Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Guimaraes

Guimaraes is situated in the Minho region of northern Portugal. It is respectfully known as the cradle of the nation. Moreover, the birthplace of the pioneer king of the country, Afonso Henriques,  was nominated as the first capital of Portucale. 

Its historic castle,  an ancient wonder, leads the old town skyline. Paco dos Duques is a medieval wonder of well-preserved and historic monuments. They brighten up the maze of pictures of narrow streets anticipating the travelers-friendly central square, Largo da Oliveira.

Grabbing the attraction are some tremendous museums encased in pleasing convents and monasteries. Panoramas extend to the city’s distant districts. Here grassy woodland and cheerful water parks ae need to be explored. And not distant from Guimaraes, is one of Portugal’s site seeing archeological sites and a wonderful tourist attraction in its own way, the mindful Citania de Briteiros.

The Historic Hub And Its Sites Including Palaces And Castles Are A World Heritage Site. You Have To Get Organized And Scheduled To Make Sure You See It All. Even Roaming Around The Historic Streets And Squares Is A Lot Of Pleasure. Because These Merge Gothic Monuments, Mansions For Nobility, And Decorative Convents. On The North Side Is The Castle Which Was The Home Of The First King Afonso Henriques.

Top-rated tourist attractions in Guimaraes:

The historic hub and its sites including Palaces and Castles are a World Heritage Site. you have to get organized and scheduled to make sure you see it all. Even roaming around the historic streets and squares is a lot of pleasure. Because these merge Gothic monuments, mansions for nobility, and decorative convents. On the north side is the castle which was the home of the first king Afonso Henriques. The top-rated tourist attractions in Guimaraes are as follows:

1. Castelo de Guimarães:

 Guimarães Castle is a carefully preserved antique stronghold in Portugal. It emerges large over the city centre. Eight beautifully crafted towers surround the Castle making it a cherished landmark, since the 10th century.

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The castle is the birthplace of Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal. Thus it is regarded as a national shrine. Tourists can stroll through heavy curtain walls and mount the narrow steps to the top of the tower where perfect views of the city and the countryside can be applauded.

2. Paco dos Duques de Braganca:

The Palace of the Dukes of Braganza is standing at the foot of the castle hill. Its architecture design started in 1401 on the orders of Dom Afonso. He was the first Duke of Bragança. This spectacular royal residence observes a Burgundian style of architecture in accordance with Dom Afonso’s taste for all things French. It was completed in 1442 but remained non-operational after the transfer of the Braganca family to Vila Vicosa in the early 16th century. It get extensive renovation in 1933 to serve as the official presidential residence of Antonio Salazar’s dictatorship. 

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Travellers visit its small museum to glorify themselves with their cultural heritage. Flemish tapestries, Persian rugs, medieval weaponry, and an adorable collection of paintings are displayed there. the capel is famous for its vibrant stained-glass windows.

3. Museu de Alberto Sampaio:

 The Alberto Sampaio Museum was designed to illustrate the religious artworks assets of the convent and more churches of the Guimaraes region. It is a perfect film set site within the serene Romanesque cloister of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira.  

The cache of ministerial treasures spans the 14th to the 18th centuries. It includes a majestic collection of medieval and Renaissance-era sculptures, ceramics, and paintings,  embroidered vestments; an outstanding array of exceptional jewellery. More items like processional crosses and silver and gold chalices can be seen over there.

The Santa Clara room serves as an Aladdin’s den of gilt carving. Midway to the permanent exhibition is the spectacular 14th-century gilded silver altarpiece and the tunic used by João I during the battle of Aljubarrota in 1385.
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4. Largo da Oliveira:

It is a former monastery, established by Afonso Henriques in the 12th century. They built an earlier convent 200 years ago at its current location. Much of the original framework collapsed. The church that we can see today is largely from the 16th century. 

A Gothic shrine, Padrao do Salado, stands in front of the church. Built-in the 14th century, it served as the station where people planted an olive tree to supply altar lamps with oil in the 13th century.

5. Museu Martins Sarmento:

Martins Sarmento Museum is a treat for archaeology enthusiasts.  The man who excavated Citania de Briteiros named it after himself. Briteiros is one of the most appealing archaeological sites in Portugal. The museum originally resides within the cloister of the 14th-century convent of Sao Domingos.

