Guimarães Travel Forum

Have decided to visit Guimaraes as a side trip from Porto.

Is it easy to get from Porto to Guimaraes? It appears that the train connections change, so I do not know if there is a better way.

Once in Guimaraes, is it also a place where tourists get hassled? Is it OK to go as a woman traveling alone using public transportation?

There is an option of a tour that goes to Braga and Guimaraes (yuk) - but I will consider it if going on my own will be a hassle.

Any experiences/advise/suggestions?

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my guess is that the bus will be a better option there as in most of portugal, but i have not been there by public transport, so i can't say it for sure.

and you are not likely to get hassled in guimaraes.
it's a very quiet and laid back town with no big tourist crowds and the people of northern portugal are in general a very quiet and polite bunch who tend to leave people to themselves.

There is a good train service between Porto and Guimaraes which I have used. The journey takes a little over an hour. It is a pleasant journey as well!

The timetable is here

http://www.cp.pt/StaticFiles/Imagens/PDF/Passageiros/horarios/urbanos_porto_2007/porto_ermesinde_guimaraes.pdf

The one-way fare is 2.15€.

You will not be hassled in Guimaraes; it is a very pleasant and historic city.

Thank you Claus and cubsur!

Travel from Oporto to Guimarães by train is your best option.
You'll arrive at train station in Guimaraes and just have to go down a street (200/300 metres) and you will be in the centre of the historic city of Guimarães.
Guimaraes is a small town, and very safe, you don't have to worry.
I recomend you to walk trought the streets of the "Centro Histórico" (classified World Heritage by UNESCO).
Go to the Tourist Office at Santiago Square, they have a MP3 readers to guide through the historical centre.
More info:
http://www.guimaraesturismo.com/home_en

Have a nice time in Guimarães!

Thank you! Obrigada!

I enjoyed a lot being in Guimarães, some time ago. But, have you considered going to Aveiro? Nice place as well. But, that's just a personal opinion. ;)

I'll check out Aveiro. Could you advise what makes it nice / nicer?

ohhh, Aveiro looks beautiful - now I'm in trouble again ;=) but it's all the way opposite to Guimaraes ... agggh!

:D

In my personal opinion, I would go to Aveiro. Guimarães is a nice city and has the castel as well. But I think that it isn't an overwhelming city.

Aveiro has the canals in the city and the "moliceiro" boats... and you can also ride free bicycles in the city center (they're called BUGA), and go see where the salt is made ("salinas" in portuguese). In the city center, you also have buildings in art nouveau.

The beaches in the surrounding area (Praia da Barra, Costa Nova) are nice as well.

And if you like sweets, you must try the delicatessen called "ovos moles"

http://www.flickr.com/photos/83191577@N00/366269458/

i'm a little opposite here.
i think aveiro is pleasant and nice, but not nearly as stunning and charming as guimaraes.

Aveiro looks just perfect - I love places next to the ocean, but I think I'll go to Guimaraes for this trip, and build a different itinerary around Aveiro on the following trip.

Thanks !