The Perfect Day Trip to Guimarães from Porto: A Complete Guide
Guimarães is a city in northern Portugal. It’s known for well-preserved medieval buildings like the hilltop, 10th-century Guimarães Castle, with its sweeping city views. The restored Dukes of Bragança Palace, built in the style of a French chateau, has a museum showcasing furniture, tapestries and weapons. Between the palace and the castle is the Romanesque São Miguel do Castelo Church, built in the 13th century. ― Google
Why Visit Guimarães?
Guimarães, also known as the “Birthplace of Portugal” was on my list of top places to visit in Portugal for years and I finally made in there when I returned to Porto in September 2025.
I had heard that Guimaraes was beautiful and knew there was a famous Portuguese Castle there, but not much else.
As is my usual approach, I Googled “What to do in Guimaraes” while on the bus on the way there and found there was quite a bit in Guimaraes to fill my day.
This famous Portuguese city ended up being the perfect day trip from Porto, and one I highly recommend to anyone visiting the area.
This historic Portuguese city is packed with charm, jaw dropping architecture, views, quaint cafes and restaurants and just has a really good vibe to it. It is the perfect day trip from Porto, but also somewhere I could easily have spent the night and two full days.
How Much Time do You Need in Guimarães?
Most people visit Guimarães as a day trip from Porto, others add it to a trip to Braga, and others spend a few days here. I don’t think you can go wrong either way, and how much time you spend in Guimarães really depends on how much time you have on your trip to Portugal.
I like to take my time visiting places and really explore sites and scenery, so for me a full day in Guimarães was needed. I spent 5 hours in this magical Portuguese city, and it wasn’t quite enough. I visited on a Sunday, so some sites were closed, and I skipped one that I wanted to go to due to time constraints, so I easily could have spent another 2 or 3 hours in the Birthplace of Portugal if I had visited those.
With so many charming inns, guest houses, and hotels in Guimarães, I would absolutely spend a night here on my next visit.
These top Guimarães hotels would be my top picks and have been highly recommended by some guide friends of mine.
Torel Royal Court
⭐⭐⭐
What could be more fitting for the Queen of the Exit Row than a hotel with “Royal” in the name? This hotel comes highly recommended by a friend of mine who does tours in Porto, Braga and Guimaraes and is at the top of places I would stay on an overnight trip to Guimaraes due to it’s location, historic charm, reputation for great service, and included breakfast.
EMAJ Guimarães Boutique Hotel
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I made a point to pass this top Guimarães hotel while walking around the city so I could dream of staying in it someday. Even though this boutique hotel in Guimarães is a 4 ⭐stay, it still comes in at a very gentle price point, and includes breakfast!
How to Get to Guimarães From Porto
Just 55km from Porto, Guimarães is a quick and easy day trip. This charming Portuguese city is easily accessible by public transportation, driving, or even rideshare.
I took the bus from Porto to Guimaraes and found it easy, convenient and affordable.
Guimarães from Porto by Bus
🚌The bus is the most affordable and efficient way to get from Porto to Guimaraes. With tickets starting at 2,95€ and the journey taking just 45 minutes, this is the way I would recommend getting from Porto to Guimaraes. You can book tickets with either FlixBus or RedeExpressos, which both depart from Campanha Station.
The Historical City Center of Guimaraes is about a 15 minute walk from the bus terminal.
Train to Guimarães from Porto
🚂The train from Porto to Guimaraes is also an easy and affordable option but takes the longest at 75+ minutes due to frequent stops. Tickets are just 3,55€ and can be purchased at via the Comboios de Portugal website or on site the day of your trip.
Like the bus, the train also departs from Campanha Station.
For my Complete Guide to Porto Public Transportation, click here!
Driving to Guimarães from Porto
🚗Guimarães is a quick and easy drive from Porto and there are several parking options in the city, however most come with a parking fee.
🅿️There is a free parking lot located at R. de Dona Mafalda 9, 4800 Guimarães, but it can fill up quite quickly.
Tour of Guimaraes from Porto
There are several tour options from Porto Guimaraes ranging from private guided tour to smalls group tours.
