Bom dia! Welcome to Ponte de Lima, the oldest town in Portugal. It’s a small and charming place full of history, beautiful landscapes, vibrant cultural heritage, and tasty cuisine. And here you’ll feel authentic Portuguese charm! Ponte de Lima is one of the most popular day trip destinations in Northern Portugal, but it can also be a great home base for travelers who wish to stay longer in the area and discover it slowly. Here are the best things to do in Ponte de Lima during your visit.
Interesting fact. Ponte de Lima is named after a medieval bridge that crosses the Lima River in the town.
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Ponte de Lima, Portugal FAQ
Ponte de Lima is located in Northern Portugal in the Alto Minho region in Viana do Castelo district, on the banks of the Lima River. It’s also close to the country’s only National Park – Peneda-Geres.
Ponte de Lima is best known for being the oldest town in Portugal, founded in 1125 by Teresa de Leão, countess of Portugal and the mother of the country’s first king, Afonso I. Town is also renowned for the iconic Roman Bridge that spans the river.
Of course! Ponte de Lima is one of the most charming towns in North Portugal, definitely worth visiting while exploring the area. The charming medieval old town, elegant mansions, peaceful surroundings, natural beauty, famed bridge, and Roman soldiers await!
Legend of Ponte de Lima
Around 139 B.C. Roman troops were marching through current regions of Portugal, to conquer new territories. One day they arrived at Lima River and… were terrified to cross it. They believed that it was the mythical River Lethe (River of Forgetfulness), one of five rivers of the Underworld. Soldiers were so scared that their memories would be erased that they refused to move forward.
Eventually, frustrated general Decimus Junius Brutus Callaicus decided to cross the river himself to show soldiers they won’t forget anything. He crossed the river on the horse, but that didn’t convince the soldiers. So the general started to call each of his men by name. Luckily that worked, and the soldiers crossed the river safely keeping all their memories.
More than 2000 years later this legend still lives in Ponte de Lima. On one side of the Lima River, you’ll find 24 life-sized Roman soldiers, waiting to cross the river. On the other side, there is a statue of General Decimus Junius Brutus Callaicus, encouraging them to cross it.
Things to do in Ponte de Lima, Portugal
Ponte Romana – Roman Bridge
Admiring and walking across the Ponte Romana bridge is one of the best things to do in Ponte de Lima that you simply can’t miss. This medieval stone bridge that majestically stretches over the Lima River dates from 1368. But some parts of it date back to Roman Empire times, probably early 1st century! It’s 277m long, 4m wide, and available only for pedestrians.
We recommend sitting for a while on the grass by the riverbank and just enjoying the lovely views. Another great views await while walking on the bridge.
On the other side of the bridge (opposite the old town), you’ll find places like Santo Antonio da Torre Velha church, Portuguese Toy Museum, and Theme Arnado Park.
Ponte de Lima Old Town
Strolling through the old town is definitely one of the best things to do in Ponte de Lima. Here, you’ll find streets filled with beautiful old townhouses, historical buildings, charming corners, and elegant manors.
In Ponte de Lima Old Town you’ll find points of interest like: Palace of the Marquis, Igreja Matriz church, towers: Cadeia Velha and Saint Paul, Noble Fountain, Plane Tree Avenue, or Terceiros Museum. Let’s take a closer look at them.
Ponte de Lima Tourist Office is located in Cadeia Velha tower. It’s a great place to grab a map or get information about current events and maybe even guided tours.
Ponte de Lima Parish Church – Igreja Matriz
Igreja Matriz Ponte de Lima, or Igreja Paroquial de Ponte de Lima, was built in the 15th century in Gothic style, to replace a 13th-century church that became too small to fit all the people. Over the next centuries, the Igreja Matriz expanded until the version we can see today. Entrance to the church is free during opening hours.
Palace of the Marquis
Palace of the Marquis (pt. Paço do Marquês de Ponte de Lima) is a 15th-century building that was erected as the residence of the mayor, Leonel de Lima. Currently, it hosts the Interpretation Center Of Military History (pt. Centro de Interpretação da História Militar), a museum where you can learn about the importance of the geostrategic location of Ponte de Lima, military history, as well as see the evolution of weapons and uniforms. To enter the Palace of the Marquis you need to pay a symbolic €1 (December 2025). It’s closed on Mondays.
On the street just below the Palace of the Marquis, on Aveniva Antonio Feijó, you can see the statue of Countess Teresa de Leão, the founder of Ponte de Lima town.
Towers: Cadeia Velha & Saint Paul
Tower Cadeia Velha and Tower Saint Paul (pt. Torre da Cadeia Velha and Torre de São Paulo) are two well-preserved towers, the remains of the town’s 14th-century ramparts.
Back in the day, there was a prison in Cadeia Velha, and now it is serving as a Ponte de Lima Tourist Information Centre. On the front wall of the Tower of Saint Paul, you’ll find an interesting azulejos (hand-painted-tiles) picture titled “Cabras são Senhor!” (eng. They’re goats m’lord!). It’s a reference to a story in which the former king of Portugal, Afonso I, almost attacked a herd of goats, mistaking them for Moors!
Right beside Tower Cadeia Velha, you’ll find gates that once served as one of the entrances to the town. Pass them and go all the way to the top of the ramparts to admire the town’s amazing views from above! It’s one of the most unique things to do in Ponte de Lima, not know to many!
Fountain Chafariz Nobre
Just a few steps from Torre de São Paulo tower and Ponte Romana you’ll find a lovely square, Largo de Camões. It features a beautiful fountain Chafariz Nobre (eng. Noble Fountain) which dates back to 1603. Initially, the fountain was built in the square known today as Largo Dr. António Magalhães but was transferred into Largo de Camões square in 1929.
In the square, you’ll find some cafes and restaurants where you can sit and relax for a while with a cup of coffee in your hand.
Chapel of Pereiras
Chapel of Pereiras (pt. Capela das Pereiras) replaced a small hermitage that was located in that very same place in 1525. Later, in 1818, it was rebuilt to the form that we currently see.
But what really makes this place worth visiting are the views. You see, the chapel is located in higher parts of the Ponte de Lima Old Town from where you can enjoy amazing views over the mountains, and some parts of the village.
Plane Tree Avenue
Plane Tree Avenue (pt. Avenida dos Platanos) is a beautiful, pedestrian-only avenue lined with plane trees planted in 1901. It’s perfect for a lazy stroll all year round but it looks most spectacular in the summer and autumn. From there you’ll admire amazing views over the Lima River, Roman Bridge, and the mountains in the distance.
Terceiros Museum
Terceiros Museum (pt. Museu dos Terceiros) stands right besides the Avenida dos Plátanos. It spans across two churches: the former convent of Santo António and the church of the Ordem Terceira. The museum is from 1974, and inside it, you’ll find a valuable collection of sacred art, mainly sculptures from the 18th century. Visiting is one of the best things to do in Ponte de Lima, especially for church people.
Entrance to Museu dos Terceiros costs €2.5 for a normal ticket and€1.5 for a reduced one (December 2025). The museum is closed on Mondays. For current prices and opening hours visit cm-pontedelima.pt website.
Ponte de Lima Market
Ponte de Lina is also home to the oldest documented market in Portugal, which has existed since March 4th 1125! Currently, the market is open twice a month, every other Monday. It’s located near the river bank, in a place where on any other day there is a parking lot. At Ponte de Lima Market you can buy things like fresh vegetables and fruits, pastries, cheeses, clothes, or household items.
Portuguese Toy Museum
Portuguese Toy Museum (pt. Museu do Brinquedo Português) is located on the other side of the Roman Bridge, just a few steps behind Santo António da Torre Velha Church. Inside, you’ll learn about Portuguese toy manufacturers from the late 19th century until the mid-1980s, manufacturing techniques, and materials. You’ll also see many toys like dolls, cars, trains, toy soldiers, or sandbox toys. In the building, you’ll also find a playroom and a toy shop. Doesn’t it sound like one of the most unique things to do in Ponte de Lima? It sure does!
Entrance to the Portuguese Toy Museum costs €3 for a normal ticket and €1.5 for a reduced one (December 2025). The museum is closed on Mondays. For current prices and opening hours visit cm-pontedelima.pt website.
Arnado Theme Park
Parque Temático do Arnado (eng. Theme Arnado Park) is a peaceful, well-kept green space in Ponte de Lima. The park is located on the other side of Ponte Romana, very close to the Portuguese Toy Museum. Inside you’ll find areas that mimic different garden styles: Roman Garden, Renaissance Garden, Labyrinth Garden, and Baroque Garden. In Arnado Park you’ll also find a greenhouse and a pond. The entrance is free.
