Like its neighbouring town, it's a place which you might not necessarily have heard of previously, though it has a sprinkling of decent landmarks within short-walking distance of one another - making it a perfect location for a 'day trip' if you're staying elsewhere in Northern Portugal.
Amongst the main attractions within the city are Guimarães Castle, the Dukes of Braganza Palace (including its botanical gardens) and the architecturally-brilliant yet impossible to pronounce 'Igreja e Oratórios de Nossa Senhora da Consolação e Santos Passos' - something which is basically a picturesque Gothic Church.
It's highly likely that you'll arrive in Guimarães at the city's small railway station from where it's a brisk 10-minute stroll into the heart of the historic centre - a place that's packed with narrow streets, tight alleyways and granite buildings. Once here, at some point you'll inevitably stumble across the Largo da Oliviera Monument which forms part of the 'main square'. There are several bars/restaurants, all in close proximity, should you happen to be feeling peckish and need a break from exploring.
One way to catch a birds-eye glimpse of the city is to venture away from the historic centre and up the Monte da Penha cable car. It's cheap, efficient, budget-friendly (as a return fare will set you back just a few euros) and certainly worth it for the view - even on a bad-weather day!
Football fans might also want to visit the Estadio D.Afonso Henriques - home of Vitoria Guimaraes and only a stones-throw from the city centre. It's a venue where England played during Euro 2004 (against Switzerland) and, more recently, in 2019 (against Netherlands) in a UEFA Nations League fixture. The stadium is a surprisingly good one; modern, efficient, clean and comfortable and amongst the largest in Portugal.
As always, enjoy the photos!
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