Top 17 things to do and attractions in Vila Real

It's beautiful, a good visit too but only if you have spare time and money. It's not something that one should take a special detour for to visit. We did the gardens and chaple and the price was 13.50 per person. Since it was a day where we had time it was ok but I have seen better in Italy and France for the price.

We went as an organised excursion from a river cruise. So, all organised for us. Guide in the house was good. Timed entry into each room. It was unusual but meant each room wasn't too crowded so it was effective. Gardens very nice. Good variety of things to see. House more impressive outside than inside. Only a handful of downstairs rooms are accessible. So, tour only 30 minutes. Worth a visit though. Whole visit was 90 minutes.

Beautiful gardens like no other. Great home tour. Ceilings and furniture were amazing and our guide was excellent. Super clean bathrooms and plenty for groups. You can purchase souvenirs and food and wine.

So nice to be here in a sunny afternoon. It is worth it. The garden is so well maintained and the maze is inspiring. At the end we found a lady sculpture drowned in the pond🤣

A very interesting place with a beautiful, spacious park and a picturesque palace. However, it was a bit strange that visiting without a guide wasn’t an option — a staff member accompanies you and requires everyone to follow the audio guide and move as a group. It was interesting overall, but the experience felt a bit unusual and less free than expected.

This is a beautiful building with lovely period furnishings. The portraits are interesting and the vestments are incredible. I enjoyed hearing about the history and current uses.

Very nice palace. Wonderful to walk around with a guided tour.

Ah, the Cathedral of Vila Real, also known as Igreja de São Domingos, is a magnificent piece of ecclesiastical architecture steeped in history. Built originally in the 15th century, the church was later elevated to a cathedral, reflecting its importance within the region. The structure features a delightful blend of Manueline and Baroque elements, a visual feast for those enamored by art and architecture. Visiting the cathedral offers not just spiritual solace but also a chance to delve into the history of Vila Real and Portugal at large. It's not just a place of worship but a living museum, reverberating with the echoes of the past. Getting there is quite straightforward, located as it is in the heart of Vila Real. It's easily accessible by foot, and public transportation options are also available. As for myths, there is a local legend that the cathedral was built on a site where miraculous events occurred, a common trope that adds a layer of mystical allure to the already intriguing history. So, whether you are a history buff, a religious traveler, or simply someone who appreciates fine architecture, the Cathedral of Vila Real deserves a spot on your itinerary.

Small church with quick masses.

It was very good experience in my life again

Small cathedral, but very full, considering it is a village's. If you are near, make sure to stop by and take a look

Spectacular place to visit

Went there for a prayer, thanking the man above for a beautiful month in portugal

Beautiful

It's an old baroque church, modest in its size but with lavish decorations in the interior, deserving more attention than some of its more famed counter-parts in other cities of Portugal.

Beautiful on the outside, gorgeous on the inside!

Intimate church in the middle of a living area.

Beautifull church with historic architeture and beautifull images

Beautiful place.

Its an old church that really has nothing to be disliked yet nor is it awe inspiring. Its an old church.

Old very old

Nice place full of history. It seemed though that there was some lack of maintenance on it and it seems that it's a trend. Not because of the personnel but government aid. Nevertheless the personnel is amicable and super friendly and the sanctuary is small for current standards but huge for those days. It's just amazing the work and perfection of that place. It's not super expensive so definitely recommend anyone to visit it.

What a day my friends as I had here. We enjoyed the orientation video and the wandered at will around the grounds. Usually I sense the vestiges of the ancient people I. These pre Roman sites. But this was a very quiet place spiritually. We had just returned from the 25th annual mushroom hunt in Mondragao, a visit to the producer of Cleo soaps (got to say hello to their friendly burro herd), stopped in Sandim for a snack and shopping, and our next stop was Mateus Castle, followed by two big band jazz concerts at the annual festival in Guimeraes! Whew! So this site took us way back in history, deep into the history and cultursl base of Portugal.

Roman sanctuary, dedicated to the God Serapis, a must go.

Very well organized exhibitions.

Extremely interesting!

Evocative!

Incredible

Really enjoyed the morning we spent here while walking in the old town

(Translated by Google) Free entry A two-story exhibition. One with several archaeological items found in the area, and the other, a vast collection of coins, which will delight those who enjoy the subject. (Original) Entrada gratuita Uma exposição de dois andares. Uma com vários itens arqueológicos encontrados na zona, e a outra, uma vasta coleção de moedas, que vão fazer as delícias de quem gosta do assunto.

