A small northern Portuguese town has been picked as one of the world's best travel destinations for 2026. Instead of being overshadowed by Porto and Lisbon, it is finally getting credit for its mix of deep history, relaxed pace and very real, everyday Portuguese life.
Portugal’s ‘Best of the World’ destination for 2026
The Portuguese town of Guimarães has had a big year in the spotlight. It was recently picked by National Geographic as one of its “Best of the World” destinations for 2026. Plus, it has also been named European Green Capital for 2026 by the European Commission. Editors and juries are responding to the way the town balances its role as the symbolic birthplace of Portugal with a serious push towards climate neutrality around 2030.
For a relatively small place, Guimarães has a lot going on behind the scenes. It boasts a UNESCO‑listed historic centre, a 10th‑century castle, and a compact old town that has kept its medieval street plan. At the same time, it is rolling out electric public transport, expanding bike lanes, adding green spaces and using pay‑as‑you‑throw waste and recycling systems to cut pollution.
Why Guimarães is one of the best places to visit in 2026
The underrated Portuguese town of Guimarães sits in northern Portugal’s Minho region, in the district of Braga. It's situated in that greener, cooler side of the country where hills, vineyards and low cloud are more common than Algarve‑style heat. It is under an hour from Porto, so easy to reach, but it feels noticeably different once you arrive.
What most round‑ups skip over is how it feels outside peak season. On a normal weekday in winter, the main squares still hum with students and locals lingering over coffee, the old town does not empty out like a beach resort, and you mostly hear Portuguese on the streets. It has the atmosphere of a working town, rather than a place that exists purely for tourism.
What to do in Guimarães in 2026
The town's core is its UNESCO‑listed medieval quarter, which is small enough to wander without a map but detailed enough that you keep spotting carved stonework, timber balconies and tucked‑away squares.
- The historic centre’s UNESCO listing recognises how its medieval street plan and façades have evolved without losing their core character.
- Up on the hill, the 10th‑century castle is still ringed with crenellated walls. It is considered one of the best‑preserved medieval fortresses in the country.
- Churches and cloisters around town layer Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque details.
Exploring the surroundings of Guimarães
The green Minho landscape is always in the background, and there are a few very easy wins if you want some fresh air.
- Ride the cable car up to Penha hill for woodland walks, granite boulders and big views back over Guimarães.
- Wander up to one of the town’s miradouros near the castle area for a simple rooftop cityscape and nightscape without leaving the centre.
- Take a short train hop to Braga for a day, combining its historic centre with the sanctuary at Bom Jesus do Monte and its views over the hills.
What and where to eat in Guimarães
The food scene in Guimarães is very northern Portuguese in spirit, with hearty mains, long lunches and plenty of baked goods.
- You will find traditional tasquinhas serving Minho favourites, modern bistros reworking regional recipes, and lots of cafés and pastelarias.
- Cor de Tangerina, tucked by the dukes’ palace, is a local favourite for creative vegetarian and vegan food.
- Michelin-starred A Cozinha offers a more refined spin on northern flavours.
- Taberna A Muralha is a simple, affordable spot that locals rate for a hearty francesinha and other northern comfort food.
- Taverns around town pour crisp vinho verde from the surrounding Minho region and set out petiscos (small plates) to share.
- Keep an eye out for jesuítas, flaky pastries filled with frangipane that nod to the city’s Catholic past.
Portugal in 2026: why it is a top-value, safe destination
Part of why Guimarães is suddenly on more radars is that Portugal keeps sweeping up travel awards. As well as National Geographic's recognition, it was also crowned Europe’s top tourist destination in recent rankings.
The country tends to score highly on safety rankings, and on value‑for‑money comparisons such as Skyscanner’s 10 best-value destinations for 2026, even if prices are no longer the bargain they were a decade ago.
Towns like Guimarães still feel anchored in everyday Portuguese life rather than built entirely around visitors, so in 2026, you generally get a calmer pace, solid quality of life and more reasonable costs than in many flashier destinations
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