Bom dia! Welcome to Ponte de Lima, the oldest town in Portugal. It’s a small and charming place full of history, beautiful landscapes, cultural heritage, and tasty local cuisine. 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 explore it slowly. Keep reading and discover the best things to do in Ponte de Lima during your visit.
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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 Peneda-Geres, the country’s only National Park.
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!
Intriguing 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
Ponte Romana – Roman bridge
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 also recommend sitting for a while by the riverbank and just enjoying the nice views.
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 streets
If there’s one thing you shouldn’t skip in Ponte de Lima, it’s simply getting lost in the old town. Here, you’ll find a maze of streets filled with beautiful old townhouses, historical buildings, charming corners, and elegant manors. We spent quite a lot of time just wandering its streets without any real plan, and honestly, that’s the best way to experience it.
Don’t miss places like Palace of the Marquis, Igreja Matriz church, towers: Cadeia Velha and Saint Paul, Noble Fountain, Plane Tree Avenue, or Terceiros Museum. We’ll take a closer look at some of these places shortly.
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.
Parish Church – Igreja Matriz
Igreja Matriz 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 church expanded until the form we 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. Currently, it hosts the Interpretation Center Of Military History, a place 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 (October 2026). 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 & São Paulo
Cadeia Velha and 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! Definitely of the best things to do in Ponte de Lima, not know to many!
Fountain Chafariz Nobre
Just a few steps from São Paulo tower and Ponte Romana you’ll find a lovely square, Largo de Camões. It features a beautiful fountain, Chafariz Nobre, 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 cozy cafes and restaurants where you can sit and relax for a while with a cup of coffee in your hand.
Discover more beautiful places in Northern Portugal 🌿🤩
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 (October 2026). The museum is closed on Mondays. For current prices and opening hours visit cm-pontedelima.pt website.
Portuguese Toy Museum
Portuguese Toy Museum is located on the other side of the Roman Bridge. 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. Doesn’t it sound like one of the most unique things to do in Ponte de Lima? It sure does! Especially if you’re travelling with kids.
Entrance to the Portuguese Toy Museum costs €3 for a normal ticket and €1.5 for a reduced one (October 2026). For current prices and opening hours, visit the 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 also located on the other side of Ponte Romana, 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.
Explore local attractions
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.
To Ponte de Lima by public transport
You can quite easily get to Ponte de Lima by bus. For example, the trip from Porto will take about 1.5 hours, 45 minutes from Viana do Castelo, and 1 hour from Braga.
Unfortunately, you can’t reach Ponte de Lima by train. But you can take a train from Porto, Lisbon, or even Albufeira to nearby Viana do Castelo, and from there take a bus to Ponte de Lima.
To Ponte de Lima by taxi
The most expensive option, but also available from almost every place close to Ponte de Lima. For example, a trip from Ponte da Barca will take about 15 minutes (€25-30), 30 minutes from Braga (€40-55), and 25 minutes from Viana do Castelo (€30-40).
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 best 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! Enjoy!
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. And we truly loved the peaceful lush green views of the surroundings and eating dinner on the Lima River shores. Besides the crowds – nothing to complain about!
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:
