Located in the Douro Valley in Northern Portugal, Lamego, Portugal is a fairytale town for those looking to escape the busy cities of Lisbon or Porto and spend time relaxing, slowing down, and sightseeing at your own pace. Only a 3.5-hour drive north of Lisbon and an 1.5-hour drive east of Porto, Lamego is a small, but beautiful town of 26,000+ residents in the Viseu District on the shores of the Balsemão River.
Truthfully, Lamego can be seen passing through on your way from Lisbon to Porto (or vice versa), but if you’re really looking to slow down or explore the Douro Valley, it’s the perfect place to base yourself for a night or two.
How to Get to Lamego
Lamego can easily be reached by car from anywhere in Portugal. From Lisbon the drive is 3.5 hours, and from Porto the drive is 1.5-hours.
If you choose to drive to Lamego, there is free parking around the city. But once you’re in town you don’t need a car unless you’re planning to explore the outskirts of town. (I prefer to rent a car from Discover Cars to compare prices across multiple different rental companies).
If you are planning to rent a car, don’t miss…
- Everything You Need to Know About Renting a Car in Portugal
- The Best 8 Day Northern Portugal Road Trip
BOOK YOUR RENTAL CAR HERE!
Where to Stay in Lamego
For being such a small town, there’s a good number of hotels to choose from. My recommendations for hotels in Lamego include…
BOOK YOUR STAY IN LAMEGO HERE!
Things to See and Do in Lamego
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- Santuario de Nossa Senhora dos Remedios
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- Santuario de Nossa Senhora dos Remedios
Lamego Cathedral
You can easily see all of Lamego’s attractions in a few hours, but as mentioned earlier, if you want to really slow down I recommend spending a night in town.
TOP RECOMMENDED TOUR IN LAMEGO: QUINTA DA PORTELA DE BAIXO WINERY TOUR AND TASTING
CASTELO DE LAMEGO
Lamego’s medieval castle is perched high up on a hill, overlooking the town. While the walk is steep to get there, it’s worth it for the views. The entrance to the castle is free and really the only thing to do once you arrive is walk along the old walls.
SANTUARIO DE NOSSA SENHORA DOS REMEDIOS
This is by far the most impressive thing about Lamego, an 18th-century historic church dedicated to Our Lady of Remedies. The church draws visitors from all over, especially on September 8th, a day of celebration where patrons climb the 600+ stairs to the top, asking for miracles along the way. Entrance to the church is free.
LAMEGO CATHEDRAL
The Lamego Cathedral is a Catholic Church built in 1129. It’s located in the heart of town and entrance is free to visit.
STROLL THROUGH JARDIM DA REPUBLICA
Jardim da República is the perfect place to sit and relax with a book in hand. There are benches to sit on, statues to admire, and in the spring and summer beautiful flowers adorn the gardens.
STOP FOR PASTRIES
While you’re in town, I highly recommend a stop for pastries at Padaria Rina, with shops throughout town. I chose this “stick” looking pastry stuffed with Nutella and it was delicious!
EAT A TRADITIONAL MEAL
Before leaving, you’ll definitely want to stop for a traditional dish coming from Northern Portugal. TaskaZita was a gem of a find, a complete local spot that serves traditional dishes. I recommend trying the francesinha, a Portuguese sandwich (originally from Porto), made with bread, meat, sausage, melted with cheese, topped with a fried egg, in a thick tomato/beer sauce.
VISIT THE DOURO VALLEY
Lamego is the perfect spot to stay if you plan to visit the beautiful Douro Valley. If you plan to spend a couple of nights in town then I definitely recommend heading to the valley for at least one wine tasting and even dinner. A 30-minute drive east will bring you to the beautiful winery, Quinta dos Murcas. You don’t need a reservation unless you want to guarantee a tour. After wine tasting, I recommend driving to DOC – Chef Rui Paula for an elevated lunch or dinner experience.
For everything you need to know about visiting the Douro Valley, don’t miss…
Portugal Essentials – What You Need & Need to Know About Visiting Portugal
TRAVELING THROUGH PORTUGAL
- The easiest way to book train tickets in Portugal is through Omio
- To book a flight to Portugal, I recommend using this platform or Skyscanner to compare options (if you’re traveling from the US, sign up for Going to receive free flight alerts when prices drop)
- For car rentals in Portugal, I recommend Discover Cars
- If you want an English speaking private driver waiting to pick you up at the airport, use Welcome Pickups
- I highly recommend travel insurance when traveling through Portugal – I use and recommend SafetyWing (read why here and here)
- If you need a SIM card, aloSIM for an easy and affordable e-SIM – use code “KYLEE5” for a 5% discount
ACCOMODATION IN PORTUGAL
- To easiest way to book hotels in Portugal is through this platform
TOURS IN PORTUGAL
- For tours and activities in Portugal, I recommend using Get Your Guide or Viator
- For food tours in Portugal, I recommend Devour Tours
- For walking tours in Portugal, I recommend Take Walks
- For tickets to museums and attractions, I recommend Tiqets
WHAT TO BRING TO PORTUGAL
- Don’t forget a Portugal guide book to help plan your travels
- You’ll need a travel plug adapter (Portugal uses type C)
- My favorite luggage is Calpak
- My favorite travel backpack is Nordace
- I recommend bringing a reusable water bottle to cut down on plastic waste
For a small town, Lamego, Portugal packs quite the punch. Like I said earlier, it’s the perfect stop if you’re looking to slow down and gain a more “insider” look to Portugal.
If you’re planning a trip to Portugal, don’t miss…
For more information on things to see and do in Portugal, make sure to check out my Instagram page/highlight reel by searching “#ppinportugal” or under my highlights for “Portugal”; alternatively, head to my TikTok and search for the saved “Portugal” highlight
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Founded by Kylee, a NICU nurse with nine years of experience, including seven years as a travel nurse; Passports and Preemies was created in 2017 and is now the go-to travel and lifestyle channel for nurses who crave adventure beyond the bedside. Whether you’re a staff nurse looking for your next getaway or a travel nurse navigating life on the road, this space is designed to help you maximize your time off, explore the world, and prevent nurse burnout.
On Passports and Preemies, you’ll find everything from travel nursing insights – how to get started, land the best assignments, and thrive on the road – to expert travel tips, destination guides, and real-talk about balancing nursing with a life well-traveled. Passports and Preemies also includes Beyond the Bedside – group trips for nurses around the world; as well as the podcast, Passports and Preemies Talks.
Hi, is the drive from Porto to Lamego easy ? A little apprehensive since i’ve only driven in American and from cursory research it looks like there may be some windy/narrow roads?
Author
Hi Zee! I found the drive to be easy. You are driving through windy roads and tunnels, but no roads seemed to be narrow unless you’re going into the Douro Valley. Hope this helps!