10 Days Discovering Portugal - From Lisbon to the North

4* Vila Galé Ópera

Right in front of the Tagus River, you will find the hotel Vila Galé Ópera, located near the Lisbon Congress Center and the leisure area of Docas. In just a few minutes, you will reach the monumental area of Belém and the historic center of the Portuguese capital.

Designed by the renowned Portuguese architect Manuel Salgado, and with recurring renovations, the decoration of this themed hotel set in Lisbon was inspired by the opera and classical music. Featuring a modern decor, many of its rooms offer an unparalleled view of the Tagus River, an icon of the city.

The hotel offers free wi-fi access in all areas, as well as spaces for meetings and banquets, rooftop (open in summer), a spa with indoor pool, gym, sauna, Turkish bath and massage rooms, a restaurant and a bar, where you may be enthralled by the live opera performances that take place once a week.

Given its ideal location to visit one of the most touristic areas in Lisbon, within five minutes you may reach the Jerónimos Monastery, the Belém Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries. Make sure you don’t leave without tasting the famous custard tarts of Belém (pastéis de Belém). In the evening you can also walk to two of the busiest restaurants and bars’ areas in the city: Docas and the Lx Factory.

Also near to the hotel, you have access to the train, tram and bus lines, which can take you to the downtown area Baixa-Chiado and the historic center of Lisbon in only ten minutes.

4* Vila Galé Serra da Estrela

Located in broad glacial valley of Zêzere, in Manteigas, Vila Galé Serra da Estrela is a mountain hotel with activities for the whole family.

This hotel in Serra da Estrela has 91 rooms, including nine family rooms, two outdoor pools - one for adults and one for children, with slides - and also an outdoor hydromassage pool where you can relax while enjoying the luxuriant green landscape and breathing fresh air.

At the Versátil restaurant, with its panoramic balcony and spectacular views of Serra da Estrela, be sure to taste the region’s typical delicacies.

In turn, the Satsanga Spa has a heated indoor pool and all the comfort and safety required for massages and aesthetic treatments. Here, take the opportunity to take a therapeutic immersion bath with local plants or enjoy a massage with mountain lavender.

Vila Galé Serra da Estrela is the perfect location for outdoor activities, exploring hiking and trekking tracks, hiking, or simply enjoying the nature of Serra da Estrela, a region that was recently classified as a World Geopark by UNESCO. In the coldest months, when snow becomes the star, venture into winter sports such as skiing or snowboarding.

It is a thematic hotel, dedicated to the myths, legends, customs and traditions of the mountain region; and from here you can also visit some of the most attractive places like the Poço do Inferno waterfall, the Covão d'Ametade lagoon or the Covão dos Conchos lagoon, and also museums of bread, cheese or wool.

4* Vila Galé Collection Douro

It is in the first demarcated region of the world, the Alto Douro Wine region, that you will find the Vila Galé Collection Douro hotel. Carved on the slopes, just opposite Régua, this charming boutique hotel captivates anyone due to its stunning views over the river and the vineyards.

In the 38 rooms, spread across the hotel’s five floors, the focus is on comfort and a contemporary decor. The landscape and silence invite you to enjoy the panoramic balcony, though.

The restaurant ‘Inevitável’, which is regionally inspired and signed by chef Francisco Ferreira, enchants us due to its rich and traditional flavors, as well as its terrace, which challenges you to an outdoor meal. In turn, the Satsanga Spa, besides its indoor pool and outdoor hydromassage pool, is surprising due to its fusion with nature, as its walls literally interlace with stone, creating a tranquil and relaxing environment.

It is the combination of all those services that make this hotel in Douro absolutely unique.

To explore other charms of this wine region, take the opportunity to enjoy a boat cruise in the Douro, a visit to wine producing estates or a train ride. You may also roll your sleeves up and participate in the harvests.

4* Vila Galé Porto

Located in the heart of Porto, a ten-minute walk from the famous shopping street of Rua de Santa Catarina, the Vila Galé Porto hotel was built in 1999 and renovated in 2015. The metro station Campo 24 de Agosto is located just 100 meters from the hotel and it allows you easy and quick access to anywhere in the city and to the airport.

Having cinema as its inspiration, this unit’s common areas are decorated with pictures that recall iconic movie scenes, renowned directors or the most talented actors.

Vila Galé Porto offers standard and superior rooms, as well two restaurants, two bars and multipurpose rooms for events and meetings. On the top floor, you will find the spa, where you can swim in the indoor pool, relax in the hot tub or exercise in the gym, while contemplating what is considered one of the best views over the city.

During your stay at this hotel in Porto, take the opportunity to stroll around the Ribeira area, admire Gaia and visit the historical Port Wine Cellars. The House of Music, a work by Rem Kolhaas, or the Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art, designed by the awarded Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza Vieira, are also mandatory stopovers.

In the center of this so-called “undefeated” city, make sure you don’t miss the Aliados Avenue, the Cathedral (Sé Catedral), the Clerics Tower (Torre dos Clérigos) and the Stock Exchange Palace.

Note:  Meals do not include drinks.