Bom dia! Welcome to Viana do Castelo, a very enjoyable and interesting Portuguese coastal town. It’s one of the most popular North Portugal travel destinations, perfect for a day trip. It also can be a great home base for travelers who wish to stay longer in the area and discover it slowly. Viana do Castelo is full of history, amazing views, and interesting places to visit. It won our hearts in the blink of an eye! Will it win yours too? Let’s find out! Vamos, let us show you things to do in Viana do Castelo, Portugal in one day.
Interesting fact. Viana do Castelo is part of Camino Portugues, one of the spiritual routes leading to the famous Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
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Viana Do Castelo, Portugal FAQ
Viana do Castelo is located in Northern Portugal in the Alto Minho region. The town sits at the mouth of the Lima River, where it meets the Atlantic Ocean. Viana do Castelo is a great starting point to explore other places in the area like Caminha, Ponte de Lima, Ponte da Barca, Porto, or Portugal’s only National Park – Peneda-Geres.
The history of the area goes back up to the Middle Stone Age but the town officially was issued a charter in 1258. Since then, up to 1848, it was called Viana da Foz do Lima (eng. Mouth of Lima), when it was elevated to the status of a city and renamed to its current name.
Yes, Viana do Castelo is definitely worth visiting. The charming old town, stunning surroundings full of natural beauty, world-famous sanctuary, and many attractions like Gil Eanes hospital ship, are waiting for you there.
Viana do Castelo is best known for its beautiful old town with the famous Praça da República square, magnificent hilltop Santa Luzia Sanctuary offering amazing views over the town and its surroundings, and Gil Eanes – a fascinating restored hospital ship.
Things to do in Viana do Castelo, Portugal in one day
Viana do Castelo Old Town
One of the things to do in Viana do Castelo that can’t be missed is to slowly stroll among its delightful old town streets and squares that are full of beautiful old buildings and charming corners. There you’ll find points of interest like Praça da Republica Square, the Cathedral, São Domingos Church, or the Costume Museum. Let’s take a closer look at each.
Viana do Castelo Tourist Office is located on Praça Eixo Atlântico, just a few steps from Gil Eannes ship and 300m from Praça da Republica Square.
Discover: Accommodation options in Viana do Castelo
Praça da Republica square
Praça da República (eng. Republic Square) is our unquestionable number one place in Viana do Castelo old town. It’s a big and picturesque square in the heart of the city, full of beautiful historic buildings, among which are the 16th-century Renaissance fountain, Igreja da Misericórdia church, and the Costume Museum (pt. Museu do Traje).
There you’ll also find many small shops, cafes, or restaurants where you can sit down and watch people going on with their lives. Republic Square’s advantage is that it’s pedestrianized and no vehicles are allowed. Also, don’t forget to take a look at adjoining streets, as they may lead you to some hidden gems and interesting places!
Interesting fact: Viana do Castelo fountain is one of three identical fountains that João Lopes designed. The other two are located in Caminha and Pontevedra (Spain).
Costume Museum
Visiting the Costume Museum (pt. Museu do Traje) is one of the most popular things to do in Viana do Castelo. It’s located in the old town in the former Portugal bank building. Inside you’ll find a wide range of exhibitions of traditional costumes on real-size mannequins that people wore in the Alto Minho region in the past. You’ll learn the stories behind, colors, embroidery, occasions those outfits were used, and messages they would communicate. In the old bank vault, you’ll also find an impressive collection of jewelry.
Entrance to the Costume Museum costs €2.5 (April 2024). The museum is closed on Mondays. For current prices and opening hours visit visitportugal.com website.
Cathedral of Viana do Castelo
In one of the streets leading to Praça da Republica, you’ll find the Cathedral of Viana do Castelo (pt. Sé Catedral de Viana do Castelo), a 15th-century Romanesque church with some influences from the Gothic period. In 1977, Pope Paul VI I elevated the old church to the category of a cathedral. The entrance is free.
