Vila Nova de Gaia vs Guimarães: which Norte town suits you?
Their January highs are within 1°C of each other (13°C and 12°C). Vila Nova de Gaia has fewer frosts and a closer airport; Guimarães has a closer bus station, lower rents and cheaper homes to buy.
Vila Nova de Gaia
70,811 peopleChoose Vila Nova de Gaia if you want
- Fewer frosts (0 frost days a year, against 8)
- A shorter trip to an airport (15 km, against 39 km)
Guimarães
40,604 peopleChoose Guimarães if you want
- A bus station closer by (0.7 km, against 2.2 km)
- Lower rents in the municipality (€5.75/m² a month, against €9.39/m²)
- Cheaper homes to buy in the municipality (€1,859/m², against €2,652/m²)
- Less recorded crime in the municipality (17.8 per 1,000 residents, against 26.1)
Side by side
Bold marks the better value where one is clearly better and both values are precise.
Climate
Town-level · ERA5-Land 1991-2020| Measure | Vila Nova de Gaia | Guimarães |
|---|---|---|
| January high | 13°C | 12°C |
| January low | 6°C | 4°C |
| July high | 25°C | 27°C |
| Days above 35°C a year | 1 | 3 |
| Nights above 20°C a year | 7 | 8 |
| Frost days a year | 0 | 8 |
| Days with rain a year | 119 | 126 |
| Daylight on 21 December | 9 h 13 min | 9 h 11 min |
| Sea in August | 18°C | – |
Daily life within a 15-minute walk
| Measure | Vila Nova de Gaia | Guimarães |
|---|---|---|
| Grocery stores | 19 | 26 |
| Pharmacies | 10 | 14 |
| Doctors and clinics | 28 | 24 |
| Cafés | 62 | 49 |
| Restaurants | 110 | 150 |
Getting around
| Measure | Vila Nova de Gaia | Guimarães |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest train station | 0.5 km | 1.1 km |
| Nearest bus station | 2.2 km | 0.7 km |
| Nearest hospital | 0.5 km | 0.6 km |
| Nearest beach | 3.8 km | 39 km |
| Nearest airport with scheduled flights | 15 km | 39 km |
Housing and safety (whole municipality)
| Measure | Vila Nova de Gaia | Guimarães |
|---|---|---|
| Median rent per m², per month | €9.39/m² | €5.75/m² |
| Sale price per m² | €2,652/m² | €1,859/m² |
| Sale price change, 5 years | +103% | +87% |
| Crimes recorded per 1,000 residents | 26.1 | 17.8 |
People
| Measure | Vila Nova de Gaia | Guimarães |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 70,811 | 40,604 |
| Aged 65 and over | 24.2% | 23.8% |
| Under 15 | 10.9% | 12.0% |
| Born in another country | 13.9% | 7.0% |
Natural hazards
| Measure | Vila Nova de Gaia | Guimarães |
|---|---|---|
| Earthquakes of M5+ within 100 km since 1900 | 0 | 0 |
Month by month
Town-level · ERA5-Land 1991-2020| High | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vila Nova de Gaia | 13° | 14° | 16° | 17° | 20° | 23° | 25° | 26° | 24° | 20° | 16° | 13° |
| Guimarães | 12° | 14° | 16° | 18° | 21° | 24° | 27° | 27° | 25° | 20° | 15° | 13° |
Guimarães is warmer by 1°C or more in 3 months; in the other months the highs are within 1°C. Vila Nova de Gaia in November · Guimarães in November
Vila Nova de Gaia or Guimarães: common questions
Which is warmer in winter, Vila Nova de Gaia or Guimarães?
They are within 1°C of each other: average January highs of 12.6°C in Vila Nova de Gaia and 12.2°C in Guimarães.
Which has more shops within walking distance?
Guimarães: 26 grocery stores within a 15-minute walk of the centre, against 19 in Vila Nova de Gaia.
Which is closer to an airport?
Both use Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO): 15 km from Vila Nova de Gaia and 39 km from Guimarães, in a straight line.
Cite or link
hexplace (2026). Vila Nova de Gaia vs Guimarães: climate, homes and daily life compared. https://hexplace.org/portugal/compare/vila-nova-de-gaia-vs-guimaraes/