Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Police Station
(
258 809 880; Rua de Aveiro)
Post Office
(Av dos Combatentes da Grande Guerra 323;
8.30am-6pm Mon-Fri)
Viana Welcome Centre
( 258 098 415;
www.vivexperiencia.pt
; Rotunda da Liberdade; 10am-7pm mid-
Jun-mid-Sep, 10am-11pm Aug, 10am-5pm Tue-Sun mid-Sep-mid-Feb, 10am-6pm Tue-Sun mid-Feb-mid-Jun)
This
private outfit offers creative city tours (€15 on foot, €20 by bike) in multiple languages, as
well as regional food, wine and culture itineraries in the Douro and Minho. Canyoneering,
surfing and hiking are also available, as is bike rental (per hour/day €2.50/11) and rick-
shaw carts for €9 per hour.
Getting There & Around
BUS
Long-distance
expresso
buses operate from the shiny, centralised bus station, which is just
across the tracks from the train station.
AV Cura/Transcolvia
( 258 800 340)
Runs up the Lima valley to Ponte de Lima (€3, one
hour), Ponte da Barca (€3.75, 1½ hours) and Arcos de Valdevez (€4, 1½ hours) at least
hourly on weekdays (less at weekends).
AV Minho
( 258 800 341)
Runs a line from Porto (€6, 2¼ hours) at least four times daily,
passing through Esposende (€3, 40 minutes); one to three daily buses run to Valença do
Minho (€4, 1¼ hours) and Monção (€5, 1½ hours).
258 825 047)
Has at least eight weekday and four weekend runs to Braga
Transdev Norte
(
(€4, 1½ hours).
CAR & MOTORCYCLE
Parking can be a challenge - most locals opt for paid underground lots sprinkled about the
centre (including lots on either end of Av dos Combatentes da Grande Guerra). There's
ample free parking next to the Castelo de São Tiago da Barra. If you need wheels to hit
the beaches north of Viana,
Orbita
( 258 813 513;
www.orbitaviagens.com
; Rua Alves Cerqueria 216;
9am-6pm)
rents out cars from €29 per day, but they must be reserved at least one day in
advance.
TRAIN
Daily direct services from Porto include five IR/international trains (€6.65, 1½ hours) and
five regional services (€4.95, two hours). For Braga (€4.35, 1½ to two hours, 12 daily),
change at Nine. There are also seven to 10 daily trains to Valença do Minho (€3.45, 45
minutes to one hour).