São Domingos Church
São Domingos Church (pt. Igreja de São Domingos) is located in São Domingos Square in Viana do Castelo old town. It was built in the 16th century in the Renaissance style and was part of the Convent of São Domingos. It’s beautiful not only from the outside but also inside where you can admire several altars made of gilded wood. Igreja de São Domingos was classified as a National Monument in 1910. The entrance is free.
Gil Eannes Hospital Ship
Gil Eannes is a former Portuguese hospital ship that Viana do Castelo shipyards built in the early 1950s. It was in service for 23 years, from 1955-1973. During those years it supported the Portuguese cod fishing fleet in the seas of Newfoundland in Canada and Greenland by providing hospital assistance and saving fishermen’s lives. It was also used for breaking the ice, transporting mail, and as a tugboat. In the early 1960s, it also began to carry passengers.
After its last voyage in 1973, Gil Eannes was abandoned to rot in Lisbon and was destined for the scrapyard. Thanks to a TV campaign, the ship was saved in 1997 and later was restored in Viana do Castelo shipyards to its former glory. Now Gil Eannes serves as a really fascinating museum in which you can see a ship’s hospital, operation room, kitchens, bakery, control rooms, game rooms, quarters, and so much more… We really loved visiting Gil Eannes, and we think it’s a must-visit place while in Viana do Castelo.
Entrance to Gil Eannes Hospital Ship costs €5 and is free for children under 6 years old (April 2024). To check out current prices and opening hours visit fundacaogileannes.pt website.
Santa Luzia Sanctuary
Santa Luzia Sanctuary (pt. Santuário de Santa Luzia) is another great place to see in Viana do Castelo. This iconic mountaintop church was built on the model of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Paris (fr. Sacré-Cœur Basilica) only in the 20th century, between 1904 and 1959. Its rose windows are the largest on the Iberian Peninsula! Also, nowadays Santa Luzia Sanctuary is one of the most famous monuments in Portugal. It’s free to visit.
Even if you’re not into churches we advise you to visit Santuario de Santa Luzia, if only for truly stunning views of Viana do Castelo city and its surroundings. For views from even a higher spot (250m a.s.l), you can climb the church dome or use an elevator (€2 per person).
Santuario de Santa Luzia is located only about 3km from the old town, and you can get there by car, on foot by climbing 659 steps, or arrive by the longest (650m) funicular railway in Portugal – Funicular de Santa Luzia (€2 one way, €3 return).
Discover: Accommodation options in Viana do Castelo
Viana do Castelo Beaches
After a whole day of intensive sightseeing, it’s time to visit the beach and relax for a moment. There are two beautiful ones near Viana do Castelo old town: Praia do Cabedelo and Praia Norte. So close to each other, and yet so different!
Praia do Cabedelo is a long, wide, sandy beach with clear waters located on the edge of a nature reserve, with dunes and pine forests. It’s a real paradise for water sports lovers, loved by beginners! Praia do Cabedelo is located on the south side of the Lima River so you’ll need to drive or walk.
Praia Norte has less sand but more rocks and stronger winds, perfect for water sports enthusiasts like windsurfers or surfers. But even if you’re not into watersports you can enjoy a relaxing time on that beach.
Book now: Viana do Castelo: Kayak Tour at Lima River
Viana do Castelo festival – Festival of Our Lady in Sorrow
If you will be in Viana do Castelo between 18-20th August you’ll get a chance to participate in one of the best-known religious festivals in Portugal – the Festival of Our Lady in Sorrow. It’s an annual celebration that dates back to 1744 when fishermen began to call Lady in Sorrow (that’s how Mary, mother of Jesus, is referred to in relation to sorrows in life) to make sure that the sea would not be rough. Viana do Castelo festival features a wide variety of religious and cultural activities, which include processions, mass, concerts, and traditional dances. Throughout the festival, the streets of Viana do Castelo are decorated with colorful flowers and lights, creating a festive atmosphere.
The two most famous parts of the Festival of Our Lady in Sorrow are the Desfile da Mordomia – a parade featuring hundreds of participants dressed in colorful traditional regional costumes, and Romaria – a pilgrimage that takes place on the final day, during which the statue of Our Lady in Sorrow is carried from the church to the Sanctuary of Santa Luzia.
