Pedro DominguesLamego is a fascinating city! It is historic and monumental, being a mandatory stop on several itineraries in Portugal. I visited Lamego when I took National Road 2 (which crosses Portugal from North to South), and came back when I went to discover the Douro Valley by taking National Road 222 (which crosses Portugal from West to East). It has several impressive sights in the country, with total emphasis on the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios.
Lamego is that city that always surprises you and, due to its rich religious heritage, it is easy to be among the favorites of any travel itinerary. The Museum of Lamego, for example, is one of the best I’ve visited in Portugal, and the Cathedral of Lamego has one of the most beautiful interiors when it comes to churches. None of them, however, comes close to the beautiful Desterro Church, which on the outside does not show the grandeur that it has on the inside!
There is no shortage of reasons to visit Lamego! In this article, I hope to help you decide to do it as soon as possible and guide you with useful information to prepare for this trip. Lamego is the ideal place for a weekend getaway! Come and discover all things to do in Lamego, what to see and what to visit there.
Where is Lamego located?
Lamego is located between Peso da Régua and Castro Daire, when we think of National Road 2. Or it is between Resende and Armamar, if the focus is on National Road 222 along Douro River.
It is a municipality in the district of Viseu, and also has Mesão Frio and Tarouca as neighboring municipalities in addition to the others mentioned.
MORE ARTICLES FROM THE NORTH OF PORTUGAL: - Porto Itinerary - Things to do in Porto - Best Museums in Porto - Best Churches and Cathedrals in Porto - Best Parks and Gardens in Porto - Best Port Wine Cellars in Porto - Best Beaches in Porto - Best Day Trips from Porto - Best Matosinhos Beaches - Things to do in Matosinhos - Things to do in Vila do Conde - Things to do in Póvoa de Varzim - Things to do in Vila Nova de Gaia - Things to do in Espinho - Minho | Northern Portugal Itinerary - Things to do in Viana do Castelo - Things to do in Ponte de Lima - Things to do in Monção - Things to do in Valença - Things to do in Caminha - Things to do in Braga - Things to do in Guimarães - Things to do in Barcelos - Things to do in Esposende - Things to do in Arcos de Valdevez - Peneda Gerês National Park Itinerary - Best Hikes and Trails in Peneda Gerês National Park - Best Peneda Gerês National Park Waterfalls and Lagoons - Douro Valley Itinerary - Douro Valley Wineries - Best Douro Viewpoints - Things to do in Peso da Régua - Things to do in Pinhão - Best beaches in Northern Portugal - Trás-os-Montes Itinerary - Things to do in Bragança - Montesinho Natural Park Itinerary - Douro International Natural Park Itinerary
Travel Tips to visit Lamego
1. Rent a car to visit Lamego
You have easy access by bus from Porto to Lamego, so you don’t need a car to visit just the essentials I mentioned in the city center. If you are going to start an itinerary in Douro Valley, however, a car is mandatory, and you can do your research with Discover Cars before renting one. It allows for very good comparisons between the most common car rental companies.
2. How to get to Lamego?
If you want to visit Lamego and Douro Valley but haven’t bought tickets to Portugal yet, I recommend that you use Skyscanner or Google Flights to do a search before buying them, comparing prices and flight conditions. You have many connections with Porto from abroad.
As for public transport, I already mentioned the buses (Rede Expressos), but you can always check on Rome2Rio website to find out all the possible ways to reach a certain destination.
3. Take out Travel Insurance when visiting Portugal
To be protected against several types of travel hazards, I also recommend that you take out travel insurance for your stay in Portugal, and I recommend to do it with World Nomads.
4. When to visit Lamego?
You can visit Lamego at any time of the year and leave satisfied. If crowds bother you, I highly recommend a visit to Lamego outside of the main festivities.
But Lamego has two unmissable annual events.
One of them is part of the 7 Portuguese wonders of Popular Culture: the Festivities in Honor of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios, in early September. The other is the Carnival of Lazarim, one of the most traditional and genuine in Portugal.
5. Gastronomy and Restaurants in Lamego?
- You have to taste the fabulous Bôlas of Lamego. These are completely mandatory, and quite traditional.
