Guimarães
A hilltop castle, a ducal palace and a walkable old town in northern Portugal, where the country's first king was born.
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Guimarães is a city in northern Portugal, in the historic Minho province, and the place where the country's first king, Afonso Henriques, was born. The Battle of São Mamede, fought near the city on 24 June 1128, is seen as the key event in founding the Kingdom of Portugal. The historic centre has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001, valued as a medieval settlement that grew into a modern town. Visitors come for the castle on the upper hill and the old streets of the lower town.
The centre is compact and best seen on foot. Indoor stops include the Alberto Sampaio Museum, housed in a former canons' site, and the Vila Flor Cultural Center, which has two auditoriums. Try Tortas de Guimarães, a flaky half-moon pastry, and bôla de carne, a pizza-shaped bread. Spring and early autumn suit walking best, since summers are warm and winters are cool and rainy. Plan one day for the sights or two nights for a slower pace. Trains from Porto make a day trip possible.
Guimarães in five
- Buy the combined castle and palace ticketThe Paço dos Duques lists 5 euros for the palace, 5 euros for the castle and 8 euros for the combined circuit. It is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00, with last entry at 17:30.Paço dos Duques tickets
- Check for closed galleriesThe palace is being rehabilitated, with some galleries closed and the elevator possibly out of service. Check the official page before you plan a long visit.
- Note the closing daysThe palace closes on 1 January, Easter Sunday, 1 May, 24 June and 25 December. 24 June is a local holiday in Guimarães, so a visit around then needs a plan.
- Ride the cable car only in good weatherThe cable car to the Penha hill has its own operator, and days and hours can change by season. Check the operator's page for the last ride, and skip it in low cloud.
- Pair Guimarães with Braga or PortoBraga's cathedral and Bom Jesus stairway are close, and Porto is the usual base. A long day trip from Porto works, but a night here makes the old town quieter.Braga travel guide
Things to do in Guimarães
See all attractions in Guimarães
Need to know
- Airport
- Porto (OPO), then train or bus
- Getting there
- Train or bus from Porto; check CP for the Guimarães line Read more
- Getting around
- Walking in the historic center
- Best base
- The historic center near Largo da Oliveira
- Time needed
- A day or a night
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain13 rainy daysHigh13°Low5°Cool, rainJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 218 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, rain
- FebruaryRain11 rainy daysHigh15°Low6°Cool, rainFebruaryRain
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 150 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, rain
- MarchRain14 rainy daysHigh16°Low7°Mild, showersMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 176 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, showers
- AprilRain13 rainy daysHigh19°Low8°Spring, showersAprilRain
Good
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 164 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, showers
- MayPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh22°Low11°Warm, greenMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 105 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, green
- JunePartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh25°Low13°Warm, clearJunePartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 72 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, clear
- JulyClear4 rainy daysHigh29°Low16°Warm, dryJulyClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 18 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, dry
- AugustClear3 rainy daysHigh30°Low16°Warm, dryAugustClear
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 16 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, dry
- SeptemberClear7 rainy daysHigh26°Low14°Warm, calmSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 77 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, calm
- OctoberRain13 rainy daysHigh22°Low12°Mild, showersOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 226 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, showers
- NovemberRain15 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°RainyNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 220 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy
- DecemberRain15 rainy daysHigh13°Low7°Cool, rainDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 221 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, rain
Average daily high and low in Guimarães, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Guimarães
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
16
- Feels like
- 13°
- Humidity
- 29%
- Wind
- 6 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Guimarães
08:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today22°10°0%Monday: Partly cloudy. High 22°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue17°8°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed16°5°0%Wednesday: Clear. High 16°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu15°3°0%Thursday: Clear. High 15°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri16°4°45%Friday: Rain. High 16°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 45%.
- Sat15°11°72%Saturday: Rain. High 15°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 72%.
- Sun17°13°95%Sunday: Thunderstorms. High 17°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 95%.
Updated 05:28 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- AugVilar de Mouros FestivalViana do Castelo, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Bragaby bus, train or carA cathedral city with the Bom Jesus funicular and stairway.Read the guide
- Portoby train or busA river city with port lodges and a steep old town.Read the guide
- The Penha hillby cable car or carA forested hill with views above town, reached by cable car or road.
Before you go to Guimarães
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Rules for Guimarães, checked
- Paço dos Duques: 5 euros palace, 5 castle, 8 combined; open daily 10:00 to 18:00 (last entry 17:30); closed 1 Jan, Easter Sunday, 1 May, 24 Jun, 25 Dec.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around Guimarães
Cathedral and Bom Jesus nearby
Read the guidePorto travel guideThe usual base and nearest airport
Read the guideViana do Castelo travel guideA coastal city north-west of Guimarães
Read the guideTrains in PortugalCP and regional lines
Read the guideThe Minho travel guideGranite towns and vinho verde country
Read the guidePeneda-Gerês travel guideThe national park to the north-east
Read the guideAll of PortugalCities, coast and entry rules
Read the guideGuimarães FAQ
Is Guimarães worth visiting?
Yes for a small medieval city with a castle, a ducal palace and a lively center. It is a good pair for Braga, and a calmer stop than Porto.
How much does the Paço dos Duques cost?
The palace lists 5 euros, the castle 5 euros and the combined circuit 8 euros. It is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00, with last entry at 17:30.
Can you visit Guimarães as a day trip from Porto?
Yes, by train or bus. Check the timetable and the last service back, and note that some services change at a junction.
How many days do you need in Guimarães?
A day covers the castle, the palace and the old town. A night adds quiet evenings, and a second day is only needed if you add Braga.
When is the best time to visit Guimarães?
May to September for the driest days. Winter is cool and wet, so pack a rain layer and check the cable car before you go.