When we search for the best things to do in Lamego, the most popular thing that will pop up is the famous Nossa Senhora dos Remédios Sanctuary, the city’s main landmark and one of the most beautiful religious temples in Portugal.

However, Lamego is a city that, despite its small size, has more to offer, making it the perfect getaway for those looking for a relaxed few days away from the hustle and bustle of the big Portuguese cities.

Its proximity to the Douro River also makes it possible to combine this city break with a more relaxed visit, enjoying the beautiful scenery along the river banks. Opt for accommodation with a swimming pool and a view over the Douro River and you’ll have, for sure, a couple of delightful days!

What’s more, the local gastronomy is recognised throughout the country. As I write this, I’m thinking of the famous bola de Lamego (a kind of sandwich made mostly from cured meats). The truth is that there are plenty of reasons to visit Lamego 🥰.

So, throughout this post, you’ll find information on all the must-visit places in Lamego, but also other tips for planning your visit to this city, such as:

• Best time of the year to visit Lamego
• How many days you need to visit Lamego
• Hotels in Lamego
• How to get to Lamego
• Restaurants in Lamego

Lamego is a small town in the northern interior of Portugal, located in the Viseu district. Lamego is this far from the main Portuguese cities:

• Porto: 1h35 (130 km)
• Braga: 1h40 (140 km)
• Coimbra: 1h50 (150 km)
• Lisbon: 3h40 (350 km)

Given how close Lamego is to some cities in the north of Portugal, this could be an excellent suggestion for a getaway or even a day trip from some of these cities!

Since Lamego is located in Portugal’s countryside, winters in Lamego tend to be quite cold and summers very hot. Therefore, one of the best times of year to visit Lamego is from April to June and September and October. During these months, temperatures are milder and there is less chance of rain.

If you wish to book accommodation with a pool and a view over the Douro River, then it’s best to visit the city during summer (June to September) to ensure pleasant temperatures for a good swim!

In addition, two festivities in Lamego should also be mentioned and you can choose to visit Lamego when they’re happening.

Firstly, there are Festas de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios. These festivities take place in September (in fact, there is even a local holiday on September 8th due to this festivity). The most important moment of this festivity is Procissão do Triunfo (Procession of Triumph), where the patron saint is carried by a team of oxen.

In addition to this festivity, it’s also worth highlighting Entrudo de Lazarim. This is one of the most genuine Carnival celebrations in Portugal and, at the festivity, you’ll find wooden caretos, among other things. It’s quite a lively festival! So, visiting Lamego at this time of year should not be ruled out as well.

Lamego is a small city, so we quickly cover its main points of interest in a day (or even a couple of hours). However, I suggest that you set aside two days to visit the city to ensure that you savour this trip without rushing.

For example, if you’re visiting in the warmer months, I highly recommend booking accommodation with a swimming pool and views over the Douro River. This way, you can enjoy the city atmosphere of Lamego, but also relax a bit on one of the days.

Without a doubt, one of the easiest ways to get to Lamego is by car. The city has good connections with the main cities and access to the city is good (I’m talking about the A24 highway, which brings you almost to the city’s entrance).

However, Lamego is one of the towns where the famous Nacional 2 road passes through. So, if you’re not in too much of a hurry (and want to save some money on highway tolls 😄), you can opt for this alternative and get to Lamego via the N2. The scenery along the way will certainly be much more pleasant.

If you can’t travel by car, don’t exclude Lamego from your list of destinations to visit in Portugal, as there are also buses that connect some of Portugal’s main cities with Lamego. For example, Rede Expressos has direct routes to the following cities:

• Porto: direct journey from various stations in the city (Campanhã, Polo Universitário) and it takes between 1h50 and 2h05. Tickets cost around 12€.
• Coimbra: direct journey takes around 2 hours and costs 14€.
• Braga: there is no direct option and the journey takes between 2h45 and 4h40. Tickets cost about 17.5€.

Despite being a small town, there are plenty of accommodation options in Lamego. In fact, there are quite a few interesting ones!