Many of the group tours include Guimaraes and Braga, spending half of the day in each historic Portuguese City.
These tours can range anywhere from 65€ per person for full day group tours of Guimaraes and Braga, up to 150€+ for private half day tours of Guimaraes.
This is a top-rated option for travelers looking for a private tour of Guimaraes with transportation from Porto
And these are some very well reviewed group tours from Porto to Guimaraes and Braga
Rideshare from Porto to Guimaraes
🚕Rideshare from Porto to Guimaraes is possible, but is the least recommended option as it is the most expensive option at 30-50€ depending on time and demand. It can also be difficult to get a rideshare back to Porto from Guimaraes due to less availability.
For my Complete Guide to The Perfect Day Trip To Braga, click here!
What to See in Guimaraes
Guimarães is one of the most beautiful cities I have visited in Portugal and I really enjoyed just wandering the streets and strolling the historic center as much as the main attractions.
One thing to take note of is that some of the attractions and highlights are closed on Sunday and Monday. I visited on a Sunday and found a couple of the places I wanted to visit were closed. I will add them here and indicate opening hours so you can plan accordingly.
Guimarães Castle
The Castle of Guimarães is the principal medieval castle in the municipality Guimarães, in the northern region of Portugal. It was built under the orders of Mumadona Dias in the 10th century to defend the monastery from attacks by Moors and Norsemen.
🗺️R. Conde Dom Henrique, 4800-412 Guimarães
🕰️Daily 10a-6p
💶5€
Guimarães Castle stands above the historic city and offers beautiful views of the city and beyond. Both the exterior and interior of this historic Portuguese castle quite remarkable and has truly stood the test of time.
While this is certainly one of the main attractions in Guimarães, it is a pretty quick visit and doesn’t need too much time dedicated to it. Be sure to walk along the top of the walls for the best views of Guimarães.
There is a VR experience offered at the castle for an additional fee, but I opted not to do it. I had a bit of trouble finding information on what the experience was, but it appears to be a brief (less than 10 minutes) VR experience allowing visitors to see historical events like the Battle of São Mamede. The VR experience at Guimarães Castle didn’t seem worth the cost to me, but may of interest to history buffs or anyone looking to enhance their visit to Guimarães Castle.
Ducal Palace of the Bragança
The Ducal Palace of the Braganza or Palace of the Dukes of Braganza is a medieval estate and former residence of the first Dukes of Braganza, located in the historical centre of Guimarães, in the north-western part of Portugal.
🗺️R. Conde Dom Henrique 3, 4800-412 Guimarães
🕰️Daily 10a-6pm
💶10€
⭐Tickets are currently discounted to 5€ due to partial closure of the Palace
Even with the partial closure, Ducal Palace of the Bragança was well worth the visit and is absolutely beautiful. The exhibits are all beautifully curated with information sheets and guides available in multiple languages.
The castle was lovely and offered great views, but the Palace was the highlight of my visit to Guimarães.
⭐On my visit, there was one person selling tickets and a very long line. The website was not moving forward with combined tickets so many people were unable to purchase on line and had wait in line. I highly recommend buying tickets in advance to avoid the line. Purchase tickets here
Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Carmo
🗺️Largo Martins Sarmento 57, Guimarães, Portugal
🕰️Mon-Fri 9:30a-5p, Sat & Sun - closed
Unfortunately, this famed Guimarães church was closed on the day that I visited the city, but the outside was still striking and the courtyard attached to it was open so I could snap a few photos and enjoy the gorgeous tile work.
You will pass this church on your way from the historic city center of Guimarães up to the Castle, and it appears well worth popping in to to take in the ornate details. I believe entry is free.
Igreja e Oratórios de Nossa Senhora da Consolação e Santos Passos
The Santos Passos Church (Portuguese: Igreja dos Santos Passos), officially called Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Consolação e dos Santos Passos[3] and sometimes referred to as Igreja de São Gualter,[4] is an 18th-century Portuguese baroque Catholic church located at the Campo da Feira in Guimarães, Portugal.