The major part of the exhibition includes Celtiberian artefacts disclosed at prehistoric Citania de Briteiros and Castro de Sabroso. This Stone Age collection attracts visitors with a memorable glimpse of the Paleolithic and Neolithic past.

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6. Convento e Igreja de São Francisco:

 

It is located away from the old town centre. Eighteenth-century tiles embellished the chancel of the beautiful church and convent of Sao Francisco. The tiles portray the life of St. Anthony in a pattern of blue and white panels. This pattern of tiles flows in harmony and style with the Gothic dome of the main shrine. Apart from tile work, tourists should not miss out on the splendid engravings that embellished the nave, the wooden roof of which shows a perfect example of Trompe I’oeil painting. Other memorable features include the large arc of glided woodwork 

7. Penha de Santa Catarina:

Penha de Santa Catarina Park is an ideal trip for those travellers searching break from the city, especially during the often suffocating summer heat.

Rising to a height of 620 meters and yet only 7 kilometres southeast of the middle of Guimarães. The green space is an integral part of a National Ecological Reserve and spreads over about 50 hectares. A genuine oasis of flora and fauna, the park is a lovely picnic spot and is a most desirable destination for families. You can see a lush habitat of ancient trees, many cut with steps, and huge granite boulders on the trail’s pathway.

Construction of the Former Monastery of Santa Marinha da Costa took place on the lower slopes of Penha de Santa Catarina.  The terrace around the church shows fantastic views over Guimarães.

8. Parque Aquático Scorpio:

Scorpio Water Park’s plethora of themed attractions will work wonders for tourists for mid-summer vacations with families. This supreme leisure facility is just 2 km apart from the city and is the most famous family spot. It comprises two swimming pools for adults and children respectively. 

But the glamour actually began at Fantasyland. It is an arena on Guimaraes Castle for kids to enjoy with multi-track waterslides, toy water animals, and fountains. the waterslide is the main trill as it is a 40-meter aqua splash slide, six meters off the ground.

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What is Guimaraes famous for?

Guimaraes is a veritable jewel of the city as it is the birthplace of Portugal’s first sovereign. It is a meshwork of narrow historical lanes and miraculous plazas. They all combined to make the city a worth seeing site. Moreover, its wine and cuisine are among Portugal’s best.

Furthermore, UNESCO listed its memorable historical centre as a site in 2001. And since then it has developed as one of Portugal’s most prized spots. 

Let’s move to Guimaraes, to reveal the somnolent grace of this city and its absolute historical and gastronomical marvels.

We can not limit Guimaraes to its medieval UNESCO treasures, but also the great dining & drinking scenery, dynamic nightlife, and luxuriant parks, such as its City Park, called the lungs of Guimaraes. 

Moreover, no tour to Guimaraes can be complete without hanging out with its locals that are famous as some of the most sparkling people in Portugal.

Remember that even if many pay a visit to Guimaraes on a single-day tour, it has enough sites and character for you to explore pleasing Northern Portugal from here.

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Unusual things to do in Guimaraes:

The small city of Guimaraes is the most pleasant destination for those willing to explore the surface of what Portugal has to offer.  While you visit this historic place that is often dubbed “the Birthplace of Portuguese Nation“ you came across a variety of sightseeing sights. With that in mind, here are some of the many unusual things you can do when exploring Guimaraes, Portugal.

• Take photos in Largo do Toural
• Admire Old Houses in Praça De São Tiago
• See the Sights of Largo da Oliveira
• Look down Largo Republica do Brasil
• Climb Guimaraes Castle
• Visit the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza
• Ander through Old Quarter
• Look out over Guimaraes from Mount Penha
• Roam freely in the UNESCO streets of Guimarães
• Visit the historical Largo da Oliveira
• See the excavation site of Citânia de Briteiros
• Explore the Park of Mount Penha

In spite of the spots mentioned above, there are plenty of other tasks to do and explore in Guimaraes. For beginners, there’s the remarkably modern International Arts Centre and the nearby Archaeological Museum. Then there are the picturesque houses and the antiquated leather tanning pools south of Jardim Público da Alameda. 
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Most beautiful places in Guimaraes:

