Medieval core (UNESCO)

Guimarães, Portugal

A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001, said to be Portugal's birthplace.

Places in Medieval core (UNESCO)

Dona Mafalda A safe bet for gastronomy, history and authenticity lovers in a relaxing and traditional place.
Hotel da Oliveira restaurant An excellent restaurant serving regional cuisine, part of the contemporary hotel in the heart of the historic centre.
Medieval core taverns Brilliant taverns throughout the tiny but culturally rich medieval core.
Medieval core wine bars Wine bars throughout the UNESCO World Heritage medieval core.

Best time to visit: April to June and September to October offer comfortable weather for exploring the hilltop castle and medieval core.
Getting around: Guimarães's medieval core, including the hilltop castle and historic centre, is compact and entirely walkable.
Currency: Euro (€)
Language: Portuguese. English is widely spoken.
Timezone: WET (UTC+0, UTC+1 in summer)
Current trends: Guimarães's dining scene continues punching above its weight for a smaller Portuguese city, home to brilliant taverns, a chic French-Spanish-inspired bistro, and a special Michelin-starred diner, while the Casa da Memória, opened in 2012 in a converted former plastics factory, offers an innovative approach to preserving the city's shared history.

Hilltop castle quarter — Home to the fairytale castle and Paço dos Duques de Bragança.
Largo do Toural — Home to Michelin-listed 34, offering Portuguese-Asian fusion.