In the heart of northern Portugal lies Guimarães, a city where medieval splendour meets authentic Portuguese charm. Behind its ancient walls and along granite-cobbled plazas, Portugal's history as a nation took root. It was here that Afonso Henriques, the country's first king, was born – a heritage that earned Guimarães its place as Portugal's original capital.

The city's role as Portugal's first capital is reflected in its magnificent landmarks, from the imposing medieval castle to the grand Palace of the Dukes and the Gothic splendour of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira church. Despite its historical significance and UNESCO World Heritage status, Guimarães remains wonderfully authentic, with family-run restaurants, traditional markets, and an atmosphere that's distinctly Portuguese.
This guide will walk you through the city's most compelling sights and attractions, helping you discover both the historical treasures and authentic experiences that make Guimarães truly special.
Related articles: Guimarães introduction – Day trips from Porto

The following list details the best of Guimarães, which should not be missed during your visit to the city. Following this section is an interactive map to help you plan your trip and this is followed by a detailed description of each of the sights.

Castelo de Guimarães
A medieval castle sitting at the highest point of the city. This castle was the birthplace and childhood home of Portugal’s first king, Afonso Henriques, and later the seat of power for the fledgling country.

Paço dos Duques de Bragança
An impressive 15th-century palace, constructed in a distinct northern European architectural style. Inside, its opulent rooms offer a fascinating glimpse into the lifestyle of medieval Portuguese nobility, complete with period furniture and rare tapestries.

Largo da Oliveira
One of the most picturesque medieval squares in Guimarães' historic center, where a centuries-old olive tree stands alongside the historic town hall and a richly decorated 14th-century shrine.

Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira
A magnificent Gothic church and former monastery complex dating from 950. Within the church stands a stunning silver altarpiece, while the monastery buildings have been transformed into the Museu de Alberto Sampaio.

Muralhas de Guimarães
The solid granite walls that once encircled the medieval city remain best preserved along Avenida Alberto Sampaio, where visitors can walk along the ancient ramparts.

Igreja de São Miguel do Castelo
A small Romanesque chapel of great historical significance, where Portugal's first king, Afonso Henriques, was baptised.

Penha
Rising south of Guimarães, this forested hill features peaceful walking trails winding between massive granite boulders and leads to an impressive sanctuary. The summit of the hill can be reached by cable car, and the entire area is ideal for extending a day trip to Guimarães.

This interactive map highlights all major tourist attractions that should not be missed during your visit to Guimarães. (Note: Zoom out to view all of the markers for Penha hill.)

 

Legend: 1) Castelo de Guimarães 2) Paço dos Duques de Bragança 3) Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira 4) Igreja de São Miguel do Castelo 5) Santuário da Penha e Monte da Penha 6) Praça de São Tiago 7) Igreja de São Francisco 8) Convento de Santa Marinha da Costa 9) Igreja do Carmo 10) Padrão do Salado 11) Casa da Memória de Guimarães 12) Igreja dos Santos Passos 13) Antiga Câmara Municipal 14) Câmara Municipal de Guimarães 15) Teleférico da Penha 16) Convento de Santo António dos Capuchos 17) Basílica de São Pedro 18) Aqui Nasceu Portugal 19) Papa Pio IX Viewpoint
Sights of the Guimarães region 20) Citânia de Briteiros 21) Basílica de São Torcato 22) Monastery of Santa Maria de Pombeiro 23) Castelo de Arnóia 24) Parque Aquático de Fafe

Small group tours are an enjoyable and informative way to discover Guimarães, along with providing a chance to meet fellow travellers. Since the introduction of rating and reviews, the standard of group tours in Portugal has dramatically improved. Now tours are led by enthusiastic and knowledgeable guides, and cater for modern and worldly tourists.
We have worked with GetYourGuide.com for the previous seven years and some of their best tours they offer for Guimarães include:

Castelo de Guimarães
Standing proudly on a hilltop, Guimarães Castle is one of Portugal's most significant historical monuments. Built in the 10th century to protect the local population from Viking and Moorish raids, this mighty fortress is known as the 'Cradle of Portugal'.