When I visited Lamego, I stayed in an accommodation located about 20 minutes drive from the city centre and I really liked it. It’s called Quinta de Casaldronho and it’s a relatively small but very cosy accommodation.

The room was very cosy and the breakfast had an interesting offer, with some locally made products. However, the most interesting part is the swimming pool with views overlooking the Douro Wine region. An excellent option for relaxing on warmer days 🥰.

Anyway, I’m also sharing some alternative hotel options in Lamego for different price levels:

I’d also like to take this opportunity to share that Lamego is located near two of the most elegant accommodations in the Douro region if not Portugal. They are the Six Senses Douro Valley and The Wine House Hotel – Quinta da Pacheca. These are indeed much more expensive options, but it could be an interesting way to celebrate a special occasion, for example.

To help you plan your trip to Lamego, I’ve put together an interactive map of Lamego’s main points of interest.

💡 EXTRA TIP: Would you like to extend this itinerary by a few days? Then I suggest visiting the Tua Valley region, which is about 1h10 by car from Lamego. Find out more about a getaway in the Tua Valley here.

We start this Lamego itinerary with what brings thousands of people to the city every year – the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios, dedicated to Lamego’s patron saint. This sanctuary is one of the most famous in Portugal, among other things because of its beautiful staircase.

Climbing the 686 steps of the baroque staircase located on the slope of Monte de Santo Estêvão (hill), we come across several patios. These deserve our attention as much as the religious building itself at the top of the staircase. Along the staircase, there are several blue and white tile murals and some fountains. Stop to appreciate them, it’s well worth it! One of the most beautiful courtyards is Pátio dos Reis.

At the top of the staircase, we are treated to unrivalled views of the city. What’s more, the trees of Santo Estêvão Park that surround the staircase create an even more magical effect.

The sanctuary, which began to be built in the 18th century and was completed in the early 20th century, can be visited free of charge.

💡 EXTRA TIP: If you don’t feel up to it or for some reason can’t climb the staircase, I suggest driving to the top of the Sanctuary and going down just a few steps until the first patio appears. To see the whole complex (including the staircase), I suggest you visit Avenida Dr. Alfredo Sousa.

If you want to take a picture of the most famous landmark in Lamego, there’s no better place than Avenida Dr. Alfredo Sousa. Here, you’ll find the Nossa Senhora dos Remédios Sanctuary perfectly framed.

This avenue is a place for locals to gather, especially during local festivities. It has a central corridor lined with trees on both sides and, at the end of the avenue, you can see the famous sanctuary.

Don’t miss the curious Cochicho Statues (cochicho translates to whisper) or Capela de Espírito Santo (Holy Spirit Chapel). And if you get hungry, this is also where you’ll find one of Lamego’s best-known pastry shops, where you can try some of the best bolas de Lamego – Pastelaria da Sé. There are various fillings for the bolas, but I still prefer the most traditional one made with cured meat.

💡 EXTRA TIP: Every June, Feira da Bola de Lamego (a local fair dedicated to the famous bola de Lamego dish) takes place, where you can sample various types of this local delicacy.

Another church worth visiting in Lamego is the Church of Santa Cruz – one of the largest in the city. Although its exterior is nothing special, if you can, go inside and have a look. You’ll find it decorated with gold carvings and some tile panels.

At the end of Avenida Dr. Alfredo Sousa, we find another very important monument in Lamego – the Cathedral. Its exterior and interior decoration represent various architectural styles.

Some records indicate that this religious temple already existed in 572 (even though it was a different building), but it only reappeared in the 12th century after the Arab invasions. In fact, construction of the current building only began in 1159.

After some renovations, the current architecture includes the triple portico, which is one of the main Manueline-style works in this part of Portugal.

A few metres from Lamego Cathedral and located in the former Bishop’s Palace (Paço do Bispo), we find the Lamego Museum. This Baroque-style building currently houses works of religious art, including paintings by the Portuguese painter Grão Vasco.

