The BBC named Guimarães as one of the 20 best global destinations to visit in 2026, highlighting its status as the birthplace of Portugal, its 25 years as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its future title as European Green Capital.
According to BBC: “Just 65km inland from Porto, Guimarães is astonishingly under the radar for a city considered the 12th-Century birthplace of Portugal and its first capital. Its beautifully preserved medieval core is a tangle of cobbled squares and lanes dotted with grand palaces and terraced restaurants, from Michelin-starred spots to laid-back eateries and craft beer bars. A short drive away, the nearby site of Citânia de Briteiros is a dramatic ancient hilltop settlement dating back to 9th Century BC.
But Guimarães is no museum piece. The city has a youthful, creative energy thanks to being one of Portugal's oldest university towns, with nearly half the population younger than 30. Contemporary culture sits comfortably alongside its medieval streets: futuristic galleries built for its 2012 European Capital of Culture title mingle with museums in ancient cloisters and hipster spots carved out of old factories.
In 2026, Guimarães celebrates both 25 years of Unesco World Heritage status and its new title as Europe’s Green Capital – recognition of two decades of sustainability work embedded across the city. Wander newly created green city oases and artfully repurposed heritage buildings or stroll along the banks of restored riverbanks, with a fleet of electric buses linking the projects together. It's a forward-thinking, quietly confident city – and one of Europe's most compelling surprises for 2026.”
