Ponte de Lima: Portugal's Oldest Town

Ponte de Lima is often called Portugal’s oldest town, with a charter dating back to 1125. It’s a gentle riverside place in the green Minho, with a long medieval bridge, leafy riverbanks, manor houses and great food and vinho verde. Here’s how to visit.

Quick answer: Ponte de Lima is about 1 hour north of Porto and 30 minutes from Viana do Castelo. Walk across the medieval bridge, stroll the riverside avenue, visit on a market Monday (every other week), and eat arroz de sarrabulho with vinho verde. It’s also a stop on the Camino Português. See places to stay in Ponte de Lima.

Things to do

• The bridge: a long medieval bridge over the Lima, with a Roman section on the far bank.
• The riverside: plane-tree avenues, gardens and a sandy riverbank.
• The market: a huge traditional fair held on the riverbank every other Monday.
• Feiras Novas: one of Portugal’s oldest festivals, held in September.
• Manor houses: many of the region’s solares offer rural stays.
• The Ecovia do Lima: a cycle and walking path along the river. See cycling in Portugal.

Food and wine

Ponte de Lima is famous for arroz de sarrabulho, a rich rice dish with pork, and for the vinho verde of the Lima valley. See the vinho verde guide.

Nearby

• Viana do Castelo: see Viana do Castelo and the Minho.
• Peneda-Gerês: see Peneda-Gerês.
• Braga: see Braga.

More: walking the Camino Português and the most beautiful small towns.

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