🗺️Largo de São Brás 42, 4810-531 Guimarães
💶Entry to the church is free, to ascend for the view is 1€ (contactless payment accepted)
The Santos Passos Church itself is a simple, but beautiful church, but what makes it truly spectacular is the surrounding garden and views from the upper level.
For just 1€, you can ascend the stairs of this stunning Guimaraes church and take in the sweeping views of the colorful gardens and beyond. “The Best view in Guimaraes” isn’t just a sales pitch, this truly is the best view in Portugal’s birthplace.
Church of Saint Francis
The Church of Saint Francis (Igreja de São Francisco) in Guimarães is a historical landmark that blends Gothic and Baroque architectural styles, originating in the 13th century with later Baroque additions. It is known for its elaborate woodwork, gilded altars, and decorative Portuguese tiles (azulejos). The church also features a white chapel and a museum with artifacts, offering a glimpse into the city's past as the birthplace of Portugal.
🗺️ R. Padre Gaspar Roriz 124, 4810-531 Guimarães, Portugal
🕰️Mon-Sat 9:30a-12, 3p-5p, Sun 9:30a-1p, Mon - Closed
💶Adults 3€, Children under 12 are free
This historic church in Guimaraes was one of the places I really wanted to visit, and planned to on my way back to the bus station, but unfortunately I didn’t realize it closes early on Sundays so I missed out.
The exterior of this building alone is worth the visit, with some of the most beautiful Portuguese tiles I have seen, but the inside looks incredible, and I can’t wait to go back and visit in properly.
Largo da Oliveira
Largo da Oliveira, which owes its name to a centuries-old olive-tree planted on this same site, is the heart of Guimaraes with historical significance.
Here you will find a Gothic shrine, Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira, and many cafes, shops, and restaurants. With its preserved Portuguese and medieval charm, modern cafes and restaurants with traditional food and sweets, Largo da Oliveira embodies “old meets new” while maintaining much of it’s original charm.
Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira
The Church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira, also referred to as the Insigne and Royal Collegiate Church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira, the Church and Collegiate Church of Guimarães and the Parish Church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira, is located in the current parish of Oliveira, São Paio e São Sebastião, in the Historic Center of Guimarães, in the district of Braga, Portugal.
🗺️Largo da Oliveira, 4810-438 Guimarães
💶2€
When I first got to the Insigne and Royal Collegiate Church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira, it was closed due to a service, but luckily when I circled back it was open to the public.
I am so glad I went back because the church is breathtaking.
Be sure to go up the stairs to see the gorgeous organ and view of the church from above.
Museum Martins Sarmento
🗺️R. Paio Galvão 2, Guimarães, Portugal
🕰️Tues-Fri 9:30a-12:30p, 2:30p-5:30p
Sat-Sun10:30a-12:30p, 2:30-5:30p
Mon - Closed
💶1,50€
I very unfortunately didn’t have time to visit the inside of this Archaeological museum in Guimarães, but it is at the top of my list for a return trip to Guimarães. Even peaking in from the street, I could tell this is an impressive sight both architecturally and historically.
⭐I was unable to find a sure answer to how much the entry to Museum Martins Sarmento is, but everything I found shows between 1,50 and 3€
Interactive Map of Top Sites in Guamaraes
Suggested Route For Visting Guimaraes
It was recommended to me by a walking tour Guide to “start at the top” and working my way down, so that is what I did when exploring Guimaraes and it seemed to work in my favor to hit all the highlights efficiently since I had limited time.
Here is the order I suggest visiting the sites in Guimaraes
📍Guimarães Castle
📍Ducal Palace of the Bragança
📍Convento de Santo António dos Capuchos
📍Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Carmo
📍Largo da Oliveira (Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira & Museum Martins Sarmento)
📍Largo do Toural
📍Igreja e Oratórios de Nossa Senhora da Consolação e Santos Passos
Whether you spend just a few hours, or several days in Guimaraes, you are sure to be enchanted by this Portuguese gem with its medieval architecture, uniquely Portuguese charm and well preserved history.
Guimaraes is the perfect day trip from Porto, and one I don’t recommend missing!
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