That winter is one of, if not the best period for travel, thanks to our post listing 5 amazing places to visit in European winter you already know, and if not, enjoy and check it out to know why winter is an excellent season to travel (even with the harsh cold), and in addition check out some more amazing places to meet and enjoy during the snow season. But what you need to know now is that Europe has other unique destinations to visit this time of winter holidays and that are also very worth knowing, one of these places we are talking about is Portugal winter holidays.
Portugal is an excellent choice of destination for holidays, as you can see in Holidays in Portugal: How much money do I need? So, thinking specifically in this beautiful time of year that is also great for travelling, we decided to bring you the best place to visit in the Portuguese winter: Serra da Estrela!
WHY VISIT SERRA DA ESTRELA?
A good destination to travel is one that has something enchanting, that makes the trip special and unforgettable, with a taste of not wanting to go away or return whenever possible and present to all friends. And this, the Serra das Estrelas has plenty: beautiful landscapes, either with large rivers as the Alva Valley, Mondego Mondeguinho and Zêzere or glacial valleys, such as the Covão do Urso, the Covão Grande, Loriga and Manteiga; contact with nature, with the peaceful and gratifying silence that can be enjoyed and lived intensely, and still several places and activities not to be missed, you can get to them on foot, by bicycle or even on horseback.
With 1993 meters maximum altitude, Serra da Estrela is the highest mountain in mainland Portugal, about 3 hours from Lisbon. The Tower, at the highest point of the mountain, is 7 meters high and was built in order for the tower to reach 2000 meters high, where there are restaurant and shopping center with bathrooms and air- conditioned environment. It also has many mountainous unevenness that make up its scenic beauty and a great variety of vegetation, birds and also flocks of sheep that are guided by dogs. There is still the possibility to fly over the Beira Lines through the paragliding that is available in the historical town. And finally, to make you surrender to this natural park, there is the famous Serra cheese, half buttered, and its companion, the traditional bread, available for tasting throughout the region and in Celorico with an extra about how the manufacturing process occurs.
Inspiring videos to visit Serra da Estrela
PRICES IN SERRA DA ESTRELA
The money needed to make some tourist tour is always very important, essential for the trip to be fun and enjoyable. It may be that you’ve been saving for a while to have a good reserve on vacation or not, so it’s always good to be aware of the average of the most affordable prices, after all there are some tours that don’t even cost anything, like visiting the Torre da Serra and to park there and taste typical products of the region, and also what you can do with a little more money.
PENNILESS
The prices, both for products and activities in Serra da Estrela are very good, so you can spend little to have an amazing trip. Here are some things you can enjoy in the region with little money: taste a small dose of the traditional liqueur; buy the delicious mountain cheese; see the beauty of the city through a cable car ride; and even buy a plastic snow sled. It is important to talk about the lodging, which vary from hotel to hotel and by location. The values are around:
- Traditional liqueur (portion): 1€
- Traditional Sour Cherry Liqueur: €15
- Serrano cheese: 5 € to 9 €
- Cable car ride: 5 €
- Snow sled (small): €8
- Snow sled (large): €17
- Accommodation (daily rate for one person): between €15 and €50
BANKRUPT
With a little more money, it is possible to do more things, those that are more elaborate and refined, equally unmissable. Some that we can mention are the ski resort, with all the information available on the official websites of the companies responsible for the attraction, the mountaineering course, lasting 2 days and accompanied by a professional mountain guide, thermal pools, available in several places and hotels, where it is possible to visit without being a guest, and also has lodging with thermal pools and other services to have a complete experience.
- Ski tour: from 25€
- Full ski tour (entry to the slope + lesson + equipment hire): €95
- Mountaineering course: from 190 €
- Thermal pools (without accommodation): from 12 €
- Accommodation (daily double occupancy): € 290
Check this instagram about Serra da Estrela
SNOW IN THE SERRA DA ESTRELA
The fluffy white snow that covers the streets, houses and the entire city is already a spectacle of nature by itself, but it can be even more beautiful in conjunction with other landscapes. The Covão da Metade is already very beautiful, but covered in snow it becomes one of the most symbolic places of Serra da Estrela, at approximately 1500 m of altitude. Besides the Covão, the Torre and other regions that fill with snow, also offer landscapes that give pleasure to see and are breathtakingly beautiful. In the period of snow and cold, Serra da Estrela is the only place where it is possible to practice snow skiing and snowboarding and ride sleigh rides and motoski in Portugal. In addition, you can have a lot of fun with the snow by using it for games, making snowmen or snowball wars, or just enjoying the special touch that it brings to the region.
Snow is really the highlight of winter, however with it also comes the cold, so some tips are important. When the temperature reaches a few degrees below zero, it’s good to be well wrapped up, and luckily in the Serra da Estrela the prices of clothes for the cold are also quite affordable, such as well-fitted hats and caps costing just €7. Another important tip is about shoes, which should preferably be waterproof and non- slip, to avoid possible falls. And if you go to some establishments by car, you have to be careful not to park it too close because the snow, when it accumulates and weighs too much, falls and can end up damaging the vehicle.
MORE BEAUTIES OF THE SERRA DA ESTRELA
Besides the points already mentioned, Serra da Estrela has much more beauty to enjoy. If you opt for a walking tour, you’ll be able to see and get to know much of the region’s structure. You can see attractions such as the Serra da Estrela Interpretation Centre and the Bread Museum, in Seia, or the Estrelas Mountain Dog, typical mountain dogs, in Sabugueiro, as well as the Historical Villages of Portugal consisting of villages with stone buildings, such as Belmonte, where Pedro Álvares Cabral was born, and Folgosinho, whose small village also has a small castle.
Of the natural beauties, the Lagoa Comprimida, the largest lagoon high up in the mountains and water reservoir of the place, has glacial origin and is beautiful when covered with snow. About 3 to 4 km from it, is also the Covão dos Conchos, needing to climb a mountain and a good walk, but the view of the artificial lake and the bell mouth spillway is impressive. The waterfalls and cascades are another fantastic point, even in winter they are still beautiful landscapes, and can be found in Poço da Broca, Poço do Inferno or other locations.
ADDITIONAL DESTINATION OPTIONS
With all these incredible places shown, the unmissable activities there are and the prices of products and attractions super in account, it is undeniable that Serra da Estrela is a great destination, especially during winter to spend your holidays, no? It’s a really impressive place! How about including this destination in your holiday itinerary to ensure a unique trip? The places listed in the first post mentioned are also great travel ideas and you can include them too!
Now if you do not care much about the season and like to travel in any season of the year, the 5 most visited countries in Europe are in this ranking precisely because they have attractions for all periods of the year. If the question of choosing destinations for your trips is money, the post not much Little money: 3 cheap countries to visit in Europe with little money can help you decide another place to visit. There is no shortage of options!
GOING ON A TRIP IN EUROPE?
Don’t forget to check this article below!