- For a good meal, the region’s roast kid never disappoints.
- And for dessert, how about Biscoito da Teixeira?
- The drink will obviously be Port Wine.
When it comes to restaurants where to eat in Lamego, there is no shortage of excellent options, but some do not fit every budget, as is the case of Douro Excellence. For a good and cheap restaurant, Casa Filipe is my suggestion: it has a lot of quality! For excellent tapas and snacks, head to Casa da Rua.
6. Accommodation tips to visit Lamego
| Accommodation | Score | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Quinta da Pacheca | 9.0 | Douro River |
| Lamego Hotel & Life | 9.1 | City of Lamego |
| Casa Relógio de Sol | 9.4 | Douro River |
| Douro Castelo Signature Hotel | 9.1 | City of Lamego |
| Paraíso Douro AL | 9.1 | Lamego Surroundings |
| Quinta da Timpeira | 8.7 | Lamego Surroundings |
| Vila Galé Collection Douro | 8.4 | Douro River |
| Delfim Douro Hotel | 9.0 | Douro River |
| Six Senses Douro Valley | 9.5 | Douro River |
| O Cantinho do Colégio | 9.4 | City of Lamego |
| Casa Portas | 9.0 | City of Lamego |
| Muralha Charm House | 9.4 | City of Lamego |
Best Things to do in Lamego
The visit to Lamego is divided between the historic center, the surroundings of the historic center and Douro River. That’s more or less how I structured this article, and that’s how I’m going to show you the best things to do in Lamego in a 2-day itinerary.
Map | Things to do in Lamego
Visit the Historic Center of Lamego
In the historic center of Lamego, I recommend parking your car somewhere next to the Interactive Tourism Office. There is a parking lot there, which you can use! Your itinerary should start with a visit to this office to pick up one of the city maps.
1. Visit the Museum of Lamego
Through this tourist map you will realize that the first major attraction to visit, closer to the tourist office, is the extraordinary Museum of Lamego.
Lamego Museum is one of my favorites in Portugal, as I mentioned at the beginning of this article. It is located in the old Episcopal Palace and inside you will find impressive collections of painting, sculpture, ceramics, jewellery, furniture, tapestry or engraving. Some of the artefacts on display are considered National Treasures.
The biggest highlight goes clearly to the gilded chapels transferred there from the former Convent of Chagas. They are truly remarkable.
Find out more about museum opening times and prices on the official website.
2. Visit Lamego Cathedral
After visiting the museum, the Cathedral of Lamego appears. This is one of the largest buildings in the city, impressive from the outside as well as the inside.
Of course, the 16th-century cloister, the 3 elaborate entrance porticos, the Romanesque tower that once served as a prison and the colorful paintings on the ceiling of the church stand out. Not to mention the gilded altars.
3. Admire Ribeiro Conceição Theater
Ribeiro Conceição Theater is across the street from the Cathedral. It’s in an 18th-century building, but it only emerged as a theater in the 20th century. I was fascinated by the simple yet beautiful female sculptures that greet you upon entry. Go see a show on one of your nights in Lamego.
4. Stroll through the neighborhood of Ponte
From the cathedral square, head towards Ponte neighborhood on National Road 226: it is just a short walk away. There you will have to cross the bridge that gave it its name (“Ponte” in English means “bridge”), discover its narrow streets and visit the churches of Nossa Senhora dos Aflitos and Nossa Senhora dos Meninos.
5. Visit Desterro Church
Then comes Desterro Church. From the outside, this church doesn’t look like anything special, but inside it has a gilded carving superior to those found in the Museum of Lamego. This is for me the most beautiful church in Lamego, and one of the most beautiful I’ve seen in Portugal. Check some pictures below. 😉
Note that if the church is closed, you should ring the bell on the house on the left, as the lady who lives there is responsible for ensuring access to the interior of the church. 😉 That's how I managed to visit it!
6. Visit the Church and Convent of Santa Cruz
In front of the Convent of Santa Cruz you will see military equipment, and this is due to the fact that today it is the headquarters of a Portuguese Army Unit. The Church can still be visited, however, if you ask the guards politely. 😀 The convent dates back to the 16th century and has a fortified appearance, with the interior of the church standing out for its tile panels.
