Casa São Bento

Arcos de Valdevez

The hidden gem of Minho

Located in north-western Portugal, Arcos de Valdevez is a picturesque town nestled between the Serra da Peneda mountains and the River Vez. It's the perfect starting point to explore Peneda-Gerês National Park — Portugal's only national park.

Panoramic view of Arcos de Valdevez
Arcos de Valdevez at night
Arcos de Valdevez bridge over the Rio Vez
Paço de Giela — medieval castle

Peneda-Gerês

Portugal's only national park, 30 minutes from Arcos de Valdevez. Waterfalls, ancient forests, granite villages and wild horses.

Arcos church interior — gilded altarpiece and azulejos
Arcos church during festivities

Porto — 1h30

Portugal's second city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Porto — Ribeira and the Douro
Porto Cathedral (Sé do Porto)
Dom Luís I Bridge — Porto

Braga — 1h

The Portuguese Rome, over 2,000 years of history, European Youth Capital

Braga — historic centre terraces
Braga — Câmara Municipal and fountain
Braga — Santa Bárbara Garden and Paço Episcopal

A lively town all year round

Arcos de Valdevez pulses with events: Festas de Nossa Senhora da Lapa in August, Carnival, Feiras Francas, São João da Valeta, Insua do Vez Summer Sessions, illuminations at Porta do Mezio, and Arcos TT — Europe's largest off-road motorcycle gathering.

Distances

Porto 1h30
Braga 1h
Viana do Castelo 45min
Gerês 30min
Spain (Ourense) 1h

Photos : Cascata do Arado © LuisMAfonso (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Espigueiros de Soajo © Kimse (CC BY 2.0) · Garranos © Heigeheige (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Paysage Gerês © José Amorim (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons