Day Trip to Guimaraes from Porto (+ Guimaraes walking tour)
Located in the Minho region of northern Portugal, Guimarães is one of the most significant towns in the country. It is one of our absolute favorites too (after Porto, of course).
Guimaraes is widely considered the “Birthplace of Portugal”, mainly because it is in this town that Portugal’s first king, Afonso Henriques, was born. The town unquestionably played a decisive role in the emergence of Portugal as a nation and was thus bestowed with the title “Cradle of the Nation”.
While there is evidence of early settlements in the town during the Roman era around the 4th century, the town itself developed and flourished significantly after the 10th century. Guimaraes, steeped in history and tradition, seamlessly blends its centuries-old cultural heritage with contemporary urban fabric. The town of Guimaraes is an absolute must-visit destination on any Northern Portugal itinerary!
This day trip itinerary is designed to help you make the most of your time in Porto and Guimarães. To help you plan with ease, this itinerary outlines the best ways to get from Porto to Guimaraes, highlights the town’s premier attractions, and includes approximate travel times between the recommended stops.
Day Trip to Guimaraes from Porto: 1-day itinerary with self-guided Guimaraes walking tour
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Guimaraes Town Center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, attracts tourists from around the world to discover its remarkably well-preserved medieval setting.
One of our favorite things to do in Guimaraes is wandering through the narrow cobblestone alleys of the town center while soaking in its medieval charm, and stopping at family-run eateries or cozy cafes to savor regional treats alongside a cup of Portuguese coffee!
Before we dive deeper into the itinerary, let’s quickly cover logistical information!
Getting from Porto to Guimarães
For this one-day trip, there are 4 ways to get from Porto to Guimaraes: by bus, train, private tour, or car rental.
Our day trips from Porto to Guimaraes have included both Bus rides and Private Tours.
Porto to Guimarães by Bus
FlixBus offers 15 scheduled daily departures between Porto and Guimarães. The first bus departs Porto’s Campanha Bus Station around 07:30 am, and the last bus leaves Guimaraes Bus Station around 8:00 pm, giving you ample room to plan this day trip.
Guimaraes Old Town is a short 15-minute walk from Guimaraes Bus Station. Additionally, Guimaraes Bus Station is situated at the ground level of GuimarãeShopping Mall, a great place to start or end your day trip!
Porto to Guimarães by Train
Portuguese railway – Comboios de Portugal offers more than 15 scheduled daily connections between Porto and Guimarães. The earliest train departs Porto’s Campanha Train Station around 06:15 am, and the last train leaves Guimaraes Train Station around 11:00 pm.
Guimaraes Old Town is approximately a 15-minute walk from the Guimaraes Train Station.
Porto to Guimaraes by Private Tour
This Half-Day Private Tour from Porto to Guimaraes is a fantastic option if you are short on time but would like to explore the top attractions in Guimaraes in a day tour from Porto.
This private day tour from Porto gave us an incredible opportunity to admire the charm of Guimaraes and discover the historical significance of the city in the birth of Portugal as a nation.
The guided tour includes pickup from your accommodation in Porto.
Porto to Guimarães by Car Rental
The distance between Porto and Guimaraes via motorway A3 is around 34 miles (55 kilometers), with a driving time of around 45 minutes. You can get some of the best car rental options with competitive insurance rates through Discover Car Rentals.
Day Trip from Porto to Guimarães: Things to do in Guimarães in 1 day + Guimarães Walking Tour
We have structured the one-day Guimaraes itinerary in a way so that you can explore it on foot, after parking or arriving there by public transport.
Old Town Guimaraes is around a 15-minute walk from Guimaraes Bus Terminal and Guimaraes Train Station. If you are renting a car from Porto, there are a few public parking lots in and around the town center.
Old Town Guimarães (Centro Histórico de Guimarães)
Guimaraes has an incredibly well-preserved historic town center, a distinction that has rightly earned it a place on the UNESCO World Heritage list. This medieval town boasts vibrant public squares, cobblestone alleys, and local stores, along with alluring traditional restaurants and cafes.
Olive Tree Square (Largo da Oliveira) is an iconic plaza situated in the very heart of Guimaraes Town Center. The medieval square boasts historic landmarks like the Church of Our Lady of Oliveira (Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira ) – a 14th-century church constructed in a blend of Gothic, Romanesque, Baroque, and Manueline style of architecture.