7. Visit the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios
As far as the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios is concerned, I have always had a hard time deciding whether or not it is more beautiful than Bom Jesus de Braga, a similar sanctuary in northern Portugal. Bom Jesus Staircase looks better to me, but the church at the Sanctuary of Lamego is more elegant in my opinion.
What I recommend is that you go up to the church by the stairs, visiting the sanctuary park on the way down, full of cool corners to discover and even caves.
Other highlights of this Portuguese monument are:
- The Courtyard of the Kings and the Fountain of the Giants, at the top of the staircase.
- The Pelican Fountain.
- And the Courtyard of Nossa Senhora de Lourdes and the Mermaid Fountain.
I liked the detail that there are fountains of drinking water on the way to the Sanctuary.
8. Walk along Avenue Doutor Alfredo Sousa
Returning to the base of the stairs, it is worth exploring the main square of the city (Avenue Doutor Alfredo Sousa), and its garden. The most important thing is watching people pass by, sitting on a terrace having a drink, or eating good traditional food. Be sure to admire the ponds and statues alluding to the 4 seasons of the year.
9. Pass by the Chapel and Fountain of the Holy Spirit
At the end of the garden, next to the monument in honor of the 9th Infantry Regiment, you will find the Fountain and the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, both tourist attractions that cannot be missed before going up to the castle of Lamego.
10. Go up to the Castle of Lamego through Porta do Sol
It is possible to visit the Castle’s Keep, which dates back to the 12th century. You can also climb the walls for a view of the city.
Another beautiful view of the city is achievable next to Porta do Sol (“Sun Door”, in english), which is actually one of the entrances to the castle grounds.
11. Visit the Cistern of Lamego
Also inside the walled enclosure is the Cistern of Lamego. It is gigantic, 20 meters long and 10 meters wide, originally dating from the 13th century.
12. Leave the Castle grounds through Porta dos Figos
On the other side of the enclosure is Porta dos Figos (figs door) and its archaeological centre. Inside, you can literally walk over the visitable ruins, as the floor is made of glass.
13. Stroll through Republic Garden and Isidoro Guedes Park
Next to Lamego Town Hall are two of the most beautiful green spaces in the city. Republic Garden is undoubtedly the better of the two, with its lakes, bandstand, garden benches and many flowers.
14. Admire what remains of the Convent of Chagas
It was next to Republic Garden that the old Convent of Chagas was located, destined for Clarissa nuns. Today, only the Church remains, and the most spectacular heritage was donated to the Museum of Lamego for preservation.
15. Visit the Churches of Nossa Senhora da Graça, Santa Maria de Almacave and São Francisco
These 3 churches, to complete the historic center, are on the way back to Avenue Doutor Alfredo Sousa.
The first is the Church of Nossa Senhora da Graça, which is what remains of the former Convent of Gracianos, from the 17th century, which was later demolished, giving rise to the building of the Town Hall of Lamego.
The Church of Santa Maria de Almacave is of Romanesque origin, from the 12th century. And the Church of São Francisco is what remains of an old convent from the 16th century.
Visit the surroundings of the city of Lamego
Once you’re back in the car, it’s time to explore the surroundings of the historic center and the city.
1. Go to Régua Dam and Varosa Dam
Régua Dam almost needs no introduction. It is a dam on Douro River that has Lamego on one side and Peso da Régua on the other.
The Varosa Dam, in turn, arises after the convergence of Balsemão River into the Varosa River, being much wilder than the previous one, embedded between rocky escarpments before Varosa River flows into Douro. The landscape is sublime.
2. Visit the Chapel of São Pedro de Balsemão and the Convent of Santo António de Ferreirim
The Chapel of São Pedro de Balsemão dates back to the 7th century, during the Visigothic era. Of course, the current building is the result of later reconstructions. The interior is fabulous, with pieces of extremely high value, and the surrounding landscape is also very beautiful, as it is located on the banks of River Balsemão.
In turn, the Convent of Santo António de Ferreirim was once part of the Franciscan order and is accompanied by a medieval tower. This one, unfortunately, I haven’t been able to visit inside yet.