(Translated by Google) A museum with free admission. It has two floors and an elevator. It houses a wide variety of Roman coins. The woman who was there explained many interesting things, anecdotes, and so on. You could tell she enjoyed explaining. 100% recommended. (Original) Un museo donde su entrada es gratuita. Tiene dos plantas y tiene ascensor. Tiene una gran variedad de monedas romanas. La chica que estaba allí nos explicó muchas cosas interesantes, anécdotas, etc. Se le notaba que le gustaba explicar. Recomendable el cien por cien.

(Translated by Google) Free museum where you can get your N2 route passport stamped. A shame they don't allow dogs. The woman at the entrance, very kind, offered us to leave our furry friend with her while we visited. We thanked him from the bottom of our hearts. Maybe another time. I give it 4 stars because I think it is worth a visit. We hope that soon they will allow entry to our four-legged friends 🐾🐕 (Original) Museo gratuito donde puedes sellar tu pasaporte de la ruta N2. Una pena que no admitan perros. La mujer de la entrada, muy amable, nos ofreció dejar a nuestro peludo con ella mientras lo visitábamos. Se lo agradecimos de corazón. Quizás en otra ocasión. Le pongo 4 estrellas porque creo que merece la pena su visita. Esperamos que pronto permitan la entrada a nuestros amigos de cuatro patas 🐾🐕

(Translated by Google) I really enjoyed my visit to the museum. It's a very interesting space for understanding how the region evolved from the Stone Age to Roman times. Furthermore, the receptionist was extremely friendly and helpful, clearly explaining the most important points of the visit and offering a very enriching interpretation of the archaeological evidence. A truly warm welcome made the experience even more enjoyable. (Original) Gostei muito da visita ao museu. É um espaço bastante interessante para compreender como a região evoluiu desde a Idade da Pedra até à época romana. Além disso, o rececionista foi extremamente simpático e prestável, explicando-nos com clareza os pontos mais importantes da visita e oferecendo uma interpretação muito enriquecedora das provas arqueológicas. Um acolhimento verdadeiramente caloroso que tornou a experiência ainda mais agradável.

(Translated by Google) Museum opened in 1997, it presents two long-term exhibitions, one on Archaeology and the other on Numismatics, in addition to the Temporary Exhibition Area. Free museum. (Original) Museu inaugurado em 1997, apresenta duas exposições de longa duração, de Arqueologia e de Numismática, para além da actividade da Área de Exposições Temporárias. Museu gratuito.

(Translated by Google) A very interesting free museum in a beautiful building. Very welcoming! Various exhibitions with bilingual scenography: Portuguese and English. A wonderful photography exhibition on the Circuito de Vila Real for racing car and photography enthusiasts. On the first floor, the well-illustrated archaeological exhibition is understandable even for a French-speaking 8-year-old. On the second floor, the numismatic exhibition will introduce you to tiny masterpieces! A gift shop and brochures invite you to discover the gastronomic and cultural delights of Vila Real and Tras-Os-Montes. (Original) Musée gratuit très intéressant dans un bel édifice. Très bon accueil ! Expositions variées avec une scénographie bilingue : portugais et anglais. Très belle exposition de photographies sur Circuito de Vila Real pour les passionnés de voitures de courses et de photos. Au premier étage, l'exposition archéologique bien illustrée est compréhensible même pour une enfant de 8 ans francophone. Au second étage, l'exposition numismatique va fera découvrir des tout petits chef-d'œuvres ! Une boutique et des dépliants vous invitent à decouvrir les délices gastronomiques et culturels de Vila Real et Tras-Os-Montes.

Very interesting museum. The art expedition below was very good.

Great place to visit in Vila Real. Free of charge.

It looked like a lovely museum, and was advertised as being open, but it was closed on Saturday! It was quite a trek to get there, I would suggest keeping the hours on google places up to date. The website also did not advertise that it was closed.

Great little museum, but like many local museums here in Portugal, desperately needs explanation in English for non-Portuguese visitors

(Translated by Google) A museum that must be visited and appreciated!! A historical section on the creation and remains of Vila Real, where we were able to benefit from explanations from the very friendly gentleman at the entrance! And a second section on contemporary art! An interesting museum in an area of Vila Real steeped in history (with the cemetery of King Dinis and the ruins of the wall nearby) and with free admission. (Original) Museu que tem que ser visitado e valorizado !! Uma parte histórica sobre a criação e os vestígios de Vila Real, onde pudemos beneficiar de explicações pelo senhor da entrada muito simpático ! E uma segunda parte sobre arte contemporânea ! Um museu interessante numa zona de Vila Real cheia de história (com o cemitério de D. Dinis e as ruínas da muralha ao lado) e com entrada gratuita

(Translated by Google) A forgotten area of ​​Vila Real. The interpretive center is interesting. (Original) Uma zona esquecida de Vila Real. O centro interpretativo é interessante.

