Guimarães: A Moment to Unwind

Relax and enjoy the spa

• With this deal, a 3-hour spa access per person per night is included, the perfect extra to make your stay even more special.

• The spa is open daily from 10:00 to 20:30.

• To access the spa, wearing a bathing suit, swim cap and flip-flops is mandatory. A towel will be provided directly at the spa for your convenience.

• Please note that spa access is only permitted for guests over 16 years old.

• No advance booking is required. The reception team will provide all the information you need upon arrival.

Open Village Sports Hotel & Spa Club: Guimarães at your own pace

This hotel is just a short drive from the historic centre of Guimarães, the birthplace of Portugal.

After exploring the city's medieval streets up to the castle, the Village awaits with its spa so you can relax and recharge.

As evening falls, the panoramic restaurant serves traditional Minho flavours and, with free parking, day trips to Braga or Porto are easy to plan.

No wonder most guests recommend it: few hotels in the area blend sport, wellbeing and heritage so naturally.

Book your getaway and enjoy Guimarães with energy to spare.

Full Board? Here’s How the Meals Are Scheduled

If you choose Full Board, please note how the meal service works:

• You will start with dinner on the day of arrival.
• You will finish with lunch on the day of departure.

The accommodation informs us that this order cannot be changed, as restaurant capacity is managed to ensure a high-quality service.

Please note: this only applies to meals. Check the key collection and room check-out times to plan your stay properly.

Guimarães is where Portugal began. Tucked into the green hills of the Minho, in the north of the country, this compact city is traditionally known as the birthplace of Afonso Henriques, Portugal's first king, and you'll see the words "Aqui nasceu Portugal" (Portugal was born here) proudly painted on an old wall near the centre. Its historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a maze of granite lanes, flower-filled balconies and lively squares.

It's an easy, relaxed destination that suits couples and history lovers perfectly, but families will enjoy it too: distances are short, the streets are largely traffic-free and there's a cable car waiting at the edge of town.

Make sure you visit:

Begin on the hill above the old town, at Guimarães Castle, a symbol of the nation whose stout towers have watched over the city for around a thousand years. Right next door stands the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza, a 15th-century residence with striking brick chimneys and rooms hung with tapestries and period furniture. Allow at least an hour and a half to see both without rushing.

From there, stroll down Rua de Santa Maria, one of the oldest streets in the city, until you reach Largo da Oliveira, the medieval heart of Guimarães. Here the Church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira and the Gothic Padrão do Salado sit just a few steps from Praça de São Tiago, where café terraces spill onto the cobbles. Come back in the evening, when the squares fill with locals and the old stone glows under the street lamps.

Family-friendly activities:

Children love the Penha cable car, which glides up the hillside in around 10 minutes and offers wide views over the city and the valley. At the top, Monte da Penha feels like a natural playground, with paths winding between enormous granite boulders, shady woods and plenty of spots for a picnic.

Back in town, the castle walls and the palace's grand halls make history feel like an adventure. Round off the day with a slow wander through the traffic-free old town and a sweet treat from one of its historic pastry shops.

Local delicacies you have to try:

Food in Guimarães is hearty, generous and deeply rooted in the Minho. Order rojões à minhota, tender pieces of pork stewed and served with potatoes, or try one of the many ways the Portuguese prepare bacalhau, always with a glass of refreshing vinho verde from the region. On cooler days, a bowl of caldo verde is the perfect starter.

Save room for dessert: the tortas de Guimarães and toucinho do céu, almond and egg sweets with convent origins, are local treasures, best enjoyed with a coffee in one of the old confeitarias in the centre.

Make the most of your visit:

Guimarães makes an excellent base for exploring northern Portugal, with cities, sanctuaries and mountain scenery all within easy reach:

• Braga (25 minutes): one of Portugal's oldest cities, home to the Bom Jesus do Monte sanctuary and its famous Baroque staircase.
• Porto (around 50 minutes): port wine cellars, the Ribeira riverfront and the Dom Luís I bridge.
• Ponte de Lima (around 50 minutes): a charming riverside town with a medieval bridge.
• Peneda-Gerês National Park (around 1 hour 15 minutes): waterfalls, hiking trails and dramatic mountain views.