waterfall
Fisgas de Ermelo
A multi-tier waterfall dropping through a granite gorge in the Alvão Natural Park, with roadside viewpoint access.
14 km · about 25 min drive
EuropePortugalVila Real
Vila Real
Vila Real, Portugal · Europe
About Vila Real
Vila Real works well as a base: 20 minutes from Santa Marta de Penaguião, 15km from Estrada Nacional 222 (Peso da Régua–Pinhão).
Vila Real is in Portugal, with about 17,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Santa Marta de Penaguião, about 11 km away.
Vila Real (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈvilɐ ʁiˈal] ) is the capital and largest city of the Vila Real District, in the North region, Portugal. It is also the seat of the Douro intermunicipal community and of the Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro historical province. The Vila Real municipality covers an area of 378.80 squareRead more
kilometres (146.26 sq mi) and is home to an estimated population of 49,574 (2021), of which about 30,000 live in the urban area (2021).
The city is located in a plateau 450 m (1,510 ft) high, over the promontory formed by the gorges of the Corgo and Cabril rivers, where the oldest part of town (Vila Velha) is located, framed by the escarpments of the Corgo gorge. The Alvão and Marão mountains overlook the town on the northwest and southwest side, respectively, rising up to 1,400 m (4,600 ft). With over seven hundred years of existence, the city was once known as the "royal court of Trás-os-Montes" due to the high number of manors bearing coats of arms and family crests, attesting the presence of noble figures that established in the city by influence of the Marquis of Vila Real, the most powerful aristocratic house in Portugal, during the 16th and 17th centuries, after the Dukes of Braganza and the Dukes of Aveiro. Many of these family crests are still visible today in the manors spread throughout the old city and in the Carreira Garden.
Vila Real was ranked seventh in the list of Portugal's most livable cities in the survey of living conditions published by the Portuguese newspaper Expresso in 2007.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Vila Real?
Within an hour or so of Vila Real: Fisgas de Ermelo (14 km), Miradouro de São Leonardo da Galafura (15 km), Marão Tunnel (15 km), Estrada Nacional 222 (Peso da Régua–Pinhão) (15 km).
Are there any good drives near Vila Real?
The nearest famous roads are Estrada Nacional 222 (Peso da Régua–Pinhão), N222 Peso da Regua to Pinhao and EN222 Régua–Pinhão Road.
Where is Vila Real?
Vila Real is in Vila Real, Portugal, about 11 km from Santa Marta de Penaguião.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 17,001
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Portugal
- Region
- Vila Real
- Timezone
- Europe/Lisbon
- Coordinates
- 41.3001, -7.7432
Tags
Worth the detour from Vila Real
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
scenic viewpoint
Miradouro de São Leonardo da Galafura
A clifftop balcony hailed by poets, offering the definitive panorama over the terraced Douro gorge.
15 km · about 30 min drive
tunnel
Marão Tunnel
At 5.7 km the longest road tunnel in the Iberian Peninsula, carrying the A4 under the Serra do Marão between Amarante and Vila Real: gateway to the Douro wine country.
15 km · about 30 min drive
famous road
Estrada Nacional 222 (Peso da Régua–Pinhão)
A 27km stretch of the EN222 following the Douro river past terraced vineyards, frequently cited as one of Europe's best driving roads.
15 km · about 30 min drive
famous road
N222 Peso da Regua to Pinhao
Regularly voted the world's best driving road: 27km of curves above the terraced vineyards of the Douro.
15 km · about 30 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Douro Valley
The oldest demarcated wine region in the world, with terraced vineyards lining the dramatic slopes of the Douro River gorge.
16 km · about 30 min drive
landmark
Peso da Régua
Riverside town and the Douro's wine-trade hub, home to the Museu do Douro and cruise quays.
16 km · about 30 min drive
famous road
EN222 Régua–Pinhão Road
Voted the world's best driving road, this riverside ribbon snakes through terraced port vineyards.
16 km · about 20 min drive
Driving roads near Vila Real
- Right hereMiradouro de São Leonardo da GalafuraA clifftop balcony hailed by poets, offering the definitive panorama over the terraced Douro gorge.
- Right hereMarão TunnelAt 5.7 km the longest road tunnel in the Iberian Peninsula, carrying the A4 under the Serra do Marão between Amarante and Vila Real: gateway to the Douro wine country.
- Right hereEstrada Nacional 222 (Peso da Régua–Pinhão)A 27km stretch of the EN222 following the Douro river past terraced vineyards, frequently cited as one of Europe's best driving roads.
- Right hereN222 Peso da Regua to PinhaoRegularly voted the world's best driving road: 27km of curves above the terraced vineyards of the Douro.
- 16 kmDouro ValleyThe oldest demarcated wine region in the world, with terraced vineyards lining the dramatic slopes of the Douro River gorge.
- 16 kmEN222 Régua–Pinhão RoadVoted the world's best driving road, this riverside ribbon snakes through terraced port vineyards.
Driving in Portugal
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.78/litre
- Motorway tolls
- ~€9.00/100km
When to drive here
April to October
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