Holiday Villas >> Portugal villas >> Costa Verde villas

The Costa Verde on the west coast of Portugal is a fabulous destination for a family holiday in a private holiday villa with a pool as it offers a combination of superb sandy beaches and a rich culture centred around Porto and the Douro Valley wine areas. Many of our holiday homes in this region have fantastic views of the river Douro and they offer outstanding value for money. The coastal properties often have sea views and one is set behind the sand dunes so it is very easy to walk to the beach.

The Costa Verde is the coastal section of the region known as the Minho which stretches from just north of Porto to the Spanish border running along the river Minho. Considered by many to be the most beautiful part of Portugal the Minho is a region of rolling countryside, verdant river valleys, expansive woodland, vines and long sandy beaches.

Easy on the eye, particularly in the east which is more mountainous and somewhat lost in time. Rural fetes, known locally as fiestas and romarias are still much in evidence and well worth visiting as are the country markets the largest of which is held in Barcelos. There are plenty of events which you can enjoy on your holiday.

There are a number of prominent historical centres with Guimaraes. A UNESCO world heritage site having the prize claim of the first capital of Portugal followed closely by Braga, the countries ecclesiastic centre.

Travel

Travelling to the Costa Verde is fairly easy as there are direct international flights to Porto airport (OPO) which is serviced by low-cost airlines Easyjet and Ryanair as well as TAP.

Weather

The Costa Verde climate is warm and sunny from May to September, with some rainfall but not much.

The Costa Verde coastline is impressive with beautiful sandy beaches running right up to the border with Spain. The weather can be somewhat unpredictable even in the height of summer and in many ways this more temperate climate is part of the attraction. The main coastal resort is Viano do Castelo which has a delightful historical centre and bustles with life. The beaches to the north and south are generally pleasantly uncrowded.

Along the river, Minho is a beautiful area with numerous fortresses in various states of preservation and the lively old town of Valenca do Minho. Further south the river Lima meanders along a beautiful valley stretching back to the mountains where Portugal’s only National Park, the Parc Nacional da Penada-Geres, offers waterfalls, river gorges, reservoirs and forests. Here you can find excellent walking.