Luxury hotel holiday Vidago Palace Douro Valley

With the vineyards and rolling hills of the Douro Valley on its doorstep, the five star Vidago Palace is an enchanting and majestic property well-suited to couples looking for a romantic break as well as families looking to explore the less touristy regions of Portugal. An 18-hole golf course and a thermal spa built around the Vidago mineral waters ensures that this elegant hotel appeals both to guests looking to experience more of Portugal's natural landscape and to guests seeking a few days of total relaxation and serenity.
Included in your Expressions holiday
  • Accommodation in a double or twin room on bed and breakfast
  • Scheduled flights with British Airways London to Porto
  • Private car transfer airport to hotel and back
  • Concierge service and Expressions Holidays regional helpful hints
  • Optional room, board and flight upgrades. Details on request

Luxury bespoke holidays to Vidago Palace, Douro Valley

The Vidago Palace is a stunning 5-star hotel nestled amongst an enchanting park. This opulent hotel boasts stunning architecture, grounds and interiors, alongside exquisite cuisine, an award-winning golf course and excellent spa facilities for the ultimate indulgent experience.

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.

Thank you. We had an amazing holiday. Really appreciate the work put in to give us the trip of a lifetime!
Mrs H, Jan 2023

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.

Luxury bespoke holidays to Vidago Palace, Douro Valley

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.

Classic Room
Superior Room
Privilege Room with living room
Junior Suite
Suite
Grand Suite
Thank you. We had an amazing holiday. Really appreciate the work put in to give us the trip of a lifetime!
Mrs H, Jan 2023

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.

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.

Thank you. We had an amazing holiday. Really appreciate the work put in to give us the trip of a lifetime!
Mrs H, Jan 2023

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.

Luxury bespoke holidays to Vidago Palace, Douro Valley

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 Lisbon
Airport 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
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