Luxury bespoke holidays to Vidago Palace, Douro Valley
Facts in brief
Official star rating 5
Location This hotel is rural, located in the Douro Valley.
Closest airport Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport
Distance from airport The hotel is about 90-minutes' drive from Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport
Hotel facilities and services
The Grand Ballroom Dining Room, the Winter Garden Breakfast Room, the Club House, Poolside Bar, Quatro Estacoes, Lobby Bar, and Wine Cellar. The Thermal Spa has 1 Indoor and 1 Outdoor Pool, Gym, Sauna, Turkish Bath, Juice Bar, Yoga, Tai-chi, Pilates, Reflexology, Massages, and other treatments. The golf course has an 18-hole Course, Practice Area, Driving Range, Pitching Area, Club House, Golf Classes, and Equipment Rentals. Complimentary Tennis Courts and Bicycles.
Land sports
Golf and Golf Classes.
Out and about nearby
While staying at the Vidago Palace, it is essential to spend an afternoon or so in the town from which it gets its name. Vidago is a small spa town known for its naturally sparkling mineral waters. Sample the white wines produced in the local area, as well as the speciality cured ham and smoke meats in one of the inviting quaint restaurants. Chaves is another nearby spa town, dominated by an abundance of archaeological remains. Trajan's Bridge has become Chaves' emblem, and signifies, as in Vidago, the town's age. Explore to Torre de Menagem and the monuments that surround it, as well as the many small museums. Wandering along the peaceful streets will take you back in time to the flourishing medieval city it once was. To witness some of Portugal's most arresting natural sights, follow one of the Aguiar Nature routes that wind their way over the plains, through villages and towards historic towns. Stop off at Aguiar da Pena, which has a vast castle, built on a granite outcrop. More stunning views can be appreciated from the Minheu viewpoint in the Alvao Nature Park. Nearby Lamego is an ancient pilgrimage town, most recognisable for the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedios, which sits at the top of a high, decorative zig-zagging staircase. A longer drive will take you into Porto, which sits at the mouth of the river. The 17th century Baroque Se Cathedral alone is worth the drive. It is believed to be one of the greatest artistic triumphs of 17th century Portugal, particularly due to the incredible carvings that adorn every column, every archway, and the altar. For something a little more self-guided, trace the roads alongside the Rio Douro to see the panoramic views and pass the picturesque medieval towns and villages.
Sports nearby
Hiking, Walking, Cycling.
What particularly impresses us each time we use your services is that ‘what we expect we get’ eg car hire, rooms selected, all with no hassle. Not sure how you do it!!Mr W, July 2022
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a Classic double room for 7 nights
From about
£1,240
Holiday Code EXH1925
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke holidays to Vidago Palace, Douro Valley
A grand and opulent pink-fronted palace in northern Portugal, the five star Vidago Palace first opened in 1910. Since then, it has gained status as a member of the Leading Hotels of the World group, and offers regal elegance and ultimate luxury. 70 rooms and suites continue the majestic feel of the public rooms, with rich colours, textured fabrics, and large windows framed by floor-length curtains. Petite glowing lamps illuminate limited edition artworks, and soft armchairs look out across the verdant grounds, adding to the Belle Epoque style. Guests can dine in the appropriately named Grand Ballroom. Ornate carpets cover the floor, and a balcony traces the shape of the interior walls, crafted out of polished dark wood, and supported by white pillars crowned with floral golden capitals. Light, pale curtains and duck-egg walls with white panelling keep the large room feeling airy and spacious. To accompany your sumptuous dining experience, enjoy a glass of vintage wine from the wine cellar. A quirkier, more unique dining experience can be had at breakfast at the Winter Garden, an indoor mezzanine restaurant that has the same grand indoor balconies and stylish furnishings of the Ballroom, but with the additions of tall potted plants and a green, white, and black colour scheme. Beside the secluded outdoor pool, guests can enjoy a few drinks at the Pool Bar, while soaking up the sunshine and fresh country air on a sun lounger. At any time of day, you may choose to sample a treatment from the thermal spa, fed by famous Vidago mineral waters, renowned for their therapeutic properties. Set in an outbuilding as luxurious as the main palace, the spa has blue walls to contrast the pink, stairways that grant access to the low rooftop, and a crowning blue and white dome. Narrow, elegantly carved windows keep the lighting inside atmospheric and soothing. After relaxing in the spa, perhaps take to the 18-hole golf course, which weaves between green, yellow, and red trees, and undulates across the sweeping Douro countryside. The modern Club House is open for a serene dining experience after enjoying a few hours on the course. The facilities at the Vidago Palace come together to form a truly luxurious hotel, deserving of its five star status, situated in an equally charming and comparatively unexplored part of Portugal.
