Serra da Estrela (or "Mountain Range of the Star" in english) of central Portugal is well known for being the highest mountain range in the country. The highest point of the mountain range is actually accessible by road. A tower was built as an altitude landmark at the highest point, almost 2000 meters above sea level. Close by this tower is the Vodafone Ski Resort and also a restaurant and a few small stores selling traditional goods from the region. Serra da Estrela is a beautiful picturesque location with many amazing sights to be had such as the breathtaking Lagoa Comprida, a lake situated in the mountains and the Covão da Ametade has a river in a forest surrounded by wonderful scenery which makes for some great walks; be sure to take your camera to capture the moment - you'll likely regret it if you don't. A village, Penhas da Saúde ("Crags of the Health"), is only ten minutes away from the tower where visitors to the ski resort stay. Various snow-related activities here that you can participate in include dog sledding, sleigh rides and snow motorcycles. Alpine skis and snowboards may also be rented if necessary.
Covilhã is the nearest city to the highest point of Serra da Estrela, about 20km away and is the main city in the surrounding area. Although it has a long history, the present day Covilhã is largely a modern city with a focus on tourism. Visitors to the ski resort sometimes stay here too or come to the city because of the wide variety of services, restaurants and shops there. Of particular interest is the large shopping centre, which is the main place to go in the city if you need to go shopping. Seven cinemas are situated in Covilhã and also a theatre. As it is a university city, the students are a focus and so the nightlife of Covilhã is quite popular. The city is quite small so this makes for a familiar, safe atmosphere to enjoy your drink. There are several places in the city to play sporting activities such as horse riding or go-karting and there are several gyms to work out. It is a lovely pleasant town that is a friendly place to visit and is recommended if you are staying in the area of Serra da Estrela.
Vale do Mondego is situated in the largest natural park of the Serra da Estrela and is a large agricultural area consisting of six farms together in a rich lush countryside, a completely different world to the snowy peaks of the mountains. The farm has many pastures, trees, groves and gardens where they grow a variety of different produce. Vale do Mondego takes on guests who wish to stay there - guests can either rent one of the traditional houses available or are welcome to bring their own tents or caravan. The main attraction to Vale do Mondego is that guests can really get back to nature and enjoy living on a Portuguese farm far from civilisation. However, the guesthouses are furnished and there is a restaurant and bar on site called The Lagar Lounge, which also offers some entertainment such as TV and WiFi connection so you're not giving up all of your modern conveniences. The lounge is a great place to socialise with other guests and the owners of Vale do Mondego. The river running through the farm is also a great place to come to cool down when it’s quite hot (which is pretty much every day during the summer months); the water is quite refreshing and the nearby trees offer ample shade. The farm is a beautiful place to visit; the trials and tribulations of your life completely cease to exist during your stay with many opportunities to relax in the stillness or take up some pleasurable activity such as hiking through Vale do Mondego's 33.3 acres of land.
Looking for self catering holiday accommodation in Serra da Estrela? Then below is a selection of holiday villas in Serra da Estrela and holiday apartments in Serra da Estrela that can be rented direct from their owners. You can either click on each listing for further details or you can use our search engine on the left if you are looking for something in particular.
