Bom dia! Welcome to Caminha, a delightful Portuguese town. It was founded in 1284, and thanks to its strategic location for hundreds of years played an important military role in defending Portugal’s northern borders. Nowadays, it’s starting to become a popular spot for today’s invaders – travelers and digital nomads. Vamos, let’s discover the best things to do in Caminha, Portugal.
Travel tip. You can easily combine a trip to Caminha with a visit to Vila Nova de Cerveira (12km away) and/or Valenca do Minho (20km away).
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Caminha, Portugal FAQ
Caminha is located in Northern Portugal in the Alto Minho region in the Viana do Castelo district, only 25km from Viana do Castelo – the region’s capital city. It sits at the mouth of River Minho, on its left bank which separates Portugal from Spain. Caminha is also part of Camino Portugues, one of the spiritual routes leading to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
Yes, Caminha is a small yet very charming Portuguese town worth a visit while in the area, even if only for a short while. It boasts a lovely old town perfect for strolls, and peaceful surroundings full of natural beauty and many striking views. Beaches, mountains, rivers, ocean, forests… Caminha has it all.
Things to do in Caminha, Portugal
Caminha Old Town Streets
Caminha Old Town is really charming, and strolling among it is a pure pleasure. There you’ll find points of interest like Caminha Main Square with Renaissance fountain, Clock Tower, Misericordia Church, Caminha Parish Church, and some remains of town fortifications. The most notable streets around the main square include Rua de São João, Av. São João de Deus, Rua Direita or Tv. do Tribunal. Let’s go and take a closer look.
Caminha Tourist Office is located on Rua São João, just a few steps from the main square.
Caminha Main Square
The main square is undoubtedly the most beautiful part of the town. This is where two of the most popular town landmarks are located – the Renaissance fountain – Chafariz do Terreiro, and Clock Tower – Torre do Relogio. There, you’ll also find several old Gothic houses, as well as some restaurants and cafes where you can sit on one of the terraces and enjoy watching the world go by.
Discover: Accommodation options in Caminha
Clock Tower
Clock Tower (pt. Torre do Relogio) is an impressive 13th-century medieval tower located on the Caminha Main Square. It once served as one of three gates to the town and as a part of the defensive walls. In the beginning, the tower was known as Porta de Viana, as the road to Viana do Castelo went through it. It changed its name to Torre do Relogio in the 17th century, in 1673, when the clock was installed at the top. It was classified as a National Monument in 1951.
You can climb to the top of the Clock Tower for €1 to admire great views of the town center and its surroundings. To check out opening hours visit Google Maps.
Chafariz do Terreiro fountain
Chafariz do Terreiro (eng. Terreiro Fountain) dates back to 1553 and is located on the Caminha Main Square, just a few steps from Clock Tower. But the fountain wasn’t always here! First, it was located 4km further, in Moledo town, and was moved to Caminha in 1835. It’s one of three identical fountains designed by João Lopes. The other two are located in Viana do Castelo and Pontevedra in Spain. Chafariz do Terreiro was classified as a National Monument in 1910.
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Misericordia Church
Misericordia Church (pt. Igreja da Misericordia) is another place on Caminha Main Square worth checking out. It dates back to the 16th century, but what we see today church owes to reconstructions from the 17th century. While there, don’t forget to look inside to admire its spectacular golden altarpiece. Entrance to the church is free.
Caminha Main Church
Caminha Main Church (pt. Igreja Matriz de Caminha), or Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Assunção (eng. Church of Our Lady of the Assumption), was built between 1488-1556 inside the medieval village. Because construction was progressing slowly, the church combines a mix of Gothic and Renaissance styles. Igreja Matriz de Caminha was classified as a National Monument in 1910. Entrance to the church is free.
Caminha Fortifications
Due to its strategic location and military importance, Caminha was first fortified in the middle of the 13th century by the order of King Afonso III. But over the years those were mostly torn down or built over. In the 17th century, after Portugal regained its independence, new fortifications were built, following modern ballistic advances. Together with the fortifications of Viana do Castelo, Monção, and Valenca do Minho, Caminha was part of the defense line against the North.
Up to today in some places around the Caminha you’ll notice remains of the old fortifications. There are for example already mentioned Clock Tower, remains of the ramparts in front of the Main Church (which you can climb and admire views over Spain), or remains along Rua de Santo António (where you’ll also find an amazing viewpoint at the top).
Museu Municipal de Caminha
Municipal Museum of Caminha (pt. Museu Municipal de Caminha) is located just a few steps from the main square, in a building dating back probably to the 17th century. Inside you’ll find a collection of archaeological objects that document the history of the region from Prehistory to Roman times. Entrance to the museum is free. To check out current opening hours visit cm-caminha.pt website.
