Luxury holidays in Vila Real

North of the Douro Valley, you’ll find Vila Real in the Tràs-os-Montes province. What sounds like a football team is in fact a mountainous district of inland Portugal, dotted with hilltop villages and storied spa towns. Some come here for the fresh air, forest-shaded hikes and heart-pumping cycling routes; others to explore this winemaking area’s quieter side. Whatever’s prompted your sojourn deep into vinicultural Portugal, your reward is slow-paced seduction, one lo-fi day at a time.

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When to go

Glossy pastures, hike-friendly temperatures and fewer visitors mean the months of April through June are our tip. If you’re a budding sommelier, the burnished landscapes and harvest buzz of September and October may be your preferred vintage.

Getting there

  • Planes

    Porto’s Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport is 60 to 90 minutes away by road, depending on where you’re headed within Vila Real.

  • Automobiles

    Bringing your own set of wheels will give you the freedom to explore this pastoral pocket of northern Portugal — although for the Douro’s celebrated cellars, it’s worth hiring a designated driver to take you between wineries.