This lesser-known city has plenty to offer – with affordable drinks, a rich history and impressive architecture.
Located in northern Portugal, Guimarães boasts characterful cobbled streets and a lively culture.
It recently made the BBC’s ’20 best places to travel in 2026′ list, alongside destinations including Abu Dhabi and Montenegro.
The city is widely considered as the ‘birthplace of Portugal’ and was the country’s first capital.
The broadcaster praised Guimarães for its ‘beautifully preserved medieval core’ and range of restaurants and bars.
It isn’t surprising, as a bottle of beer can be found for just €2 (£1.70), and a pint for €2.50 (£2.20), according to Numbeo.
Or for holidaymakers hoping to start their day exploring Guimarães with a coffee, a cappuccino costs just €1.33 (£1.16).
The BBC described the location as ‘astonishingly under the radar’.
Located in northern Portugal, Guimarães boasts characterful cobbled streets and a lively culture
Flights to Porto Airport, the nearest hub to Guimarães, from London for July 3 to 5 can be bagged for less than £200 on Skyscanner.
That works out at £157 for a return trip during the country’s peak summer season.
Accommodation is also reasonably priced, and a hotel room for two comes to £87 for the same dates on Booking.com.
Aside from being affordable to visit, Guimarães has much more to offer.
In 2024, it was named the European Green Capital for 2026 because of its ‘ongoing commitment’ to sustainability, The Resident reports.
The city was awarded €600,000 (£523,000) to go towards environmental projects.
Portuguese capital Lisbon also bagged the award back in 2020, making Guimarães the country’s second city to receive it.
In 2026, Guimarães will also mark 25 years of having UNESCO World Heritage Status.
It recently made the BBC’s ’20 best places to travel in 2026′ list, alongside destinations including Abu Dhabi and Montenegro
The city’s Historic Centre of Guimarães was designated as a UNESCO site back in 2001.
It is described as ‘exceptionally well-preserved’ by the organisation.
The area demonstrates the ‘evolution’ of what was once a Medieval settlement into a modern-day community, according to UNESCO.
The UNESCO title was expanded to the nearby Couros Zone in 2023, recognising the historic leather tanning district in Guimarães.