Caminha beaches – Camarido Beach & Moledo Beach
If you visit Caminha in warmer months you might also want to take advantage of one of its beautiful, sandy beaches. Camarido Beach (pt. Praia do Camarido) is located 3km from the old town, at the end of the mouth of Minho River. Moledo Beach (pt. Praia de Moledo), only 1 extra kilometer further, is facing the Atlantic Ocean and is a popular destination for water sports enthusiasts.
While on the beaches you can admire in the distance the impressive 17th-century Fortaleza e Convento da Ínsua (pt. Forte da Ínsua).
Short trip to Spain
While in Caminha you can also take a trip to Spain. Just hop on the ferry or take a short drive by car and enjoy nearby places like A Guarda town or points of interest like Miradoiro de Santa Trega or Castro de Santa Trega.
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How to get to Caminha, Portugal?
Caminha is located about 15km from Vila Nova De Cerveira, 25km from Viana Do Castelo, 50km from Ponte De Lima, 100km from Porto, and 85km Braga. The most convenient way to get to Caminha is by car or bus. For great car rental deals visit the Rental Cars website.
Where to park in Caminha?
If you visit Caminha on any other day than Wednesday you can easily leave your car in this huge parking lot for free. It’s located about only 300m from the town’s main square.
Airports near Caminha
The closest airport to Caminha in Portugal is located in Porto (100km away). Other ones are located in Spain, in Vigo (55km away) and Santiago de Compostela (150km away). From each airport, you can get to Caminha by public transport. To check the connections that interest you please visit rome2rio.com website.
To Caminha by bus
You can quite easily get there by bus. For example, the trip from Porto will take about 2h (€7-12), 30min from Viana do Castelo (€3-8), and 3h from Braga (€9-17). To learn more about bus connections that interest you visit rome2rio.com website.
To Caminha by train
From some places, you can also reach Caminha by train. There are connections available from cities like Lisbon, Porto, Viana do Castelo or even Albufeira. Here is a map of Portugal train connections. For great train ticket deals visit the Trainline website.
Camping in Caminha, Portugal
If you’re traveling by camper you’ll probably be glad to know that there is a camping site in Caminha. You’ll find Camping Orbitur Caminha next to Camarido Beach.
Things to do in Caminha, Portugal – Summing up
All right, that’s it about Caminha. We hope we’ve encouraged you to see it with your own eyes. It’s not that big but very charming and absolutely worth the visit while in the Alto Minho region. Beautiful landscapes, many green and peaceful areas, chilled vibe, charming old town… All of this can be found in Caminha. What’s more, it’s still not a very popular tourist destination, and thanks to that it offers a proper Northern Portugal vibe. Enjoy your time in Caminha!
Our opinion about Caminha
For us, a visit to Caminha was a day trip from nearby Ponte da Barca where we lived for a few weeks. We connected this trip with a visit to two nearby towns – Vila Nova de Cerveira and Valenca do Minho. It was quite a long day, but thanks to the fact that each place is fairly small we managed to see all we wanted without rushing. We visited Caminha in mid-April, in the morning hours, and we found it very sleepy without many tourists and just locals going on with their lives.
In our opinion, Caminha is a charming and very pleasant town and we enjoyed our time there. We liked strolling among its old town streets, admiring old buildings, learning about its history, and admiring views over the surroundings. There’s nothing to complain about, we’ll remember Caminha very fondly.
Restaurants, accommodations, and map
Check out various recommended places below.
Where to eat in Caminha?
Here are your best, high-rated options in Caminha:
Where to sleep in Caminha?
Arca Nova Guest House & Hostel
Arca Nova Guest House & Hostel is a charming accommodation option located in the heart of Caminha. The property offers both private rooms and shared dormitories, making it a great choice for solo travelers, families, and groups. The hostel features a communal kitchen, a lounge area, and a beautiful garden where guests can relax and socialize.
Design&Wine Hotel
Design & Wine Hotel in Caminha, Portugal is a perfect blend of contemporary and historical 18th-century design with picturesque views of Minho River and Santa Tecla Mountain. The high-tech building rotates twice a day, providing guests with the best views of the river. Guests can enjoy traditional Portuguese wines, taste local dishes at the restaurant, and relax in the spa featuring a sauna, Turkish bath, gym, and hot tub.
Casas Sebastiao – Tourist House
Casas Sebastiao - Tourist House is a charming accommodation located in the historic center of Caminha, Portugal. The property offers comfortable and cozy rooms with traditional decoration and modern amenities such as air conditioning and free Wi-Fi. Guests can also enjoy a shared lounge and kitchenette, as well as a terrace with views of the town and the Minho River.
Accommodations photos source: booking.com
