The historic centre, on foot
The centre of Guimarães is UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001, and you can see why after ten minutes: narrow granite streets, wooden balconies, squares that suddenly appear.
Start with Largo da Oliveira and for the Santa Maria Street, which connects the centre to the castle. It's all moving — the car stays where it is and is not needed.
The castle and the Palace of the Dukes
O Guimarães Castle and the Palace of the Dukes of Bragança they stand side by side, at the top of the city. There is the wall with the phrase that everyone photographs: Portugal was born here.
Guimarães was European Capital of Culture in 2012, and much of what is seen today in the centre comes from the work done around that date.
The Penha mountain, above the city
Penha is right above Guimarães and you can go up by car or by car Cable car. Up there is forest, huge boulders and the view over the city and the valley.
It is the right program for the late afternoon of the second day, when the legs no longer want to be sidewalkd.
An afternoon amongst the vineyards
A ten-minute drive from the historic centre, the landscape changes: the granite ends and the vineyard begins. The Vinho Verde Region starts here — Gominhães, where Quinta Picouto de Cima is located, is in the sub-region of Ave.
A Wine tasting On the estate it takes about an hour and a half, with a tour of the vineyard, a visit to the winery and a board of cheeses, sausages and bread. It is conducted by a family member, not by staff who change from visit to visit. If you want to know what you're going to, read it first What is Vinho Verde.
Where to sleep in and around Guimarães
The city has hotels in the centre, but those who want Minho seriously sleep outside it. Quinta Picouto de Cima has a Rural house for up to eight people, surrounded by vineyards, and Two spaces for motorhomes facing the vines.
Ten minutes separate it from the historic centre — close enough to return to the city for dinner, far enough away to wake up in silence.