(Translated by Google) Very weak, I didn't understand the size of the building for such a tiny exhibition. (Original) Bem fraquinho, mao entendi o tamanho do prédio para a minúscula exposição.

Amazing place, with clean nature energy and fantastic views.

beautiful! there's nothing spectacular or very different from any other natural park, but it's still a perfect break from the regular views in Portugal. as always, it's all about timing and location.

Beautiful park. The 12km hike takes you to a lot of really stunning vista's

Magic landscapes and waterfalls in local settings and hospitality. Explore Ermelo and its authentic people and buildings.

Nature, water falls, cold water to put your body during hot summer, active turistic place

An amazing place with lovely view and walking trails♥️

It was a lovely and challenging trail. The landscape is just amazing. Waterfalls with clear water and refreshing water.

Vila Real tour in a classic car! 😉😍

Beautiful chapel!

(Translated by Google) A church that separates two streets. It's right in the center of Vila Real. It's beautiful from the outside, and inside you can see walls decorated with Portuguese tiles. Admission is free. (Original) Iglesia que separa dos calles. Está en pleno centro de Vila Real. Verla por fuera es preciosa y por dentro puedes ver unas paredes con azulejos portugueses. La entrada es gratis.

(Translated by Google) Located in the historic center of Vila Real. (Original) Situada no centro histórico de Vila Real.

(Translated by Google) A small church from the appearance of its façade, in the heart of Vila Real, but impressive inside. As is often the case in Portuguese churches, it is a pleasure to enter to have a moment of reflection and prayer, in addition to contemplating its artistic beauty. Very careful. (Original) Una iglesia pequeña por el aspecto de su fachada, en pleno centro de Vila Real, pero impresionante por dentro. Como suele suceder en las iglesias portuguesas, da gusto entrar para tener un momento de recogimiento y oración, además de contemplar su belleza artística. Muy cuidada.

(Translated by Google) It was on our way and we went in to see it. (Original) Nos pillaba de paso y entramos a verla

(Translated by Google) Beautiful place, the city is beautiful and rich in culture and history and Capala Nova is really wonderful, I recommend visiting with time!! (Original) Belo local, a cidade é linda e rica em cultura e história e a Capala Nova maravilhosa mesmo, recomendo visitar com tempo!!

Waste of time. I found the university easily enough but then wandered the campus finding only buildings. No botanical gardens to be seen!

It a beautiful peacefull place full of bird and nature .If you see more carefully you can find the triturus boscai is a little (salamanders) who.lives only in the north portugal and in part of Spain .

This is an amazing university campus, but not a botanic garden. If you go - like me - looking for flora, you would be disappointed.

The best

(Translated by Google) A beautiful garden with lots of variety. There are some animals. However, there is some space that needs maintenance and bramble control. (Original) Um jardim bonito, com imensa variedade. Tem alguns animais. No entanto ha espaco a precisar de manutenção, e controlo de silvas.

(Translated by Google) Large, beautiful and with enormous potential, but it needs care and investment. A good renovation would be very welcome! I highly recommend a visit in early March, to see the lake surrounded by flowering magnolias!! (Original) Grande, bonito e com um potencial gigantesco, porém necessita de cuidados e investimentos. Uma boa reforma seria muito bem vinda! Recomendo fortemente uma visita no início de março, para ver o lago rodeado pelas magnólias floridas!!

(Translated by Google) A beautiful place, a privilege for anyone who visits. It's not a typical botanical garden; the entire area surrounding the university is part of the garden. For laymen like me, it may be difficult to understand what you're seeing. I believe it needs more maintenance and a more dynamic interpretive center. (Original) Lugar lindo, um privilégio para quem por lá anda. Não é um jardim botânico habitual, toda a área envolvente da universidade faz parte do jardim. Para leigos, como eu, pode não ser fácil perceber o que se está a ver. Acredito que precisa de mais manutenção e de um centro interpretativo mais dinâmico.

We were visiting Pinhão and looked for vineyard to visit for wine tasting. Quinta do Infantado was nearby and we decided to visit it without any advanced reservation. The vineyard owner was there and he made wonderful wine tasting experience for our family. He explained all the process of wine making and difference between port wine types. We tasted few wines and about five different port wines. Everything was very delicious. We liked it very much.

We enjoyed a tour by the owner. João is a knowledgeable guide to the history of wine and port wine in the region (his family has been producing both at this very location for over 200 years!). Besides the tour, he curated a tasting of a variety of their products. A very good experience.