Room descriptions
Vidago Palace has 70 rooms and suites with modern amenities, living areas, and finishing touches such as Beiriz tapestries, chaises longues, and large windows.
What particularly impresses us each time we use your services is that ‘what we expect we get’ eg car hire, rooms selected, all with no hassle. Not sure how you do it!!Mr W, July 2022
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a Classic double room for 7 nights
From about
£1,240
Holiday Code EXH1925
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke holidays to Vidago Palace, Douro Valley
The journey and how you get there
For a holiday to Vidago Palace, Expressions Holidays includes scheduled flights with British Airways from London to Francisco Sa Carneiro. The hotel is about 1 hour and 20 minutes’ drive from the airport and we recommend that we book a private car transfer for you. You may want to have the use of a hire-car for all or part of your holiday and this can be arranged by us for you in advance.
Additional information
Children: The Vidago Palace welcomes children, and has a children's spa, a Junior Golf School, babysitting service, extra beds and cots on request, a children's menu, and craft workshops for younger children.
What particularly impresses us each time we use your services is that ‘what we expect we get’ eg car hire, rooms selected, all with no hassle. Not sure how you do it!!Mr W, July 2022
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a Classic double room for 7 nights
From about
£1,240
Holiday Code EXH1925
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke holidays to Vidago Palace, Douro Valley
About Portugal
An Expressions tailor-made holiday to Portugal's countryside bursts with pretty villages, glitters with historical treasures and World Heritage sites, as well as converted mediaeval monasteries, and elegant manor houses now hosting some of the finest hotels in Europe. Though Portugal's spirit is undoubtedly rural, its big towns Porto and Lisbon are lively, magical places making full use of their waterside setting, offering rich picking for those that like to wander, with colourful waterside cafes and boutiques, leafy boulevards and old-fashioned trams still rattling through the streets. Smaller towns offer their own enchantment, with well-preserved medieval quarters that invite exploring in towns like Évora, Coimbra, Guimarães and Braga. Outside the cities, travellers can enjoy Portugal's warm sunny weather, exploring centuries-old vineyards, visiting stone villages in the mountains or soaking up rays on the magnificent southern shoreline. Dramatic scenery lies all along the coast from windswept cliffs with edge-of-the-world views to wild dune-covered beaches. More than just a static backdrop, the scenery sets the stage for outdoor adventure. Hiking, surfing, windsurfing, horse-riding, big game fishing, kayaking, diving, golfing, and mountain biking are a few ways to spend a sun-drenched afternoon. 600 miles southwest of Portugal lies the island of Madeira, home to Reid's Palace Hotel, an elegant and glamorous five star hotel in a superb location, ideal for holidays all year round, due to the mild winter climate, and on an island renowned for its beautiful vegetation.
Highlights of Lisbon
The area close to the city of Lisbon is known for its variety of attractions. Moorish architecture left over from Arabic rule can be seen in the Castelo de Sao Jorge in the Alfama. Collections of Portuguese art are on display in the Museu Gulbenkian, the Museu de Arte Antiga, and the Berardo Collection. For a taste of Portugal's maritime history, visit the Monasteiro dos Jeronimos. Sintra, the favourite haunt of Lord Byron, is home to twin-peak-top castles and royal palaces. Beautiful, golden sandy beaches can be found in Cascais to the west of Lisbon, or on the Costa da Caparica to the south; particularly idyllic are the coves between Setubal and Sesimbra. Peniche is a picturesque seaside town renowned for being one of Europe's best surfing spots. You can explore all that the area around the city of Lisbon has to offer with our Tour of the City and Countryside of the Lisboa Region.
