Agueda Mini Guide
Where is Agueda?
Agueda is a town and region in the north of Portugal. It is situated close to the wine making region of Bairrada and the mountain ranges of Caramulo and Bussaco, so is an ideal base for exploring the area.
Getting There
From within Portugal, you can take Rede Expressos buses from most towns to Agueda. From Europe, you can fly into
Porto Airport from many European destinations and also from
Canada, surprisingly. There are limited public transport options to Agueda, so car hire is advisable for your stay – from Porto Airport, it is a 78km drive using the IP1 and the IC2 highways and a journey time of approximately one hour.
A Tour of the Area…
Take a trip out to the protected area of Pateira de Fermentelos, a natural lake and reserve. It is rich in flora and fauna and the 2nd largest lake in Iberia. For a little history, you can visit the Cabeco do Vouga – an archaeological site of Roman communities near the Vouga River. In the Agueda region, you will also find ancient churches such as the Convento do Santo Antonio constructed in 1634 and the Convento de Santa Maria de Lamas dating from 957. If you are feeling under the weather, try out the thermal spas at Lusa and Curia.
Further Afield
Spend a day at the beautiful beaches at Sao Jacinto or Costa Nova, they are just a short drive away. The beaches in this area receive little tourism and you are often likely to have large areas of the beach to yourself. Visit the city of
Aveiro known as the ‘Portuguese Venice’, you can take a stroll along the canals or take a gondola ride. There, you should also visit the Alianca Cellars to taste some local wine and visit their underground museum, which has everything from African art to crystals.
What Food Should I try?
The Bairrada region is famous for its wine making and gastronomy. An absolute must is the suckling pig or ‘leitao’ as it is locally known and to drink, the local sparkling wine ‘espumante’. You should also try the ‘caldeirda de piexe’, a fish stew and the ‘pastas de agueda’, local custard tarts.
I Want to Stay a few Days…
You can stay at the Hotel Conde de Agueda, a 3 star hotel in the centre of the town. It has contemporary rooms with free Wi-Fi and views of the mountains and countryside. Take one of the hotel shuttle buses to local attractions during the day and at night you can have a drink and a snack at the hotel bar and terrace.