The centennial building, full of history and memories, has been completely restored and equipped so you do not miss anything! This is an opportunity to get to know the secrets of the city of Guimarães and surrounding areas ...
Located in the city centre, the
Guimarães Youth Hostel is close to the historical centre of Guimarães – World Heritage since 2001! Thanks to its location, the Guimaraes Youth Hostel is the ideal starting point for a visit to the Castle, passing the Ducal Palace, to the terrace of Oliveira square! You can also climb to Mount Penha and enjoy the fantastic view. The path is 7 kilometres long so it’s best to go on the cable car. Guimarães is a city full of life, history and cultural animation. When are you going to discover the city and realize what you're missing?
Let yourself be carried away by the culture and history of Portugal, taste the toucinho-do-céu (conventual pastry) and go up close to the sky to Penha mountain.
As soon as you arrive in Guimarães, you will check in at
Guimarães Youth Hostel, a centennial and restored house, full of details, gathering spaces (indoor and outdoor) and many stories to discover.
Guimarães Youth Hostel is perfectly located for you to explore the city by foot. It is located in the Historical Centre of Guimarães, classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage since 2001.
A few minutes away from Guimarães Youth Hostel is Largo da Oliveira with its terraces. Sit in one of them and we assure you that in an instant you will feel in vacation mode and begin to enter in the spirit and history of the city.
For dinner, there are so many good restaurants to choose from, you'll have trouble deciding. Take the opportunity to try one of the many gastronomic specialties, such as bucho (pork meat), lamb or roasted cod. Do not forget the desserts, the toucinho-do-céu (traditional Portuguese almond cake) and the pies of Guimarães are mandatory sweets. You’ll burn your calories the next day.
When you finish your dinner you can check the cultural events calendar, with luck you still have time to watch a show at the Cultural Centre Vila Flor.
After a good night, go enjoy a good breakfast, already included with the accommodation. If the weather is good, you can have breakfast in one of the terraces of Guimarães Youth Hostel.
After breakfast, don’t waste time! Pull out the map offered at the check-in, climb the hill and start with the Castle that is in the highest part of the Historical Centre, where there are the most important tourist attractions.
When you leave the Castle, you will find the Church of St. Michael. According to the legend, the first king of Portugal, D. Afonso Henriques, was baptized here, and the baptismal font used in the ceremony is preserved.
Then go down a bit to get to know the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza. It was built by D. Afonso, future Duke of Bragança, bastard son of King João I, and it was the home of his second wife, D. Constança de Noronha. Here, you can buy a joint ticket to visit the Palace and Alberto Sampaio Museum.
For José Saramago, this was one of the "most beautiful" museums he visited. Among the many pieces that you can observe, there is the vest that D. João used in the Battle of Aljubarrota.
When you leave the museum, you can already smell the food that is being served for lunch in Oliveira and Santiago Squares. You just have to choose!
After lunch, take a short walk to the House of Memory Museum, where you shall be able to understand the history of Guimarães and realize what distinguishes and identifies the community.
Then go see the latest exhibition of the Arts Platform, located in the old market of Guimarães. You should still have the time to visit the workshop's pottery and perhaps take home a masterpiece that you made yourself.
To end the day in beauty, take the cable car to Penha Mountain. At the top you will find an extraordinary view (sometimes you can even see the sea), the Sanctuary, and there is nature to explore, a set of monuments and you simply must see the sunset.
Do you want to see more? You can also visit Citânia de Briteiros (archaeological ruins of a pre-Roman village), have a "bath" in the Caldas das Taipas Spa, visit "Campo da Ataca" (where, according to tradition, São Mamede Battle occurred and began the independence of Portugal) or the Monastery of S. Torcato (one of the first evangelizers of the Iberian Peninsula), all this a few kilometres from Guimarães.
To get to know the city well, it is best to book at least two nights.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