International Garden Festival
International Garden Festival (pt. Festival Internacional de Jardins) is an annual event taking place in Ponte de Lima. From May to October in the town, you can admire 12 garden displays prepared based on the contest winners’ projects. From November to May old gardens are dismantled and new displays are prepared. Everyone, from every country, can take part and send projects. If you happen to be in the area during the time of the displays, don’t miss seeing them – it’s one of the most peculiar things to do in Ponte de Lima.
Vinho Verde tours in Ponte de Lima
There are also two interesting places to visit in Ponte de Lima connected with the popular Vinho Verde wine:
- Center for the Interpretation and Promotion of Vinho Verde (pt. Centro de Interpretação e Promoção do Vinho Verde) – a museum dedicated to the history of this popular Portuguese wine. Entrance cost €3 for a normal ticket and €1.5 for a reduced one (December 2025). The museum is closed on Mondays. For current prices and opening hours visit cipvv.pt website.
- Ponte de Lima’s wine cellar (pt. Adega de Ponte de Lima) – tour in one of the most substantial cellars in the region, during which you can see the winery, learn about the production, as well as take part in the tasting. You need to book the tour in advance via email.
How to get to Ponte de Lima, Portugal?
Ponte de Lima is located about 85km from Porto, 60km from Guimaraes, 30km from Viana do Castelo, and 20km from Ponte da Barca. The most convenient way to get to Ponte de Lima is by car or by bus.
Where to park in Ponte de Lima?
Your best option is to leave your car in this free, huge, and unpaved parking lot near the Roman Bridge (not available on Mondays when the market takes place), or in this cobblestone parking lot, just a little bit further.
Airports near Ponte de Lima
The closest airport to Ponte de Lima in Portugal is located in Porto (80km away). Other ones are located in Spain – in Vigo (60km away), and Santiago de Compostela (160km away). From each airport, you can get to Ponte de Lima by bus or bus+train. To check the connections that interest you please visit rome2rio.com website. For a more pleasant journey, at each airport you can also rent a car.
To Ponte de Lima by bus
You can quite easily get to Ponte de Lima by bus. For example, the trip from Porto will take about 1.5 hours, 50 minutes from Viana do Castelo, and 1 hour from Braga. To learn more about bus connections that interest you visit rome2rio.com website.
To Ponte de Lima by taxi
The most expensive option but also available from almost every place you might be near Ponte de Lima. For example, a trip from Ponte da Barca will take about 15 minutes (€25-31), 30 minutes from Braga (€40-55), and 25 minutes from Viana do Castelo (€30-40). To learn more about taxi connections that interest you visit rome2rio.com website.
To Ponte de Lima by train
Unfortunately, you can’t reach Ponte de Lima by train. But you can take a train from Porto, Lisbon, or even Albufeira to Viana do Castelo, and from there take a bus to Ponte de Lima. Here you can check out a map of Portugal train connections.
Camping Ponte de Lima
If you’re traveling by camper, places like Lima Escape Camping & Glamping, Camping Covas Park, or Park Camping Paço might interest you. They are located near Ponte de Lima.
Things to do in Ponte de Lima, Portugal – Summing Up
All right, that’s it about Ponte de Lima. Not that big, yet not that small, and absolutely worth the visit in Northern Portugal! We hope that with our guide to the amazing things to do in Ponte de Lima, you’ll get the most out of your upcoming trip, and won’t forget everything like the Romans feared that they would. We still remember everything just fine, so you should be ok as well! But you’ll never know for sure until you try it for yourself, right…? 🙂 Enjoy your time in Ponte de Lima!
Our opinion about Ponte de Lima
For us, a visit to Ponte de Lima was a day trip from nearby Ponte da Barca, where we lived for a few weeks. We visited in mid-April during one very sunny Sunday, and we were surprised by the number of visitors. Probably one of the first really nice and warm weekends encouraged people to leave their houses after winter. During about 4 hours, we visited all the places we had on our list.
We think Ponte de Lima is a very pleasant town and we really enjoyed strolling through its old town streets. Oh, and we really liked the peaceful lush green views of the surroundings and eating dinner on the Lima River shores. Besides the crowds – nothing to complain about! Now it’s your turn to discover Northern Portugal’s charm.
Restaurants, accommodations, and map
Check out various recommended places below.
Where to eat in Ponte de Lima?
Here are your best, high-rated options in Ponte de Lima:
