Guimarães Castle
Guimarães Castle
4
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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- Brian GAustin, Texas97 contributionsWorth a visitWe went on a Tuesday and there seemed to be ample parking all around. We managed to get a spot right in front of it, so after touring the castle we walked the historic center and had lunch. The castle is very nice. Worth visiting.Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 26, 2023
- Raintree_ThailandBangkok, Thailand4,288 contributionsWhat castles are supposed to look like!The Guimaraes Castle is one of the most iconic in appearance anyone will ever see. The castle dates back to the 10th century. We didn't go inside (not sure you even can), but the exterior alone is fabulous!Visited May 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten May 28, 2024
- Dragon789wvThousand Oaks, California2,267 contributionsWell preservedMy wife and I were here on a Gate1 tour We visited the Castle of Guimaraes, with a park-like surrounding area. It was built under the orders of Mumadona Dias in the 10th century to defend the monastery from attacks by Moors and Norsemen. The castle is a military fortification grounded primarily in the late Romanesque period, and elaborated during the early Gothic epoch of Portuguese architecture. Its area is delineated by walls forming a pentagram, similar to a shield, that includes eight rectangular towers, military square and central keep.Visited May 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten June 30, 2024
- AConferenceAttendeeLondon, Canada504 contributionsSimple but worth a visit!I love history and seeing a castle this old and its significance to Portuguese history is worthbthecdrive ftom Porto. Great day trip. This was my last on the list of the 7 Wonders of Portugal, and l was so happy to see the town and the Dukes Palace adjacent to the castle. It is a fairly simple structure. It is all outside with a massive boulder in the middle. You cannot climb the ramparts or go inside the tower. This castle justly deserved a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation. It is under some renovations, so it was free to enter. Check the admission price when you visit. Be sure to visit the Duke of Bragança Palace adjacent to the Castle.Visited June 2024Traveled with friendsWritten August 20, 2024
- J0hnLynchQueensbury, United Kingdom78 contributionsGreat day out for little outlayWe arrived by bus. We exited the bus station come shopping mall and basically turned right and passed the fountain and up the gentle slope into Guimaraes historical town. The buildings are all made of solid granite blocks. We passed a simple church dated 1600 and walked up the hill, the houses getting grander as we climbed. Coffee in the squares and continued higher, and after menu del dia decided to walk at the side of the road to the Castelo car park to observe the castle exterior and then walk down the paths to the beautiful, simple church and down to the Palace De Duques. After a look around we walked back to the bus station. A marvellous day for little cost. .Visited September 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten September 4, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
2,616 reviews
Excellent
1,110
Very good
972
Average
432
Poor
83
Terrible
19
Theshawsontour
Porto, Portugal161 contributions
Mar 2020 • Friends
OK looking castle but only a little information outside.
We tried to go inside (€2) but were told we had to go backdown the hill to the palace to buy a ticket - well we weren’t actually ‘told’, the guy in the castle office just gestured rudely when I tried to pay him my €2.
If you approach from the car park side you basically can’t go inside without going down the other side to buy a ticket. Not very well thought out at all. Shame
We tried to go inside (€2) but were told we had to go backdown the hill to the palace to buy a ticket - well we weren’t actually ‘told’, the guy in the castle office just gestured rudely when I tried to pay him my €2.
If you approach from the car park side you basically can’t go inside without going down the other side to buy a ticket. Not very well thought out at all. Shame
Written March 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kurteg
Lenexa, KS454 contributions
Feb 2020
We've been on a trek to see castles and cathedrals in Portugal. This castle is very large, somewhat well-appointed (we appreciate seeing a few artifacts and furniture rather than an empty room/castle) and well-maintained. Certainly worth a visit.
Written March 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NomadicTraveller7
Fuerteventura11,883 contributions
Aug 2020
We stayed very close to the very well-preserved 11th century castle, and we wandered past it may times when going into or out of the main medieval part of the city. It still looks quite splendid. It is also in a nice part of the old town.
Written July 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
alohatripper
Honolulu, HI1,707 contributions
May 2022
This is what I imagine a medieval, fortified castle would look like -- not like the fake one in Disneyland or even the ones in Bavaria. The walls are thick, the ramparts are broad, and the towers offer maximum protection for the archers and cannon.
