Hottest Travel Destinations of 2012

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Courtesy of Histo

Guimarães, Portugal

A burst of cultural creativity and youthful energy is breathing new life into one of Portugal’s oldest cities. Here, how to make the most of your day there.

Start the morning with breakfast on your private terrace overlooking the city at the hillsidePousada de Santa Marinha (351/253-415-969; doubles from $210), a ninth-century monastery turned hotel.

Hike the six-mile Citânia de Briteiros, which leads to the dramatic ruins of an Iron Age settlement.

Noon: Don’t miss the small but high-quality selection of local products at Verde Inveja (351/ 253-554-020), including artisanal chocolates, traditional pottery, and soaps by the century-old Antiga Barbearia de Bairro.

What Guimarães lacks in cutting-edge gastronomy it makes up for in well-executed traditional fare. About 20 minutes from town, the intimate São Gião (351/253-561-853; dinner for two $100) specializes in house-made foie gras; all manner of fish, roast meat, and game; and excellent Portuguese wines.

3 P.M.: For the latest in Portuguese music, theater, film, and art, take your pick between the Vila Flor Cultural Center (351/253-424-700), in an 18th-century palace downtown, and the new Center for Arts & Architecture Affairs, in the formerly industrial district of Rua Padre.

Whether grilled, fried, or baked with bread crumbs, bacalhau (salt cod) is the dish to order at Histórico(351/915-429-700; dinner for two $65). Not a cod lover? The menu is also strong on other regional classics, such as cheese fondue and grilled octopus.

Swing by the city’s oldest square, Largo da Oliveira—it’s full of lively cafés where locals gather to drink and people-watch until the wee hours. —Alexandra Marshall
The Breakdown

Who It’s For: Travelers who like their old-world Europe with a contemporary spin.

When to Go:....

How to Do It: Guimarães is a four-hour train ride from Lisbon Airport.

Exotic Factor: Foreign