Highlights of the Algarve
Known for having some of Portugal's most scenic beaches, the Algarve is a popular destination for those looking for a beach or water sports holiday enjoying the Portuguese sunshine. Sagres and Tavira are recognised as the best places for this. In Albufeira, Armacao de Pera, and Lagos you will find an abundance of the light-catching rocky outcrops and peaceful coves that the Algarve is so well known for. Salema, Burgau, and Sagres were once busy little fishing villages, and now still stand as testament to this important aspect of Portuguese culture. The Reserva Natural da Ria Formosa lies just off the southern coastline, the islands of which can be accessed from many towns, including Faro, Olhao, Fuseta, Cabanas, and Tavira; most of which are also ideal starting points from which to try a little surfing. White-washed and serene Alcoutim is an example of the less-developed Portuguese towns, with a hint of Andalucia in its appearance, and Loule is the perfect place to wander around a bustling market. You may also wish to visit the Roman ruins at Milreu, the Moorish town of Silves, or the Spa town of Caldas de Monchique. For outdoor pursuits, head into the Serra de Monchique Mountain Range.
Highlights of Porto and the Douro Valley
At the mouth of the Rio Douro lies Porto, an atmospheric town with a dramatic aspect and almost Parisian lifestyle. Its streets are lined with historic buildings and wine lodges serving the best of Portuguese wines. The nearby wine towns of Penafiel, Peso da Regua, Pinhao, and Amarante are also recommended for wine-tasting, but have a much more rural location. Amarante, in particular, is believed to be the most attractive wine town in the area, with a central triple-arched bridge, tall stone red-roofed houses interspersed with verdant trees, and a gently flowing river. To witness a sample of Portuguese Baroque architecture, visit the pilgrimage town of Lamego. The main attraction of this town, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedios, lies at the top of an elaborate and intricately decorated set of zig-zagged stairways that pass through archways and across viewing balconies. In Porto, some of the greatest artistic triumphs of 17th century Portugal reside, the Se Cathedral in particular, in which every inch of the columns, archways, and altar have been adorned in golden floral and religious motifs, in true Baroque style. For something even more historic, visit the Palaeolithic rock formations of Vila Nova de Foz Coa, the largest outdoor gallery of stone age remains in the world, which have since been neighboured by flourishing vineyards. Along the rocky gorges of the river, you will find a number of castle-towns, including the Medieval walled town of Trancoso and the fortress town of Almeida.
Highlights of Madeira
A green and fertile island in the Atlantic Ocean, Madeira is situated off the coast of Morocco. Its coastline combines beautiful sandy beaches with rocky cliffs, the latter of which can be best appreciated at Cabo Girao. The island's capital, Funchal, is packed full with historic buildings, including 15th century churches and convents and a Se Cathedral as ornate as the one in Porto. Enjoy the relentless joviality of the street markets, or visit more peaceful attractions, such as the basalt cave of Capela de Sao Vicente or the island's protected nature reserves. Rare Laurissilva forests can be walked, trekked, or hiked through, affording guests sensational views; and the crystal clear waters off the coast can be swam through, perhaps below the water's surface so the ecosystems that live in the reefs can be appreciated. One of the greatest pleasures of Madeira, however, is wandering over the beaches, surveying the rock pools, and taking in the sights from the clifftops. Aside from the key regions that our Portuguese programme focuses on, there is much to find and see in Portugal. Those willing to drive a little further during the day will enjoy a much more diverse touring holiday.
Facts in brief
Capital LisbonAirport There are international airports at Lisbon, Porto and Faro, served by a variety of airlines from the UK, including British Airways, EasyJet, bmibaby, TAP, Jet2.
Size 35,000 sq. miles
Population 10 million
