Before you go

Your trip to Valença.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Valença – Viana do Castelo Destination Porto about 50 km from Viana do Castelo

How to get there

Aeroporto Francisco Sá Carneiro (Porto) (OPO) Maia · 105 km
Estação ferroviária de Valença 1 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

Check before booking. From Porto it is about 1 hour 15 minutes by car via the A3 motorway. The Celta train, between Porto and Vigo, and the regional trains on the Minho line stop at Valença station, near the fortress. On foot, Tui is about 20 minutes away, across the international bridge. Confirm schedules in advance.

How many days

Half a day is enough for the fortress and the bridge. A full day allows you to include Tui on the other side of the river, or cycle a section of the ecopista. Many visitors do Valença as a day trip from Porto or from Vigo.

When to go

From May to September the days are long and usually dry, good for the ecopista and for Monte do Faro. The Minho sees rain through much of autumn and winter. On weekends the fortress often receives many Spanish shoppers.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

You don't need a car for the fortress, the bridge and Tui, which are all visited on foot, nor for the ecopista, which starts near the station. A car is helpful to reach Monte do Faro and to travel around Alto Minho.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Valença

Morning
Fortaleza de Valença
Enter the fortress through the Porta da Coroada and cross the two citadels along the cobbled streets, with the church of Santa Maria dos Anjos and the old houses. Walk the ramparts to the viewpoint over the Minho river, with Tui straight ahead.
Afternoon
International bridge and Tui
After lunch, walk across the two-level iron bridge to Tui in Spain, and climb up to the cathedral.
Late afternoon
Ecopista do Minho
Back in Valença, walk or cycle a section of the ecopista that starts at the station and follows the Minho river through fields and vineyards.
Evening
Dinner in the fortress
Dine within the walls, with Minho dishes such as bacalhau and cabrito, and vinho verde from the region, like alvarinho.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

Can you walk from Valença to Tui?

Yes. The international bridge has a pedestrian walkway, and the walk from the fortress to Tui’s center takes about 20 to 30 minutes.

Why does the fortress have so many shops?

Because it's on the border, Valença has long attracted Spanish shoppers. The streets inside the walls are full of shops selling towels, bed linen and handicrafts.

Is Valença a stop on the Camino de Santiago?

Yes. the Caminho Português central passes through the fortress and crosses the bridge to Tui, in Galicia.

Can you do Valença as a day trip from Porto?

Yes. It’s about 1 hour 15 minutes by car, or a little longer by train. In one day you can see the fortress, the bridge and Tui.

Does the time change when crossing into Spain?

Yes. In Tui the clock is one hour ahead of Valença.

Back to Valença