Here you can take a look at highlights from Viana do Castelo festival:
How to get to Viana do Castelo, Portugal?
Viana do Castelo is located about 75km from Porto, 60km from Braga, 50km from Ponte Da Barca, 30km from Ponte de Lima, and 25km from Caminha. The most convenient way to get to Viana do Castelo is by car or by train.
Where to park in Viana do Castelo?
There are some parking lots in Viana do Castelo. We recommend leaving your car for free on this free parking lot right next to the Gil Eannes Hospital Ship. But watch out for scams – when we were there some people tried to show us where we should park, of course for money. Just drive past them and find a free spot on your own.
Airports near Viana do Castelo
The closest airport to Viana do Castelo in Portugal is located in Porto (65km away). Other ones are located in Spain, in Vigo (90km away) and Santiago de Compostela (190km away). From each airport, you can get to Viana do Castelo by bus or bus+train. To check the connections that interest you please visit rome2rio.com website.
For great car rental deals visit Rentalcars website.
To Viana do Castelo by bus
You can quite easily get to Viana do Castelo by bus. For example, a trip from Porto will take about 1.5h (€6-13), 50min from Ponte de Lima (€3-8), and 1h 40min from Braga (€5-10). To learn more about bus connections that interest you visit rome2rio.com website.
To Viana do Castelo by train
From some places, you can also reach Viana do Castelo by train. There are connections available from cities like Lisbon, Porto, Caminha, Braga, or even Albufeira. Here is a map of Portugal train connections.
For great train ticket deals visit Trainline website.
Camping Viana do Castelo
If you’re traveling by camper you’ll probably be glad to know that there are two camping sites in Viana do Castelo. You’ll find Camping Rio Lima next to Eiffel Bridge, and Orbitur Viana do Castelo behind Praia do Cabedelo.
Things to do in Viana do Castelo, Portugal in one day – Summing up
All right, that’s all about Viana do Castelo. Hopefully, we inspired you to see the city with your own eyes! It’s not that big but very charming and absolutely worth the visit while in the Alto Minho region. We hope that thanks to this post you’ll get the most out of your trip and you’ll find perfect things to do in Viana do Castelo for yourself. Enjoy!
Our opinion about Viana do Castelo
For us, a visit to Viana do Castelo was a day trip from nearby Ponte da Barca where we lived for a few weeks. We visited the town in late April, from the early morning hours, and we found it still quite sleepy without many tourists. But it might have had something to do with the not-ideal weather on that day. During about 6 hours we managed to visit all the places we had on our list.
We think Viana do Castelo is a charming and very pleasant town and we enjoyed our time there. We liked strolling among its old town streets, admiring old buildings, and views over the surroundings from the Sanctuary. But what we liked most was exploring Gil Eannes Hospital Ship – it was super fun and interesting! There’s nothing to complain about, we’ll remember Viana do Castelo very fondly.
Restaurants, accommodations, and map
Check out various recommended places below.
Where to eat in Viana do Castelo?
Here are your best, high-rated options in Viana do Castelo:
Where to sleep in Viana do Castelo?
Hotel do Parque
Hotel do Parque is a charming hotel located in a peaceful area of Viana do Castelo, overlooking the city park and the Lima River. The hotel offers comfortable and spacious rooms with modern amenities and elegant décor, creating a relaxing and welcoming atmosphere. Guests can enjoy the on-site restaurant serving regional cuisine, a bar, a terrace, and a swimming pool, as well as free parking and Wi-Fi.
Dona Emilia Guest House
Dona Emilia Guest House is a charming and cozy accommodation located in the historic center of Viana do Castelo that offers comfortable and spacious rooms with traditional Portuguese decor and modern amenities, including free Wi-Fi and air conditioning. Guesthouse is within walking distance to many restaurants, cafes, and shops.
Hotel Laranjeira
Hotel Laranjeira is a charming and comfortable 3-star hotel located in the heart of Viana do Castelo. It features well-appointed rooms with modern amenities, including air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs. Guests can enjoy a daily breakfast buffet and relax in the hotel's lounge or on the outdoor terrace.
Accommodations photos source: booking.com