It was here that Portugal's first king, Afonso Henriques, was born in 1110. The site gained even greater significance in 1139 when Afonso Henriques declared Portuguese independence from the Kingdom of León, marking the birth of the Portuguese nation. The castle's impressive stone walls and eight crenellated towers

The castle comprises of impressive stone walls and eight crenelated towers. Its most distinctive feature is the 28-metre-high square keep, added in the 13th century, which offers spectacular views for those willing to climb its steps. The castle's military architecture showcases classic medieval defensive features, including its imposing battlements and arrow slits. Although modified over centuries, the castle retains much of its original Romanesque architecture.

The castle underwent significant restoration in the 1940s, returning it to its medieval glory.

Paço dos Duques de Bragança
The Palace of the Dukes of Braganza stands as one of Portugal's most impressive medieval buildings. Built in the 15th century by Afonso, the first Duke of Braganza, this grand palace showcases a unique blend of Portuguese and French architectural styles. Its distinctive tall chimneys, inspired by French manor houses, dominate Guimarães's skyline.

Inside, visitors can explore over 60 rooms, many adorned with valuable tapestries, period furniture, and an extensive collection of weapons and armour. The Great Hall, with its soaring wooden ceiling and enormous fireplaces, offers a glimpse into the lavish lifestyle of Portugal's nobility. The palace's chapel features beautiful stained-glass windows and intricate wooden carvings.

Despite its grand beginnings, the palace fell into disrepair for centuries until a major restoration in the 1930s brought it back to life. Today, it serves both as a museum and an official residence for the President of Portugal when visiting northern Portugal.

The 17th century tapestries hanging in the Paço dos Duques de Bragança

Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira
The Church of Our Lady of Oliveira stands at the centre of Guimarães. Its origins date back to the 10th century, though the current Gothic structure was built in the 14th century under King João I, who commissioned it to celebrate his victory at the Battle of Aljubarrota.

The church takes its name from an ancient olive tree that once grew in the square outside. In 1342, this dead olive tree miraculously sprang back to life on the same day that a new statue of the Virgin Mary was completed for the church. This divine sign led to the church being renamed Nossa Senhora da Oliveira (Our Lady of the Olive Tree)

Its striking façade features an ornate Gothic portal, while the interior holds treasures collected over centuries. The wooden ceiling, painted in rich blues and golds, draws visitors' eyes upward, while intricate gilded woodwork adorns the chapel walls.

Among its most precious possessions is a 14th-century silver altarpiece, considered one of Portugal's finest examples of medieval silverwork. The church museum houses an extensive collection of religious artefacts, including a unique 12th-century crucifix and the tunic worn by João I at Aljubarrota.

A highlight is the church's Romanesque cloister, which provides a peaceful retreat from the bustling square outside. The bell tower, rebuilt in the 16th century, remains a prominent landmark in Guimarães's skyline.

Igreja de São Miguel do Castelo
The Igreja de São Miguel do Castelo is a stone chapel outside of the castle where Portugal's first king, Afonso Henriques, was baptised in 1106. Its simple architecture reflects the Romanesque style typical of medieval Portugal, with thick granite walls and minimal decoration.

The church features a single nave and a rectangular chapel, with its original stone altar still intact. Inside, the church maintains its austere medieval character with exposed stone walls and a wooden ceiling. The baptismal font, used for Afonso Henriques' baptism, remains one of its most treasured features.

Muralhas de Guimarães
The Muralhas de Guimarães are medieval defensive walls that protected the medieval section of the city. While initial construction began in the 10th century, the main structure that exists today was built during the 13th and 14th centuries under King Dinis's orders. The walls were built using locally sourced granite and formed a defensive perimeter around the medieval town center, stretching approximately 1.5 kilometres in length and with eight gates.

The eastern section of the walls, which runs along Avenida Alberto Sampaio, remains the best-preserved portion and features a walkable path along its ramparts.

