Villas in Northern Portugal
Regional Information for Villas in Northern Portugal
Staying in a villa in Northern Portugal will allow you to explore a landscape steeped in history with ancient forests covering mountain slopes and monasteries, convents, castles and churches throughout the region.
The Douro River is ideal for day-trips from Porto and easily accessible from many of our villa holidays in Northern Portugal.
What to see and do while on your villa holiday in Northern Portugal
The region is a perfect place for mountain trekking, canoeing or simply resting up in the spa towns of Carvalhelhos, Chaves, and Pedras Salgadas.
Vidago has a magnificent park with swimming pools and a golf course.
Inland, visit the huge national park area covering the mountains of Peneda, Soajo and Gerês. This wilderness park in the far north of Portugal, near the Spanish border, has spectacular scenery and a wide variety of flora and fauna.
There are plenty of good short-distance trails with places to swim along the way, as well as facilities for horse riding and canoe rental
Shopping in Northern Portugal
Visitors staying at villas in Northern Portugal will have a difficult time NOT shopping while on holiday. There are many unique items to buy and it is hard to not want to take some of them home as souvenirs. Some of the most popular items are made of leather, clothes, jewellery, and many different kinds of handmade crafts.
Explore the old quarter of Porto and its bustling downtown and be sure to not miss a visit to the wine cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia and free tastings of the famous port wine.
What Northern Portugal is really well known for
Not far from your villa holiday in Northern Portugal, you will find the terraced vineyards between Mesão Frio and Pinhão that produce the famous Port wine. Check out the prehistoric cave paintings in Vila Nova de Foz Côa. Or simply lose yourself in one of the beautiful Baroque mansions such as at Mateus, near Vila Real, or in the great 17th century sanctuaries, such as Nossa Senhora dos Remédios in Lamego.
Lisbon, the country's capital, stands proudly on the banks of the Rio Tejo. The city's low skyline, unpretentious atmosphere and pleasant blend of architectural styles conspire to make it a favourite with many visitors. Lisbon has a number of good museums, including the Museu Nacional do Azulejo, the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, which houses the national collection of works by Portuguese painters; and the immense Museu Calouste Gulbenkian, considered the finest museum in Portugal. Other places of interest are the districts of Baixa and Alfama. Here you'll find some of the city's oldest and most rewarding sights: quaint cobbled streets, squares and alleys; markets and craftspeople, and colourful buildings and brooding castles.
Nightlife while on your villa holiday in Northern Portugal
Northern Portugal is home to many cultural and traditional events that take place during every month of the year and attending these events is a great way for tourists to get a true feel for the country and discover more about the way of life here.
There are also several “new” festivals which celebrate different types of food and various types of performing arts. Local soccer matches and bullfights are also enormously enjoyed throughout the region.
If you are looking for something a little more lively, Lisbon's nightlife is vibrant, and includes drinking in bars, raving at discos and jiving to jazz and African rhythms. Afterwards you can relax in the comfort of your villa in Northern Portugal, brought to you by Igluvillas.com.
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