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Portugal Travel Guide: Guimarães

Guimaraes © Dias dos Reis

Guimarães

• Historical city center of picturesque buildings.
• Named a Unesco world heritage site in 2001.
• Stay in two of Portugal's finest pousadas.
• Modern city famous for textiles, shoes & cutlery.
• Population of around 52,000.

Great Gifts From Portugal

Guimarães is a medieval city that has joined the modern world. It is closely connected to the formation of Portugal as a state in the 12th century.

It contains a 10th century castle and many traditional buildings from the 15th to 19th centuries, including the Palace of the Duke of Braganca ('Paco Ducal'), a World Heritage site; the Church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira which has a sculpture-laden front and a museum in the cloisters; the Santa Clara Convent; Gothic arches; and a monastery ('Monesteiro de São Domingos') that holds local archeological exhibitions.

Afonso Henriques became the first King of Portugal after a battle during which his army defeated that of his mother in 1128. The Moors who had invaded the south of Portugal (and Spain) were pushed back into North Africa subsequent to this event. There is a statue (1874) of King Afonso in the Paco Ducal.

A pleasant square in the heart of the old town is Largo da Oliveira (Olive Tree Square).

Guimarães Tourist Office

Alameda S. Damaso 83 (tel. 253/41-24-50).
Monday to Friday 9:30am-12:30pm and 2pm-6:30pm.

Getting to Guimarães

Train

Fifteen trains daily make the 2-hour run between Porto and Guimarães; the one-way cost is EUR 2.70 ($2.45).
Tel. 251/41-23-51.

Car

Drive northwest from Porto on N105-2 and N105.

Bus

From Braga buses make frequent 1-hour trips during the day. A single (one-way) bus ticket from Braga to the Guimarães bus station, Quinta das Lameiras, is EUR 2 ($1.80). Tel. 253/42-35-00.

Accommodation

Featured Apartment for Rent

Quinta de Corujeiras
Close to Guimarães
5 luxury apartments. Prices: around EUR 53. Breakfast included EUR 58. Shower, lawn, pool.

Book Accommodation in Guimarães

Hotels in Portugal - Bookings

Hostels in Portugal - Hostelworld.com

Hostels in Spain - Hostelworld.com

Hotels in Portugal - Almeida Hotels

Eating

El Rei
Praca da Santiago 20a
Prices: moderate (closed Sun.).

Drinking

Tásquilado Bar
Rua de Santa Maria 42
Tel. 253 515 197
Cool sounds till 2am.

List your restaurant/bar/hotel contact Advertising

Local football team

Vitoria Guimarães

Stadium name: Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques Seats 30,000. North-west of city center.

The average high June temperature for Portugal is between 22C and 26C.
Get more weather information in Portugal

More Tourist Information on Portugal

Aveiro Braga Cascais Coimbra Estoril Faro-Loulé Guimaraes Leiria Lisbon Belém Porto Nazaré Obidos Sintra Tomar
Viana do Castelo

Information on Portugal

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