Came here with my wife to celebrate her birthday. Despite there having been an issue with our reservation, they on the spot arranged a private tasting and tour. Both the personalised attention and the excellent quality of their product left us delighted. Highly recommended.

This winery experience is what you are hoping for when you book your trip to Duoro Valley! We arrived as their last guests of the year and the owner could not have been more gracious as a host and more amazing with giving us the time and expertise with our wine tasting of 7 wines. It was too cold so we decided to forgo the tour but I'm sure it would have made it even more amazing. Our tasting lasted 2 hours with great advice, tips, education, and moreso just a wonderful sense of the love of wine and people! Pro tip- although they have a space heater, it's best you bundle up. They also only accepted cash on our visit. You'll want to call ahead to ask if that's still the policy. Felicidades!

We enjoyed a tour, tasting, and 5 course lunch with João during our 3 day visit to Douro Valley in July 2023. João takes great pride in his winemaking and it comes across in the extremely high quality wines & ports that he produces. He provides the quintessential experience I would expect from a small family run winery where you get to learn directly from the person responsible for making the wine that you drink. He also prepared a 5 course Portuguese lunch for us that day and was very hospitable coming to pour us wine and explain the tasting notes in between the preparation of each course. The location is nestled within the hillside and doesn't provide the picturesque views of the valley that so many other Quinta's do that we visited. Overall the quality of the wine makes it worth visiting. I wish I had bought the 2017 vintage Ruby since it's tough to get in the USA, but we'll look forward to visiting again and buying more bottles on our next trip.

The wine tasting was accompanied with a good explanation. Same for the tour over the vineyard. The lunch was made of excellent Portugese vegetables (vegetarian at our request). We are still enjoying this visit with the nice port wines that have been send to our home address.

My gf had food poisoning after going there. Another girl from the group as well, it lasted two days. To make it worse the menu is Extremely expensive 90 euros for a simple menu dish, and the owner took us and was extremely rude. Never seen that level of non caring. We asked information on the douro wines and he answered "its all written on the labels.." If you open something for tourists and people to visit you should at least receive them well. Spend your money elsewhere.

We stayed at Quinta do Roncão through easy camp. We had a lovely spot to park our camper van which was quiet and had access to toilets. The package with easy camp included two lovely bottles of wine as well as olive oil. We also opted for the wine tasting, which included an amazing tour and explanation of the wine making and fermenting process, as well as a generous tasting and lovely chat with Pasha. A truly amazing space, lovely wine and very kind owners. Thanks so much!

What a special place! We stayed close by and decided to walk to Quinta do Roncão for a wine and olive oil tasting. We were greeted by one of the owners. Pasha was kind and so passionate about his family’s winery. We did a tour of his beautiful property and tasted amazing wine and oil. The views are breath taking and the company doesn’t get any better! We loved it so much we came back the next day for another tasting. We can’t wait to return next year. Don’t skip this small family owned winery if you love beautiful wine and good conversation. Pasha treats all his guests like family and it was truly a highlight of our time in the valley.

Amazing wine tour! The vineyard is breathtaking, and the wines are absolutely delicious. The story behind the winery is fascinating, and the owner’s passion truly shines through. We were warmly welcomed and had a fantastic experience. I highly recommend this vineyard to anyone!

What an amazing tour. One of the vineyards in the region returning to original practices in winemaking, focused on organic farming and doing things the right way. Pascha is a great guide with awesome stories. We left with several bottles of wine and olive oil. Highly recommend!

If your idea of a wine tasting and vineyard tour is to simply glug cheap wines, then this isn’t for you. If, however, you want a personalised and informative tour - with a full grapes-to-glass showcase - you’ve come to the right place! Eunice made us feel so welcome, and gave us a fascinating glimpse into the winemaking process, the history of wine and port-wine (sorry… Vinho Generoso!) in the Douro Valley, as well as the chance to taste some amazing wines. Plus some freshly plucked fruit too! A brilliant tour in a boutique, independent winery. We’ll be back!

Amazingly beautiful Easycamp stopover. Eunice was very welcoming and explained the traditional port making process before offering us a Welcome glass of delicious Port. This was so much smoother & palatable than our previous day port tasting in Augustos in Porto. The pack of Red , White & olive oil was very good value & we also bought some Red reserva. Eunice told us the best place for a hike to a Miradour & allowed us to pick fresh lemon & oranges from the Quinta gardens- a highlight at dawn the next day.Thank you so much . Highly recommend Quinta Do Roncao.

