Self-catering holiday homes: Central Portugal

Make a holiday rental home or self catering accommodation in Central Portugal your home away from home

Central Portugal is a large, varied and mainly rural region of Portugal, consisting of towering mountains, stunning rivers and a coastline which rivals that of the Algarve for rugged beauty. Tourism in Central Portugal is very low key, allowing visitors to take a rental home in Central Portugal and explore the open countryside and enjoy the hospitable welcome without tourist crowds, high rise hotels or any ‘English pubs’ anywhere to be seen. This is traditional Portugal at its best.

Things to do on holiday in Central Portugal

The forested hills of Central Portugal are a wonderful place to walk. The pure natural beauty of the area could inspire even the most blasé of visitors. Rambling in Central Portugal is a very popular activity, as well as mountain biking and hiking. The hills are a maze of walking and biking trials, and the unspoilt nature of the countryside means that there are still some wonderful animals roaming here, including wild boar and even lynx. A holiday rental property in Central Portugal is a haven of peace for any lover of the great outdoors and nature.

The rivers which cross the region are attract visitors from around Eur¬ope, especially the River Zezere, which is the longest in the area. Fishing and rambling holidays along the rivers forested banks thrive, whilst much of its course is can be navigated by canoe, which provides a magnificent days entertainment from any self catering accommodation in Central Portugal, allowing you to see the beauty of the region from the most natural of angles.

There is a long history in Central Portugal. You can explore Roman ruins, Moorish Castles, Peninsula battlefields, Romanesque churches and ancient Celtic standing stones from self catering accommodation in Central Portugal.

Much of the joy of taking a holiday rental home in Central Portugal is the warm welcome you receive from the locals. The undiluted culture of Central Portugal means that you are welcomed into your self catering Central Portugal accommodation with open arms, and often a bottle of local wine, which is quite simply delicious.

Places to visit on holiday in Central Portugal

The town of Avo lies in the heart of Central Portugal. Property here is built in the traditional way with white washed walls topped by terracotta tiles, giving the town a wonderfully picturesque image. Located in the valley of the Alva River, Avo is a wonderfully relaxed place to stay, with excellent rambling opportunities.

The skyline of Penela is dominated by the walls of the dominant Moorish castle around which the town stands. Taking a Central Portugal property in Penela will give you a great sense of the history of Central Portugal, and there are magnificent shops, markets (Wednesday) and sporting facilities here. You can enjoy swimming, tennis, motocross, parasailing, fishing, horse riding and walking from a Central Portugal property in Penela, as well as relax on a river beach when the temperatures rise.

Weather in Central Portugal

Central Portugal benefits from long, hot summer in which temperatures average 24˚C from May until September, and daily temperatures can soar into the high 30’s. In the winter, rain is not uncommon, and temperatures average only about 4˚C in the coldest month, meaning that if you are going to take self catering accommodation in Central Portugal during the winter, pack a jacket!

Flights to Central Portugal

The main airport which serves Central Portugal is the Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport (OPO) in Porto. However, there are only a few flights from the UK direct to Porto, provided by TAP Portugal. Lisbon is only an hour from Central Portugal, and receives many daily flights form the UK.

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