I was surprised to see the stacks of round stones used as ammo for presumably catapults.
I was surprised to see the stacks of round stones used as ammo for presumably catapults.
Written June 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
138Paul138
Canterbury, UK1,358 contributions
Jul 2022 • Couples
When in Guimarares it is worth visiting both the Castle and the Palace. If walking, the Palace is the first building you come to and from here you can purchase tickets for both buildings, which it is worth doing.
It’s a steady walk uphill to the castle, which stands tall and has the look of a foreboding place. You can drive up and there is a car park very close by.
It is now a ruin but has access to the ramparts and into a tower. Once inside the walls you ascend steps and can walk around the battlements and go into a tower which houses a small exhibition.
There is also a vending machine onsite selling lovely cool water. I could not see any form of access for wheelchair users. The castle itself can be explored in half an hour or so, but the area in general is worth exploring.
It’s a steady walk uphill to the castle, which stands tall and has the look of a foreboding place. You can drive up and there is a car park very close by.
It is now a ruin but has access to the ramparts and into a tower. Once inside the walls you ascend steps and can walk around the battlements and go into a tower which houses a small exhibition.
There is also a vending machine onsite selling lovely cool water. I could not see any form of access for wheelchair users. The castle itself can be explored in half an hour or so, but the area in general is worth exploring.
Written July 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ugo100hmonte
Natal, RN500 contributions
Nov 2021
This is one of those required touristic destination, because the castle is the symbol of the city, in the postcards and souvenirs of Guimarães. It's ok to take photos inside, but basically are only ruins of a medieval fortress, nothing beyond this. If you ever visited other medieval castles, don't create great expectations
Written December 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
johkula
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island47 contributions
Mar 2020 • Friends
This might not be the most boring castle in the world but it’s got to be close! Access is up some steep and uneven steps. Inside the walls is a stone keep. You climb some steps to walk around the walls and cross a small bridge to the keep, where there are some panels describing Portuguese history. That’s it. There are no panels describing how people would survive a siege, how or by whom the castle was inhabited, or anything else. This is a missed opportunity as the structure itself is quite imposing and would no doubt tell an interesting story. The ground is very uneven and not suitable for wheelchairs or those with mobility issues.
Written March 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gerardbos
Barreiros, Portugal78 contributions
Oct 2022
It is included in the list of ten most beautiful castles and the home town of Portugal's first king. High above the original valleys towers this imposing, impregnable-looking structure. Built on the gigantic boulders common here. Watch out, you'll break your neck. On the edge of the historic center, and multiple points of interest. Every Portuguese comes here at least once in his life. I have been there several times.
Written April 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dragon789wv
Thousand Oaks, CA2,267 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
My wife and I were here on a Gate1 tour
We visited the Castle of Guimaraes, with a park-like surrounding area. It was built under the orders of Mumadona Dias in the 10th century to defend the monastery from attacks by Moors and Norsemen. The castle is a military fortification grounded primarily in the late Romanesque period, and elaborated during the early Gothic epoch of Portuguese architecture. Its area is delineated by walls forming a pentagram, similar to a shield, that includes eight rectangular towers, military square and central keep.
We visited the Castle of Guimaraes, with a park-like surrounding area. It was built under the orders of Mumadona Dias in the 10th century to defend the monastery from attacks by Moors and Norsemen. The castle is a military fortification grounded primarily in the late Romanesque period, and elaborated during the early Gothic epoch of Portuguese architecture. Its area is delineated by walls forming a pentagram, similar to a shield, that includes eight rectangular towers, military square and central keep.
Written June 30, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SanctuarySeeker13
Sydney, Australia106 contributions
Mar 2022
An impressive example of ancient military fortification, the keep towers above the outer walls and would have been hard to penetrate. A walk around the walls is assisted by wooden stairs and boardwalks. As part of a combo ticket with the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza this represents excellent value.
Written March 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Como chego ao Castelo, partindo da estação de trem?
Written January 16, 2018
Sorry, dat weet ik niet hebben het met een busreis bezocht.
Written January 18, 2018
Qual o horário de funcionamento do local?
Written March 19, 2017
Is there free parking near the castle. And where do you recommend then to park near centre to see the village?
Written June 24, 2015
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