Vidago: Thermal History, Trails and Golf

Vidago combines thermal traditions, culture, paths through the landscape and golf to create a versatile destination. Anyone looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home can make their preferred mix of travel experiences the focus: historical impressions, outdoor activities, art or a round on the golf course.

Thermal history and Belle Époque heritage

The waters of the Termas de Vidago are cold and carbonated. They are bottled as table water and distributed throughout the country. This distinctive feature is part of a long history: in the 19th century, Vidago was a preferred thermal spa destination of the Portuguese court.

The listed ensemble of Vidago Palace includes the hotel, the spa, the Club House, the four Fontes 1, 2, 3 and 4, the Casa Agrícola, the Centro de Congressos and the Parque. The Palace do Vidago is set in a lush park and preserves a Belle Époque atmosphere. Those interested in architecture, historic sites and the development of spa towns will find a particular focus for planning their trip here. You can consider the individual elements as cultural themes of your trip without orienting your stay exclusively towards a historical perspective.

Trails for active days

The Ecovia Internacional do Tâmega e do Corgo was created along the former Linha do Corgo. Some sections run alongside the Tâmega River. This gives Vidago a connection to the landscape that can be taken into consideration both by cyclists and for walks and hikes. The route’s historical origins also give an active excursion a connection to the former railway line.

A specific hiking option is the Trilho de Vidago-Arcossó. The linear trail is 13.6 km long; its stated duration is 4 hours and 20 minutes. This information helps you consciously plan a day with a longer route. If you are travelling with different interests, you can combine a hike with a cultural or golf-related activity on another day instead of placing all activities in a single day’s itinerary.

Art and golf as further reasons to travel

The Casa-Museu João Vieira preserves and conveys the legacy of João Vieira. The Casa-Museu João Vieira opened in 2019 and is located in the former Casa Bonifácio Alves Teixeira. It features a permanent exhibition as well as several temporary exhibitions about the life and work of the painter and visual artist João Vieira, who was from Vidago. This creates a clear cultural focus for travellers who want to discover a place through its art and local connection.

Golf is also part of Vidago’s character. The Vidago Palace Golf Course is a par-72 golf course. Almost all of the century-old trees have been preserved, while the retaining walls of all the tees are made of local stone. The Vidago Palace Golf Academy includes a 340 m-long driving range, a chipping area and two putting greens. Golf enthusiasts can take these facilities into account when choosing their travel style; other travellers will find their own focal points in the trails, thermal history or art.

Choosing the right base

When looking for a holiday apartment in Vidago, it is therefore worth first defining the character of the planned trip. If historic sites and thermal traditions are the main focus, Palace do Vidago and the Termas de Vidago offer the key themes. For a more active stay, the Ecovia Internacional do Tâmega e do Corgo and the Trilho de Vidago-Arcossó are relevant points of reference. Those who want to combine their trip with art can include the Casa-Museu João Vieira in their plans; golf travellers can use the information about the Vidago Palace Golf Course and the Golf Academy as a guide. Then choose your accommodation according to the desired pace and the activities that will offer the greatest value to your travel group.

Other places for planning your trip

If you would like to compare other places in addition to Vidago, you can extend your search to Pardelhas, Friães, Santo Estêvão, Chaves, Valpaços, Sedielos, Manta Rota and Cabril.

To the higher-level travel overview: Vila Real.