On the northern end of the square is the Old Town Hall (Antigos Paços do Conselho) (Domus Municipalis) – a 14th-century national monument built in Gothic style, complete with the Statue with Two Faces (Estátua com Duas Caras), also known as the Statue of Guimaraes.
Olive Tree Square has several restaurants, cafes, and bars offering diverse culinary options.
As you stroll through one of the most important plazas in the town center – Toural Square (Largo do Toural), a short 5-minute walk from Olive Tree Square (Largo da Oliveira), pause to admire the famous inscription – “Aqui Nasceu Portugal” – “Portugal was born here” carved into the ancient Customs Tower (Torre da Alfândega).
St. Peter’s Basilica (Basílica de São Pedro), a 17th-century neoclassical style basilica, is another highlight of this expansive plaza. Toural Square and its surroundings encompass several hotels, eateries, local shops, and souvenir stores.
Plan to spend around 2-2.5 hours in Old Town Guimaraes.
Guimarães Castle (Castelo de Guimarães)
Guimaraes Castle, situated on the hill of Monte Largo, is one of Portugal’s most revered and striking symbols of the nation’s inception. This medieval castle, initially built as a military stronghold, was constructed around the 10th century, with restorations and enhancements continuing for centuries afterward.
Guimaraes Castle features a rugged facade characterized by the use of local granite and built in the Romanesque and Gothic style of architecture. Admire the dominant presence of the castle atop the hill, complete with thick exterior walls capped with battlements, a central keep, and strategically positioned rectangular towers.
The inside of this medieval castle features a grand courtyard enclosed by defensive walls, along with stairways that lead to the top of the towers. We surely recommend climbing the towers to relish panoramic vistas of Guimaraes Town!
Plan to spend around 1 hour at Guimaraes Castle.
Admission to the Guimaraes Castle
Visiting Hours
Open Daily: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm (Last admission to the castle is at 5:30 pm)
Cost of ticket
- Guimaraes Castle: €5
- Guimaraes Castle + Palace of Dukes of Braganza: €8
Palace of Dukes of Braganza (Palace Duques de Bragança)
The Palace of the Dukes of Braganza is located a short 3-minute walk from Guimaraes Castle. This medieval palace, constructed around the 15th century, was the former residence of the Dukes of Braganza.
The entrance of this palace is graced by a statue of Portugal’s first king and “The Conqueror”- Afonso Henriques. Today, when traveling through the northern part of the country, a section of this historic palace continues to serve as an official residence of the President of Portugal.
The Palace of the Dukes of Braganza is one of Portugal’s most important national monuments and features an expansive courtyard, ornate halls, a chapel with stained-glass windows, six towering chimneys, graceful arcades, and four rectangular towers.
The palace also has a museum showcasing exhibits from Portugal’s past conquests in North Africa.
Plan to spend around 1 hour in a self-guided tour of the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza.
Admission to the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza
Visiting Hours
Open Daily: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm (Last admission to the Palace is at 5:30 pm)
Cost of ticket
- Palace of Dukes of Braganza: €5
- Palace of Dukes of Braganza + Guimaraes Castle : €8
Church of São Miguel do Castelo (Igreja de São Miguel do Castelo)
The Church of São Miguel do Castelo is a short 1-minute walk from Guimaraes Castle and a 2-minute walk from the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza.
The Church of São Miguel do Castelo is a notable landmark in the origins of the country because it is widely believed that it was here where Afonso Henriques, Portugal’s first king, was baptized in the early part of the 12th century. This medieval church, a classified National Monument, was constructed in the Romanesque style of architecture.
Plan to spend around 30 minutes at the Church of São Miguel do Castelo.
Admission to the Church of São Miguel do Castelo
- Visiting Hours – Open Daily: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
- Cost of Ticket: Entry is Free
Penha Sanctuary (Santuário da Penha)
Penha Sanctuary is located around 3 miles (5 kilometers) from the city center and approximately 4 miles (7 kilometers) from Guimaraes Castle.
Penha Sanctuary can easily be accessed from the town center by the Guimaraes Cable Car (Teleférico de Guimarães). This scenic cable car ride plies between Penha Sanctuary and Parque das Hortas Station, located just a short walk from the historic city center.
For adults, a one-way ride from Parque das Hortas Station to Penha Sanctuary costs €4, and a round trip costs €7.50. For children (6-11 years), a one-way ride costs €2 and a round trip costs €3.50.