Guimaraes is one of the best and worth visiting places in North Portugal. So here is a list of the most beautiful places in Guimaraes:

• Historic Guimarães
• Palace of the Dukes of Braganza
• Guimarães Castle
• Monte da Penha
• Alberto Sampaio Museum
• Largo da Oliveira
• Rua de Santa Maria
• Citânia de Briteiros
• Museu Arqueológico Martins Sarmento
• Plataforma das Artes e da Criatividade
• Igreja de São Francisco
• Zona de Couros
• Church of São Miguel do Castelo
• Centro Cultural Vila Flor
• Regional Gastronomy

Guimaraes Sightseeing Bus:

Some iconic monuments in the historic city of Guimaraes include Guimaraes Castle, Palace of Dukes Braganza, and Praca de Sao Tiago square. And you are lucky enough to discover these memorizable sights on an amazing panoramic sightseeing bus roaming around the Cradle of Portugal.

You can explore the virtual panoramas around the city with this 60 minutes sightseeing bus. Experience the wonder of the historic places where Portugal established in the 12th century. Be thankful for the English language audio guide to acknowledge you about the history and secrets of historic sites like the Palace of Dukes, Guimaraes Castle, and Medival Praca de Sao Tiago square while visiting them.Read More: 15 Things All Pilots Hate About Their Jobs
Your sightseeing bus ticket is valid for up to 24 hours since it is used for the first time at mo monument. During this time, you can hop on and off the bus without hassle.

The timetable of the Sightseeing bus:

15 Aril-28 April:

9:30 am to 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm.

 4 June to 30 September:

9:30 am to 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm.

The sightseeing bus departed every 60 minutes.

Additional Benefits:

Along with the unlimited access to tourists, the bus does offer certain additional benefits to its travellers.

• Free entry to all municipal museums in Guimaraes
• Discounted packages for entry fees of monuments, leisure sites, and museums.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How many days is enough to visit Guimaraes?

You have to dedicate one full day to visiting Guimarães. This impacted city can easily make you lose your way with its astonishing number of plazas and narrow historic streets. This can make the city seem much more sizeable than it actually is.

Is Guimaraes Portugal worth visiting?

Guimaraes is definitely worth visiting if you like the thought of devoting some time to walking the narrow streets of a medieval town. There are no cars available in most of the historical centre, so you are free to ramble. Walking through the Old Quarter is really the worthy part of the trip! Guimarães is the more distinctive and interesting destination. 

Why is Guimaraes the birthplace of Portugal?

Guimarães is believed to be the birthplace of Portugal because Afonso Henriques, who was the first king of Portugal, was born here.

How many days are recommended for visiting Guimaraes?

You should dedicate one whole day to the panoramic sites of Guimarães. 

What do you recommend seeing in Guimaraes in 1 day? 

Here is the list of the worth seeing places in Guimaraes on your one-day trip:

• Ducal Palace
• Church of San Miguel do Castelo
• Guimaraes Town Hall
• Guimaraes Castle
• Largo da Oliveira
• Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Carmo
• Igreja de Nossa Senhora Oliveira
• Sampaio Museum
• Vila Flor
• Largo de Sao Tiago
• Igreja de Sao Francisco
• Largo da Republica do Brasil
• Teleférico de Guimarães

Why has Guimaraes become so popular as a tourist destination?

Guimaraes is one of the best locations in Europe to have fun in the heavenly cuisine of the North of Portugal. Tourists visit the place to try out its heady wines and hang out with the amiable Northern Portuguese.  It is famous for its ancient cultural heritage and architecture. Tourists plan their trip to Guimaraes, one of the pleasing destinations in the North of Portugal, to combine great food, wine, and company with remarkable architecture and culture. The natural panorama around Guimaraes is ideal for hiking and cycling. Which are the best-hidden secrets of Guimaraes? 

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Here are the best-hidden secrets of Guimaraes. Go and explore them:

• Afonso Henriques, the King who defeated… his own mother!
• Guimarães 2012: European Capital of Culture
• The reconstruction of a bullring… in 5 days!
• Nicholas, the Student Holidays
• Penha Cable Car: Portugal’s first cable car