Location

Here's how to find us in Guimarães, Portugal

UNU-EGOV is headquartered at the historical city centre of Guimarães since July 2014. Located in northern Portugal, Guimarães is one of the oldest cities in the country and historically associated with the foundation and identity of the Portuguese nationality. It was established in the 9th century as Vimaranes. Not only was the place where the first king of Portugal was born (D. Afonso Henriques, The Conqueror), it was also the main government seat of the County of Portugal, which existed between the years 868-1139. Back then, the county was part of the larger Kingdom of Léon. The Battle of S. Mamede, fought in the outskirts of Guimarães, was the pivotal point in the battling efforts of the people to gain independence from Léon and establish the Kingdom of Portugal, which happened on 26 July 1139.

An exceptionally well-preserved and authentic example of the evolution of a medieval settlement into a modern town, its rich building typology exemplifies the specific development of Portuguese architecture from the 15th to the 19th century. Places to visit include the historic city centre, which is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2001, the Castle of Guimarães and adjacent Palace of the Dukes of Bragança, and the Mountain of Penha that oversees the city.

The premises of the Operating Unit were firstly installed in offices belonging to the University of Minho’s Campus de Couros, having moved to its own building in 2021. Located in an old leather manufacturing area known as Couros (the Portuguese word for leather), it has been heavily reconstructed to host the University of Minho, a Science Centre, an Institute of Design, the Jordão Theather, UNU-EGOV, and the Agency for Administrative Modernization. All together, this area of the city became a joint space for education, research, and creativity that entangles history and technology.

 

How to arrive

Mainland Portugal is served by three main international airports evenly spread throughout the country: one in the north, one in the south, and one in Lisbon (centre). For people arriving in Guimarães, it is recommended to book a flight to either of these airports:

  • Porto Airport, also known as Aeroporto Francisco Sá Carneiro (OPO)
  • Lisbon Airport, also known as Aeroporto Humberto Delgado (LIS)

From Porto Airport

Porto is the closest airport to Guimarães, at a distance of only 50 km (30 mi), and is the only international airport serving the north of Portugal. It is a major gateway for European flights and an important base for low-cost European airlines such as Ryanair and EasyJet. To reach Guimarães, the following options are available:

  • Bus: outside the arrivals terminal you can find the GetBus service for a direct connection to the city. The ticket can be purchased online beforehand or when boarding the bus. Estimated travel time: 50 minutes.
  • Train: outside the arrivals terminal you can take Metro Line E (Aeroporto – Estádio do Dragão, purple colour) to Porto-Campanhã train station and from there take one of the several daily urban trains to Guimarães. Tickets can be purchased online beforehand or at the train station. Estimated travel time: 60-70 minutes.
  • Taxi / Uber: widely available at the arrivals terminal. However, the price of a taxi or Uber to Guimarães is high when compared to other means of transportation (between 50€ and 60€). Estimated travel time: 40 minutes.
  • Car: once you leave the airport, take highway A41 (Maia) for about 10 km (6 mi) and then take highway A3 (Braga) for about 35 km (22 mi). Finally, take highway A7 (Guimarães) for the remainder of the journey. Highway tolls are in place, including electronic-only tolls. Estimated travel time: 40 minutes.

From Lisbon Airport

Located in the capital of Portugal, about 350 km (220 mi) from Guimarães, Lisbon airport is the main international gateway to the country and a major hub to flights from Brazil and Africa. It is easily accessible to and from all major cities in Portugal, while being the hub of TAP Air Portugal, the country’s flag carrier airline, and low-cost airlines Ryanair and EasyJet.

  • Bus: outside the arrivals terminal, several bus services are available to Guimarães. Estimated travel time: 5-6 hours.
  • Train: high-speed trains known as Alfa Pendular connect Lisbon to Porto daily. A further connection to Guimarães is required at Porto-Campanhã train station via an urban train. Lisboa-Santa Apolónia is the closest train station to the airport. Estimated travel time: 5 hours.
  • Car: once you leave the airport, take highway A1 (Porto) for about 280 km (175 mi) and then take highway A3 (Braga) for about 35 km (22 mi). Finally, take highway A7 (Guimarães) for the remainder of the journey. Highway tolls are in place, including electronic-only tolls. Estimated travel time: 4 hours.
  • Airplane: it is also possible to book a flight directly to Porto airport. Several daily flights from TAP Air Portugal are available. Estimated travel time: 50 minutes.