Attractions & Highlights

Our highlights...

1. Spend time chilling out in Ponte de Lima: have coffee in the square; take the kids to the pretty Parque Arnado; wander along the river with an ice cream.
2. Visit the beach at Vila Praia da Ancôra where the kids can play safely in the sand by a shallow river, followed by a fresh fish lunch at one of the many restaurants along the seafront. There is also a fish market by the quayside if you visit in the morning.
3. Enjoy the Ponte de Lima market, held every other Monday where you will find stalls offering everything from agricultural implements, baskets and wine barrels to fresh fruit, cheese and bread, shoes, hats and t-shirts. There is also a livestock part to the market which can be reached by going right when you come to the river.
4. Spend a morning in the fortified hilltop town of Valença, browsing the shops and admiring the views of Spain across the river, followed by lunch at the superb restaurant in the Sao Teotonio Pousada.
5. Walk in the protected wetlands of Lagoas, on the road from Ponte de Lima to Lanheses, where you can enjoy an easy walk on boardwalks and hardly see another person.
6. Drive to Lindoso in the Penea-Geres National Park; the drive is beautiful and there is the ruins of a castle to visit as well as glorious walking amongst the "espigueiros" or traditional grain stores.
7. On a rainy day we head for Viana do Castello and enjoy its spacious shopping centre - though you should also visit the old town in the sunshine and take a drive up to Santa Luzia for the views. The Viana shopping centre "Estacão" has reasonable parking in the basement and also houses a cinema and bowling alley.
8. Have a lovely dinner at Açude, the restaurant at Clube Náutico in Arcozelo, while admiring the lights of Ponte de Lima across the river.
9. Visit Tui over the border in Spain. This town has a medieval cathedral, tapas bars for lunch, and fine walks along the river Minho.
10. Visit the port wine lodges at Vila Nova de Gaia, across the river from Porto. Many of the lodges offer reasonably priced tours and tastings.