Monte da Penha and Santuário da Penha
Monte da Penha offers 60 kilometres of marked hiking trails through its 50-hectare park, winding between ancient chestnut trees and granite formations. The forest contains centuries-old oaks and features distinctive geological formations, including the "Penha Boulder" which stands 40 metres high. The park includes several viewpoints, picnic areas, and a small chapel dating from 1702 that predates the sanctuary.

The Sanctuary of Penha crowns Monte da Penha at 617 metres above sea level, commanding panoramic views across Guimarães and the Ave Valley. The modernist sanctuary, constructed between 1930 and 1947 by architect José Marques da Silva, incorporates the mountain's natural granite formations into its design.

The building's angular form features local granite blocks weighing up to 30 tonnes, while its interior showcases contemporary religious art and stained-glass windows by João de Sousa Araújo. The summit of Monte da Penha is reached by a cable car, the Teleférico da Penha.

Teleférico da Penha
The Teleférico da Penha carries passengers on a 1.7-kilometre journey up to the Sanctuary of Penha at an altitude of 613 meters. The seven-minute cable car ride provides spectacular aerial views as it climbs to the hilltop station. A single costs €4.00 or a round-trip journey €7.50.

The Padrão do Salado
The Padrão do Salado, erected in 1342, is one of Portugal's finest examples of Gothic monuments. King Afonso IV commissioned this ornate structure to commemorate both his victory at the Battle of Salado and the miracle of the olive tree. Its distinctive design features four arches supporting a central cross, with beautifully carved religious scenes and Latin inscriptions.

Museu de Alberto Sampaio
Housed in the former medieval monastery, this museum holds one of Portugal's finest collections of religious art and historical treasures. Its prize possession is the tunic worn by João I at the Battle of Aljubarrota in 1385, along with an exceptional collection of medieval silver and gold religious pieces. The museum's stunning 14th-century silver altarpiece ranks among Portugal's most valuable religious artworks.

Convento de Santa Marinha da Costa
Set on the slopes of Penha Hill, this former 12th-century monastery has been transformed into a luxurious pousada (historic hotel). The building's rich history spans from its origins as a 9th-century chapel to its time as an Augustinian monastery and later a university.

Its beautiful cloisters, baroque fountains, and formal gardens reflect centuries of architectural evolution. The monastery's walls feature stunning 18th-century azulejo tiles depicting classical scenes, while its church retains impressive baroque gilt work.

Citânia de Briteiros (15km from Guimarães)
The Citânia de Briteiros is one of Portugal's most impressive Celtic settlements and among the largest fortified settlements in the Iberian Peninsula. This ancient hilltop site, inhabited from the 2nd century BC to the 2nd century AD, spans over 24 hectares and offers fascinating insights into pre-Roman life.

The remarkably preserved ruins include the foundations of over 150 circular stone houses, paved streets, and three rings of defensive walls reaching up to 3 meters thick. Visitors can walk through the ancient streets of this once-thriving community of around 1,500 inhabitants.

The site's elevated position, 336 meters above sea level, provides spectacular views across the Ave Valley. A small museum near the entrance houses artifacts found during excavations, including Celtic pottery, Roman coins, and jewellery.

Caldas das Taipas (6km)
Caldas das Taipas is a charming spa town whose thermal waters have drawn visitors since Roman times. While the Romans first discovered these therapeutic springs, the elegant spa facilities visitors see today were established in the 19th century. The town's heart is its tranquil riverside park and thermal complex, where guests can still experience the healing properties of these mineral-rich waters. Beyond the spas, visitors can explore scenic walking trails that wind through the surrounding countryside.

Igreja de São Torcato (7 km)
The Igreja de São Torcato is a masterpiece of neo-classical architecture whose construction spanned nearly a century (1825-1910).

This monumental church, crafted from gleaming granite, is crowned by twin towers that soar 50 metres into the sky. The church houses its namesake – São Torcato, a 7th-century Christian martyr whose remarkably preserved body rests in an ornate silver and crystal tomb.

The interior is equally magnificent, featuring exquisite stonework, intricate sculptures, and spectacular stained glass windows that bathe the space in coloured light.