7 Best Sights in Northern Portugal, Portugal

Plans for an underground car park in front of the city's courthouse were canceled in 2006 when remains of the long-lost Roman baths, dating back to the 1st century AD, came to light—steam still rising from the hot spring. This free museum opened in 2021, to showcase an ancient therapeutic complex that is one of the largest unearthed in Europe, with two large pools and seven smaller ones, and a hydraulic system that still works today.

In the heart of the old shipyard district, the former Royal Customs House houses displays on Portuguese maritime voyages, especially those that started in Vila do Conde, and on local shipbuilding over the centuries, covering various types of vessels and construction processes. Upstairs, there are fascinating ship-related documents from the municipal archive; your ticket also also gives you access to the Nau Quinhentista—a locally built replica of a 16th-century carrack, tied up at the quay across the road. More boat-related displays can be found in the tourist office, a short walk upriver. For a few extra euros, a joint ticket can be had for all the municipal museums, including the local history displays in the "Center of Memory." 

Created in 1919 by António Maria Pereira Júnior, the Escola de Rendas (Lace-Making School) is attached to the Museu das Rendas de Bilros de Vila do Conde. Here you can see beautiful examples of lace from the region and from around the world.

The beautifully preserved convent buildings surrounding the Colegiada de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira house this museum, known for its beautiful displays of religious art, medieval statuary, and coats of arms. The highlight is a 14th-century silver triptych of the Nativity that's full of animation and power. It's said to have been captured from the king of Castile at the Battle of Aljubarrota and presented to the victorious Dom João I, whose tunic, worn at the battle, is preserved in a glass case nearby.

A five-minute walk from the medieval bridge, this amazing museum has a collection comprising more than 9,000 pieces of pottery from various epochs and from all over the world, particularly Portuguese-language countries. It all makes for a fascinating showcase of traditional pottery techniques and styles. There are also workshops and a documentation center.  If you have trouble finding the place, look for the massive rooster out front.

Viana is known for its colorful traditional outfits, making the Costume Museum an important city landmark. Displays show how colors and patterns vary, even from village to village, as well as how the garments are made by hand. A separate room showcases the rich regional tradition of working in precious metals. The museum shop is an excellent place to pick up jewelry, traditional embroidery, and other craft items.

If you can't make your visit to the region coincide with one of the festivals in which local lads wearing wooden masks roam the streets, the Museu Ibérico da Máscara e do Traje is definitely worth a visit. A joint Portuguese-Spanish initiative, it has displays on the celebrations in villages across Trás-os-Montes and in Zamora, over the border. The many costumes on show are riotously colorful and the masks strikingly carved. Information in English is available.