What a fantastic place! We arrived after booking a tasting day of based on reading good reviews. Pasha was a kind and easy-going host, who gave us a tour and explained the unique history of the winery. We loved hearing about how it had evolved throughout the generations of his wife’s family, and how he joined the operation and it is taking it into the next phase. The wine itself was incredible and we took some home. They were very accommodating given how last minute our reservation was, and how little time we had to spend there. Highly recommend!

Located on the hill that forms a peninsula between Rio Corgo & Cabril, this is an excellent viewpoint from which you can enjoy an amazing view of the river confluence and the dam. You can have an overview of the Rio Corgo pathway through the ravine.

Perfect for hicking, but if you are afraid of high be carful might not suit you…

so beautiful!! waking and getting lost in the town to end up with this view after a little while can easily open up a smile on anyone's face. sadly, photos can't really portray this experience.

Nice views, although the electric infrastructure gets in the way at some spots.

Beautiful place to enjoy the amazing landscape of the Rio Corgo between the mountains. You can also see the UTAD Campus on the other side. It's the perfect place to relax, play some music, take a walk, or just being on your own appreciating the sunset.

Nice

Great place

One of the nicest public gardens in the city. A good place for walking and relaxing.

Nice garden to visit for a short break. Interesting coat of arms sculpted in stone, of Portuguese historical families on the side of the garden.

Great place to walk 🤩

One of the best public gardens of the city. It's a great place to jogging and to bring kids. You can find a bar/quiosk inside open all summer.

Peaceful, perfectly placed in the city. I was going to give a 4-star based on its size and seats availability, but then I realized it had a basketball court. I would never give a 4-star on a city park with a basketball court.

Excellent place to exercise!

Very pretty park to just chill on a bench.

(Translated by Google) Recently opened museum, with very friendly staff and a very pleasant atmosphere. Renovated old factory, in a stunning landscape. Very pleasant visit (Original) Museu recentemente inaugurado, com funcionários muito simpáticos e um ambiente muito agradável. Antiga fábrica reabilitada, numa paisagem deslumbrante. Visita muito agradável

(Translated by Google) Very beautiful. Worth a visit. (Original) Muito bonito. Vale a pena visitar

(Translated by Google) The Biel Power Plant – Museum of Industrial Archaeology, in Vila Real, is a museum opened in 2024 following the renovation of the former hydroelectric plant built in 1894, the first of its kind in Portugal. Later converted into a tannery, the plant retained much of its original machinery, now integrated into an exhibition route that highlights the history of electrification and local industry. The museum is part of Quinta do Granjo and includes pedestrian trails, walkways, viewpoints, and access to the Agueirinho Waterfall, combining industrial heritage with nature. Located on Rua Monsenhor Jerónimo Amaral, it is open Tuesday through Sunday with seasonal hours, closed on Mondays. Despite a fire in July 2025 that destroyed an annex, the museum continues to operate normally. (Original) A Central do Biel – Museu de Arqueologia Industrial, em Vila Real, é um espaço museológico inaugurado em 2024 após a requalificação da antiga central hidroelétrica construída em 1894, a primeira do género em Portugal. Mais tarde transformada em fábrica de curtumes, a central manteve grande parte da sua maquinaria original, hoje integrada num percurso expositivo que destaca a história da eletrificação e da indústria local. O museu faz parte da Quinta do Granjo e inclui trilhos pedonais, passadiços, miradouros e acesso à Cascata do Agueirinho, combinando património industrial com natureza. Localizado na Rua Monsenhor Jerónimo Amaral, está aberto de terça a domingo com horários adaptados às estações do ano, encerrando às segundas-feiras. Apesar de um incêndio em julho de 2025 que destruiu um anexo, o museu continua a funcionar normalmente.

(Translated by Google) A site of great historical and industrial significance. The first hydroelectric power station in Portugal. A single turbine in excellent condition. Exceptional landscape and environmental setting, right in the centre of Vila Real. (Original) Local de grande histórico e industrial. Primeira central hidroelétrica de Portugal. Turbina única em excelente estado de conservação. Enquadramento paisagístico e ambiental excecional, em pleno centro de Vila Real.

(Translated by Google) The museum is brand new and free of charge. It can be reached via a beautiful wooden path along the river. The museum shows on the one hand the reconstruction of the building and on the other hand all the equipment of the tannery and the hydroelectric power plant. Everything has been lovingly restored and prepared. (Original) Das Museum ist ganz neu und kostenfrei. Man erreicht es über eine schönen Holzweg entlang des Flusses. Das Museum zeigt einerseits den Wiederaufbau des Gebäudes, andererseits die ganzen Gerätschaften der Gerberei sowie des Wasserkraftwerks. Alles wirklich liebevoll restauriert und hergerichtet.