Barbara Queiróz Updated: February 26, 2026
Guimarães holds a special place in the hearts of the Portuguese and in Portugal’s rich history. This beloved city is where the nation’s sovereignty unfolded in the 12th Century. Fast forward to today, and this city has evolved into a beacon of culture, creativity, and environmental excellence, blending its heritage with a proactive commitment to sustainability.
What is the European Green Capital program?
Guimarães has been crowned the 2026 European Green Capital. But what is the European Green Capital program?
The award was first announced by the European Commission in 2008, with Stockholm becoming the first title holder in 2010. Cities with a population of more than 100,000 can apply, with winter being selected based on their environmental standards, upcoming projects, and their commitment to sustainable development and continuous improvement.
Lisbon has previously claimed the title in 2020, due to the Portuguese capital actively promoting sustainable urban mobility through various forward-thinking initiatives and improving the quality of life for residents.
Where is Guimarães?
Guimarães is situated in northwestern Portugal, in the Braga district within the Minho region. The city is about 50km to the northeast of Porto, Portugal’s second largest city, and is known as the “cradle of Portugal” as it was the birthplace of Afonso Henriques, Portugal’s first king.
An Introduction to Guimarães: Inherently Sustainable
The historic center of Guimarães has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2001, with the city a delight for all who live and visit, with an incredible gastronomy, local spirit, and rich heritage.
Over the years Guimarães has earned several awards.
- European Capital of Culture in 2012
- European Capital of Sport in 2023
- Most sustainable municipality in Portugal for three consecutive years
With a relatively small population of just 156,830 residents, the city has embraced sustainability into its local culture with innovative businesses aligning with the environmentally conscious policies of the city.
Central to this has been education, with the city’s environmental education program, PEGADAS, playing a crucial role in empowering the community and raising awareness to adopt sustainable practices.
The municipal ecological footprint initiative serves as a guiding framework and has guided Guimarães to be a “One-Planet” city, also being a member of Zero Waste Europe.
Two groundbreaking strategies stand out. Firstly, PAYT (Pay-As-You-Throw) and the RRRCICLO initiative, which promotes circular economy principles through community engagement and clear communication.
97 percent of residents enjoy the city’s excellent air quality, labelling it as “good” or “very good” air, with the city continually reviewing its strategy to make it a more liveable environment for families to thrive and create a greener future for all generations.
How is Guimarães is celebrating its new status?
Following on from the opening ceremony at the beginning of the year, Guimarães will host its spring festival in March 2026.
As part of the festival, there will be a 10km race through the city, taking in green spaces, including the Educational Garden, the Creixomil Meadow, and the Royal Road. There will be a vertical challenge event along the Penha Biodiversity Route.
Moving on to April, Guimarães will be the home to the contemporary Spring Forward dance festival, which features three days of performances and talks.
Later in the year, the Green Walk takes place in June, with the Mobility Week occurring in September.
Guimarães, a Focus on Nature
For nature lovers, Guimarães is a pure joy. Part of the reason why the city was selected as the European Green Capital for 2026 was due to the abundance of green spaces. 95.7 hectares of natural spaces were worked on by the city between 2012 and 2023. These spaces are also along the main rivers and in the forests.
The newly launched Green Map, which takes residents and visitors from the Penha Mountain along the Biodiversity Route into the city of Guimarães itself, is a pleasure to enjoy. You will visit spots such as the Latito Hill Gardens and Selho Greenways.
What’s life like in Guimarães?
The city quietly boasts a warm community atmosphere, with Guimarães being one of the safest in Portugal. Here is some insights into what life is really like to live here.
- Culture: Guimarães offers an authentic taste of Portugal with lively festivals throughout the year and historic plazas where locals can be seen enjoying a morning coffee or an early evening beer.
- Nature: Beautiful landscapes surround you in Guimarães, with the captivating Peneda-Gerês National Park (the only national park in the country) just an hour to the north.
- Climate: While colder than more southern cities, the climate in Guimarães is generally mild with warm summers and rainy winters.
- Cost of living: Guimarães offers a much more affordable lifestyle than in other cities in Portugal (24 percent lower than Lisbon and 13 percent lower than Porto, according to Numbeo).
- Gastronomy: Enjoy a rich food culture, with petiscos (Portugal’s alternative to tapas) for sharing, vinho verde (green wine), and local specialities, such as panados com arroz de tomate, a comforting dish that lays chicken cutlets on a bed of rice and tomatoes.
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