do Toural, you’ll find Alameda de São Dâmaso, a shaded area where local men gather around tables to play cards and women catch up on gossip.

Explore the old tanning quarter

Just south of Alameda de São Dâmaso you’ll find Rua de Couros, named after the leather tanning industry that occupied the space for centuries.

A stinky business in its heyday but an important one you can see the stone coat of arms of the tanners guild at the top of the street. Continue along it and you’ll find the tanning pits, streams and watermills.

See the medieval buildings in the Soap Island

Ilha do Sabão is a tiny cluster of timber cottages where the fats extracted from the animal skins during the tanning process was turned into soap.

Admire stunning examples of Guimarães embroidery

You’ll find excellent examples of local embroidery (Bordado de Guimarães) at the shop/workshop on Rua da Rainha Dona Maria II, 132.

Unlike the multicoloured patterns favoured by other citities, local works are often in a single colour, typically red but sometimes black or blue.

Take a walk along the medieval walls

A new walkway that runs along the top of the ancient city walls offers the chance to peer through the battlements and admire the views of the city and surrounding hills from a higher vantage point. You can access this at Largo Condessa Mumadona Dias or behind the Alberto Sampaio Museum.

Taste a traditional convent cake

Guimarães has a couple of local delicacies for the sweet-toothed. One is a flaky pastry wrapped around a concoction of sugar, egg yolks, ground almonds, and sweetened chila, which is a kind of squash. This is known as a torta de Guimarães.

I’m not a fan of chila so I opted for the toucinho do ceu de Guimarães (bacon from heaven from Guimarães), so-called because the original recipe, which was invented by the nuns from the Santa Clara Convent, uses pork lard. Don’t worry, you can’t taste it! Even though the toucinho do ceu also contains some chila (aka gila), this one is more about the almonds, eggs and sugar.

Enjoy the views from Penha park and sanctuary

If you have time, you could venture uphill to Penha park. The cable car to Penha from Guimarães only operates between Friday and Sunday so I drove up to Penha sanctuary.

After spending part of that morning at the attractive Bom Jesus in Braga sanctuary, I was a little shocked at how modern and, quite frankly, ugly Penha’s church is.

The forested hillside around it, however, is beautiful with round mossy boulders and lots of paths and steps to wander, making it worth the journey and possibly an hour or two of your time.

The tranquil setting was marred by techno music blasting out of the café’s speakers but you should be able to find somewhere out of earshot if you choose to bring a picnic up here or simply take a walk in the woods.

The car park under the statue of St. Pio offers spectacular views and appears to be a popular make out spot.

Guimarães hotels and guesthouses

You could spend the night up the hill near Penha park at the beautiful former 12th century monastery, Pousada Mosteiro de Guimarães with its magnificent azulejo panels and chestnut ceilings. The gardens behind the monastery are also worthy of a stroll. Check availability and prices.

If you’d rather be in the city centre, you can’t get much closer to the action than in the 4-star Hotel da Oliveira in the aforementioned medieval square of Largo da Oliveira. The thick granite walls of the historical building contain comfortable modern rooms. Choose a room to suit

The first time I visited Guimarães, I stayed at the wonderful Casa de Sezim. It’s a few kilometres outside the city but worth the additional journey for the historical charm of a manor house that’s been in the same family since the 14th century. See more photos and check availability.

There are plenty of other accommodation options to choose from.

Day trips and guided tours to Guimarães

You can discover the secrets of both Guimaraes and the lovely city of Braga on this full day small group tour which includes entrance to key monuments. You can get 10% off by using the code FOX10 at checkout.

If you’re a little short on time you may prefer this half day private tour.

Alternatively, you could try this Braga and Guimarães full day Private Tour. Again, claim 10% off with my code FOX10 at checkout.

For a DIY day trip from Porto, the Porto to Guimaraes train takes around 75 minutes (leaving from either Sao Bento or Campanha station) or travelling by car takes 45 minutes.

Where to eat and drink in Guimarães

If you’re not in a hurry and like organic vegetarian food, Cor de Tangerina is your best bet.

Opposite the Ducal Palace there’s a white building with a craft/souvenir shop on the ground floor. Go upstairs and you’ll find a quirky arty lounge bar cum restaurant and a pretty garden eating area.

Open for lunch and dinner every day except Sunday evening and all day Monday. Largo Martins Sarmento 1, Tel: 253 542 009.

For a reasonably priced hearty lunch with locals in a no-frills traditional restaurant, try Mumadoma, Rua Serpa Pinto 260, Tel: 253416111.

You’ll find more elegant, beautifully presented cuisine at Le Babachris. Menus are fixed and space is limited so best book a table as it’s justifiably popular. Rua Dom João, 39, Tel: 964420548.

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