Fall 2025 Northern Portugal Itinerary

Our fall Portugal adventure started Sept 27 with a flight from YYT to Montreal and then on to Porto.  

Our itinerary was to venture from Porto airport straight to Braga for 5 nights, from where we went exploring the nearby towns of Viana do Castelo, Ponta da Lima, Guimaraes and Barcelos.  Then on to Peneda Geres National Park for 3 nights, staying at Sao Bento da Porta Aberta and exploring the area for 2 days.  Next stop 1 night in the Douro Valley, followed by 1 night in Alvarenga to walk across one of the world’s longest pedestrian swing bridges, Arouca 516, and then 1 night in Aveiro.   Finally we concluded northern Portugal with 3 nights in Porto.  

Here are some highlight details of our travel:

Accommodations:

Braga - Vila Garden Braga - great location, parking included free, unique decor, nice lounge, pool area looked very nice (though we did not use), great breakfast.  

Sao Bento - Sao Bento Hotel (some sites call it Hotel Sao Bento da Porta Aberta).  Beautiful setting, very peaceful.   Nice rooms and great balconies looking out front.  Excellent breakfast.  Good location from which to explore Peneda Geres Park with a car.

Douro Valley - Vila Gale Douro Vineyards.   How can this not be spectacular with a name like that!   Awesome peaceful location, on the vineyards hillside.  Very nice pool area.  Winery cellars attached to hotel for tastings.  Great supper and breakfast buffets.  

Alvarenga (near Arouca 516) - Quinta de Alvarenga (on booking.com) in Alvarenga.  About a 15min walk to the Arouca 516 bridge (the reason we visited this area).   Note there is a narrow road on approach to this house.  This accommodation was a house with multiple separate suites with their own bathroom.  Some with balcony.  They are nicely appointed.  Breakfast was included and very nice.  To add, the great service was topped off when Dave left something in the room and the contact lady sent a picture asking if we left it and then she shipped it to the Algarve at our rental in Portimao for the small postal fee only!

Aveiro - Veneza Hotel.  Very good location in Aveiro, a short walk to the central area of town.   A little bit older building and decor but reasonable rooms, some with nice balconies overlooking front.  Welcome Port drink!  Reasonable breakfast.  Priced at good value.

Porto - Sweet Porto (apartments) - one couple at Bloom House (apartment garden view) and the other at Sweet Porto Apartments Mercado do Bolhao Apartment.  These are in fantastic locations to explore Porto.  Both were superbly appointed.   Staff were great.  Booked without breakfast as there are lots of options right outside the apartment door for cafes and food.  

Eating Out Highlight Restaurants:

Braga:

Lunch - Cantorias - we had the menu da dia.   Very good food and value and lovely service.

Gosto Superior - vegetarian (not usually our thing), but this was very good for quality and value.

Pizzaria Das Fontes - small, local, near our hotel, good food for modest price.

Sao Bento area:

Restaurant Cavado - very good food and reasonable prices.

O Forno - had local Portuguese offerings, great soup and good prices, though a limited menu.

Douro Valley:

Lunch - in Peso da Regua, at Pacheco Bistro (in the Best of Wine Tourism Building).  A little pricey but very good quality, presentation, tasty and with excellent wines on offer.

Dinner - at the Vila Gale Douro Vineyards Hotel (where we stayed), the evening buffet;  expensive but great selection of food and high quality.  Beverages extra but at reasonable prices.

Aveiro:

Dinner - Zeca - local Portuguese offerings, good food and value.

Porto:

Dinner 

- bbgourmet Bolhao - good food, various options on menu.

- Neto Bolhao - lots of Francesinha options.  We had great burgers here.

- Rafa Louzada at TimeOut Market - somewhat pricey and not large portions but very high quality food and presentation.

Lunch - (or this could be a supper) we had the famous Porto dish at Fancesinha Santiago da Praca in Praca dos Poveiros.  We split the dish “Francesinha da Praca” (the version that included sirloin beef steak).  They charge extra to split but you each get a half served on your own plate with the egg on top and french fries so it is really like a full dish each (plenty of food!).   

Rental vehicle:  Volkswagen T-Roc from Movida, rented through Zest Rentals.

Site Seeing Highlights:

-Braga football game (though they lost)

-Braga cathedral, old town and pedestrian street areas.

-Bon Jesus do Monte and nearby Santuary Senhora do Sameiro (at sunset!).  

-Gil Eannes Ship in Viana do Castelo and nearby Santuary & Miradoura de Santa Luzia.

-Guimaraes - Palace of Dukes of Braganza, Guimaraes old town, castle and students (performing and celebrating)!

-Short stop at the tranquil town of Ponte da Lima.

-Peneda Geres Park and the many spectacular miradouros, waterfalls and amazing landscapes.

-Peaceful settings of the Sao Bento Sanctuary and the Douro River.   

-Arouca 516 Bridge (for those comfortable with it!), walking across and back.  Also a nice walk through Eucalyptus forest.

-Costa Nova town and beach near Aveiro.  Aveiro city central district architecture and canals.

-The many nice cafes and shops of Porto and twacking through lots of interesting side streets and pedestrian streets.  Sao Bento Railway station, Porto Cathedral.  

-Ribera area and Dom Luis 1 Bridge in Porto (walking and picture taking at sunset).

-Music concert of Porto Symphony Orchestra at Casa da Musica Concert venue in Porto.