Bom dia! Welcome to Viana do Castelo, a delightful and interesting Portuguese coastal town. It’s one of the most popular North Portugal travel destinations – perfect for day trips and weekend getaways. It can also 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.
Interesting fact. Viana do Castelo is part of the 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, or Portugal’s only National Park – Peneda-Geres.
Yes, Viana do Castelo is a charming Portuguese town definitely worth visiting. The charming old town, stunning surroundings, natural beauty, a world-famous sanctuary, and many attractions like the 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, 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
Viana do Castelo Old Town
One of the things to do in Viana do Castelo is to slowly stroll among its old town full of charming streets, squares, beautiful old buildings, and charming corners. There you’ll find points of interest like Praça da República 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 the Gil Eannes ship and 300m from Praça da República Square.
Praça da Republica square
Praça da República (eng. Republic Square) is 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.
There you’ll also find many small shops, cafes, and 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! Without a doubt, it’s our favorite place in Viana do Castelo’s old town.
Interesting fact. The Viana do Castelo fountain is one of three identical fountains designed by João Lopes. The other two are located in Caminha and Pontevedra (Spain).
Discover: Accommodation options in Viana do Castelo
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 about colors, embroidery, the occasions those outfits were used for, and the messages they would communicate. In the old bank vault, you’ll also find an impressive collection of jewelry.
Entrance to the Costume Museum costs €2.4 for a normal ticket and €1.2 for a reduced one (April 2025). The museum is closed on Mondays. For current prices and opening hours, visit the cm-viana-castelo.pt 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 beautiful 15th-century Romanesque church with some influences from the Gothic period. In 1977, Pope Paul VI elevated the old church to the category of a cathedral. The entrance is free during opening hours.
São Domingos Church
São Domingos Church (pt. Igreja de São Domingos) is located in São Domingos Square in Viana do Castelo’s 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 during opening hours.
Also visit nearby: Things To Do In Caminha, Portugal In One Day
Gil Eannes Hospital Ship
Gil Eannes is a former Portuguese hospital ship built in the early 1950s in Viana do Castelo shipyards. It was in service for 23 years, from 1955 to 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 was later restored in Viana do Castelo shipyards to its former glory.
Now Gil Eannes serves as a 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 think visiting Gil Eannes is one of the coolest things to Viana do Castelo, Portugal. We loved it, and hope you’ll too!
Entrance to the Gil Eannes Hospital Ship costs €5 and is free for children under 6 years old (April 2025). To check out current prices and opening hours, visit the fundacaogileannes.pt website.
Discover: Accommodation options in Viana do Castelo
Santa Luzia Sanctuary
Visiting Santa Luzia Sanctuary (pt. Santuário de Santa Luzia) is another amazing thing to do in Viana do Castelo. This iconic mountaintop church was built on the model of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Paris, only in the 20th century. Its rose windows are the largest on the Iberian Peninsula! Also, nowadays, Santa Luzia Sanctuary is one of the most famous monuments in Portugal. And it’s free to visit during opening hours!
Even if you’re not into churches, we advise you to visit Santuario de Santa Luzia just 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).
Also visit nearby: 15 Best Things To Do In Braga, Portugal In One Day
Viana do Castelo Beaches
After a whole day of 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! The beach is located on the south side of the Lima River, so you’ll need to drive or walk.
Praia Norte has less sand, 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
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 in 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). From the airport, you can get to Viana do Castelo by bus, taxi, or rented car. To check the connections that interest you, visit the rome2rio.com website.
For great car rental deals visit: Rentalcars
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 1.5 hours, 50 minutes from Ponte de Lima, and 1h 40min from Braga. To learn more about bus connections that interest you, visit the 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 in the south. Here is a map of Portugal train connections.
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: Camping Rio Lima and Orbitur Viana do Castelo.
Things to do in Viana do Castelo, Portugal – 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 a visit while exploring Northern Portugal. We hope that thanks to this post, you’ll get the most out of your trip and you’ll find amazig things to do in Viana do Castelo for yourself. Enjoy!
Our video from Viana do Castelo
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 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 the Gil Eannes Hospital Ship – it was super fun and interesting! There’s nothing to complain about, we’ll remember Viana do Castelo very fondly.
Also visit nearby: 15+ Best Places To Visit In Northern Portugal
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.