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: The opening hours of the Lamego Museum are Monday to Sunday from 10 am to 12.30 pm and from 2 pm to 5.30 pm. Tickets for the temporary exhibitions cost 2€ and the Varosa Valley set costs 7€. On Sundays and public holidays, entry is free for all residents of Portugal. More information here.

Relatively close by, you can also have a look at the Ribeiro Conceição Theatre. The building in which this theatre is located was built at the beginning of the 18th century and was intended to be a hospital (Misericórdia Hospital). The theatre only opened more than a century later, in 1924, but it has kept its original 18th-century façade.

After being closed for a few years, Ribeiro Conceição Theatre is once again an important cultural venue in the region. If you’re curious to visit its interior, make sure to check out its current programme.

It’s time to head to another part of Lamego. I recommend that you do so by Rua da Olaria, one of the city’s most charismatic streets.

In the Middle Ages, there were several pottery workshops there. This was one of the most important areas in terms of local commerce, but not much remains of those times. Most of the establishments on this street are now bars and restaurants. But visiting it is still a must!

Another of the must-see places in Lamego is its castle, which clearly tells us stories of other times. From Rua da Olaria, enter the walled area through Porta do Sol (city gate).

It is said that this castle was built on top of an ancient fort that was later fortified by the Roman Empire. The visit to the castle is free and there are several information panels where you can learn a bit more about its construction and importance in the region!

Don’t miss out on the 20-metre-high tower for views over the city!

Still within the walled area (known as the Castle Quarter, Bairro do Castelo in Portuguese), don’t miss a visit to the Lamego Cistern, which dates back to the 13th century. This cistern is considered one of the best of the medieval period in the country. This cistern provided the population with a water supply for several years.

Today, the cistern only serves as an exhibition of what life was like back then and the visit, although relatively quick, is free.

Just around the corner, I also recommend visiting Porta dos Figos Archaeological Site. This is the most important archaeological site in the city and displays remains found in the Castle Quarter, some of which date back to the Roman occupation period (1st to 5th centuries).

It’s a visit that makes you travel back in time and, best of all, it’s completely free!

Relatively close to the Castle Quarter, you can also include the Church of Santa Maria de Almacave in your Lamego itinerary.

This church dates back to the second half of the 12th century and is a Romanesque construction. In addition, some believe that the first courts of the Kingdom of Portugal were held in this church, which demonstrates its importance to the region.

Don’t miss Jardim da República as well – a small garden area in the city and close to other points of interest in Lamego.

Some of the monuments you can enjoy in the surroundings include the Chagas Monastery Church, the Graça Church and the Town Hall building.

Finally, take advantage of the proximity to Rua da Seara. It’s one of the best-known streets in the city, but the reason for including it as one of the best things to do in Lamego is the small Senhora da Esperança Chapel, which is very close to this street.

The interior of this chapel is decorated with tiles and carvings and was founded in 1586.

The truth is that you can have some amazing food experiences in this Portuguese region! Apart from the famous bolas de Lamego, there are other gastronomic delights that you should consider when you visit Lamego.

Firstly, there’s the Lamego ham. Although I’m not particularly fond of ham, one of the best places to try this local delicacy is A Presunteca de Lamego.

In terms of main dishes, the highlight is the cabrito assado no forno with potatoes (oven-roasted goatling). A real treat!

To complement this incredible food, Lamego is also known for its excellent wines. This was expected since the city is located in the Douro Region.

And to finish off, it’s time for some dessert. Try out one of the city’s most typical sweets – tarte de Lamego. It’s an egg-based dessert and it also includes almonds. But there are also other options such as Peixinhos de Chila or Grades de Lamego.

In terms of restaurants, I tried two in the city. Firstly, there was Douro Excellence. This restaurant had dishes a bit different from usual. However, they preserved the region’s traditional flavours. The service was very friendly and the food was excellent. I highly recommend it!

The other restaurant I tried was Casa Filipe. I tried the cabrito assado, but honestly, I didn’t like it that much, even though it’s one of the best-known restaurants in the city.

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