Viana do Castelo, a beautiful town at the mouth of the River Lima, is a great place for a few days of tourism in the summer. If you’re on a budget, then add these top 10 free activities to the top of your itinerary.
1. Head to the beach.
There are several good beaches in and around Viana do Castelo. These are my recommendations for the top three.
Praia Norte (and Gil Eannes Playground)
This rugged beach is a twenty minute walk from town. There are tide pools, rocks, a trail that leads North along the ocean, a few cafés and restaurants, a large park for children, and an outdoor workout area. If you’re looking for crystal clear water and white sand, skip this beach, but if you want beautiful sunsets and a great atmosphere, then don’t miss Praia Norte.
Praia Fluvial Barracão dos Touros
This little beach on the River Lima is also a short walk from the center of Viana do Castelo, just past the Eiffel Bridge. Because its a river beach, the water is warm and calm. Its the perfect place for a picnic on a hot day and a great place for kids and adults to relax.
Praia do Cabedelo
This beach is across the river from Viana do Castelo, so it will require a car to get there or you can take the ferry in the summer. The ferry isn’t free, but its very affordable at €1,50 for adults and €0,80 for children. The ferry runs from 9am to 7pm in the summer, and leaves every half hour. If you are looking for a beach with fine sand that is good for swimming or water sports, then this is the beach to come to.
2. See some greenery at the parks.
Parque Ecológico Urbano
This large park is right behind Viana do Castelo’s river beach, so the two activities can be combined into one. Its a large park considering its so close to the city center. Its a great place to walk around and soak in some nature.
Marina’s Playground and Jardim Público de Viana do Castelo
This long garden is right next to the River Lima and includes a beautiful walking path lined on one side with cafés and on the other side with the river and the marina. There’s also a great park that fills up with families on sunny days, making it a good place for little ones to run around.
Jardim Dom Fernando
This is a small park and garden which isn’t worth going out of your way to see, but if you’re staying in the area, or you have little ones that you need to keep entertained, it can be fun to check out. There are two play areas, one for small kids and one for big kids, a little aviary with ducks, and some cute shops and cafés surrounding the park like a music store, book shop, butchers, and frutarias.
3. On a rainy day, head inside.
Casa dos Nichos
This archeological museum is completely free and open from 9am-1pm and 2pm-5pm on weekdays.
The Library
The Viana do Castelo library is in a large modern building on the waterfront with a space to drink coffee downstairs and plenty of places to sit, relax and read upstairs.
Antigos Paços do Concelho
Just off the Praça Republic, this beautiful building often has free events going on inside like an art exhibition or photo display. Its a small space, so don’t set time aside to go see it, but if you’re in the square, its worth checking it out.
4. Peek inside the beautiful churches.
Viana do Castelo is filled to the brim with stunning architecture and a great way to explore that architecture is by checking out the churches, many of which are often open and free to enter. Just remember to be quiet and respectful of those using the church for prayer.
5. See the view from the shopping mall.
The shopping center, Estação Viana Shopping, is a good place to pick up clothes, groceries, stationary, or just about anything else you need, and there’s a great food court on the second floor with outdoor seating, but even if you don’t want to spend any money at the mall, its worth going inside for the view alone. Situated near the train station, the mall has a beautiful view over the whole city.
6. Walk along the River Lima
There’s plenty to see along the River Lima, including the Eiffel Bridge and the Gil Eannes hospital ship. But the river is also a great place to enjoy in its own right with wide steps leading down to the water which are a perfect place to sit down, have a snack, and enjoy some bird-watching or people-watching.
7. Walk/Bike/Run around the Forte de Santiago de Barra
Near the mouth of the River Lima you can walk around the Fort of Santiago de Barra. The walk will take you past where the fishermen dock their boats, the fish market (Vianapesca), the maritime police, the docks, loop around the fort and then lead you back into town.
Alternatively a similar walk running parallel to the walk around the fort would start at the Gil Eannes and lead you past the sailing club (Viana Sailing).
Both walks are great for river views and popular with bikers and runners in the summer.
8. Wander the pretty streets.
Another free activity is simply walking around Viana do Castelo. The town is gorgeous and every street hides a surprising café or interesting shop, making it well-worth your time to just relax and see where the road takes you.
9. Explore the markets.
Viana do Castelo is host to lots of interesting markets. The most easily accessible from the city are those held along Jardim Público de Viana do Castelo. Most weekends in the summer there will be a craft market or antiques market happening along this long garden near the marina.
All year round there’s also the Friday market in front of Forte de Santiago de Barra, which has everything from furniture and clothes to fresh fruits.
10. Check the events page for free events
Viana do Castelo has free events on every month and the best place to check for these events is the Camara Municipal website. There are concerts, classes, parades, and festivals held throughout the year at various spots around the city, so be sure to check what events are on during your visit.
