- Duration:
- ~10 hours (7:30am to 5:30pm)
- Style:
- walking + public transport
- Steps:
- ~30,000
- Spending:
- ~€50 for two
- Main stops:
- Monte da Penha -> Santuário da Penha -> Centro Histórico -> AQUI NASCEU PORTUGAL
- Best moment:
- The quiet woodland climb, then the hilariously slippery downhill, then a proper local lunch.
- Verdict:
- A very physical day. Less wandering, more leg work.
We left around 7:40am from Gaia, walked to São Bento, bought tickets by card, and checked times on Comboios de Portugal. The journey was just over an hour and cost about €7.20 each return.
The climb starts surprisingly civilised: a wide walking and cycling lane, cheerful “bom dia” greetings, then the cable car gliding overhead like it is trying to tempt you into weakness. We kept walking.
It soon shifts into mossy woodland with granite boulders and marked trails. At one point we tried to squeeze through a narrow gap between two massive rocks, got halfway in, realised we absolutely could not fit, reversed, laughed, and took the normal path.
Flat ground felt like luxury. The Santuário da Penha appears, and the view opens out over the town and countryside beyond. We sat, drank our remaining water, and stared into the distance like we had earned it.
The downhill started calm, then turned dusty and hilariously slippery. Not dangerous, but enough to make us do the careful tiptoe-walk. Serious thigh and knee power. We laughed at how suddenly serious it got.
We hit town fully dehydrated and bought water and a Coke first. Lunch was at Arca Velha, a very local spot with a handwritten menu and sweet owners. Roast chicken and fried cod, plus soup, bread, and a soft drink came to around €21, and I am pretty sure it was cash only. After that meal, we could have napped on the spot.
Guimarães has narrow streets, old stone buildings, and proper historic squares. We wandered around the areas near the castle, Igreja de São Miguel, and the palace, but did not go inside. Last stop was the “AQUI NASCEU PORTUGAL” wall. Iconic, though easier to appreciate once you know what you are looking at. Train back with jelly legs and a nap.
