Viseu the best city to live in Portugal

Viseu Dão Lafões

Viseu is located in the center of Portugal and is a charming city, elected several times as the best city to live in Portugal! With 2500 years of history, the city will surprise you with its beautiful monuments!

The city is known as the city of Viriato, “cidade jardim” (garden city) and Feira de São Mateus. Viseu has a special place in my heart: it is the city where I was born and the city where I went very often when growing up!

Viseu is a charming city, elected several times as the best city to live in Portugal!

Practical Information

Where is Viseu located?

Surrounded by mountains and rivers in the centre of Portugal, Viseu is known as the city of Viriato.

How to arrive in Viseu?

The main road that goes to Viseu is A25. Flixbus and Rede expressos buses depart from several cities to Viseu. The city has a small airport.

World Citizen Stories tip: The biggest road of Portugal (N2) passes by Viseu. Don’t forget to add a stamp on your passport of this beautiful city!

When to visit Viseu?

The city gets different in every season. Spring flowers, Autumn gets yellow and red with the leaves falling (visit Fontelo Park).

During August and September, the city gets very busy with the immigrants and Feira de São Mateus festivities. During Summer there are several activities, festivals and outdoor cinema.

Where to stay in Viseu?

Here are some suggestions of places to stay:

What to eat and drink in Viseu

Rancho à moda de Viseu
Vitela assada à moda Lafões
Eat a Viriato, pastel de feijão, castanha de ovos
Drink Dão wine (red or white)

Where to eat in Viseu?

Viseu centre:

Mesa d’Alegria (Portuguese tapas/petiscos)
Palace Viseu
Churrasqueira Jorge
Cardo’s Viseu
Taberna do Dão
Casa Arouquesa
Cantinho do Tito
Taberna Dona Maria
Santa Luzia
O Cantinho do Tito (gluten free options)
100 Papas na língua (gluten free options)

Near Viseu:

Quinta da Magarenha (I love the codfish with cream “bacalhau com natas”)
Mesa de Lemos
DeRaiz

What can you visit in Viseu?

Viseu cathedral, claustros and museum treasure of the Cathedral

Also known as the Cathedral of Santa Maria, it’s a monument with centuries of history! It dates back to the time of Dom Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal. The dominant style is Gothic, Manuelino and Baroque. Don’t miss the reliquary arm of Saint Teotónio (the Patron Saint of Viseu) on the left side of the Cathedral and the ceilings with Manueline style.

The “políptico” from the chancel of the Cathedral is now exposed in the Grão Vasco Museum. Don’t miss the chance to see it!

World Citizen Stories tips:

Inside the cathedral, there is also the museum treasures of the cathedral (price 2€). Next to the Misericordia church, there is the museum of Misericordia. If you wish to see this museum and the museum of the Cathedral you can buy a combined ticket for 3.5€.

Museum “Tesouros da Catedral”

Misericordia church

This beautiful church, is located in the same square as Viseu Cathedral. Dom Jorge de Ataíde ordered its construction in the XVI century. Its façade its from 1775 and it was built by António da Costa Faro.

Misericordia Museum

Grão Vasco Museum

A master of Renaissance painting, Vasco Fernandes was the first Portuguese painter to sign his paintings. The author of monumental works, Grão Vasco is the Great Vasco of Viseu, a mythical figure in Portuguese art.

World Citizen Stories Tip: Now you can visit the museum for free if you are a resident in Portugal.

Casa do Miradouro

The Casa do Miradouro houses the José Coelho Archaeological Collection, which celebrates this illustrious citizen of Viseu by making public his archaeological explorations in the region and an avant-garde understanding of the complex puzzle to which the various vestiges found belong.

There are also references to other important prehistoric landmarks in the region, such as the Megalithic Necropolis of Pedralta – Côta or the Mamaltar dolmen of Vale de Fachas, a National Monument.

Casa do Arco e Janelas Manuelinas

Museum Keil Amaral

This is a recent museum in the city, that opened in 2021!