Both the Chapel of São Pedro Balsemão and the Convent of Santo António de Ferreirim are part of a group of monuments that form Varosa Valley Route, shared with the municipality of Tarouca. Highlights of these route also include the Monastery of Salzedas, the Bridge and Tower of Ucanha, and the Monastery of São João de Tarouca.
3. Get to know the tradition of the Carnival of Lazarim at the Interpretive Center of Iberian Mask
At the beginning of the article I mentioned that you should visit Lamego during Carnival, and go to Lazarim to participate in the festivities. But if you can’t visit Lamego during Carnival, I leave you the possibility of visiting the Interpretative Center of the Iberian Mask instead.
In the centre, you will be able to learn about the history of this carnival, find out how the masks are made and with what materials, you will be able to see real examples of carnival masks and disguises, and enjoy seeing many photographs of previous carnivals.
Discover Douro Valley in Lamego
Apart from visiting Régua Dam that I already mentioned, there are other incredible things to do in Lamego. I will write about them next.
1. Walk Port Wine Trail, starting from the Church of Samodães
The Port Wine Trail is not one of those trails that I consider mandatory, but it is for me the most interesting in Lamego.
Even if you don’t walk the complete trail, go to the Church of Samodães, because from the viewpoint next to the church you can see the city of Peso da Régua and Douro river in the distance.
2. Visit Peso da Régua
Lamego and Peso da Régua are like sister cities. Whenever I visit one, I end up visiting the other too, or almost always! After all, the city of Lamego is not on the banks of Douro river like Peso da Régua, and therefore, when we approach the river, we end up seeing the bridges of Peso da Régua and we cannot resist stopping.
Guided Tours with Get Your Guide, Viator and Civitatis 1 - Douro Valley Tour from Porto 2 - From Porto: Régua and Douro Valley Scenic Cruise 3 - Régua Day Cruise from Porto 4 - From Peso da Régua: Wine Tasting, River Cruise and Lunch 5 - Peso da Régua Cruise 6 - Authentic Douro Wine Tour including lunch 7 - Wine Venture and Boat Trip in Douro Valley
3. Visit Quinta da Pacheca
Another alternative to get to know Douro wine heritage better is to visit some of the Wineries in Lamego. I recommend Quinta da Pacheca, which promotes various activities for visitors, by appointment. You can participate in the harvests if it is the right season, or simply visit the cellars and vineyards, and have some wine tastings.
- To know more, check my article of the best Douro Valley Wineries.
- Check also this tour to visit Quinta da Portela de Baixo.
Other Itineraries and Travel Guides in Portugal
- N2 Portugal Road Trip Itinerary
- Madeira Itinerary and Travel Guide
- São Miguel Itinerary and Travel Guide (Azores)
- Terceira Itinerary and Travel Guide (Azores)
- Pico Itinerary in Azores
- Faial Itinerary in Azores
- Minho | Northern Portugal Itinerary
- Porto Itinerary and Travel Guide
- Things to do In Braga (Minho)
- Things to do in Guimarães (Minho)
- Things to do in Viana do Castelo (Minho)
- Peneda Gerês National Park Itinerary
- Douro Valley Itinerary
- Trás-os-Montes Itinerary
- Things to do in Bragança
- Montesinho Natural Park Itinerary
- Douro International Natural Park Itinerary
- Things to do in Aveiro
- Things to do in Coimbra
- Things to do in Leiria
- Things to do in Fatima
- Things to do in Nazaré
- Things to do in Peniche
- Things to do in Évora (Alentejo)
- Things to do in Beja (Alentejo)
- Algarve Road Trip Itinerary
- Things to do in Lagos (Algarve)
- Things to do in Portimão (Algarve)
- Things to do in Faro (Algarve)
- Things to do in Tavira (Algarve)
Of course, I especially highlight my Douro Valley Itinerary. If you are visiting Lamego and want to know more about the region, this is the right article to read. 😉 But on this site you will also find a fantastic Guide to Porto, and others related to the North of Portugal and even other parts of the country! 😉
I hope this list of things to do in Lamego was useful for you! Please send me your feedback in the comment section below.