Situated atop the Penha Hill, this sanctuary is an integral part of the regional pilgrimage route, drawing thousands of local devotees every year. The complex, built in the mid-20th century, encompasses a modern church, walking trails, chapels, parks, caves, and recreational areas.
Penha Sanctuary, designed by architect Marques da Silva, was built in Art Deco style with extensive use of granite sourced from the region. The sanctuary offers spectacular sweeping views of Guimaraes and the surroundings.
Plan to spend around 1-1.5 hours here
Admission to Penha Sanctuary
- Visiting Hours – Open Daily: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (Monday to Friday) & 9:30 am to 6:00 pm (Saturday and Sunday)
- Cost of Ticket: Entry is Free
After exploring Penha Sanctuary, and time permitting, you can choose to return to Old Town Guimaraes to soak in the evening before returning to Porto, or continue exploring more of Guimaraes.
Below, we have listed a few optional excursions to help you maximize your time in Guimaraes before returning to Porto.
Alternate options to discover Guimaraes
Exploring Guimaraes in an Electric Tuk-Tuk
Hop aboard an electric Tuk-Tuk and explore the major points of interest in this guided Guimaraes City Highlights in a Tuk-Tuk City Tour. This Tuk-Tuk Tour usually offers you the comfort of choosing your start and end locations within Guimaraes. Depending on your choice of experience, the duration of this Tuk-Tuk tour typically ranges from 1 to 3 hours.
This guided Tuk-Tuk Tours offers 3 options, and based on your preferences, you can select the best alternative for your day trip.
- Historical Tuk-Tuk Tour – 1 Hour: This guided Tuk-Tuk tour will take you through the historic attractions in Guimaraes Old Town
- All Guimaraes Tuk-Tuk Tour – 1.5 Hours: This guided Tuk-Tuk tour covers attractions around Guimaraes, including the historic town center
- All Guimaraes and Penha Sanctuary Tuk-Tuk Tour – 2 Hours: This guided Tuk-Tuk tour includes major landmarks around Guimaraes, including the historic town center and Penha Sanctuary located on top of a hill.
Book this amazing Guimaraes City Highlights in a Tuk-Tuk City Tour experience here!
Guimaraes Experience with Local Delicacies and Drinks
This Guimaraes Experience with Local Delicacies and Drinks guided walking tour includes a journey into the historic and cultural soul of Guimaraes.
Explore the main attractions in the city, including Guimaraes Town Center, Guimaraes Castle, Church of Sao Miguel do Castelo, Palace of the Dukes of Braganza, Olive Tree Square, and Toural Square, which hosts the wall with the famous inscription – “Aqui Nasceu Portugal” – “Portugal was born here”!
End this immersive tour with a visit to a local cafe where you will get an opportunity to savour local delicacies and drinks!
The duration of this guided tour is around 3.5 hours and includes entry tickets to the main attractions.
Book this Guimaraes Experience with Local Delicacies and Drinks experience here!
Guimaraes Quad Tour
Discover Guimaraes on an All-Terrain Vehicle that follows a well-planned route, designed to deliver a unique experience that seamlessly blends natural settings with urban landscapes. For this 1-2 hours Guimaraes Quad Tour, you can choose between 2 routes – Half-City & Half-Forest Route or The Forest Route.
These automatic transmission Quads are equipped with safety helmets. Additionally, this Quad Tour includes a complimentary drone souvenir video to capture your immersive route experience!
This Quad Tour offers 2 options to explore Guimaraes: a 1-Hour Quad Tour in Guimaraes or a 2-Hour Quad Tour in Guimaraes.
Reserve your spot on this Guimaraes Quad Tour here!
Guimaraes Tour with a Local
Embark on this one-of-a-kind Guimaraes Tour with a Local and discover the allure of Guimaraes with Leandro, who is a native of this town.
Leandro is a passionate guide, eager to showcase the incredible culture and heritage of Guimaraes in a guided tour that will take you through the premier attractions of the city, including the palaces and castles of this historic town.
Explore the top attractions in the town and learn about the historic significance of Guimaraes from a local perspective! The duration of this personalized experience is around 3 hours and includes entry tickets to the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza.
Book this unique Guimaraes Tour with a Local experience here!
So, that’s it! We hope this post helped plan your trip to Guimaraes – it is one of our absolute favorites in Portugal! Highly recommend visiting this town in northern Portugal!