The Keil Amaral Museum is a journey through the lives of five generations of a family closely linked to art in Portugal: the Keil Amarals. The museum tells the story of thirteen members of the family, from their individual to their collective journeys between the 19th and 20th centuries, through a series of works from their private collection.

Remains of Nossa Senhora do Postigo door from the Medieval wall of Viseu

Square (praça) Dom Duarte

The King Dom Duarte, son of D. João I and D. Filipa de Lencastre was born in Viseu in 1391 and died in 1438 in Tomar.

This is where people gather during the day and the night to catch up. Some activities in the city also happen here.

Rua Direita / Direita Street

This street used to be the biggest commerce place of the city

World Citizen Stories tip: When passing by Rua Direita, look at the floor and notice the drawings that give name to the perpendicular street to Rua Direita.

If you happen to pass at Rua Augusto Hilário make sure you see the house where he was born and died.

How many “Manuelinas” windows can you find in Rua Direita?

There are several examples of these Manueline windows scattered around the city of Viseu.

The most important ones – not only for their elegance but because they are impressive – are the ones on Rua Direita (at numbers 196, 198, 200, 202 and 204) and the ones on Rua D. Duarte, in a medieval tower. In addition, you can also find examples in Rua Augusto Hilário and Rua Sra da Boa Morte.

These specimens were produced during the reign of D. Manuel I, in the 16th century, and were inspired by the Discoveries. Marine elements, ropes and armillary spheres are thus identifiable in the Manueline-style architectural elements.

Viseu was, at the time, invaded by this architectural style, verified, for example, in the vault of the Cathedral.

Later, Manueline proliferated throughout civil architecture and several examples of remarkable and rare beauty remain to this day.

Panel of tiles in Rossio

Is a true picture postcard of Beira’s culture and a tourist icon of the city of Viseu.

The store Anda ver Portugal has tennis with this panel of tiles.

Paços do Conselho / Viseu City Hall

Parque Aquilino Ribeiro e Igreja dos Terceiros

Remains of the roman wall in Formosa Street

Porta dos cavaleiros e chafariz de São Francisco

Porta dos Cavaleiros (built by order of King Afonso V, this defensive structure was built in 1472 and consisted of 7 gates. Today only 2 remain intact).

Museu de História da cidade

In the heart of Rua Direita, one of the city’s most emblematic streets, we find “the first incarnation” of the City History Museum! This is where “Icons of Viseu – The Awakening of the Museum” is presented: the first exhibition of the City History Museum project, which will take you on a journey through 2,500 years of Viseu’s history by presenting some of its most important icons. A place full of memories where we can contemplate Viseu’s past, present and future.

World Citizen Stories tip: Poderá fazer uma visits virtual ao museu aqui.

Casa da Ribeira

Church Nossa Senhora da Conceição da Ribeira

Almeida Moreira Museum

Born in Viseu, Francisco Almeida Moreira was responsible for the foundation of the Grão Vasco Museum. The museum is located in the house where he lived. He had a big role in promoting the tourism of Viseu.

Porta do soar

Located in Sreet Nunes de Carvalho.

Classified as a National Monument, it is one of the seven existing entrances to the city’s medieval wall, of which only two remain.

Largo Pintor Gata

Largo Pintor Gata, formerly known as Largo de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios and Praça da Erva, in the heart of Viseu’s historic centre, is an urban space that stands out for its architectural surroundings and lively atmosphere.

Capela Nossa Senhora dos Remédios

Igreja da Ordem Terceira de Nossa Senhora do Carmos

Santiago park

Don’t miss the Viriato sun watch and the letters of “Viseu”.

Mothers Garden

The current name of this garden is due to the sculpture of the artist from Oporto, José de Oliveira Ferreira, in memory of his mother who was born in Viseu.

Rua Formosa

This is one of the most known streets and in Viseu and here you can see a Roman wall.

Built around the year 360, this Roman wall would have been four metres wide and nine metres high. Its observation is even more enjoyable at night, since the lights that illuminate it enhance the clarity and interpretation of the construction.

Writer Aquilino Ribeiro