![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-538899222.jpg\")
\n\t\tCould Guimar\u00e3es be your next city break? (Picture: Getty Images\/iStockphoto)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tCould Guimar\u00e3es be your next city break? (Picture: Getty Images\/iStockphoto)<\/p>\n
Tiled buildings, sun kissed streets, and\u00a0Portuguese<\/a> sweet treats. Sound familiar? <\/p>\n Nope, we\u2019re not talking about the Algarve<\/a>. Head around 30 miles north from Porto<\/a>, and you\u2019ll find the city of Guimar\u00e3es<\/strong>, a UNESCO Heritage site and the original capital of Portugal.<\/p>\n While it might get overshadowed by its more popular neighbour, Guimar\u00e3es\u00a0is well worth adding to your \u2018must-visit\u2019 list.<\/p>\n Dubbed one of the \u2018most beautiful small towns in Europe<\/a>\u2019 by CN Traveller<\/a>, historic Guimar\u00e3es 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.<\/p>\n Lonely Planet<\/a> describes its centre as \u2018a warren of labyrinthine lanes and picturesque plazas\u2019 but adds that it has a \u2018creative edge\u2019, making the city unique.<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t\t\tSign up to The Getaway newsletter\t\t\t<\/p>\n Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration.\u00a0Sign up here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t Meanwhile, TripAdvisor<\/a> says the place is \u2018straight out of a fairy tale\u2019, and reviewers agree.<\/p>\n \u2018Everywhere was so full of\u00a0fun\u00a0and happiness under a perfect sunny sky and a pleasant evening,\u2019 wrote one visitor.<\/p>\n While another said she \u2018fell in love\u2019 with the city, adding: \u2018So charming and so easy to walk around. Nice restaurants and\u00a0cute\u00a0little boutiques.\u2019<\/p>\n Still need convincing? Here\u2019s everything you need to know about your next city break destination.<\/p>\n How to get to Guimar\u00e3es, Portugal<\/p>\n \t\t While there is no airport in Guimar\u00e3es, the journey from the UK is pretty straight forward.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll need to catch a direct flight to Porto from the UK, with prices starting from just \u00a339 return via London in October 2025, according to SkyScanner. Both Ryanair<\/a> and easyJet<\/a> fly to Porto, so you\u2019ll have plenty of options to chose from.<\/p>\n The flight takes around 2hr 30minutes. Once there, you\u2019ll need to get a train up to Guimar\u00e3es from Porto\u2019s main station, Porto S\u00e3o Bento. This will take you about 45 minutes, and is an absolute steal with tickets costing around \u00a314.<\/p>\n Tickets can be purchased on the day, or online from the Comboios de Portugal website, the state-owned rail company.<\/p>\n What to do in Guimar\u00e3es, Portugal<\/p>\n \t\t Guimar\u00e3es is an important place for the history of Portugal, in fact, there\u2019s a sign here that reads\u00a0\u2018aqui nasceu Portugal, which means \u2018Portugal was born here.\u2019<\/p>\n 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\u2019s often referred to as the \u2018cradle city\u2019 thanks to the King.<\/p>\n The city has a well preserved historical centre, with narrow streets, beautiful squares and medieval houses. There\u2019s a Romanesque church, The Church of S. Miguel, which was consecrated in 1239, and the 1,000-year-old Guimar\u00e3es Castle<\/a>. Climb to the highest points of the castle, and you\u2019ll get stunning panoramic views.<\/p>\n \t\t If it\u2019s more scenery you\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n But despite being old, Guimar\u00e3es has a youthful energy. With around half of its inhabitants under age 30,\u00a0Guimar\u00e3es\u00a0is one of Europe\u2019s\u00a0youngest cities, there\u2019s a healthy student population too.<\/p>\n The Platform for Arts and Creativity was built for the town\u2019s recognition as the European Capital of Culture, and looks like a collection of stacked boxes. <\/p>\n \t\t The museum has visiting exhibition spaces, as well as a permanent collection by Jos\u00e9 Guimar\u00e3es, known for his Portuguese pop art.<\/p>\n There\u2019s nightlife too. Sip a sundowner at one of the many bars in S\u00e3o Tiago Square or head to the Concert Caf\u00e9 at the Villa Flor Cultural Centre and Palace, not far from the old town centre. With a chic, minimalist interior, there\u2019s cocktails and live music at the weekends.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tA delicious Guimar\u00e3es treat\t\t\t<\/p>\n You can\u2019t visit Guimar\u00e3es without trying Tortas de Guimar\u00e3es, a pastry that hails from the town itself.<\/p>\n It\u2019s 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\u2026 and filled with squash.<\/p>\n \t\t After baking, they\u2019re dipped in syrup, to give them a crisp, glossy coating, and an extra sweet taste.<\/p>\n The best place to try authentic Tortas de Guimar\u00e3es is Casa Costinhas<\/a>, a family run spot, now into its fifth generation. <\/p>\n A jazz festival, Guimar\u00e3es Jazz<\/a>, is also held here every autumn \u2013 in 2025, the event takes place from November 6 to 15, and is in its 34th year.<\/p>\n Finally, don\u2019t think you\u2019ll miss out on delicious food by coming to a lesser-known city. The Michelin starred A Cozinha <\/a>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.<\/p>\n And if you\u2019re still hungry, inside the Hotel da Oliveira is Hool<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n \t\t As you\u2019d expect from a Portuguese city, Guimar\u00e3es has a Mediterranean climate, with warm summers<\/a> and colder winters.<\/p>\n The best time to visit is during the\u00a0summer\u00a0months \u2013 June to September \u2013 with August temperatures reaching highs of 28\u00b0C. If you prefer to visit in the shoulder season, you can expect an average of around 21\u00b0C in October.<\/p>\n The coldest month is usually January,\u00a0with average\u00a0highs\u00a0of\u00a0almost 13\u00b0C.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tExplore Portugal’s lesser-known destinations\t\t\t<\/p>\n Do you have a story to share?<\/strong><\/p>\n Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"GUIMARAES,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/SEI_220848876-4f94.jpg\")
\n\t\tLots of pretty squares to stroll around (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"St](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-1221886470.jpg\")
\n\t\tPicture perfect (Picture: Tim Graham\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/SEC_220850855-a7ac.jpg\")
\n\t\tYour next Portuguese destination (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n![\"Colorful](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/SEI_220848769-6ec1.jpg\")
\n\t\tThere\u2019s so much history here (Picture: Getty Images\/iStockphoto)<\/p>\n![\"Guimar\u00e3es](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-98074196.jpg\")
\n\t\tVisit the famous castle (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Platform](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-170488105.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe striking Platform for Arts and Creativity (Picture: View Pictures\/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Portugese](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-1221886283-e1725924065656.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe place to be if you have a sweet tooth (Picture: Tim Graham\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"City](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-517090917.jpg\")
\n\t\tThere\u2019s plenty of places to eat and drink (Picture: Getty Images)
\nWhat\u2019s the weather like in Guimar\u00e3es, Portugal?<\/p>\n
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